The Hadrian Enigma - A Forbidden History

by George Gardiner

  He recollected the lad’s drowning had induced two beheadings, one death by over-zealous torture, three disappearances, plus a glut of conspiracy theories to complicate the basic search for a motive. As the hours towards the appointment with Hadrian raced by, the number of issues multiplied, not declined. A further query arose in his mind.

  “Tell me Centurion, how did you manage to find us here at The Alexandros jetty?”

  Urbicus expressed surprise at the question. He hesitated before responding.

  “Why, my lord,” he uttered with obvious sincerity, “we had been searching for your party in the vicinity of Senator Arrian’s chambers to make our report, but then spied you and your colleagues at this river landing from a distance. It was accidental. But having reported, we request we receive your further instructions.”

  The guardsman from Alexandria was collectedly cool in his response. Suetonius wondered if he was perhaps too cool, and his eyes turned to Surisca for a shared opinion. Clarus interrupted.

  “Yes, Praetorian,” Clarus declaimed, “this is our instruction. We must urgently locate the two friends of Antinous, Lysias and the girl Thais, before anyone else apprehends them and does them harm. Continue your search for the couple. Assign further troops to the search if necessary through Tribune Macedo. Do whatever is necessary to secure their safety! Certainly let there be no accidents with the couple, we don’t wish to lose further sources of testimony.”

  “It will be done, sir,” Urbicus confirmed. He snapped to attention as his troop swept their helmets to their heads in unison, saluted in military style, and marched off .

  “Strabon, did you record the past few minute’s conversation?” Suetonius enquired.

  “Indeed I have, Special Inspector,” the scribe responded.

  “Good. Keep those tablets close in a safe place. Something is amiss here, gentlemen,” Suetonius confided insecurely, “and I’m not at all sure what it is. Any thoughts, anybody?”

  He cast his eyes over his trio of companions. Surisca cautiously raised a finger.

  “Speak, my dear,” the biographer prompted. Surisca spoke hesitantly.

  “Master, forgive my impertinence, but when the centurion and his soldiers were approaching I had the definite feeling it was not My Masters they were coming to visit. To my eye, it was this jetty to the barque they were approaching,” she offered, “not the enjoyment of your company.”

  “To this jetty?” Clarus enquired with a hint of exasperation. “Meaning what especially, woman?”

  “I sensed, sir, they were at this wharf to travel to where you yourselves are travelling, not to report to your lordships, as they claim. They were on their way to that mighty vessel offshore.”

  “I felt the same, my lords,” Strabon added to Surisca’s comments. “I sensed they were surprised to come across us at this place. The centurion had not really expected to meet us here.”

  “You mean they were on their way to visit the Prefect Governor aboard The Alexandros, not talk with us as they claimed?” Clarus rationalized.

  “Except, my good Clarus,” Suetonius intruded, “the centurion pointedly told us it was our company he was seeking, not the governor’s. We have another contradiction to contend with. Yet instead of such mere speculation, my friends, let’s pay the good governor a visit ourselves to find out.”

  The main deck of The Alexandros was an open area shaded under a filmy canopy emblazoned with the Alexandrine starburst. It provided space for entertainments, feasts, ceremonies, or juridical occasions.

  The barque’s decoration was an elaborate fantasy of carved timbers inset with honey-hued porthole windows of thin alabaster. A riot of sculpted figures depicting the victories of Alexander over his enemies graced its exterior. Similar to its larger companion The Dionysus, the governor’s barque was a visible demonstration of the opulence and power of Rome to her provincial Egyptian subjects.

  The Prefect Governor was seated upon his chair-of-state on a rostrum under the midday glare diffused by the canopy. Flavius Titianus was attended by several staff, guards, a scribe at a lectern desk, and young pages. They were engaged in business when Titianus spied his visitors awaiting his attention. He rose from his seat and dismissed all his attendants except one.

  “Come forward, gentlemen!” he called aloud to his visitors. “Make yourself known!”

  Suetonius, Clarus, Strabon, and a hesitant Surisca approached the throne. Suetonius coaxed the Syri to follow close behind him despite her non-status as a non-person.

