A Forbidden History.The Hadrian enigma

by George Gardiner

  "How would you describe Lysias of Bithynia to us, Tesserarius? How tall was he? How was he dressed? What company attended him? And so on? Would you recognize him if you met him again?" Suetonius asked, his eyes narrowing to interpret the clerk's features. "Is he here among us now, for example?"

  He knew full well Lysias stood close nearby accompanying Thais.

  "Why yes, great lord, the fellow is with us here as we speak. I recognized him the moment I arrived. He is even wearing the same uniform of his visit at The Alexandros," Danaos burbled with helpful enthusiasm.

  "Uniform? A uniform?" Suetonius called, turning towards Lysias who was garbed in the regular chiton tunic and mantle of a Greek civilian, not his hunting cuirass, helmet, and weapons.

  "Yes, sir. There. Over there," the tesserarius burbled, pointing across the chamber.

  The entire assembly turned their heads in unison in the direction of his gesture.

  "On the bier. The body. The dead person. That's Lysias of Bithynia!" he declared with confidence.

  A rustle of louder voices rippled across the gathering. Hadrian sat up abruptly to observe the clerk more closely.

  "The body upon the bier?! You believe that to be Lysias?" Suetonius called aloud to confirm Danaos' statement.

  "Yes, certainly. He's still wearing the same armor he wore at the jetty. That fair-haired young man over there. Fine looking fellow. I'd recognize him anywhere. It was him," the tesserarius confirmed. "He has died, has he?"

  CHAPTER 32

  "Tessararius Danaos, are you sure the man lying upon the bier was the fellow who said he was Lysias of Bithynia three evenings ago? He was the man you permitted to travel to the governor's barque at Lady Perenna's invitation as recorded in your log?"

  "Yes, sir. Indeed, sir. I am sure, sir. Am I mistaken somehow?"

  Suetonius and Clarus looked to each other. Lysias had not been lying. He had not visited The Alexandros three evenings ago. It was just as he had protested earlier. The person presenting himself as 'Lysias' had been Antinous, impersonating Lysias for a reason of his own. He did so with a written invitation of authority from the priestess Anna Perenna inscribed in Lysias's name. What could this mean?

  The Special Inspector asked a question aloud for all to hear.

  "Look again at your papyrus sheet, Danaos. The visitor you know as Lysias was unaccompanied by others at the time. But will you read the name of the person or persons who preceded or followed him?"

  Suetonius had already recalled the names from his earlier inspection of the records.

  Danaos drew the sheet closer to his sight and fingered the column of names written in his own Greek alphabet scratchings. His finger paused at a name.

  "Yes, sir. The youth Lysias was preceded by Quintus Urbicus, a centurion of the Alexandrian Praetorian Guard, the governor's security unit. They both travelled together in our runabout gondola to the The Alexandros to attend the Lady Anna Perenna."

  A flutter of whispers swept the assembly. Suetonius raised a finger for quiet.

  "And again, Tessararius, have you noted the name on your list following after the person you know as Lysias? Did he too travel to The Alexandros? What was this person's name and, and what time of day would it have been?"

  The clerk returned his finger to the sheet and followed it down the column.

  "Yes, the dead man over yonder was followed by a senior officer of the German Guard. One Scorilo, a decurion of the Horse Guard. The three were boated to the governor's barque together. The time, you ask? It was then dusk. Night was quickly approaching. I recall it well. My shift was to finish in only four hours."

  The assembly shuffled in its place.

  "Very well, Danaos, I wish you to now look over the sheets for that same night and the following day to tell me when these three visitors returned from The Alexandros?" the Special Inspector asked. He had remembered the discrepancies noted the previous day.

  The tessararius pored through the subsequent sheets of papyrus. Several names were listed as coming or going, including the governor's party's return at high sun the following day, but Danaos could find no reference to either Lysias or Urbicus departing the vessel at the wharf. He then spied Decurion Scorilo's name on a second sheet recording his departure from The Alexandros four hours after dawn the following day.

  "My subordinate has been a fool or greatly remiss, masters! Neither the youth Lysias nor Centurion Urbicus are listed as departing the governor's vessel, yet the German decurion is registered when he departed four hours after dawn the next day. My subordinate will be punished for his omissions, masters!"

