The scribe looked around impassively and waited. Presently, when the crowd grew silent, he unrolled the parchment and read in a voice trained to carry across a crowded battlefield:
‘Romans and Foreigners! Patricians and Equestrians! Plebs, Freedmen and Slaves! Hear this message of our first citizen Titus Flavius Vespasian. Our illustrious Caesar will hold funeral games for his father in one month. He will sponsor the most spectacular show ever known, a sacrifice of blood to appease the wrath of the gods. These games will last one hundred days and there will be gladiatorial fights on every one of those days.’
There was a scattered cheer from the crowd. Here was something to take their mind off their troubles: free games, lasting over three months.
‘Our illustrious Caesar,’ the herald was saying, ‘therefore invites all those who would fight in the arena to register now. Volunteers will receive room, board and training in the new gladiator quarters. Most of you who volunteer will die. But it will be a noble death, spilling your blood to honour the divine Vespasian. And,’ here he paused for effect, ‘those few who survive the games will receive a wooden sword to mark their freedom and a purse of gold to start a new life.’
These last words won him a heartier cheer.
‘I repeat,’ said the messenger. ‘Most of you will die. And once you enrol, you lose your identity. Present yourself to the scribe sitting at this table here below me and choose a name for yourself. Once you have told him your new name, you will immediately be taken to the new School of Gladiators. There you will undergo intensive training until the games. May the gods be with you. That is all.’
Already a queue had formed: muscular young men, laughing and boasting and pretending not to be scared. A good number of slaves followed them, some young, some old, two of them women.
A boy joined the end of this group. He was husky, with a shaved head, scratched cheeks and a black eye. He wore sandals a size too big and a torn grey tunic.
Presently he stood before the table. The scribe looked up at him and hesitated. ‘You’re far too young to enlist,’ he said. ‘Freeborn males have to be at least twenty-five.’
The boy lifted the sleeve of his tunic to show them the brand on his left shoulder.
The scribe exchanged a glance with the lanista, who stood beside him.
‘The Emperor said amnesty for all slaves,’ said the lanista in Thracian, his mother tongue. ‘The law doesn’t apply to them.’
‘And he’s got the right build,’ replied the scribe, in the same dialect.
‘He does indeed,’ said the lanista with a laugh. ‘And it might amuse the crowds to see such a young one fight. Take his name.’
The scribe nodded and looked up at the boy. ‘Name?’ he said in Latin. ‘Have you chosen your new name?’
Jonathan nodded.
‘Prometheus,’ he said. ‘Call me Prometheus.’
FINIS
abaton (ab-at-on)
holiest part of a sacred area; in the sanctuaries of Aesculapius it was set aside for sleep-cures and prophetic dreams
Aeneas (uh-nee-uss)
Trojan son of the goddess Venus who escaped from conquered Troy to have many adventures and finally settle near the future site of Rome
Aeneid (uh-nee-id)
Vigil’s epic poem about Aeneas (see above)
Aeschylus (ess-kill-us)
Perhaps the most famous Greek tragedian; he flourished in the fifth century BC
Aesculapius (eye-skew-lape-ee-uss)
Greek Asklepios: son of Apollo and Coronis, he was the god of healing; his main cult centre was Epidauros in Greece and the snake was his special animal
Alexandria (al-ex-and-ree-ah)
port of Egypt and one of the greatest cities of the ancient world
amphitheatre (am-fee-theatre)
an oval-shaped stadium for watching gladiator shows, beast fights and executions. The Flavian amphitheatre in Rome (the ‘Colosseum’) is the most famous one
amphora (am-for-uh)
large clay storage jar for holding wine, oil or grain
Apollodorus (uh-pol-uh-dor-uss)
Greek author who wrote an account of the Greek myths
Asclepiades (uh-skleep-ee-ah-dees)
Greek doctor of the first century BC whose diet therapy made him popular
atrium (eh-tree-um)
the reception room in larger Roman homes, often with skylight and pool
Av
month of the Jewish year roughly corresponding with July/August; the First and Second Temples were destroyed on the ninth day of this month