  “Greetings, Prefect Governor,” Clarus responded. “We salute you. Hail Caesar!”

  “Senator Clarus and Suetonius Tranquillus, all hail!” was the reply.

  Titianus was in his early forties, short of stature, thickset, and of sturdy farmer stock in the classic Roman soldierly way. He exuded the prim but efficient air of a practical man who gets things done. Titianus had the emperor’s complete confidence in his management of the Empire’s most important province, Egypt. The African colonies are Rome’s bread basket.

  Titianus has the obligation of ensuring an inexhaustible supply of grain to Rome. He must also secure from pirates the Red Sea trade with Nabataea, Arabia Felix, India and the farther mysterious Orient. A further priority is to encourage the capture of wild animals from beyond the distant lands of Kush and Punt in the African hinterland for the Empire’s blood-sports arenas. Overall, Hadrian’s governor had forbidding responsibilities. Not least among these were the strict control of the various ethnic, class, and religious rivalries which repeatedly threatened to explode across his jurisdiction and jeopardize these chores.

  “What brings you to my office, gentlemen? And without an appointment,” Titianus asked in the abrupt manner of a military man. He gathered his toga’s folds and re-seated himself upon his throne of office, waving to his visitors to take their seat in the elegant chairs arranged before him.

  Clarus rose to address the governor.

  “Prefect Governor, we come on Caesar’s instruction. We have been commissioned by Caesar to investigate the recent death of the Companion of the Hunt, Antinous of Bithynia,” Clarus announced grandly while holding the slender ivory-spined scroll high as his authority. “We are charged to complete our investigation by dawn tomorrow and report our findings to Caesar. We are here to enquire your views of the boy’s death and seek any relevant information you or your officers may possess about the manner of his death.”

  Titianus sat immobile for a few moments contemplating this presentation. He stared at Clarus with an unwaveringly searching eye.

  “Well, you’d better get underway, hadn’t you? Tomorrow’s dawn is about eighteen hours away. Ask of me what you will, gentlemen. I will respond appropriately,” he stated flatly.

  “We’re to take notation of your views and testimony, my lord. Our scribe is to record our interviews for Caesar’s information, and so requires a preceding statement of your titles and honors, Prefect Governor.”

  Titianus rested back in his high chair as a tired, impatient expression cast across his features. It was evident the governor was not especially interested in this intrusion upon his day’s chores, and the sooner it was over the better. He began sharply.

  “I do not announce my titles to my inferiors, Senator Septicius Clarus, I have a secretary for that purpose. He’ll give you the details. Let’s get on with it.”

  Titianus waved to the secretary to perform. The Greek took the hint and proclaimed loudly to Strabon..

  “Scribe, take note. This is the testimony of His Excellency Titus Flavius Titianus, Caesar’s appointed Prefect Governor of the Imperial province of Upper and Lower Egypt. His Excellency has served Great Caesar in Roman Asia, Gaul, and Rome itself since the time of his succession. He is married to a wife resident at Rome, and has four children by her.”

  Titianus waved impatiently to his secretary to cease and leave-out out the long list of titles and honors which usually followed. He waited impatiently for an interview question.

  �
��What is your understanding of the nature of the death of the youth Antinous?” Suetonius asked.

  Titianus shifted peevishly on his throne.

  “Special Inspector, all I can surmise is that the lad fell overboard after a drunken revel, or suchlike. I have no idea what may have transpired with the fellow,” he offered brusquely.

  “Do you possess any knowledge about the young man’s movements on the day of his death, the first day of the Festival of Isis, or what company he may have kept?”

  “No, I do not.”.

  “We have received the impression he may have had at least one sexual assignation on the day of his death with a person or persons unknown. Are you aware of his activities on that day which may interest us, or know of such persons?” the biographer queried.

  “Gentlemen, I am the governor of this province. I do not bother myself with the sexual exploits or peccadilloes of my subjects, let alone passing tourists to this land. These are not affairs of substance to me. Let’s move on,” Titianus concluded dismissively.

  Suetonius was not deterred.

