Vittorio Carvelli

The Story of Gracchus

LIBRI VI CONTINUATIO
Continuation of the Sixth Book

Chapters 41-

XLI. Nox sub Stellae, Pars II
41. Night under the Stars, part 2

Marcus et Titus
Marcus and Titus

There was a lot of clearing up to do, so the curtain (now a deep shade of blue) was raised, while Domus-slaves removed Glaucus' corpse, shovelled up the sand that he had fouled in his final moments, along with most of the remaining sand. What had been the combat area was then quickly and efficiently covered with boards, stained dark blue, to provide a firm surface for the slave-boys to 'perform' on. Meanwhile, Petronius had been dispatched to the basement in order for him to ensure that there were no more problems with the now wet and sodden slaves. In the pavilion, Marcus invited Titus to 'stretch his legs', while the preparations for the second part of the evening were made.

As they slowly strolled round the finely proportioned Ionic colonnade that surround the 'entertainment' area, the soft sound of music, along with the scent of sandalwood wafting from marble and gilt bronze burners, filled the warm evening air.

"I see you have ὕδραυλις," Titus commented, showing off his Greek.

ὕδραυλις, hydraulis, water organ was invented by Ctesibius (the first head of the Library of Alexandria) in the 3rd century BC. The hydraulis was the world's first keyboard instrument. Ctesibius devised several different kinds of pumps, and used one to pump air at a constant pressure through the organ. Air is pumped (by an assistant) into the box on the bottom, then released through the pipes when the player presses a key. The water portion of the organ is used to regulate the pressure, so that the organ produces a consistent tone and volume.

"Yes, I have one here, that I brought from Baiae, and I also have had one installed in the amphitheatre in Baiae. I like the sound very much, I find it very soothing," Marcus explained.

"You see… it's those dammed Greeks, so clever!" Titus said, obviously now relaxing after the excitement of the combats.

"I do hope that you were not too disappointed by the wrestlers and gladiators, such as they were," Marcus said apologetically.

"Not at all, Marcus. You know you get so bored by these professional chaps, coming out with the same repeatedly rehearsed moves, and then one 'takes a dive', and because the fighting looks so good, you have to let him be spared. The problem is, it's not real fighting, and I should know," Titus replied.

"Indeed…," Marcus agreed, aware that Titus had years of experience of real fighting leading his legions.

"Now your boys had little or no training, but knew that they had to really fight as well as they were able, and the winners did really well, and even the boys who were killed managed to 'take it', without too much pleading and crying, very good… No, I enjoyed the entertainment you put on… excellent!" Titus said enthusiastically, slapping Marcus on the back.

It had been a long time since anyone had slapped Marcus on the back with boyish enthusiasm. The last time had been when he had been with his young Greek friends in Athens. Now that he was Dominus, he was effectively 'untouchable', except when he was having sex with a slave, and then the touching was 'mannered' and deferential, even if it was intimate and sexual. But then perhaps it was only a person of Titus' status who could relate at a level of 'equality' with Marcus, as his friends in Athens had done. Marcus and Titus then returned to the pavilion.

By then Terentius and Novius and Demetrius had tactfully withdrawn, allowing Marcus and Titus to engage in private discussion. Terentius and Novius stayed close by, in case Marcus required their advice on any matter arising from his talks with Titus.

Demetrius had been provided with an elaborately decorated Hellenic style chair and small table by slaves, so that he could take refreshments while watching the dancing troupe, and Aelius stood nearby, ready to provide any service that his young master might require. Echelaos, the boys' dancing master, also stood, unobtrusively, nearby, making discreet, and apparently pre-arranged hand gestures, which he used to guide his troupe in their steps.

The dancing style common in Rome was based on Greek dance (χορός), which was referred to by authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian. The dance that had taught to the boys by Echelaos, for this occasion, was the Κόρδαξ 'cordax', which was a provocative, licentious, and often (by modern standards) obscene dance. In his play Νεφέλαι (The Clouds), Ἀριστοφάνης (Aristophanes) complains that other playwrights of his time try to hide the feebleness of their plays by bringing dancers onto the stage to dance the cordax. He notes with pride that his patrons will not find such gimmicks in his plays. Petronius (the Roman author- and not the character in this story) in his Roman novel the Satyricon has Trimalchio boast to his dinner guests that no one dances the 'cordax' better than his wife, Fortunata (?). The nature of this dance is described in the satires of Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis, (Juvenal), who says 'the dancers, encouraged by applause, sink to the ground with tremulous buttocks.' The Roman poet Horace, and the Roman playwright Plautus refer to the same dance as iconicus motus (iconic movement). Not surprisingly it was a very popular dance, but only ever watched by patricians, and never danced by them, patricians did not dance, only slaves, or debauched women like Trimalchio's wife, hence the joke.

Delectationes
Diversions / Entertainments

The Romans did not really view dancing as an art-form in itself. The origins of Roman dancing were to be found in the Greek dance, which was primarily of a religious nature. There was also a religious aspect to Roman dancing, derived from the Etruscans. The sophisticated Greek style of dancing presented by slaves for Roman patricians, however, was seen simply as a 'diversion', an accompaniment to eating, drinking and conversation, the physial equivalent of our background music (muzak). As has been stated before, free-born Romans, and particularly patricians (aristocrats) never danced publicly.

By this time Petronius had returned from the basement, and was standing with Adonios, who had Glaux on his shoulder (Glaux, wide awake, was twittering along with the music). Petronius was watching the boys, and Echelaos intently, considering how he could use them in the Amphitheater in Baiae. The entertainment began with just a single boy dancer, completely naked and with his slim young body gilded. His movements were slow and sinuous, matching perfectly the rhythmic notes of the kithara (the instrument of the God Apollo), which was now leading the gentle accompaniment of the (now muffled) hydraulis.

"So…," Marcus began, trying to sound casual,"how is your father finding it being emperor?"

Titus took his eyes of the naked gilded boy, and turned to Marcus and smiled.

"Difficult!" Titus replied, and sighed. "You see, he never wanted to be emperor. He had seen what being emperor had done to Nero, and so did I, and it was not good. Nero was not too bad in the beginning, like Caligula, but the the power went to his head," Titus replied.

"But your father, so I have been led to believe, is a very different kind of man. You said yourself he's 'hands on', and he's a reputation for being 'down to earth'," Marcus countered.

"That's true, but the problem is that Nero almost bankrupted the empire, and the fire in Rome and the Civil War didn't help, so now there's no money, but much needs doing. It will mean heavier taxes, and many in the Senate are opposed to that."

The Fire of Rome was an urban fire that started on the night between 18 and 19 July in the year 64 AD. It caused widespread devastation, before being brought under control after six days. Differing accounts either blame Emperor Nero for initiating the fire or credit him with organizing measures to contain it and provide relief for refugees. The Civil War, during the Year of the Four Emperors, also caused a lot of damage, particularly to the building on the Capitol, including the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, which, because of its importance, Vespasian nee to rebuild almost immediately.

Suddenly Marcus felt as if Gnaeus Octavianus was guiding his words.

"So that's where I come in," Marcus said, remarkably bluntly.

"Well, you certainly come to the point," Titus said, obviously flustered and embarrassed.

"Look, Titus, I'm no politician, and I don't have time for lots of 'delicate' chat. I'm no tough general like you, but I have, with Gnaeus, dealt with tough generals, and Praetorian Prefects, and I understand what is going on here."

Titus shifted uneasily in his chair.

"I can help you, and I will help you, if Terentius thinks it is possible and advisable, and, if your father makes me a senator, I will support him in the Senate, but I will do this only because I believe that the Flavians are the best chance that the Empire has. And before I do this, I must first meet your father, in order to assure myself that I am making the right decision." Marcus concluded, sitting back and waiting for a reply.

"Well… Marcus, that's what I wanted to hear, and so much like my father, straight to the point," Titus replied.

"So I'm sorry if I may seem rude or blunt, but that's the way I am. Probably still an Athenian 'street-boy'," Marcus explained, with a grin. Marcus, as he spoke, glanced over to where Petronius was standing. Petronius was looking directly at Marcus, and smiling broadly, but Marcus was sure that Petronius couldn't have heard what he was saying to Titus, so perhaps it was something Adonios had said, or maybe the fact that Glaux was twittering.

"That's good!" Titus said firmly,"and I will send a message to you tomorrow letting you know when my father can see you."

Marcus nodded in approval, and then rose from his seat, and called over a slave, and whispered an instruction into the slave's ear.

"And now, my honourable Titus, I have a gift for you, to thank you for gracing us this evening with your presence," Marcus announced formally, gesturing to the other guests to come forward. And so Petronius, Terentius, Novius, and Demetrius all stepped forward to see two burly slaves carry the most elaborate and costly looking tripod over to the pavilion to present to Titus. Titus, rising from his seat, couldn't hide the look of surprise.

"But it's magnificent!" he said, gazing in awe at the priceless gift. "So… just an 'Athenian street-boy'? Well, when anyone asks me who gave this to me, I will reply, with a grin, 'Just Athenian street-boy'!"

"I can't thank you enough," Titus continued, obviously moved.

A sacrificial 'tripod' is a three-legged piece of religious furniture used for offerings or other ritual procedures. As a seat or stand, the tripod is the most stable furniture construction for uneven ground, hence its use is universal and ancient. It is particularly associated with (well, who else?) Apollo and the Delphic oracle in ancient Greece, and the word τρίποδο (tripod) comes from the Greek meaning 'three-footed'.

Tripods are frequently mentioned by Homer as prizes in athletic games, and as complimentary gifts; in later times, highly decorated and bearing inscriptions, they served the same purpose. They appear also to be precious gifts for guests, (as in the case of the Phaeakes, who offered a cauldron and tripod to Odysseus). In the ancient world the tripod was considered to be the 'ultimate' gift.