Baal (bah-all)
a near Eastern storm-god despised by Jews, who worship only one God
barbiton (bar-bi-ton)
a kind of Greek bass lyre, but there is no evidence for a ‘Syrian barbiton’
Babylon (bab-ill-on)
ancient city near the Euprates River near modern Baghdad; it became the power centre first of the Babylonians and later of the Persians
Berenice (bare-uh-neece)
a beautiful Jewish Queen, from the family of Herod, aged about 50 when this story takes place
brazier (bray-zher)
coal-filled metal bowl on legs used to heat a room (like an ancient radiator)
Brundisium (brun-deez-ee-um)
important Roman port on the heel of Italy; modern Brindisi
Caelian (kai-lee-un) one of the seven hills of Rome, site of the Temple of Claudius and many homes
caldarium (kall-dar-ee-um)
hot room of the public baths with a hot plunge pool
Capitoline (kap-it-oh-line)
the Roman hill with the great Temple of Jupiter at its top; not as impressive today as it would have been in Flavia’s time
carruca (ka-ru-ka)
a four-wheeled travelling coach, often covered
Catullus (ka-tull-us)
Roman poet who lived about 140 years before this story takes place; famous for his passionate, witty and often rude poetry
cautery (caw-ter-ee)
the practice of burning living human flesh for medical purposes
cella (sell-uh)
inner room of a temple which usually housed a cult statue
ceramic (sir-am-ik)
clay which has been fired in a kiln, very hard and smooth
Cerberus (sir-burr-uss)
three-headed mythological hellhound who guards the gates of the Underworld
Circus Maximus (sir-kuss max-i-muss)
long race-course in the centre of Rome, at the western foot of the Palatine Hill
Claudius (klaw-dee-uss)
the fourth emperor of Rome; he ruled from AD 41 to AD 54
colonnade (call-a-nade)
a covered walkway lined with columns
compluvium (com-ploo-vee-um)
skylight in the atrium above the impluvium (rainwater pool)
Corinth (kor-inth)
Greek port town with a large Jewish population
Cumae (cue-my)
home of the Sybil near the Bay of Naples
Dido (die-doe)
Queen of Carthage in North Africa who loved Aeneas so much that she killed herself when he left her
domina (dom-in-ah)
a Latin word which means ‘mistress’; a polite form of address for a woman
Domitian (duh-mish-un)
the Emperor Titus’s younger brother, 29 when this story takes place
ephedron (eff-ed-ron)
a plant mentioned by Pliny the Elder, still used today in the treatment of asthma
Epidauros (ep-id-ow-ross)
Greek site of the sanctuary of Asklepios, the healing god
Erasistratus (air-rass-ist-rat-uss)
Greek doctor of the third century BC who lived in Alexandria
Esther (ess-tur)
beautiful Jewish exile to Babylon who became queen and saved her people from extinction, according to the book of the Bible named after her
Falernian (fal-air-nee-un)
&nbs
p; region in Campania widely believed to be the best for wine in Roman times
Faunus (fawn-uss)
mysterious woodland god who had a small sanctuary on the Tiber Island
Flavia (flay-vee-a)
a name, meaning ‘fair-haired’; Flavius is another form of this name
forum (for-um)
ancient marketplace and civic centre in Roman towns
freedman (freed-man)
a slave who has been granted freedom; his ex-master becomes his patron
frigidarium (frig-id-ar-ee-um)
the room of the public baths with the cold plunge pool
garum (gar-um)
popular sauce and seasoning made from fermented fish entrails
Haman (hay-man)
wicked man who wanted to wipe out the entire Jewish race according to the Biblical book of Esther
Hebrew (hee-brew)
holy language of the Old Testament, spoken by (religious) Jews in the first century
Hesiod (heess-ee-odd)
one of the most ancient Greek poets; he wrote poems about the creation of the world, the origin of the gods, and how to live
Hippocrates (hip-pock-rat-eez)
a famous Greek doctor who lived in the fifth century bc; often called ‘the father of medicine’
hubris (hyoo-briss)
Greek word for massive pride or arrogance, especially in defying the gods
humours
the theory of the ‘four humours’ was developed by the Greek doctor Hippocrates
hydromel (hi-dro-mel)
honey-water, a drink often prescribed to those who were ill
Ides (eyedz)
thirteenth day of most months in the Roman calendar (including February); in March, May, July and October, the Ides occur on the fifteenth day of the month
