by Quinn, Jack
Lowry was shocked. “You’re supposed to be dead.”
Cassandra knelt beside Andrea and cradled her head in her lap, her lips moving against the stricken reporter’s ear. She grasped Andrea’s hand. “Rise up.”
Lowry’s laugh was derisive. “Another deranged fanatic.”
Andrea slowly sat erect, her eyes closed, her expression calm and placid.
“Rise up,” Hannah commanded again.
Andrea opened her eyes as if awakening from a troubled sleep. She took a deep breath as Hannah helped her to her feet, standing without effort, unsteady, though dazed and confused.
The AmerAsian woman addressed the live camcorder. “I am Hannah Ogie, the Messiah of the Third Millennium.” She opened her blouse, lowering the top of her brassiere to expose a gauze bandage taped above her left breast. She removed the bandage revealing the open wound on the thirty-caliber bullet that had been shot into her heart by the cleric assassin. When Sammy came in for a close-up, the jagged hole appeared red and recent, clearly replicated on video screens
throughout the world.
Hannah turned her face toward the ceiling, her arms outstretched, the long wide sleeves of her white blouse billowing in the breeze from the open door, a soft penumbra outlining her body, diminishing the surrounding area and figures to shadow.
“I bring you a message from God.”
She fixed her gaze on the lens of the camcorder as Sammy continued transmitting her image to seven billion television viewers, her words heard by each person in her and his native tongue.
“Peace.”
Virtually every pair of lips in every nation across the globe repeated the word with utter amazement, understanding and emotion, so that it rang out and echoed across the heavens as a single voice taking a personal pledge to their God.
“PEACE.”
THE BEGINNING
APPENDIX
Bibliography
THE ARTIFACT is entirely a work of fiction. With the exception of historical facts (i.e. the Roman War, gladiator combat, and the 2003 Iraq War), every concept, scene and event are the product of my imagination. Many of the story elements, however, are based on valid historical documents, in addition to the assumptions, postulations and conclusions of historians and religious scholars of ancient Palestine, Rome and Christianity during Common Era Year One to Seventy-Two.
For example, an extant census conducted by Herod in CE Seven cited James (who ultimately became a high priest in the Sanhedrin), as the first born of Joseph and Mary of Nazareth; Yehoshua (Jesus) their second child; three daughters about little was recorded; and a third son, Simon.
Any apparent or actual errors are either made on purpose to abet story intent or are mine.
A list of my readings and research for background material and a plausible framework for this novel is contained below. I am indebted to the authors of theses fascinating works that have also jumpstarted my creativity during the past seven-year incubation of Artifact.
TITLE AUTHOR
Acts of the Apostles & Letters of St. Paul, The Ridley, Lewis E.
Bible as History, The Keller, Werner
Birth of Christianity, The Carmichael, Joel
Boots on the Ground Zinsmeister, Karl
Everyday Life in Ancient Times National Geographic
Fall of Baghdad, The Anderson, Jon Lee
First Century The Klingaman
From Jesus to Christ Fredriksen, Paula
TITLE AUTHOR
Gift of the Jews, The Cahill, Thomas
Gladiators, 100 BC-AD 200 Wisdom, Stephen
Gnostic Gospels, The Pagels, Elaine
Gospel According to the Son, The Mailer, Norman
Hammond’s Atlas of the Bible Lands Frank, Thomas
Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews Fredriksen, Paula
Jesus, A Life Wilson, A. N.
Jesus, a Revolutionary Biography Crossan, Dominic
Jews in the Time of Jesus, The Wylen, Stephen M.
Jews—History to 70 AD (various)
Life in Ancient Rome Cowell, F. R.
March Up (Taking Baghdad 1st Marines), The West, Bing &
Gen. Ray L. Smith
Messiah, The Vidal, Gore
History of the Bible, The Oxford Press
Penguin Atlas of Ancient History, The McEvedt, Colin
21 Days to Baghdad Time, (Eds.)
View from Nebo, The Marcus, Amy Dockser
Wall Map of Ancient Holy Land (Internet/Wikipedia)
Way of the Gladiator, The Mannix, Daniel P.
Writings of St. Paul, The Meeks, Wayne A. (Ed.)
GLOSSARY
My rationale behind the intentional inconsistencies of some Latin words and phrases, plus differing standards of measurement is the alleged interpretive translations of several different ancient language, history experts, paleontologists, philologists and archeologists. Successful or distracting, it was merely my attempt to make the circumstances of the discovery of Shimon’s fictional autobiography more credible.
Some of the following dates may seem contradictory, because certain Hebrew “month” designations include two of our modern Gregorian calendar months: i.e. Cheshvan = October and November.
TEXT TRANSLATION FOOTNOTE #
Dates
Av 3752 CE 5 July 4.
Cheshvan 3766 CE 20 October/November 21.
CE 35 October Chapter 18.Cheshvan 3781
Elu 3766 CE 20 August 5.
Iyar 3767 CE 21 May (C18 section)
CE 66 May (C22 section)Iyar 3812
Iyar 3818 CE 72 May Chapter 16.