"You don't have to thank me, you're a friend!" Marcus replied.

Amicus, when two high status Romans had a relationship of mutual benefit, they were likely to choose the label amicus ('friend') to describe the relationship since amicus did not imply stratification as would be found with patron and client. In this case, Marus was taking a risk making such a presumption with Titus, but Titus gave every indication of accepting the nature of the relationship.

"So be seated, and let's watch the boys, and drink some more wine," Marcus said, making it clear that the evening was far from over.

After the languorous beginning of the dancing, another boy joined the first lad, and then two others, and the pace of the music quickened. More wine flowed, along with jokes and ribald comments, as the five original guests, plus Petronius gathered in the pavilion to watch the performance. After a fast yet, highly erotic dance, eventually the naked boys, very skilfully, but as part of the performance, feigned tiredness, sunk to the floor and slowly melted into each other's arms, entwined and exploring one another, as the music, which had one again slowed, invited a sensual and overtly sexual display.

"You know these boys were Aurarius' idea… We were in the Graecostadium, and Aurarius spotted these boys, and suggested buying them, and luckily we had Novius with us, who got them at a good price, but not as low as you could get, obviously. But seeing them perform, I would say that they were 'worth their weight in gold'," and Marcus grinned at his own joke, (not only was Aurarius' name derived from the Latin word for gold, but the boys had also been 'gilded' for the performance).

Terentius smiled and nodded. "Yes they are certainly an asset." he agreed.

And so the evening carried on, with the 'gilded' boys 'forgetting' their dancing, and taking their erotic display well beyond the 'balletic arts', and into the realms of pure eroticism, much to the general approval of the guests, although Glaux found it all a bit odd, but then he never really understood his humans. Eventually, as the stars circled, indicating the passing of the night, Marcus signalled to Echelaos to dismiss the boys. Interestingly, unlike most slaves who are required to 'perform', these boys seemed loath to go, slowly untangling themselves, and helping one another up off the floor of what had been the combat area.

Once again 'Fate' or 'Fortuna' had stepped in, dealing out very different circumstances for different individuals, and with no real sense of equity, after all, 'Fate' was usually depicted as 'blind'. For some slave-boys that evening had proved to be their 'end', culminating in appalling humiliation, pain and death. Other boys had emerged as victors, but very much chastened by the experience of violence and death. For the 'gilded boys' who had danced for their Dominus, and his distinguished guest, (and none of them had any idea who that distinguished guest was), the night had been an opportunity to show off their lithe physiques and skill, and sexually indulge themselves.

Marcus, however, apart from the disturbance in the basement, was pleased with the evening. Titus was pleased, and of course, as Marcus was now relaxed and happy, Petronius, Terentius and Novius were pleased. Demetrius didn't really understand what had been going on, but he enjoyed the combats, and the boy dancers, and being a teenage boy, was feeling 'horny' for young Aelius, after all, he thought he was 'in love' with his handsome slave-boy. Adonios and Aurarius were just pleased that everything had gone off well, and were wondering what their respective masters would be expecting of them later, particularly after the erotic display at the end of the evening. Glaux was beginning to feel hungry again.

Valete
Farewells

The guests all rose, and made their way down the huge flight of white marble steps, gleaming in the light of the oil lamps. When they reached the atrium, Marcus said his formal farewell to Titus. Then Titus stopped to pat Adonios on the head.

"Look after my little owl, young man!", Titus said, his speech only slightly slurred after an evening's drinking, and fluffed Glaux's feathers, while Glaux tried to look shy, but not very convincingly. As Titus and his tribunes made their way through the massive gilded bronze doors, Marcus turned to Terentius.

"Tomorrow I want you to contact Titus Clodius Eprius Marcellus, and get me information on the financial situation with regards to the Imperial Treasury," Marcus ordered, suddenly becoming cold and business like.

"Of course, Dominus," Terentius replied. (The information about the Imperial Treasury would not actually be for Marcus himself, however, but rather for Terentius, so that he could advise Marcus on the validity of Titus' claims regarding Vespasian's financial situation.)

Titus Clodius Eprius Marcellus (died AD 79) was a Roman senator, twice consul, best known for his prosecution of the Stoic senator Thrasea Paetus and his bitter quarrel with Helvidius Priscus. Eprius was also notorious for his hostility to any senatorial opposition to the Imperial house. Eprius was said to have been born in Capua from a family of no social distinction. In December 69, when Vespasian had just gained victory in the Civil War of that year (Year of the Four Emperors), Helvidius, as praetor-elect, attacked Eprius’s former conduct in the Senate; Eprius defended himself vigorously as one of those loyal servants 'who had striven to serve the State under bad Emperors'. In the sequel he rose to become one of Vespasian’s closest friends and advisers. In 70–73 he held the Proconsulate of Asia, anomalously extended to three years, then returned to Rome for his second consulship in 74.

"And is there anything else you require, Dominus?" Terentius enquired disingenuously, knowing full well what would be on Marcus' mind.

"Yes, I want a formal interview with Nicander, in my study, first thing in the morning," Marcus replied.

Terentius nodded. "So you will excuse me if I retire now?" Terentius asked, deferentially, forgetting to remind Marcus of one important fact.

"Yes, but before you go, give Echelaos a small gratuity for work well done this evening, and a small sum to the musicians, and have some little coin available to me to give to the dancing troupe in the morning," Marcus added.

"Of course, Dominus, and you will want the boys brought to the atrium after the salutatio?" Terentius questioned, having remembered to remind Marcus that he was expected to greet his clients in the morning.

"Yes!" Marcus replied sharply, having forgotten about the salutatio. Marcus then turned to Novius.

"Have you enjoyed the evening, old friend?" Marcus asked, smiling.

"Very much Dominus, and I am eager to learn what passed between you and Titus, but I think that must wait until tomorrow, as I am tired, and ask your permission to retire," Novius explained.

"Of course. Good night, and we shall speak tomorrow about the matters you have mentioned," Marcus replied.

Marcus then turned to Demetrius. "Well, young man, I hope you enjoyed the 'entertainments'."

"Very much, Domine," Demetrius replied.

"Well, when you and Aelius get back to your apartments, please remember that young Aelius is not a Pancratium wrestler, you understand? Be gentle with him," Marcus said grinning, and winking to Petronius who was standing behind Demetrius. Demetrius blushed, and hung his head.

"I understand, Dominue," Demetrius said sheepishly, and putting his arm round Aelius' shoulder, slowly mounted the wide, white marble steps to the area nobile.

"So, what is the situation with our stupid slaves?" Marcus said quietly to Petronius.

"Well, they ended up very wet, and are now drying off in the punishment cells, and the bodies of the defeated combatants have all been disposed of," Petronius reported.

"Perhaps, with your permission, we could select a few of the ring-leaders for punishment, perhaps execution on the roof gardens in front of the remaining slaves," Petronius then suggested.

"Yes, that sounds good. I don't want to completely loose my investment with regard to those slaves, and also I want to appear strict, but not over harsh. And if it is done publicly, then word will be passed around to deter any others from fomenting any further trouble, either here, or in Baiae when we take them back," Marcus mused.

"So you want me to do that?" Petronius asked, in order to make Marcus' decision clear.

"Yes, and now let's get to bed, Adonios and Aurarius look tired," Marcus concluded.

Posterum Mane
The Next Morning

Marcus was so very tired after all the stress of the evening, what with unskilled combatants, (not of course the fault of Petronius), rebellious slaves, and a stressful talk with Titus, along with all the tension of the previous preparations, that he opted to insist on Aurarius sleeping separately, in his own cubiculum. Equally, Petronius, after days of work preparing for the visit of Titus, had no energy left for Adonios, so it was only Demetrius and Aelius who benefited from the 'stimulating' experience of watching the evening's entertainments, and that resulted in them oversleeping! On awakening and after breakfast, there was the 'chore' of the salutatio, and Marcus next problem was putting on his toga.

The toga was the distinctive garment of a Roman citizen. It was a roughly semicircular cloth, between 12 and 20 feet in length, draped over the shoulders and around the body. It was usually woven from white wool, and was worn over a tunic. In Roman tradition, it is said to have been the favoured dress of Romulus, Rome's founder. The type of toga worn reflected a citizen's rank in the civil hierarchy. Various laws and customs restricted its use to citizens, who were required to wear it for public festivals and civic duties. The Toga virilis ('toga of manhood') was also known as toga alba or toga pura: A plain white toga, worn on formal occasions by adult male commoners, and by Senators not having a 'curule' magistracy (The non-curule magistrates were the Aedilitas plebis, Quaestura and Vigintisexviratus). The Toga virilis represented adult male citizenship and its attendant rights, freedoms and responsibilities.

The first time that Marcus had ever worn a toga was at his 'coming of age' (ad aetatem) - which he was loath to recall, as that was the occasion when he was attacked by Glykon. Since then he had rarely worn a toga, and had little practice in putting on the cumbersome garment. Aurarius, being Greek, had no experience of assisting his master in donning a toga, so wearing a toga was always a trial for Marcus. When Marcus had previously attended his first salutatio in the Domus, he had not realized that wearing a toga was 'de rigueur', but no comments had been passed (possibly because, as Aurarius had said 'everyone was frightened of Marcus', or perhaps because his clients imagined that it may have been the new 'fashion').

Secunda Salutatio
The Second Salutatio

On arriving at the atrium magnum (grand atrium), Marcus was alarmed to see that there were even more clients waiting to greet him than there had been at the first salutatio.

"Why so many clients?" Marcus whispered to Terentius.

"I think, Dominus, that word has got around that you were entertaining Titus Vespasianus last night, so now you are probably one of the most 'revered' patricians in Rome, and everyone wants to be your friend," Terentius explained, with a touch of his well turned, but still respectful sarcasm.