  "They might not be omissions, Tessararius. Your subordinate may have been quite accurate in his record. I think I begin to understand the situation," the biographer muttered. He turned to the gathering and its ruler. He now possessed a greater perception of the issues.

  "We have several contradictions in these testimonies here, Caesar. Firstly, we have a clerk's record of a 'Lysias' visiting The Alexandros. This turns out to be an impersonation by Antinous for a reason as yet unknown, and we have two guardsmen who accompany the youth to the barque. Yet neither Antinous nor one of the two guardsmen appears to have later returned from the vessel, unless our records are in serious error?

  In the meantime we know some dire fate befell Antinous. He appears to have been seriously wounded and bled to death, and either fallen overboard or been placed in the Nile. Meanwhile the highly-regarded centurion who had accompanied him happens to be one of a troop of guardsmen who incidentally stumble upon two fishermen as they discover the body of the youth the following morning in the river's edge. These coincidences strike me as unlikely."

  Suetonius allowed a few moments to pass to let that information settle in. He then raised further contradictions.

  "Caesar, I need not remind us how both Centurion Urbicus and Decurion Scorilo has told us here only moments ago how they spent the entire night at a troops' celebration of The Isia from that same dusk until the following dawn. Yet the testimony here proclaims to us they were in widely diverse places at the very same time.

  Centurion Urbicus says he was at an all-night party, while these papyrus records claim he spent the night aboard The Alexandros. He also managed to be by the riverside at the time Antinous's body was hauled from the Nile.

  Separately, we have depositions taken from Decurion Scorilo declaring how he performed Guard duties at Caesar's welcoming banquet for Senator Commodus throughout that very same night. Yet he appears magically to have been in three places at precisely the same time — at an all-night party for the troops, onboard The Alexandros, and as a Guard officer attending the welcoming banquet. These competing facts are a great mystery and enigma, my lord."

  Both Urbicus and Scorilo stood motionless, undisturbed by the sardonic observations. Urbicus eventually cleared his throat to speak.

  "My lord Special Inspector, may I speak? These records are obviously a blatant forgery! Not only were we entertained all night at Caesar's party for his troops, those sheets from the jetty are inconsistent and bear poor witness. I piss on their inaccuracies and those who would slander senior, proven officers of Caesar's Guards. It's an offence against our honor! I will pursue the offender for blood satisfaction!"

  The centurion's stern accusation shifted the atmosphere considerably. Suetonius became fearful of how the swiftness of judicial favor could shift ground so easily. He was determined to probe deeper before Urbicus or Scorilo wriggled off the hook.

  "The letter of authority, the invitation from Lady Anna Perenna, was this retained, tessararius, to confirm at least one of these claims?" Suetonius asked, swiftly subsiding into desperation.

  "No, great lord, only my notation was entered on the sheet telling it had been sighted. The youth Lysias, if that's who he was, took it with him. But the writing was definitely in the hand of the Lady. I have sighted My Ladyship's invitations often," the clerk confirmed. He was now confused about the real identity of 'the youth Lysias'. Governor Titianus glanc
ed to his consort at the unexpected implication of many invitations.

  "The Lady Anna Perenna," Suetonius articulated rhetorically to the gathering, "just who is the Lady Anna Perenna? Tell us, priestess of Rome, who you are, what was your original name prior to adoption by your cult, and where were you born? What is your origin?"

  Perenna smiled in a confident manner which disconcerted her interrogator. She responded in an untroubled, even disparaging, manner.

  "My dear Special Inspector, why should you ask? I am who I am. I am Anna Perenna at Alexandria, nothing more, nothing less. Frankly I do not know the answers you seek."

  Suetonius turned towards Geta the Dacian who had been beside Caesar's throne. The mess of Hadrian's discharges had been cleansed away by the Egyptian workers. Geta's clothing and personal bearing too were adequately restored to cleanliness.

  "Geta of Dacia, tell us, does the woman Anna Perenna remind you of someone? Do you see a resemblance? Don't you feel you might know might this woman?"