Josephus (jo-see-fuss)
ewish commander who surrendered to Vespasian, became Titus’s freedman and wrote The Jewish War, an account of the Jewish revolt in seven volumes
Judaea (jew-dee-uh)
ancient province of the Roman Empire; modern Israel
Juno (jew-no)
queen of the Roman gods and wife of the god Jupiter
Jupiter (jew-pit-er)
king of the Roman gods; together with his wife Juno and daughter Minerva he forms the Capitoline triad, the three main deities of Rome
Kalends (kal-ends)
the Kalends mark the first day of the month in the Roman calendar
kohl (kole)
dark powder used to darken eyelids or outline eyes
laconicum (luh-con-i-kum)
the hottest room in the Roman baths; the small laconicum had dry heat
lanista (la-niss-tuh)
the man who trains gladiators to fight in the arena
lararium (lar-ar-ee-um)
household shrine, often a chest with a miniature temple on top, sometimes a niche
Leto (lee-toe)
the divine mother of Apollo and Diana
Lupercalia (loo-purr-kal-ya)
a festival of purification and fertility on the Ides of February; two noble-born youths smeared with goat’s blood would run half naked through Rome, striking people with bloody strips of the sacrificed goat to make them fertile
Masada (m’-sod-uh)
Judean fortress which held out against besieging Roman legions for many months; finally in AD 73 the Jewish defenders committed suicide rather than surrender
memento mori (m’-men-to more-ee)
Latin for ‘reminder of death’ or ‘remember you will die’
Messiah (mess-eye-uh)
the Hebrew word for Christ; both words mean ‘anointed’ or ‘chosen’ one
Minerva (m’-nerve-ah)
goddess of wisdom and daughter of Jupiter
minotaur (mine-oh-torr)
mythical creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull
modus operandi (mo-duss op-er-an-dee)
Latin for ‘way of operating’ or ‘method of doing something’
mulsum (mul-some)
honey-sweetened wine most often drunk at the beginning of a meal
Nero (near-oh)
wicked Emperor; built the Golden House after the great fire of Rome in AD 64
Niobe (ny-oh-bee)
mother of seven sons and seven daughters who boasted she was better than Leto, who had only two; her story is a famous warning against hubris
Oedipus (ed-ip-uss)
a hero from Greek tragedy who unknowingly murdered his father and married his mother, then blinded himself when he discovered what he had done
Ostia (oss-tee-uh)
the port of ancient Rome and home town of Flavia and Jonathan ben Mordecai
Ovid (aw-vid)
famous Roman poet who lived about 70 years before this story
Palatine (pal-uh-tine)
one of the seven hills of Rome; the greenest and most pleasant; the site of successive imperial palaces (the word ‘palace’ comes from ‘Palatine’)
palla (pal-uh)
a woman’s cloak, could also be wrapped round the waist or worn over the head
papyrus (puh-pie-russ)
the cheapest writing material, made of pounded Egyptian reeds
Parentalia (pair-en-tal-ya)
A nine-day festival from 13 to 21 February in which the living remembered their dead ancestors. The first eight days were for private mourning and the last for public ceremonies. Temples usually closed during this festival
pergola (purr-go-luh)
an arbour or walkway made of plants trained to grow over trellis-work
peristyle (perry-style)
a columned walkway around an inner garden or courtyard
Perseus (purr-syooss)
mythological son of Jupiter and Danae, his task was to get Medusa’s head
plebs
the ordinary people, the lowest class of freeborn Romans
Pliny (plin-ee)
(the Elder) famous Roman author; died in the eruption of Vesuvius
Pollux
one of the famous twins of Greek mythology
porphyry (por-fur-ee)
a type of marble imported from Egypt; red porphyry was a deep burgundy colour evenly sprinkled with pink or white flecks
Purim (poor-im)
Jewish festival celebrating Queen Esther’s victory over the evil Haman
quotidian fever (quote-id-ee-un)
a fever that continues daily without abating
rostra (ross-tra)
the famous speakers’ platform in the Roman forum; it got its name from the prows (rostra) of conquered ships attached to it
Sabbath (sab-uth)
the Jewish day of rest, counted from Friday evening to Saturday evening
Saepta (sigh-ptah)
a colonnaded area north of the Capitoline Hill in the Campus Martius
scroll (skrole)
a papyrus or parchment ‘book’, unrolled from side to side as it was read.