And so, with Terentius to one side (whispering the clients' names to Marcus), Nicander, handing out the sportula (small payment of cash), and Petronius as Tribune, looking suitably impressive and, just a little threatening, while Aurarius and Adonios hovered in the background, the salutatio began, and seemed to go on endlessly. (Glaux, of course, being a wise owl, was quietly sleeping in his marble framed alcove on the next floor.)

Marcus Patronus
Marcus the Patron

For Marcus the salutatio seemed to go on interminably, and then Terentius announced one client as Euphranor, the father of Diodoros. After the conventional and formal greetings, Euphranor excused himself, but explained that he needed help from his patron.

"It's my boy, Diodoros, he has this terrible fever. I brought him a physician, but as I cannot afford to pay a lot, he is not very skilled, and he can do nothing. Dominus, can you help. I know that you admire my son's work, and have other commissions for him, but I fear that he may not survive this fever, and I was skilled, but am now too old to work for you," Euphranor pleaded. Marcus looked to Terentius, and Terentius nodded in approval.

"I will send my physician, Agathon to your home, today. If anyone can help Diodoros it will be my own faithful physician." Euphranor was overwhelmed with gratitude, and the other clients looked on approvingly as witnesses to their patron's concern and generosity.

Eventually the salutatio ended. The clients then left the atrium magnum, but gathered on the vast flight of steps in front of the Domus, intent on accompanying Marcus later on his anticipated walk in the city. Echelaos then arrived in the atrium, accompanied by his troupe of slave boys, (with all the gilt washed off, and all now decently dressed in short, white tunics.)

"Salvete Dominus!" they all said in unison.

"Salve pueri!" (Good morning boys), Marcus replied, barely being able to stop grinning, basically because the boy's greeting seemed so cute (Latin, bellus), and innocent, compared to the previous evening's 'performance'. The other fact that amused Marcus was that the greeting, while given in Latin, was said in a thick, Greek accent.

"I was very impressed with your 'performance' last night, particularly as you only had a short time to prepare the steps, although some of the later part of the performance I think you improvised, and the actual dancing does great credit to your Χορευτικός δάσκαλος (Dancing Master)," Marcus said rather formally, but still smiling. The boys also smiled, understanding Marcus' reference to their 'improvisations'.

"I am, therefore, giving each of you a small gift to express my appreciation and approval," Marcus added, and Marcus then gestured to Petronius, who gave each boy a small purse of coins. So far, Marcus had played the part of 'caring patron' to his clients, and 'generous master' to his slave-boys, but now he was required to show another side of his character. He was to interview Nicander. Marcus quietly spoke to Terentius.

"Send Nicander to my study, and I will interview him in a short while," Marcus instructed. Terentius gave the message to Nicander, who promptly disappeared upstairs. Meanwhile, Marcus called for a slave-boy to bring him some refreshments. He was going to make Nicander wait. While this was occurring, Petronius went down to the basement to decide which of the recalcitrant slaves were to be punished.

Colloquium cum Nicandro
Interview with Nicander

Eventually Marcus made his way to the third floor where his study was situated, and found Nicander nervously waiting for him in the marble lined corridor. Two Domus-guards opened the large gilt bronze double doors, and Marcus led the way in. The huge office was sparsely furnished. The walls were dark red, and in an alcove was an exquisite white marble statue of the God Apollo. There was a huge marble topped writing table, (similar to the writing table in the study of the late Dominus, in the villa at Baiae), and behind the table was a gilt bronze curule chair, inlaid in ebony and ivory. Marcus had made sure that the other chairs that were usually in the room had been removed, so that Nicander would be forced to stand during his interview, or was it to be an 'interrogation'.

"So, Nicander, I need to speak to you at some length."

Marcus paused.

"Now let me make it clear to you, from the start, that I am not blaming you for what happened in the basement last night. I am, however, concerned that you do not seem to have earned the respect of the slaves in this Domus, otherwise why should they ignore you, and only deal with Petronius or myself?"

Nicander shrugged his shoulders, looking bemused.

"I think I can safely say that this reveals a problem with regard to the way that you conduct yourself in this Domus," Marcus continued.

"I do my best, Dominus," Nicander lamely replied.

"But not good enough?" Marcus said, questioningly.

"So we need to get to the bottom of this matter," Marcus continued firmly.

"And I need to know a little more about you…," and Marcus left the statement hanging in the air, while Nicander looked uncomfortable.

"So… tell me… how did you come to be a freedman and an assistant to Menelaus?" Marcus asked.

"Well it all happened a number years ago. But surely the late Dominus must have told you?" Nicander began.

"No," Marcus replied, curtly. "There were many things that the Dominus didn't tell me. His untimely death left many things unsaid," Marcus said sadly.

"So… the late Dominus and I met while he was making a sea voyage from Dyrrhacium to Ventulus," Nicander began.

"By the gods, not another 'golden boy from the sea'!" Marcus said, grinning.

This is a reference to the oracle given to Gnaeus Octavian by the Sibyl describing Marcus as the golden boy from the sea.

Nicander look confused. He didn't have the slightest idea of what Marcus was talking about.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand, Dominus," Nicander said, imagining that he should know.

"No matter. And what were you doing on this voyage," Marcus asked.

"I was a rower on the galley the late Dominus was sailing on," Nicander replied.

"Now, two questions here… The first is what was Gnaeus doing on a galley?, and the second is, what were you doing as a rower?," Marcus asked, quite amazed at the turn the story had taken.

"The late Dominus was having a free sea passage, which was being provided by his client, Tribune Marcellus, and I was a rower on the galley," Nicander explained

Tribune Marcellus, later Legatus Marcellus, was the client who originally recommend Centurion Servius as a 'coach' for Marcus when he was a slave at the villa at Baiea.

"And how did you get from the galley to the Domus Gracchii?" Marcus pointedly asked.

"Well, the late Dominus noticed me, took a liking to me, and Marcellus, realizing that, gave me to the late Dominus at the end of the sea crossing," Nicander continued, seeming somewhat embarrassed.

"And this 'liking', am I understanding it correctly?, after all you are a handsome young man," Marcus delicately asked.

"No, Dominus. You should not understand it in that way. The Dominus did not want be for my body, though many men, when I was a boy, did. I was a rent-boy and thief, condemned to the galleys, and the late Dominus saw something in me, I don't know what, and wanted to help me, and he did."

"So he freed you, and eventually made you an assistant to Menelaus," Marcus added, wanting to bring the story to a fairly rapid conclusion.

"That is true, Dominus." Nicander, sounding relieved, replied.

"But there was the problem with Menelaus and Demetrios (later Demetrius), and your involvement in all that intrigue and unpleasantness, and I feel that you have never felt confident after that," Marcus added.

"Yes, Dominus," Nicander said, sadly.

"So you were a slave, and you probably still feel like a slave, despite your freedom and position. Demetrius can understand that, as can Petronius, and even myself, but you must move on. So, Nicander, if Gnaeus Octavian had faith in you, saw something special in you, then I, in memory of him, am obliged to do the same, and you are obliged to live up to both his, and therefore my, expectations!. So we will consider this matter closed!" Marcus concluded.

"Thank you, Dominus!" Nicander said, obviously deeply relieved.

Congregatio sub Prandio
Lunchtime Meeting

After his interview with Nicander, Marcus sent for Petronius, inviting him to lunch in one of the small triclinia on the ground floor.

"So how was it with Nicander?" Petronius asked.

"Very, very interesting!" Marcus replied, with a twinkle in his eye.

"Would you believe that in a previous lifetime our Nicander was a petty thief, rent-boy, and later a galley slave?" Marcus asked, dramatically.

"Yes," Petronius replied, apparently not surprised at all.

"I see," Marcus said, puzzled, as he took a sip of wine.

"Well, regardless, I gave him a pep talk, and hopefully he will work a bit harder," Marcus continued, disappointed that Petronius hadn't taken the bait with regard to the revelation that he had just made.

"So have you decided on what to do with the miscreant slaves from the basement?" Marcus asked, deliberately changing the subject.

"Yes," Petronius replied, still insisting on being monosyllabic.

"And?" Marcus said, getting quite frustrated.

"I decided to make them pick straws, but I didn't tell them what for. Four got 'short straws', and they are the ones we shall have punished and executed late this afternoon," Petronius explained.

"And do they know they are to be executed?" Marcus asked.

"No," Petronius replied. Marcus, shaking his head, looked at Petronius.

"It'll be a surprise for you, and the slaves… Nothing special, but it should be good, and should solve the problem," Petronius said, refusing to elaborate any more.

"I've already got some of the maintenance lads (pueri sustentationis) working on some iron frames, like Vulcan made for the arena in Baiea, so everything should be set up in time on the Roof Garden. The pavilion has been taken down, but I can have some chairs arranged so it will be comfortable viewing. The important thing is that the other slaves from the basement, the ones who didn't draw the 'short straws', witness the punishments and executions, and then that will quickly spread to the other slaves, both here and at Baiae, and that should put a stop to this nonsense," Petronius explained.

Marcus nodded in agreement.

"I've also got the four boys who did fight in the wrestling bouts and gladiator fights, to take part, so they will be seen to punish and abuse those who tried to avoid their duty, just a little bit of ironia (irony)."

"My… your Latin is getting good!" Marcus said as he nodded and smiled.

"Yes, and I can say it in Greek as well - 'ειρωνεία'. You see, Novius is not the only clever one here," Petronius said, in an unusually barbed way.

Tribulatio cum Adonio
Trouble with Adonios

On leaving the triclinium after lunch, Marcus was accosted by Aurarius, who seemed to be quite agitated.

"Excuse me Dominus, but Adonios is very upset, I think that you should speak to him," Aurarius explained.

"I see, and what seems to be the problem," Marcus asked quietly, (trying to hide the beginnings of his concern), as he mounted the steps to the first floor.