  “We have been told, my lord, how you and your companion, the lady Anna Perenna, had shared some time with the Bithynian in recent times?” the Special Inspector continued. “Perhaps you possess observations of the character of the deceased which might reflect upon our investigations and provide insight into his death?”

  Titianus responded warily.

  “Firstly, my involvement with Caesar’s Favorite has been transient and nominal; I do not share the society of Companions of the Hunt or Caesar’s intimates unless the Imperial couple is attending or there’s a State significance.

  Secondly, the Lady Anna Perenna is no business of your enquiry, gentlemen. This woman is my client and my companion who is under my protection, that’s all. She possesses no value to your endeavors. May we please wind up this fishing expedition for scandals, I have other business to attend.”

  Suetonius decided he needed a change of tack to engage the governor’s greater interest and explore certain areas of enquiry.

  “My lord, is it possible that Antinous of Bithynia shared private time with your ward and companion?” Suetonius asked with just the barest hint of provocation.

  Clarus looked to his Special Inspector in cool dismay; he could not recall such a possibility being aired in any testimony provided thus far. Titianus was startled by the question. It had an unsubtle implication.

  “Special Inspector Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, the affairs of those under the protection of my household are no concern to you. My good lady, the priestess Anna Perenna, is within the oversight of myself and my staff at all times,” he stated with clear precision. “My ward and companion has met the youth Antinous on only a handful of occasions, each occasion being in my own company or in the company of those I appoint to protect her.

  I assure you, the lady has had little opportunity to enjoy the pleasant society of young men like Antinous in private, if this is your suggestion. I suggest you reconsider your line of questioning.”

  “Who do you appoint to protect the lady, my lord Governor?” Suetonius probed further.

  “This too is no matter of yours, Tranquillus. I appoint reliable officers of my Guard to such duties. In fact, the Lady Perenna has a permanent bodyguard corps assigned to her protection under a senior officer of indisputable regard,” the governor proclaimed.

  “Who is this officer, my lord Governor?” the Special Inspector queried.

  “Why, the officer in charge of her security corps is an Alexandrian centurion I hold in high esteem who shows great promise for the future. He is an achievement-oriented leader of men, an unusual quality in recruits from the African colonies, and he takes initiative well,” Titianus explained.

  “What is his name?” Suetonius searched further.

  “Centurion Quintus Urbicus of Numidia. He’s been with my Alexandrian Praetorians for two years now,” the governor stated.

  The team of four emitted a faint sigh of recognition.

  “Are you aware, my lord Governor, that Centurion Quintus Urbicus has been assigned to support our investigations into the death of Antinous?” Clarus interjected.

  “No, I am not, Senator. But such things are possible for a short period without my direct attention. My staff is very efficient. When was he assigned?” Titianus queried.

  “I would have thought you might be across such an assignment?” Suetonius commented. “He was assigned yesterday on Tribune Macedo’s orders. Are you also aware that Quintus Urbicus was one of those nearby to haul the Bithynian’s body from the river’s water when two Egyptian fishermen discovered the drowned youth at dawn yesterday?”

  “No, of that too I am not aware. Yet such coincidences do happen, gentlemen. Someone had to find the body eventually. Urbicus’s assignment to you will be quite legitimate. He’s an effective officer, and his command of the local customs and tongues is probably useful to you, yes?” Titianus rationalized.

  “Indeed. Prior to his assignment to us yesterday, what would Centurion Urbicus and his troops have been doing in the vicinity of the drowned youth by the riverside at earliest dawn?” the Special Inspector raised speculatively. At last Titianus appeared to be showing greater interest in the group’s enquiries.

  “I have absolutely no idea, Suetonius. You should be asking Urbicus, not me. The previous night I attended a formal banquet at Hadrian’s apartments celebrating The Isia. Caesar has reason to honor the festival this year. There were many at the banquet, including new guests to Caesar’s tour, but it didn’t include the youth Antinous as I recall,” the governor reminisced. “Hadrian’s candidate for possible adoption as his son, Senator Lucius Ceionius Commodus, was the guest of honor. It seems the adoption will be proceeding sometime soon, despite great resistance to it in some quarters. It puts Lucius on the path to nailing the succession, they say, should Caesar pass away suddenly, perish the thought.