  The biographer was taking great risks punting upon such similarities. Geta stood apart with a quizzical expression.

  "No, I don't Suetonius. I have no idea what you mean."

  "Look at yourself and at Perenna. Don't you see a resemblance? Coloring, height, facial features, your accents, even the marks upon your cheeks? There are many coincidences. Too many coincidences. It screams at us."

  "You see things I don't see, Special Inspector. Yes, there are accidental resemblances. But they are not substantial. What are you getting at?" the Dacian asked his interrogator.

  Hadrian began to be aware of the biographer's meaning. He interrupted the conversation.

  "Are you asking, Inspector, is Geta related by blood to the priestess? Are Perenna and Geta somehow of the same family?"

  Suetonius nodded sheepishly. Hadrian turned to the Dacian.

  "Tell him, Geta. Tell him of your past and your origin," the emperor encouraged.

  "My lord, I don't know what you mean. My past is buried in my distant childhood. I've long forgotten it. I have difficulty recalling anything from my earliest years. My life and memory really begins at Rome when I entered your Household. What preceded that time is lost to a great degree."

  Hadrian turned to Suetonius. He spoke tiredly but pointedly.

  "Special Inspector, I shall tell you. Our friend Geta is of the royal line of Dacia. He's the son of the Decebelus who Trajan triumphed over when Geta was only a child. I served as a commander of Legions under Trajan. It was a hard fought, cruel war.

  Geta's original name was Dromichaetes, Prince of Dacia, along with a long litany of native titles and splendid honors. If this is your intended implication, he had a sister of a similar age and appearance named Estia, who he now barely remembers. Estia and Geta were very alike in their features, being of the same parentage.

  Geta and his sister were assigned to me as war hostages. Such hostages can be useful to Rome when re-establishing a sympathetic aristocracy in a conquered land. But I assure you, Tranquillus, Estia is not Anna Perenna, if this is your meaning?

  Geta's sister Estia was entered into my sister Domitia Paulina's household to be educated as a proper Roman lady. Despite my sister's fond affection and care for Estia, the girl died of a child's ague before she was ten years of age. I supervised her funeral. We didn't tell Geta. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. So there is no blood relationship between Geta and the priestess Perenna, despite any physical similarities you may detect."

  Caesar had put an end to that speculation.

  The biographer was disconcerted; he was running now out of options. He looked across to the Quaestor, Salvius Julianus, for new inspiration.

  "Senator Quaestor Julianus, you have something to show us. I think it's time to explore your discovery."

  Julianus strode across to Clarus and the biographer. He was carrying a large globular shape under his cape. He lowered the object to the flagstones of the sanctuary and withdrew the cape. A sturdy terracotta urn with a waxed stopper stood upright before the assembly. Suetonius sensed how Perenna imperceptibly quivered at its sight. Urbicus and Scorilo stirred momentarily as well.

  "Quaestor, please explain where you acquired this amphora," the biographer asked.

  "At your behest, Special Inspector, I and my lictors representing my legal authority attended The Alexandros after those summoned here by Caesar had departed prior to dawn.

  We approached the cabin assigned to Anna Perenna, who was already journeying with the Governor to Caesar's marquee. Her cabin was firmly locked, so we were obliged to break entry.

  It appears to be a sort of workroom or apothecary's laboratory. I impounded the objects you requested on behalf of your investigation. One is this amphora containing an unknown substance which was high upon a ledge sanctified by a votive lamp. Another was a locket on a leather thong draped around the urn's neck. I've brought two other objects I felt were meaningful, which my lictors retain nearby."

  Perenna whispered sharply into the Governor's ear. Her anger was audible.

  Suetonius continued his questioning.

  "My Lady Anna Perenna, priestess of Rome, do you recognize the objects which stand here before us? Are these your property?"

  The priestess's reply was snappy.

  "You have no right, Troublemaker, to break into my private quarters to steal my possessions. In Egypt we cut a hand, an ear, and an eye from those who thieve! You should have asked my permission first. I'm sure I would have been gracious to you in your search."

  "As gracious as you were when we visited you only yesterday?" Clarus interjected. "You were barely gracious then, madam."