"He thinks he's killed someone," Aurarius replied.

Obviously Marcus was finding things very difficult at this point. The journey to Rome had been pleasant, the shopping trips and the sight-seeing enjoyable, but after that, with the preparations for the visit of Titus, a minor slave rebellion, an incompetent steward, and now sweet little Adonios apparently behaving very oddly, Marcus was beginning to think he should have stayed in Baiea.

"Killed someone?" Marcus repeated, loudly and incredulously.

"I think he's gone crazy," Aurarius said, with that lack of concern so often noticeable in the off-hand comments of teenage boys. Marcus entered the atrium of his apartments quietly, and found Adonios sitting on a couch, sobbing.

"What's the problem?" Marcus said, very gently. Adonios turned to Marcus with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"I think I've killed Diodoros," Adonios sobbed.

At that point Marcus noticed that Adonios was holding his pugio, and instantly became worried that the boy might be planning to injure himself.

"So tell me about this…," Marcus said very patiently, sitting next to Adonios.

Adonios made to dry his eyes, but could not bring himself to look at Marcus, and instead was looking intently at his pugio.

"It was when Diodoros came with the frame for Glaux's doorway," Adonios began, and then started sobbing again.

"Go on, what happened then?" Marcus said encouragingly.

"Diodoros was rude to Glaux, and Glaux pecked his hand, and I told Diodoros that Apollo would do something nasty, with his arrows… and now Diodoros is going to die… and it's my fault!" Adonios wailed, in another outburst of tears.

Seeing how upset Adonios was, Marcus took the sobbing boy in his arms.

"There, there! This is just you imagining things," Marcus said, stroking Adonios' hair, and holding him tightly.

At that point Petronius entered the atrium.

"Adonios!" Petronius said, gently but very firmly.

"Apollo has not done this, and you have not done this. Diodoros is just sick, and Agathon will cure him," Petronius continued.

"But I asked Apollo to punish him!" Adonios moaned, as he held on to Marcus.

"And Apollo did not listen, believe me," Petronius said forcefullu, and sat down opposite Marcus and Adonios.

Aurarius looked over at Petronius, fearfully.

"Now enough, Adonios," Marcus said softly, trying to lighten the mood.

"As if our little Glaux would hold a grudge against Diodoros, and after he made that beautiful doorway," Marcus continued, gently wiping away the tears from Adonios cheeks.

"Yes, I suppose so," Adonios replied wistfully, just like the little boy that Marcus had met so seemingly long ago at the convivium in the villa at Baiea.

"Now I think that the best thing that you can do is come and help me on the roof gardens. There's a lot of tidying up needs doing up there, and you can help me," Petronius said, encouragingly, as a rather embarrassed Adonios got off the couch.

"I'm sorry, Dominus, I don't know what came over me," Adonios said lamely, as Petronius put his arm round Adonios' shoulder, and guided him out of the atrium. Aurarius looked at Marcus, Marcus looked at Aurarius.

"I know what your thinking, 'Boy', just don't say anything."

Adonios' behaviour may seem strange to the modern reader, but in the classical world superstition was rife. Many 'superstitions' were associated with various gods and goddesses, and often centred round their attributes, in this case the bow and arrows of Apollo. On the night that Gnaeus Octavian was murdered, Marcus had a vision of Apollo shooting his arrows (of death) over the villa at Baiea. Apollo is a healer, but he is also the bringer of disease and death with his arrows. In Homer's Iliad he sends a plague (λοιμός) to the Achaeans. The god who sends a disease can also prevent it; therefore, when it stops, the Achaeans make a purifying ceremony, and offer him a hecatomb to ward off evil.

Poenae et Supplicia
Punishments & Excutions

Up on the roof gardens everything was well under-way for the punishment of the guilty slaves. The Imperial Pavilion had been dismantled, and put into storage in the basement. The blue curtains and blue boarding had been removed from what had been the combat area, which had now been re-sanded. Slaves were also busy erecting fiendish looking iron frames, on which the condemned slaves were to be bound or chained.

Petronius, accompanied by a much more controlled and relaxed Adonios, was moving hurriedly around, offering advice, encouragement and instructions to the workers. As the iron frames neared completion, and ropes, chains and other implements were laid out in preparation for the punishments (poena) a set of chairs were placed in a good vantage point, in readiness for the Dominus, his 'nephew' and his freedmen and councillor.

Once everything was ready, Marcus (with Aurarius in attendance), Demetrius (with Aelius in attendance), Terentius and Novius appeared, and were seated. Next, those newly acquired slaves, (their hands in iron cuffs, and escorted by Domus-guards, and wearing simple tunics, ) who had not been chosen to be punished were herded into the circular colonnaded area to witness the punishments Another group of male Domus-slaves, selected at random, were also given spaces in the circular colonnaded area to witness the punishments on behalf of the household. The four slaves who were to be punished, (their hands in iron cuffs, and escorted by Domus-guards, and each wearing only a tiny white thong), were herded into the circular combat area.

Epiktetos, Nicon, Kallon and Heros followed next, in loincloths and wearing Thracian helmets. These slaves were to act as executioners, who would be responsible for punishing their erstwhile colleagues.

When all were assembled, Petronius rose to his feet and made a short speech that had been previously approved by Marcus and Novius. It went as follows:

"In the name of the noble Marcus Octavianus Gaius Agrippa Aelius Gracchus… In consideration of the seditious actions of the previous evening, perpetrated by slaves of the said Marcus Octavianus Gracchus, our gracious Dominus has seen it meet and proper, in the light of the traditions of the ancestors (mos maiorum), to show mercy. It has therefore been permitted for the everliving Gods, of whom Apollo, the Sol Invictus, is pre-eminent, to choose by lot those few who should take the burden of punishment for the many. These four slaves shall now be punished, and all present here shall stand witness to the perfidy of those who would dispute the sacred and legal rights of their gracious master, the noble Marcus Octavianus Gaius Agrippa Aelius Gracchus. Let the punishments begin…"

The slaves who were to be punished had not been named, as this would grant them a status and individuality that they did not deserve, however, the four slaves were Λυκος (Lycus), Πανκρατιος (Pankratios), Σοφος (Sophos), and Θηρων (Theron), all Greeks.

The Romans would not be able to understand our preoccupation with keeping criminals in prisons for lengthy periods. Crimes required punishment, and that punishment, to act as a deterrent, had to be severe and public. Generally speaking, Roman Citizens were not sentenced to capital punishment if they murdered another Roman Citizen of equal status, but were more often fined or exiled, and if they were to die, then they would be given the option of a dignified suicide. Serious cases could even involve decapitation, but that was rare. If a Roman Citizen killed a slave, or any person of lesser status, then there was no punishment at all. Protecting the status of Roman Citizens was considered to be a paramount concern. To be stripped of Roman Citizenship was one of the worst punishments imaginable, and it allowed an individual to be subjected to one of the more unpleasant methods of Roman execution. Public executions, therefore, were generally reserved for slaves who had run away, prisoners of war, common criminals and army deserters (Marcus slaves who were refusing to fight would be classed as 'deserters'.) Non Roman citizens were generally executed by garotting, impaling, crucifixion, death in the arena fighting, (without weapons or only blunted weapons), a trained gladiator. Usually execution was preceded by rape, sexual mutilation and flogging.

Poena Lyci
The Punishment of Lycus

Lycus was the first slave chosen by lot to be punished. Heros, who had competed as a pancratium wrestler the previous evening, was now charged with supervising the punishment of his one time colleague, the teenage Lycus. Heros, in doing this, was assisted by two sturdy domus-slaves.

There was, of course no way that Heros could refuse to abuse and kill his fellow slave. If he refused, he knew that he would suffer the same, or maybe a worse fate than that awaiting Lycus. (also, the previous evening Heros had, apparently without any objections, raped and killed another of is fellow slaves, young Andrippos.)

Heros led Lycus over to one of the large iron frames firmly secured to the combat area floor. There he instructed the domus-slaves to remove Lycus' tiny white thong. Meanwhile, Marcus was calling to Aurarius to organise some refreshments, while he and Petronius carefully studied the now naked Lycus' hefty dangling sex-parts. The boy was 'well-hung', and in some ways it seemed a shame to have him killed, but at this point there was no going back. (Interestingly, the thong was not ripped off, callously, as one might imagine, but was carefully untied., Terentius was a stickler for economies, and he required even such tiny, insignificant items as a boy's thong to be looked after and kept undamaged, where possible.)

Lycus, of course, was unable to prevent any indignities to his person, as his hands were firmly bound and chained. The embarrassed 'bollock-naked' boy was then bent over the iron rail of the frame, and his legs were kicked apart. Heros, who was obviously looking forward to the next stage in the proceedings, pulled down the front of his loincloth in order to release his already stiff and straining cock. Heros had, the previous evening, already shown off his exceptionally large 'endowment', when he publicly fucked Drakon, and was now to put it to good use again in brutally raping young Lycus. Moments later Lycus was squirming and groaning as Heros viciously thrust his huge cock into the teenage boy's (virgin?) arsehole.

"Fuck!… You cunt…! I can't take it!" Lycus squealed. After the first few thrusts, however, Lycus himself became fully aroused, despite the fact that he was complaining bitterly, and also knew that he was later to be killed. Heros was soon on the verge of 'cumming'. Petronius, when he had instructed Heros in how to conduct the punishment, had told him, the it didn't matter how quickly he reached his orgasm, as the main idea was that his 'victim', (Lycus), should be seen to be penetrated, and forced to take the submissive part, as he was publicly raped. So Heros had decided not to 'pull out' as he sprayed out his 'seed', but rather forcefully squirt his spunk into his submissive 'victim'.