  Also, I’m told there’s bad blood between him and Antinous, so perhaps the Bithynian lad diplomatically stayed away? But by dawn I was still fast asleep on my banquet couch. Too much roast pork and Falernian, I’d say, plus other amusements.”

  “Did the Lady Anna Perenna celebrate with you too?” Suetonius probed.

  “No, it was a men-only affair of course,” Titianus explained. “Besides My Lady has her own rites to address. The three days of the death and resurrection of Osiris are sacred to her cult too. The influence of Isis is ubiquitous across the Empire these days. The two cults are very similar, I’m told.

  My companion, the priestess, has enclosed herself for the first three days of The Isia. I doubt I shall see her until the official mourning period is over and the feasting begins.”

  “My lord, what did you mean Caesar has reason to honor the occasion?” the biographer continued his queries.

  Titianus moved forward in his throne as though to share a confidence. He spoke low.

  “I suppose, gentlemen, you are sufficiently senior to receive the following news, if you promise me absolute confidentiality. Caesar and I have spent months preparing our announcement of the foundation of a new metropolis in Middle Egypt. It’s been a secret, if such elaborate plans can ever be kept secret.

  At last I’ve persuaded Hadrian how central Egypt needs an influx of Roman and Greek settlers to act as a barrier against future incursions by rebels, invaders, or a local uprising. The old cities of Memphis, Hermopolis, and Thebes are stocked mainly with indigenous Egyptians because the previous Ptolemy regime allowed the Hellene population to be nominal outside Alexandria.

  But these Egyptians are not a fighting people, as we rudely learned fifteen years ago when the Jewish community rose across Africa against Trajan under their pretender-messiah king, Lucuas. These rebels destroyed many of our temples and killed huge numbers until Turbo finally put them down.

  So now we need sturdy, discharged legionnaires to colonize the area and repopulate it with families of new blood. Roman and Greek blood, that is, in a new city.
They are to be a buffer here so insurrection will not succeed again. We will allocate substantial gifts of land, seed, and money at this place to make it happen, despite so many others across the Empire making claims to Rome’s priorities.

  The new city will require a huge investment of manpower and moneys. Caesar will persuade the Senate to appropriate the necessary wealth and arms, and Rome’s leading financiers will support its construction. But at the end of the day it will require the new settlers to be cohesively unified for the plan to provide its defensive bulwark. Cohesion is essential.”

  “What will the city be called?” Clarus asked.

  “In Caesar’s honor and to encourage cohesion, I have recommended Hadrianopolis,” the governor declared. “This might be why Caesar is so engrossed. It will carry his name into history.”

  Suetonius was prompted to remember a detail which troubled him the previous evening at the priest Kenamun’s riverside embalming pavilion.

  “My lord, last night we met a citizen of Greek blood from the Fayum Oasis who is a painter of portraits for funerals. He is a sculptor too. His name is Cronon, and he told us he’d been invited to this encampment many weeks ago,” Suetonius posed, “well prior to the Bithynian’s drowning. Would such a tradesman be summoned to attend your announcement?”

  “Indeed,” the governor affirmed, “my staff has assembled many, many artisans for Caesar’s announcement, to discuss the planning of the new city. They’ve been sheltered at a camp site outside the nearby village and told not to talk of it.”

  “Then it’s plausible after all that Cronon could have been invited to this camp by the Priest of Amun, Pachrates from Memphis, well prior to The Isia and Antinous’s death?”

  “Yes, that’s possible,” the Governor acknowledged.

  Suetonius and Clarus now had reason to accept Kenamun’s protestations on the previous evening. Titianus continued.

  “But the priest Pachrates is an ambitious fellow, my friends. His like are very cunning. And he’s found favor in Hadrian’s eyes.

  Pachrates understands the peculiarities of the Roman, Greek, and the Egyptian views of life, and so offers advice on how to implement our plans among each community. I’m told the dead youth was especially impressed by Pachrates’ magical arts,” Titianus confirmed. “So the wizard’s input and contacts have been welcomed by Caesar. But for my money that priest is too clever by half. He’s not a man to trust.”