  Anna Perenna seethed.

  "My lady, we have before us here a terracotta amphora," Suetonius announced for all to hear. "It is thoroughly stoppered and sealed, yet I notice a small leak from one lip. It exudes a dark substance. A dark ruddy substance. May I ask what this urn contains, madam?"

  Titianus turned to his consort with a querulous expression. She fumbled a hesitant response but soon resettled into her confident, unflappable manner.

  "Special Inspector, I am a priestess of the ancient cult of Anna Perenna. We have a long history at Rome. We specialize in women's matters.

  We offer poultices or pessaries to ward off the risk of pregnancy. We offer herbs and medicaments to maximize a woman's fertility or give pleasure. We act as midwives in birthing; we provide love philters and talismans to attract a desired lover; we mix lubricants which arouse partners during sex; and we create paints and pastes to enhance our beauty. We make kohl paint to outline the eyes and to deflect bright sunlight; we mix powders with rich color to apply as rouge or a dusting on our eyelids, cheeks, bosoms, or buttocks. We grind precious metals to scatter as pretty glitters; and we create lip paints in tones of scarlet to make women's mouths sensual and desirable to their menfolk," she explained.

  "— And so?" the biographer queried. "The urn?"

  "You have in the amphora before you a preparation of secret ingredients which will shortly coalesce into a quantity of lip paint. It takes nine days to mature. Then it is ready to apply."

  "What's in the preparation, priestess?"

  "Why Inspector, that's a priestess's secret."

  "What's in it, priestess? Tell us. We have no secrets here."

  Perenna was slowly consumed with a rising vexation.

  "It is a secret recipe of ochre, iron ore, and the fucus plant, with the extra coloring of tiny crimson bugs gathered from African cacti. It is all blended into the purified lard of an ass and perfumed with blossom oils. Through its nine day maturation period my cult offers prayers and ceremonies to imbue the mixture with magical power in attracting admirers. That's why it was hallowed by a votive lamp and a phylactery talisman. My clients among the elite swear by the rich color of my lip paint and its power in attracting a lover."

  The biographer looked limply towards Clarus and Julianus. He continued unabated.

  "Why was this urn raised high upon a ledg
e, priestess?"

  Perenna was thoughtful for only a fleeting moment.

  "The fats of the mixture are attractive to rats. The Alexandros seethes with Nile water rats in the bilges, so we keep edible things high beyond their reach."

  Suetonius felt stumped again. Surisca leaned across to Suetonius to whisper in his ear.

  "The locket, my lord, the locket. It means something."

  Suetonius swept the leather-thonged golden locket from Julianus's arm. Perenna's manner stiffened. Both Urbicus' and Scorilo's eyes became riveted to the bubbled case of beaten gold dangling from the thong's loop. It was an ordinary bulla locket of no distinction.

  "And what is this, my lady?" Suetonius addressed the priestess. She hesitated briefly.

  "It's nothing, just the special prayer that infuses the lip paint with its attracting powers. It is women's secret magic. You need not concern yourself with such fanciful trivia."

  Once again Surisca whispered into the biographer's ear.

  "She's being evasive. It's something special."

  "Strabon, good scribe, read the locket's lip-paint prayer to us," the Special Inspector instructed. "We're not averse to women's magic here."

  Strabon took the locket and flicked its catch open. Inside were a small furled square of papyrus and a lock of hair. The hair was light in hue and appeared singed by flame. The scribe also noted a single word scratched on the inside of the case. His eyes widened and he glanced nervously to the biographer for permission to respond.

  "Well go on, man, read the prayer," Suetonius pressed. The scribe unfolded the paper. Again, he grew concerned. He had a catch in his throat as he read aloud. "When the King of the Lionhearted Plays with his man-cub no more It's time for the lackey To restore his own pride."

  The assembly in the sanctuary rustled with murmuring.

  Hadrian fidgeted uncomfortably on his Egyptian high chair, but remained seated. Geta gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Arrian's head hung low in despondency. Balbilla and the Augusta exchanged meaningful glances. Lysias and Thais grasped each other's hand more firmly. Clarus displayed increasing alarm.