"Shit! I'm fuckin' cummin'!" Heros shouted, loud enough so that all those around the roof garden colonnade would be in no doubt as to what was happening. Then, as soon as Lycus felt the hot gush of Heros's thick 'boy-juice' squirting up inside him, and Heros's cock convulse, Lycus, groaning loudly, also jetted his own spunk, repeatedly, splattering the sand in front of him. Lycus, overcome by his orgasm, (he thought it was probably his last) slowly sank to his knees, while still resting on the horizontal iron frame. This left Heros with his 'unsheathed' prick jerking obscenely, as it dribbled the last of his spunk.

Heros, however, had succeeded in what he was required to do, divesting his young 'victim' of his masculinity by forcing him to play the 'feminine' submissive part. From that point on no one (in Roman terms) was justified in having any sympathy for Lycus, as he was a now total 'non-person', and not considered to be a man, or even a boy. Heros, who'se erection had by then subdsided, stuffed his prick back in his loincloth. He then got the two domus-slaves to drag Lycus to his feet, and spread the helpless boy's legs. Grabbing hold of Lycus' shoulders, Heros then sharply brought his knee up into the young lad's unprotected groin, viciously squashing the boy's tight, fat balls.

"Cunt!" Lykos grunted, as he tried to 'double up'. The domus-guards, however, held Lycus firmly, and Heros was able to knee the moaning boy two more times. Heros then got the two domus-slaves to drag Lycus, who could barely stand, let alone walk, over to large metal frame near the centre of the sanded area. The next step was to use ropes to tie him to one of the large iron frames. The ropes were not only used to restrain the 'victim' but were also tide tightly round the victim's genitals in order to obtain a strong erection, (in order to further humiliate him), and also as a means of attaching weights, which would be an important aspect of the torture applied to Lycus before his was mutilated and killed.

At this point Lycus was getting quite hysterical, begging to be freed, but it did him no good as the domus-slaves, (some of whom had been brought in at short notice from the villa at Baiea to assist during the combats during Titus' visit), were impervious to any pleading, and were experts at their work. Soon Lycus was 'spread-eagled' on the iron frame, and his genitals were being tightly bound.

"Please!… Don't do this!" Lycus begged, almost crying, as the viciously constricted root of his genitals caused his cock to swell enormously, and stand practically vertically against his heaving, sweaty belly. At his point Petronius left his seat and came over to supervise.

"That's good, Heros. You can have a rest for the moment, but in a short while I want you to attach some weights the the lad's balls, and give his 'sack' a good stretch." Heros nodded and bowed, and stood, unobtrusively to one side, as Petronius called out for Kallon to bring his prisoner forward.

Poena Pankratio
The Punishment of Pankratios

Pankratios was youthful looking and blond, and like Lykos was initially wearing only a very skimpy white thong. Kallon, who had wrestled in the previous evening's entertainment, accompanied the obviously terrified boy, and it was Kallon who was now to impose the punishment on Pankratios.

Petronius was a 'stickler' for organization and uniformity, and so the 'plan' for Pankratios' punishment was practically identical to that which had been planned for Lykos, at least in the initial stages. Petronius was, however, a little concerned about young Kallon. Petronius had named him Kallon because he was so good-looking, one might almost say 'pretty'. (Kallon comes from the Greek, meaning beautiful). Petronius had imagined that the cute boy was probably 'effeminate', (by Roman standards), and would not have the guts to win his fight with Andrippos, but Kallon did fight well , and did win.

In order to do this, though, Kallon had been forced into the 'submissive' role, when his opponent, Andrippos, had fucked his mouth. To everyone's surprise, however, Kallon had bitten off Andrippos' penis, and then gone on to throttle the mutilated boy. Now Petronius wanted to see just how truly 'dominant' Kallon was, and reassure himself that Kallon's win had not been just a lucky accident for the boy.

After taking Pankratios over to the other iron frame, stripping him naked and bending him over the horizontal bar, with his legs spread, it was time for Kallon to get his cock out and rape Pankratios. This was the first time that Petronius had seen young Kallon 'hard', and the pretty young boy was no disappointment. Kallon was certainly 'well equiped', and Pankratios was almost immediately screaming that he was being 'ripped apart', as Kallon's huge stiff 'tool' ploughed into the helpless boy. Kallon turned to Petronius.

"I'm cumming!" he grunted, as if requesting permission. Petronius nodded, and Kallon started moaning as he kept thrusting, pumping a huge 'load' of 'boy-juice' into Pankratios' straining, ripped arse-hole. As soon as he had finished, Kallon pulled out, and Pankratios practically collapsed, as Kallon's still stiff cock waved obscenely as he continued to splatter the last of his spun onto the sand. Then came the part that Pankratios had been dreading, (although there was much more for him to be even more fearful of later on.). Kallon, oddly aggressive after the rape, spun Pankratios round, before even bothering to replace his cock in his loincloth, planted his hands on the boy's shoulders, and brought his knee up sharply, crushing the helpless boy balls, once, twice, three times, and then pulled back for a fourth.

"Stop!" Petronius called out, firmly.

Kallon stopped instantly, and looked round at Petronius quizzically.

"You can kill a boy if you crush his balls too hard, too many times," Petronius said, laconically. "And we don't want him dead, not just yet!"

"I'm sorry, Domine., I will remember," Kallon replied obediently, letting go of Pankratios, who buckled at the knees, moaning and clutching at his mangled balls. (interestingly Kallon's apology was to Petronius, and not to Pankratios).

"Please, Domine, have mercy! No more!" Pankratios spluttered, finding difficult even to stand.

"Shut up, boy!" Petronius replied. Petronius then turned to the domus-slaves. "Rope him up, and make sure he gets nice and 'hard'," Petronius said, striding off to get the next condemned slave.

As Petronius walked away, Pankratios could be heard sobbing, and then squealing as his genitals were tightly tied.

Poena Sopho
The Punishment of Sophos

Sophos was a dark haired Greek boy, and like the other condemned slaves, was initially wearing only a very skimpy white thong. The plan for the final two slaves was a little different from the treatment of the first two. They were to be stripped of their loincloth, but suffer no initial rape. Sophos was puzzled, (inappropriate perhaps, as his name, in Greek, means 'clever'). He was then handed a wooden gladius, and a small circular shield.

Petronius had decided that, as some of these slaves had decided not to fight as gladiators, they should now be forced to fight, but without effective weaponry.

For this punishment, Petronius had chosen Epiktetos, one of the new slaves who had fought as a gladiator the previous evening. Epiktetos, for an untrained gladiator, was remarkably aggressive, and had easily beaten his opponent, Leontios, leaving the boy disembowelled, emasculated and decapitated. Petronius was expecting an excellent future (barring unforeseen circumstances) for this well muscled young slave. Epiktetos was required for the supplicia to 'pretend' to fight Sophos. Petronius had instructed Epiktetos to chase Sophos round the sanded 'combat' area, slapping him on the buttocks, belly, back, shoulders and balls. Of course, Sophos could not really fight back, as he only had a gladius made of soft-wood pine, whereas Epiktetos had a steel gladius.

And so the 'fight' started, and every time Sophos tried to get away, there would be an armed domus-slave blocking his path. Even the new slaves, (supposedly 'forced' to watch their comrades being punished), found the whole procedure very amusing, while Aurarius, Adonios and Aelius were in fits of laughter as they watched the terrified, stark naked Sophos running around, trying to avoid the endless slaps, (particularly those to his balls, which were obviously very painful), that he was receiving from from the flat of Epiktetos' gladius. It didn't take long for Sophos to become completely exhausted and so Epiktetos simply tripped the staggering boy. Epiktetos then approached Sophos, who was sitting on his backside on the sand, panting hard and nursing his swollen bollocks.

"Do you surrender?" Epiktetos asked, haughtily.

Sophos, moaning, foolishly nodded.

Pertronius then gestured to two of the domus guards, who grabbed hold of Sophos, stood him up, bent him over, and spread the trembling boy's legs. Meanwhile, Epiktetos, who was very 'well-hung', pulled down the front of his loincloth, and pulled out his swollen, stiff cock.

"No, please!… Don't fuck me!" Sophos begged, as Epiktetos brutally penetrated the naked boy.

"Fuck! It's too big!" Sophos groaned, as Epiktetos repeatedly rammed his massive rigid cock into young Sophos. Epiktetos reached his orgasm quite quickly, as this was not a 'show' for an audience in the arena. The sole purpose of the fuck, in this instance, was to publicly rape the condemned slave in order to completely humiliate him, before further torture and execution.

Meanwhile.

Poenae Lyci et Pankratii
Punishments of Lycus and Pankratios

We left Lycus tied to one of the iron frames, with weights suspended from his scrotum. Lycus, suspended quite high on his iron frame, had a excellent view of the rape of Pankratios, who was now also tied to an iron frame, and was undergoing similar 'ball-torture' to Lycus. Both slaves had also been able to see the antics of Sophos, as he ran 'bollock-naked' round the sanded 'combat' area, pathetically and unsuccessfully trying to avoid the slaps from Epiktetos' gladius, and both slaves were also able to observe Sophos finally being publicly raped. Neither lad, however, had much energy to consider whatever else was going on, as each boy struggled for breath, and desperately tried to cope with the appalling pain in his groin.

So, as Epiktetos finished raping Sophos, domus-slaves increased the weights that had been attached to the genitals of both Lycus and Pankratios. The two frantic slaves responded by struggling more violently (and obscenely) on their iron frames which, in fact, only increased their suffering.

Poena Theronis
The Punishment of Theron

Theron was the last slave to be punished, and he was unlucky, in one way, in that he had been able to watch what had happened (so far) to the previous slaves. The punishment that Petronius had devised for Theron was very similar to that meted out to Sophos. Petronius had chosen 'first time' gladiator Nicon to humiliate and punish Theron. Nicon had fought in front of Titus during the previous evening's 'entertainments', and had proved himself by emasculating and dispatching his unfortunate opponent, Glaucus.