Iyar 3818 CE 72 May Shimon’s Signature
CE 36 May (C21 section)Iyar 3782
CE 3783 (C21 section)Iyar 3783
Shevat 3762 CE 16 February (C16 section)
Nissan 3767 CE 21 March (C18 text)
Sivan 3765 CE 18 June Chapter 17.
Sivan 3789 CE 43 May Chapter 22.
TEXT TRANSLATION FOOTNOTE #
Tammuz 3766 CE 20 June (C17 section)
CE 33 June (C20 section)Tammuz 3779
Tishri 3766 CE 20 September Chapter 18.
Tishri 3813 CE 67 October (text)
182 meters. 93.akt 5,460
altar Forty-seven feet long. 40.
amphitheaters numbering about 200 in Rome and throughout 64.
the provinces.
ancilla attendant, best man. 27.
Ave Caesar, morituri te We who are about to die salute the Emperor! 82.
salutamus!
balteus wide leather belt worn by most gladiators. 76.
bestiarii slaves trained to wrestle and slay animals in the arena. 42.
Caiaphas Roman appointed Jewish high Priest. 31.
carcare a cave-like tunnel below the amphitheater leading 61.
to the Gate of Life, from which gladiators entered
the arena before a contest, exited after successful
combat; from which contestants of the day’s games
entered to parade before the Emperor and spectators
at the beginning of the “games.”
Charon the ferryman who conveys the dead to Hades 45.
over the river Styx. (Greek mythology).
Circus Maximus the open stadium in Rome with tiered seats 74.
where gladiatorial games were held, measuring 600
x 200 yards with 250,000 tiered wooden seats;
chariots raced around a raised center platform down
its length.
cohort about 1,000 soldiers 14.
TEXT TRANSLATION FOOTNOTE #
corban Pesach sacrificial lamb. 35.
cubit 200 x 400 yards. 37.
Deus ex machin God descending from a machine 89.
(Greek theatrical term).
coinage. 12.Dinari basic
doctore an ex gladiator, fight trainer in gladiator school. 47.
editors politicians, senators or wealthy citizens who 59.
sponsored a day or period of games.
etrogim a lemon fruit pilgrims brought to the Temple. 36.
familia a group of gladiators owned by the same lanista. 58.
fascina sharp trident with long shaft. 53.
ferrum recipere to take the iron: a defeated man kneels, clasps his 63.
arms around the victor’s knees to take the death
plunge of a sword in the neck.
galerus protective shoulder guard 77.
54.gladiatorii traditional gladiators
gladius 27” straight sword. 88.
goyim non-believers in Judaism . 39.
greaves padded brass protector for lower legs and shins. 49.
86Habet! Hoc habet! You have him! He’s had it! .
halakic the legal strictures of the Talmud. 91.
harena the sand. 43.
hoplomachus similar to Thracian attire, but on horseback, 68.
heavily armored with small, round, bronze
shield and long spear.
huppah an awning of bright cloth. 24.
TEXT TRANSLATION FOOTNOTE #
Igula! Igula! Igula Kill! Kill! Kill! 85.
Is postuto ut brace ambulo. He needs that brace to walk. 7.
Kingdom of God Torah prophecy that oppressors of Jews would 33.
be overcome they would be free from persecution.
kinnor a stringed musical instrument. 23.
lanista an old gladiator who purchased his freedom and 44.
bought/manages/promotes younger gladiators
for profit.
legion about 5,000 infantry soldiers. 2.
legionnaires an infantry soldier 3.
Liquidus! Liquidus ! Limp! Limp! Limp! 8.
Liquidus!
Ludi incipien Let the games begin! 79.
(text)manica arm defense made of leather or metal.
Mare Magnum Veinternum Mediterranean Sea. 84.
Mary Magdala so called because she and her deceased 90.
husband had lived in Magdala.
mattan a gift from groom to bride. 20.
Mer Mare Mediterranean Sea. 69.
meridiana second rate gladiators. 72.
mikvah ritual bath for cleansing or purification. 32.
milia passumm statute miles. 1.
missus a loser whose life was spared. 60.
mistitha wedding drinking party. 16.
mohar dowry from groom’s father to bride’s father. 17.
most pious (James) Referred to in historical texts as “Upright James” 30.
TEXT TRANSLATION FOOTNOTE #
myrmillo wore helmet with dorsal fin on crest, face plate 50.
with small eye-holes, gladius, greave (on left leg),
manica, scutum, lightly armored for agility vs. Retiarius.
Natzerat Illit township of Nazareth 5.
noxii guilty of robbery, rape, murder, sentenced to 55.
fight to the death en mass or unarmed against
professional gladiators.
Original Judah rebel agitator crucified circa 3747 (CE 1) 26.
The Galilean grandfather to current Judah, leader of
Zealots & Sicarii.
Pax Romana the peace imposed by Rome on conquered nations. 38.
periit to be killed. 70.
28.Pesach Passover, exodus
pompa a ceremonial parade opening a day of games. 80.
primus palus a gladiator at the pinnacle of his craft. 66.
Probatio armorum a procedure to ensure weapons are sharp. 81.
Procul omen abesto. Far be that from us. 10.