sesterces (sess-tur-sees)
more than one sestertius, a brass coin. Four sesterces equal a denarius
shalom (shah-lome)
the Hebrew word for ‘peace’; can also mean ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye’
signet ring (sig-net ring)
ring with an image carved in it to be pressed into wax and used as a personal seal
Stabia (sta-bee-uh)
modern Castellammare di Stabia; a town south of Pompeii; also known as Stabiae
stola (stole-uh)
a long tunic worn mostly by Roman matrons (married women)
stylus (stile-us)
a metal, wood or ivory tool for writing on wax tablets
Subura (suh-burr-uh)
district of Rome near the Esquiline Hill known to be poor, noisy and dangerous
tac! (tak)
a shortened form of the Latin imperative ‘tace’ (‘be quiet’)
Tarpeian (tar-pay-un)
a cliff on the Capitoline Hill; traitors we
re executed by being thrown off it
Titus (tie-tuss)
Titus Flavius Vespasianus – aged 40 – was Emperor of Rome in AD 80
toga (toe-ga)
a blanket-like outer garment, worn by freeborn men and boys, and by disreputable women
Torah (tor-uh)
Hebrew word meaning ‘law’ or ‘instruction’. It can refer to the first five books of the Bible or to the entire Old Testament
triclinium (trick-lin-ee-um)
ancient Roman dining room, usually with three couches to recline on
tunic (tew-nic)
a piece of clothing like a big T-shirt; children often wore a long-sleeved one
Vespasian (vess-pay-zhun)
Roman Emperor who died eight months before this story begins; Titus’s father
Vesuvius (vuh-soo-vee-yus) the volcano near Naples which erupted on 24 August AD 79
vigiles (vig-ill-aze)
the policemen/firemen of ancient Rome; the word means ‘watchmen’
Virgil (vur-jill)
a famous Latin poet who died about 60 years before this story takes place
wax tablet
a wax-covered rectangle of wood used for making notes
Xerxes (zurk-sees)
King of Persia in the fifth century BC; according to the Bible, the Jewish beauty Esther was one of his queens; later Xerxes fought the Greeks and was defeated
We know from at least two Roman historians that there was a plague and fire in Rome in the winter months of AD 80, during the reign of Titus. We don’t know much about the plague, but we do know that the fire destroyed the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus as well as the sacred buildings around it and the area to the northwest, below the Capitoline Hill.
That much of this story is true.
The rest is made up. There were no such people as Susannah, Agathus, Delilah, Bigtha, Biztha, Simeon, Rizpah or Senator Cornix.
The Emperor Titus was a real person, of course, as was Josephus, the famous Jewish historian under his protection. The beautiful Jewish queen Berenice existed, too. She really was Titus’s lover but left Rome shortly after Titus became Emperor. Historians do not know what happened to her after that. There is no evidence that she came back to Rome in AD 80.
However, there is a rumour that Berenice acquired certain holy objects from the great Temple of God in Jerusalem after it was destroyed in AD 70; the curtain of the Temple and perhaps the ark of the covenant, too.
To this day nobody knows what happened to those objects. Or if they do know, they’re not telling.
The Roman Mysteries Complete Collection Page 96