Theron, like Sophos before him, was summarily stripped of his tiny thong by domus-slaves. He was then given his practically useless weapons, a wooden gladius and a tiny shield, and given a slap on his naked buttocks by Nicon, to start him off on his hopeless run round the sanded combat area.

At the same time, back with young Sophos…

Sophos, who had just been brutally fucked, was crawling about on the sand, moaning, and begging for mercy. Epiktetos, who was standing over his 'abused' victim, and who was stuffing his shrinking cock into his loincloth, was then given some further instructions by Petronius. In response, Epiktetos recovered the wooden gladius that Sophos had been unsuccessfully using to defend himself. Epiktetos then instructed the domus-slaves to pull Sophos up off the sand, bend him over, and spread the naked boy's legs. Epiktetos then rammed the wooden gladius deep into Sophos' exposed arsehole.

"Shit!… My fuckin' arse!…," Sophos squealed, as his hands flailed about, desperately, but unsuccessfully, attempting to grab hold of the wooden gladius that was jerking obscenely as it poked out of his anus.

Epiktetos then pushed the shrieking, impaled boy forwards, so that he staggered about pathetically, trying to maintain his balance. Also, as a result of being so forcibly penetrated, Sophos had almost immediately become appallingly sexually aroused, and was desperately holding on to his stiffening penis in an attempt to hide his embarrassing response. Unable to straighten up, because of the thick wooden gladius deeply embedded in his guts, and being obscenely aroused by the bulk of the wooden implement, Sophos found himself first touching, in a useless attempt to hide his arousal, and then pulling on his hugely swollen cock-head. The fact that the boy appeared to be uncontrollably masturbating, then obviously caused much ribald comment, and some sniggers from the observers, which became more evident when Sophos started groaning asa he squirtrd his thick, creamy 'seed' over the sand.

"Oh shit!… I've cum!…," Sophos moaned, gazing down at the splatter of spunk between his feet. Despite having 'cum', however, the poor lad remained disgustingly 'hard', with his huge twitching cock continuing to dribble spunk. Still bent over, Sophos turned his head to Epiktetos.

"Please 'finish' me!… For fuck sake!" he pleadingly and pathetically sobbed, . Epiktetos looked questioningly to Petronius, and Petronius nodded. Epiktetos then dragged Sophos over to a stake set into the sanded floor, and swiftly pulled Sophos up by the hair. Raised up, Sophos had plenty of time to see the vicious stake that was to end his short life.

"No!… no!… Fuck no!…" he screamed, apparently having changed his mind. It was too late for the naked, impaled boy, however, and Epiktetos simply dropped him on the stake, so that the stake impaled the boy's chest, emerging from his back.

"Fuck!," Sophos grunted, spraying piss from his still stiff, jerking cock.

For a few moments he struggled, trying to push himself off the stake, but it was too deeply embedded. His legs trembled, and the wooden gladius in his arse jerked obscenely, and then he shuddered flopped, and he was dead.

Petronius had given permission for the boy to be killed because he was the youngest, he had given an (unintentionally) good 'show', (masturbating and ejaculating), and also he was not stupid (hence Petronius naming him Sophos, 'clever'), and so was probably not involved in the 'revolt', and it was just 'Fate' (the goddess Fortuna) that had blindly picked him out to be 'punished'. Petronius therefore gave instructions to the domus-slaves to give the boy a minimal burial, in order to prevent an 'infestation' of a lemure (here we are not talking about cute, cuddly little furry guys, but rather, restless, malevolent spirits).

In Roman belief the lemures were shades of the restless or malignant dead. Lemures is a literary term used by the Augustan poets Horace and Ovid, the latter in his Fasti, the six-book calendar poem on Roman holidays and religious customs. Lemures are the wandering and vengeful spirits of those not afforded proper burial, or funeral rites, and so are not attested by tomb or votive inscriptions. Ovid interprets them as vagrant, unsatisfied and potentially vengeful di manes of the underworld.

Meanwhile, with Theron…

As Sophos was being killed, Theron was 'running the gauntlet' of some domus-slaves, as he was pursued by Nicon, who was slapping his buttocks and shoulders repeatedly. Finally, infuriated at being repeatedly humiliated, the naked boy turned on Nicon, with the vain and foolish intention of fighting his implacable pursuer. Nicon, knowing that Petronius didn't want the boy killed at that moment, however, just 'played' with the 'butt-naked' young lad, which infuriated Theron even more. Eventually Nicon managed to smack Theron across the side of his head with his rectangular bronze shield. Theron, looking shocked, staggered, and then fell to his knees, partially concussed. The confused boy then dropped both his tiny shield and his wooden sword, and looked around as if he had no idea of where he was.

Petronius stepped over to Nicon, who was not sure what to do next, and told his 'up and coming' gladiator to rape the boy. The domus-slaves heard Petronius instruction, and advanced on the kneeling boy, although Theron gave every indication that he was unaware of what was about to happen to him. The domus-slaves pulled Theron to his feet, bent him over and spread his legs, while Nicon pulled out his stiff cock. During the fight the previous night, in the presence of Titus, Nicon had not fucked his opponent Glaucus, so Petronius had no idea if Nicon would be 'up to the job' or sufficiently well equipped' (so he was taking a risk). As it happened, Nicon was 'hung like as horse' (in modern parlance), or 'hung like a satyr', as the Romans would say.

In Greek mythology, a satyr (Greek: σάτυρος satyros) is one of a troop of 'ithyphallic' (from ιθύς - ithus - straight and φαλλός, phallos, phallus) male companions of Dionysus, sometimes depicted with goat-like features, and often with a very large permanent erection.

Theron was bent over, facing away from Nicon, who 'took' him from the rear, and Theron seemed to have no idea of what was about to occur. Once Nicon rammed his prick into Theron'e arse-hole, the boy simply grunted and staggered with the violence and force of Nicon's penetration. Struggling to maintain his balance, the stunned boy took the severe pounding that Nicon was giving him, grunting at each thrust.

"Fuck it!… I'm gonna cum!" Nicon groaned loudly, pulled out, and let his hot, milky spunk splash all over Theron's sweaty buttocks and back. Theron remained bent over, breathing heavily, while Nicon wiped his cock with his hand, and waited for it to become limp, so that he could stuff it back into his loincloth. Petronius then pointed to Theron's wooden sword, and Nicon immediately understood what was expected of him. Nicon approached Theron from behind, put his left hand on Theron's shoulder to steady the lad, and rammed the wooden sword into Theron's anus. Theron shrieked, and staggered, and then tried to get way from Nicon, and probably escape from the sanded combat area, but he only managed half a dozen steps, with the wooden gladius poking out of his arse, before falling onto his hands and knees.

"My fuckin arse-hole!" Theron groaned, as he then started crawling, dog-like, towards the iron frames, (although no one was sure why, probably not even Theron).

"Finish him!" Petronius ordered, handing Nicon his steel gladius.

Nicon went over to the naked, impaled and helpless boy and grabbed his hair, (from the rear), pulling his head up.

"What the fu…?" Theron began but never finished the obvious sentence as, with one stroke, Nicon sliced off Theron's head. Instantly blood sprayed from the lad's neck, piss sprayed from the lad's limp prick, and he keeled over, with his arms and legs violently twitching, and landing on his side, impaled and dead.

WARNING: the execution of Lycus and Pankratios is more gory than that of the first to. You may want to skip it and continue here

At the Iron Frames… Lycus

Lycus and Pankratios were still tied to the two iron frames situated to the rear of the sanded combat area. Below them was the naked corpse of Sophos, impaled on an iron stake, and the naked, headless corpse of Theron, sprawled on the sand. Neither corpses would be removed until the conclusion of the supplicia, when Lycus and Panratius were aware that there would be four corpses to drag away. Both the boys were finding it difficult to breath, and were experiencing excruciating pain in their joints and muscles from having to support themselves in one position for so long. Each lad, however, also had to contend with a permanent and painful erection, and horrific pain in the lower abdomen and scrotum, resulting from the weight stretching his balls. The pain in the scrotum, however, would soon be dealt with, although not in the way that the boys would want. Heros, who was responsible for the punishment of Lycus, on having watched Sophos and Theron being executed, was instructed by Petronius to finish the 'work' on Lycus. The first step was to thrust a large wooden stake into Lycus' anus.

The thick stake in the anus not only not only represented sexual humiliation, (along with being very painful for the victim), but also served a practical purpose, as it effectively 'stopped up' the impaled individual, preventing any malodorous and messy voiding of the bowels during to final parts of the punishment.

"Oh shit! My fuckin' guts!" Lycus bellowed, as he was brutally penetrated.

Then Heros approached Lycus with a gelding knife.

"No! Not That!… … Anything but that!" Lycus whimpered as soon as he saw the glint of the curved blade.

Heros ignored the pleas of the terrified boy, and grabbed hold of Lycus' horribly swollen 'ball-bag'.

"No! Not my fuckin' bollocks!" Lycus screamed, as Heros sliced through the top of the bulging 'sack'. Instantly Lycus convulsed, and blood sprayed from his groin. At the same time his still obscenely erect cock jerked as it squirted the last of his rich, creamy spunk. Heros then dropped the severed 'ball-bag', along with the weights that had been attached. The now useless bollocks, and the iron weights fell to the sand, the weights making a dull thud. Next, Heros grabbed hold of Lycus still masively stiff cock.

"Not my fuckin' cock as well!…," Lycus wailed.

"Don't need no cock if you got no fuckin' balls!" Heros countered in common street Greek, (Δεν χρειάζεστε πέος αν δεν έχετε όρχεις!), mockingly, as he sliced through the root of Lycus' huge prick. More blood sprayed, and Lycus began to slump forward, feeling the effects of his considerable loss of blood. As Lycus was now slowly but obviously dying, Heros went on with the penultimate mutilation, disembowelling.