Provocators characterized by heavily armed swordsmen 57.
at least 5’4”-5’7” tall, characterized by large
bulbous helmet, cardiophylax (breastplate)
gladius, greaves, manica and scutum.
pugio short curved dagger. 75.
retiarius armed with trident, dagger and throwing rete (net). 52.
round a headband of pouches containing religious items. 22.
S.P.Q.R. The Senate and People of Rome. 73.
scutum wooden cavalry shield. 11.
secutor a gladiator armed as a legionnaire with large scutum 46.
(oblong shield) and gladius. (27” straight sword).
TEXT TRANSLATION FOOTNOTE #
shechar a light beer of barley and millet. 19.
shekels an ounce of silver could purchase a fine vase. 18.
Sicarii rebel activists, Daggermen, who created fear 25.
among Roman citizens and sympathizers by
infiltrating crowds to stab and flee.
83.Sine missus! Sine missus Certain death! Certain death!
soudarion a cloth tied around the head to hold the jaw in place. 41.
stans missus when the crowd spares the lives of both 65.
combatants who fought well.
subligaculum a canvas loincloth worn by most gladiators. 62.
Subsisto alive Stay alive 67.
Subsisto! Vultus a foetidus Stop! Look, a stinking crippled Jew. 6.
claudus Jew!
tameh impure 34.
Thracian wields 17” curved slashing sword, wide brim plumed 51.
helmet with griffin, manica (protective leather sleeve).
tironae portable lounge chair borne by slaves 71.
tsa’ad a days journey 28.
tuba a long straight brass trumpet. 78.
Uri, vinciri, uerberari To endure burning with fire, shackling 46.
ferroque necari. with chains whipped with rods and
killed with steel.
Vado in, permissum nos Go on, let us see you run! 9.
velox.
virtus manly strength. 84.
Zealots Jewish rebels who openly advocated 13.
the forceful overthrow of the Roman
occupation of Palestine.
2 380 statute miles. (Also see GLOSSARY in Appendix.)
3 about 5,000 infantry soldiers.
4 Roman soldiers.
July5
6 township of Nazareth.
“Stop! Look, a stinking crippled Jew.”7
8 “He needs that brace to walk.”
9 “Limp! Limp! Limp!”
10 “Go on, let us see you run!”
11 Far be that fate from us ( Ovid, Roman poet, 43BCE—CE 17)
12 wooden cavalry shield
13 money.
14 Jewish rebels who openly advocated the overthrow of the Roman occupation of Palestine.
15 about 1,000 soldiers
16 August
17 Wedding, carouse, drinking party.
18 Dowry from groom’s father to bride’s father.
19 An ounce of silver could purchase a fine vase.
20 A light beer of barley and millet.
21 A gift from groom to bride.
22 October/November.
23 A headband of pouches containing religious items.
24 A stringed musical instrument.
25 An awning of bright cloth.
26 Zealots who infiltrated Roman crowds and sympathizers to stab and flee.
27 Rebel agitator crucified circa 3747 (CE 1), grandfather to current Judah, Sicarii/Zealot leader.
28 Attendant, best man.
29 Passover, Exodus.
30 A day’s journey.
31 Referred to in historical texts as ‘Upright James’.
32 Roman-appointed Jewish high priest
33 ritual bath for cleansing or purification.
34 Torah prophecy that oppressors of Jews would be overcome and they would be free from persecution.
35 Impure.
36 Sacrificial lamb.
37 A lemon fruit pilgrims brought to the Temple.
38 200 x 400 yards.
39 the peace imposed by Roman on conquered nations.
40 Nonbelievers in Judaism.
41 Forty-seven feet long.
42 a cloth tied around the head to hold the jaw in place.
43 Slaves trained to wrestle and slay animals in the arena.
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44 sand
45 an old gladiator who has purchased his freedom and buys/manages/promotes younger gladiators for profit.
46 The ferryman who conveys the dead across the river Styx to Hades.
47 “To endure burning with fire, shackling with chains, whipped with rods and killed with steel.”
48 an ex gladiator, fight trainer in gladiator school.
49 a gladiator armed as a legionnaire with large scutum (large oblong shield) and gladius (27” straight sword)
50 Padded brass protector for lower legs and shins.
51 wears helmet with dorsal fin on crest, face plate with small eye-holes, gladius, greave (on left leg), manica
(protective leather sleeve on sword arm), scutum, lightly armored for agility vs. Retiarius.
52 wields 17” curved slashing sword, wide brim plumed helmet with griffin, manica, greaves, subligaculum (canvas
loincloth).
53 Armed with trident, dagger and throwing rete (net).
54 Sharp trident with long shaft.
55 Traditional gladiators.
56 Guilty of robbery, rape, murder, sentenced to fight to the death en mass or unarmed against professional gladiators.
57 A group of gladiators owned by the same lanista.
58 Characterized by heavily armed swordsmen, at least 5’4”-5”7” tall with large bulbous helmet, cardiophylax
(breastplate) gladius, greaves manica and scutum.
59 A group of gladiators owned by the same lanista.
60 politicians, senators or wealthy citizens who sponsored a day or period of games.
61 A loser whose life was spared.