Disembowelment or evisceration is the removal of some or all of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract (the bowels), usually through a horizontal incision made across the abdominal area. Disembowelment was often used by the Romans as a method of torture and execution.

As Lycus slumped from the iron frame, Heros made a cut across the boy's well muscled belly.

"No…!" Lycus quite uselessly protested. Lycus then looked down at his quivering belly. There was little blood initially, but then he was horrified to see his intestines slowly flop out.

"Shit!… My fuckin' guts…!" Lycus moaned, unable to believe what was happening to him.

Heros was not naturally cruel or sadistic, and was simply following Petronius' instructions, so he did not leave Lycus to suffer the horror of disembowelment for long, and swiftly cut the naked, mutilated lad's throat. Lycus gurgled noisily, piss sprayed from his bloody cock-stump, and his head flopped forwards as blood gushed down his chest and mutilated belly. Heros, after killing Lycus, was still holding the dead boy's severed prick, which he then disposed of by shoving it in Lycus' gaping, bloody mouth.

And so Lycus was executed.

At the Iron Frames… Pankratios

Pankratios had been watching as his fellow slave, Lycus had been impaled, castrated, had his penis cut off, was disembowelled, and was finally 'finished off'. The terrified lad knew that now it would almost certainly be his turn to suffer the same abuse and mutilations. Kallon then approached Pankratios with the same instructions to humiliate, mutilate and 'finish off' Pankratios as Heros had previously been given for 'finishing' Lycus.

"No, no, don't do that to me!" Pankratios begged, looking across, horrified at the mutilated, naked corpse of his companion, now hanging limply from the iron frame.

Kallon, however, realizing that the supplicia had drawn to a close, quickly got on with the final acts which would 'finish off' the last of the condemned slaves. One of the domus-slaves handed Kallon a thick wooden stake, and Kallon quickly rammed the bulky object into Pankratios' anus. Pankratios knew it was coming, and simply grunted, and jerked upwards as he was humiliatingly penetrated. Next Kallon was handed the gelding knife.

"Your balls are hurting, yes?" Kallon asked Pankratios. That was obvious, as Pankratios' scrotum was, by then, visibly darkening and horribly swollen. Pankratios nodded tearfully.

"It'll be less painful if you have em' off," Kallon said, obviously prevaricating. Pankratios nodded again, probably not realizing the implications of what he was agreeing to. Kallon then took hold of Pankratios' bulky ball-bag and, with one swift slice, cut off the pathetic lad's balls.

"Shit!…," Pankratios yelled, as his bollocks, along with the attached weights dropped to the sand.

"Good, so, no balls, so no need for this!" Kallon then said, as he flicked Pankratios' stiff, twitching cock. Pankratios' large, appallingly stiff prick flopped obscenely when Kallon flicked it, dribbling copious quantities of 'pre- cum'.

Despite having been castrated, the tight roping round Pankratios' penis had the effect of trapping blood in the already erect member, and the insertion of the large stake in his anus also contributed to his continuing sexual arousal.

Fascinated at the sight of Pankratios' huge jerking 'member', with no balls hanging below, Kallon forget about his eager concern to finish things off swiftly, and allowed his perverse imagination to take over.

"What about a final jerk-off?" Kallon suggested. (Petronius overheard him, and simply grinned.)

"Please!" Pankratios grunted hoarsely. Now whether Pankratios meant 'please jerk me off', or 'please stop', or 'please help' or whatever, it was impossible to say, however, Kallon took it as permission to indulge himself. Instantly he grabbed Pankratios' foreskin, and began pulling it rhythmically over the groaning lad's cock-head.

"Please!" Pankratios continued to moan. Then, some moments later, Pankratios' hips pushed forwards, the boy's eyes glazed over, and he squirted out repeated sprays of glistening, creamy spunk, most of which landed on the sand below him, as he groaned softly. It was undoubtedly his last orgasm as, before he had finished 'cumming', Kallon sliced off the the poor lad's penis, right down at the root. Forgetting to disembowel the boy, Kallon then cut Pankratios' throat and, as the horribly mutilated, naked boy sprayed piss and blood from his groin, and blood from his ripped neck Pankratios convulsed, and in a matter of moments was dead.

And so ended the supplicia…

***

Conclusio
Conclusion

Marcus, Demetrius, Terentius and Novius rose from their seats, and Terentius and Novius, having no further business at the supplicia at that time, made their way back down to the main atrium. Demetrius, Adonios, Aurarius and Aelius, unable to control their teenage, boyish, (and somewhat macabre), curiosity, stepped out into the sanded area in order to examine the naked mutilated copses of the four executed slaves, excitedly recounting to one another favourite parts of the afternoon's events.

The rigid social stratification of Roman society is highlighted by the behaviour of the boys at this point. Only Demetrius is a Roman citizen (a slave by birth, although, through the influence of Marcus all record of his servitude has been obliterated, and the boy is not even considered to be a freed slave (freedman), but rather the son of a Roman citizen, (Gnaeus Octavian). The other boys are all slaves, but see no similarity between themselves and the slaves who have just been executed. So in Rome, there were slaves and 'slaves', and some 'slaves' have more status than even freedmen, as they have the patronage and protection of their master, (in this case Marcus).

Meanwhile, Nicander and Petronius (in an obvious and purposeful show of cooperation and mutual respect), supervised the removal of the four corpses from the roof gardens, while domus-guards supervised the leaving of the other observers, (mainly slaves), from the roof gardens. Marcus went over to Nicander and Petronius and congratulated them effusively on the excellent work that they had both done.

While all seemed well to the casual observer, the image of solidarity and control was being purposefully projected for the benefit of the Domus staff, and the next day Marcus would conduct an appraisal of what had gone wrong, and what had led to the debacle of the previous night, which had resulted in the unnecessary loss of too many recently acquired slaves. Marcus final instruction was that the four corpses of the slave boys who had been executed were to be cremated that night, with minimal rites, and the ashes placed in the columbarium at the villa at Baiea.

The Romans in the period of our story, often used columbaria (which means 'dovecote') as a name for a structure containing multiple funerary urns because the stacked urns resembled stacked cages. Such columbaria were manly used for the poorer member of society and slaves, and the rich would often have private tombs, and the very wealthy (like Marcus) would have a Mausoleum.

'and the story continues - Novius works his 'magic' on Aurarius to reveal an interesting past and Elatos is punished.

XLII. Servi, Cives et Dei
42. The Slaves, the Free, and the Gods

Servi
The Slaves

The corpses of the four dead slaves, executed during the supplicia, were swiftly transported to Marcus' country villa at Tibur. The reason for this was that the disposal of bodies was not permitted within the boundaries of the city of Rome. Once they had arrived at Tibur, the bodies were cremated and placed in modest marble cinerary urns to await transport to the columbarium at the villa at Baiea.

A columbarium is building or underground chamber, which the Romans used for preserving the ashes of the dead. During the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, hundreds of columbaria lined the consular highways leading out of Rome, although now only some two dozen are extant. Carefully organised, with neatly stuccoed ceilings, frescoed walls, and mosaic floors, columbaria are not to be confused with catacombs, long rambling underground galleries with crude recesses, which have been gouged out of tufa rock and used for inhumation (burial). The mass construction of columbaria seems associated with Augustus' (Octavian) reforms of Roman archaic burial laws. These reforms called for a new method of disposal of the dead. Columbaria represent an acceptable economic means of serving the needs of an ever-growing population of slaves and freed slaves. Columbaria were not used by the wealthy.

Marcus was always very punctilious with regard to funeral rites for slaves whom he felt deserved a proper entry into the next world. That, of course, was an easy problem fo Marcus to solve. With regard to the slaves who had caused problems on the night of Titus' visit, the further question was why such punishments (supplicia) had been required in the first place, and it weighed on Marcus' mind that the late Dominus (Gnaeus Octavian) to the best of his knowledge, had never had any serious problem with his slaves during all the time that he had been Pater familias of the House of Gracchus (except for the problem of Cleon, Glykon and Petram) So Marcus was beset with the question regarding where he had gone wrong with regard to his management of his slaves.

And it was not acceptable to blame the incident on an untried, untested and newly appointed steward, Nicander, after all, Marcus was honest enough to accept that he himself had been partly responsible for undermining the young man's status, right from the time when they first met at the the funeral of the late Dominus.

And then there was the matter of buying slaves, intended to fight in the arena at Baiae, only to then expect them to fight, a matter of days after being purchased, and with little or no training, in the Domus in Rome.

And why?

Well Marcus new that the purchase was ill advised, and the slaves were required to fight only to satisfy his desire to impress Titus, and through Titus, Titus' father Vespasian.

Marcus discussed all these thoughts with Petronius, and Marcus had made it very clear that he believed that Petronius was in no way to blame for what had happened. Petronius view was that it was 'just one of those things', and there had been no serious repercussions arising from the event. (Petronius, as far as Marcus was concerned, often seemed to lack empathy, and to be remote, even 'Olympian', in his attitude to other slaves, even when he had been a slave himself.) Marcus however, was not so sure that the 'revolt' was 'just one of those things', after all, four slaves had been brutally punished, executed in fact, for something that may well have not been their fault, and for those executed slaves that was serious!

Marcus had been sitting on a bench in the roof-garden, reflecting on recent events. He was getting nowhere, so he decide to go down to his apartments, have a little wine and a snack, and then go to speak to Novius. Novius will have some good suggestions, Marcus thought, trying to cheer himself up.

When Marcus reached the atrium of his apartments he found Aurarius regaling Elatos with a detailed account of Epiktetos chasing a stark naked Sophos, and slapping the boy's backside and balls, before fucking the lad. Both Aurarius and Elatos were in fits of laughter. When Aurarius then got to the part where Sophos was impaled with his own wooden gladius, and then started wanking and 'cumming', Elatos could hardly control himself.

"Enough!" Marcus commanded,

Instantly Elatos stopped giggling, and Aurarius stopped telling his tale. The two boy looked up at Marcus, fearfully, not daring to speak.

"The boy that you were talking about was only a little older than you, Aurarius, and was killed by being pushed onto an iron spike. He was only 'punished' because he drew a 'short straw', and he probably had done nothing wrong to deserve such a humiliating, agonising death. So, it's not a matter for you two silly boys to make jokes about!"

"Yes Dominus, I'm very sorry," Aurarius said, very close to tears.

Elatos was shaking. "Please don't have me flogged, Dominus!" he stuttered.

"Not this time," Marcus said coldly, obviously still extremely angry.

"Now go to your rooms, and I will deal with your both later, and not another sound from either of you.".

Marcus then called in a domus-guard, and instructed him that neither slave was to leave their room, or to speak, until he returned. Marcus then made his way to the library, determined to get some advice from Novius.

Concilium cum Novio
Meeting with Novius

As usual, Novius was working away on his vast, comprehensive history of Etruscan magic and mythology.

"Sorry to disturb you," Marcus said, poking his head round the door.

"Not at all. Come in my boy!" Novius said, rising from his seat.

"I just need someone to talk to…" Marcus said lamely.

"Well that's odd, because I wanted a little chat with you," Novius replied.

"So what did you want to talk to me about," Marcus said politely, letting Novius go first.

"No… You are my Dominus so you have the first word," Novius responded.

"Well I'm not really happy about what happened this morning," Marcus admitted.

"You mean the slaves being punished for causing problems in the basement?" Novius said, sighing.

"Yes… Do you think that Petronius went too far.?" Marcus asked.

Novius thought for a moment. "No," he then answered firmly.

"I think it was prudent, as it is important to deter slaves from ever disobeying their masters. The boys who were killed were unlucky, but then many people are unlucky. The world is not a fair place, Marcus, as you should well know," Novius explained gently.

Marcus listened intently and nodded. The old man's words were wise.

"So I shouldn't feel guilty?" Marcus asked.

"Not really… I know that the punishments were cruel and humiliating for the boys in question, and obviously ended in execution, but that was the point of the supplicia. It was meant to be a deterrent, to ensure that there will be no more trouble," Novius said, elaborating on what he had already said.

"Well that helps," Marcus said, obviously relieved.

"Now what was it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Now Dominus, I have been thinking long and hard bout the conversation that we had in the carriage on our journey here to Rome… If you recall we were talking about the possibility of Aurarius being the younger brother of Petronius. Unfortunately the matter never seemed to get any further, apart from you and Petronius swapping boys," Novius paused and looked at Marcus questioningly.

"And?" Marcus shrugged.

"Well doesn't it seem odd that Petronius and Aurarius, since then, have not really behaved like long lost brothers?" Novius queried.

Marcus thought for a moment. "Well yes, perhaps it does seem odd," Marcus tentatively agreed.

"So what are you suggesting we do?" Marcus asked, sensing that Novius already had some devious plan.

"I think that we should question young Aurarius, with the aid of some of my Etruscan magic, and try to prise out some memories about this long lost older brother, and see if it really is Petronius, after all, it has a bearing on the prophecy of the Sibyl," Novius proposed.

Marcus nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed… that might be a good idea," he concurred.

Marcus et Elatos
Marcus and Elatos

Novius' suggestion was helpful in more than one way. It would help to have a better understanding of the origins of Aurarius, and also Petronius, for that matter. Also however, it would divert Marcus from his preoccupation with problems relating to his newly acquired slaves. Novius then gave Marcus a tiny flask of 'kykeon' (from κυκάω, 'to stir, to mix').

"See that Aurarius drinks this a short time before you bring him to me, I shall be in the library," Novius explained.

So late in the afternoon, Marcus returned to his apartments. As he entered the atrium he noticed that it was completely silent. He immediately dismissed the domus-guard who had been supervising Aurarius and Elatos.

"Aurarius!" Marcus called.

The door to the atrium slowly opened, and Aurarius, looking very chastened and sorry for himself entered.

"You wish to see me, Dominus?" Aurarius asked hesitantly.

"Yes, but first I want us to share some refreshments," Marcus replied casually.

Aurarius went into the culina, and then returned a few moments later with cheese, fruit and some wine, which he set down before Marcus. Marcus tasted the wine.

"Aurarius I think that this wine taste a little stale, bring me a new flagon."

"Of course, Dominus," Aurarius said, as he took the original flagon from the table, and returned it to the culina.

While Aurarius was gone, Marcus poured the kykeon from the tiny flask that he had secreted in his toga into Aurarius' goblet. Unknown to Marcus, however, Elatos had been watching from the partially opened door of his cubiculum (bedroom). Elatos quickly ran into the atrium.

"What are you doing, Dominus?, trying to poison him?" Elatos hissed.

Marcus instantly rose from his couch.

"Shut up!" Marcus said, quietly and coldly, and moved with sudden swiftness, grabbing, and gagging young Elatos, and bundling him out of the atrium. (remember that Marcus had been trained as a gladiator by Servius and then Petronius, and could move and act with great strength and speed).

Once they were in the corridor, Marcus passed Elatos to one of the Domus-guards.

"Take him down to the slave-pens in the basement, keep him isolated until I send for him," Marcus ordered.

Immediately Elatos was taken away.

Marcus then quickly slipped through the doors to the atrium, resuming his place on the couch as if nothing had happened. Moments later Aurarius returned with a new flagon of wine.

"I thought I heard someone come in?" Aurarius asked casually.

"Yes, it was just a message from Terentius, nothing really," Marcus explained.

"The wine—" Marcus continued. "I think I was mistaken, it seems all right, so drink up," Marcus said, raising his half full goblet and drinking deeply.

"Well at least we have a new full flagon," Aurarius said, puzzled about all the fuss over the wine.

"So, Dominus, have you been able to forgive me?" Aurarius asked, looking contrite, as he drunk up his wine, thinking that Marcus had been right in the first place, and the wine was a little stale.

"You mean, about all that silly talk about the slaves being punished?" Marcus replied and Aurarius nodded.

"Well not really," Marcus continued, settling back on his couch.

"I want you to understand that you are a slave, although most of the time you may not feel that you are, and for much of the time you do not act as if you were. And I was also a slave, and so was Petronius and Terentius. You see, Aurarius," and Marcus was gazing intently at his slave-boy, looking for signs that the kykeon was working,"slaves are people, with brothers, sisters, parents and friends, even if we think of them as just possessions and objects. Even if we treat them harshly and even humiliate them, we have no right to make them the subject of our jokes, and just 'things' to be sniggered at and laughed at. We must leave them with just a shred of dignity," Marcus explained, knowing that many patricians would not agree with what he was saying.

"You mean like when you made sure that the executed slaves were given the proper rites so that they could go to the next world?" Aurarius questioned, but Marcus noticed that his young slave's words were just a little slurred.

"Exactly… So come 'Boy', let's go and see Novius," Marcus said gently, taking Aurarius' arm, and guiding him to the atrium door.

"Yes Marcus," Aurarius replied dreamily, as Glaux (oddly wide awake so early in the afternoon) fluttered down onto Marcus' shoulder.

Etruscorum Magia
Etruscan Magic

Greek and Etruscan priests developed a great understanding of the human mind and the possibility of using suggestibility to obtain otherwise hidden problems and memories, and used various methods for this purpose. As time passed, they started to move away from the sole use of dream interpretation and suggestion therapy, using their growing knowledge of herbs; they developed unguents, tinctures and medicines. The kykeon (Gr. κυκεών, from κυκάω, 'to stir, to mix') the Novius used, was a Greek drink. It was made mainly of water, barley and naturally occurring substances. Kykeon was a psychoactive compounded used in the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Marcus and Aurarius arrived at the Library, and Novius led them to a separate study-room, furnished with chairs and couches, along with marble topped tables where scrolls were sorted. On one of the tables there was a curious looking Etruscan bronze incense burner, which gave the study-room an exotic, musty scent.

"Please, Dominus and Aurarius, sit down and be comfortable," Novius said invitingly.

When they were all seated, Novius began. "It's a long time since we had a proper conversation, Aurarius, and the Dominus and I thought that today, as we have time, we could make up for that just have a nice little chat, and remember, there is no need to be concerned. Nobody is going to hurt you, so just relax."

There was a small leather pouch on the table next to Novius, and he slowly and gently opened it up, and emptied the contents onto the table. As the 'charm' fell onto the table Novius began his explanation. He picked the charm up by its chain, and held it quite close to Aurarius face.

"I have something here, rather special, that I would like you to look at."

The glint of gold instantly caught Aurarius' eye.

"It's very old, from the time when Rome was founded. Very… very… very old," and as Novius said this, he began to swing the pendant in front of Aurarius' eyes.

"Very… very… very old," and each time he said 'very' he swung the pendant.

As Aurarius became fixated on the swinging pendant, Novius gestured Marcus to look away. Then Aurarius' eyelids fluttered, and in a matter of moments Aurarius' eyes had glazed over and, it seemed, he was seeing nothing. Novius then read, in Oscan, a short invocation from a scroll that had lain on the table beside the leather pouch. By then Aurarius' chin had dropped down, and his mouth was open, and his eyes had slowly closed, although the lids still trembled.

"That's good, Aurarius," Novius said, as he looked to Marcus and smiled.

"Now tell me, where were you born?" Novius began, conducting all his questioning in Greek.

"Outside a small town near Athens," Aurarius replied, also in Greek, with an Athenian accent.

"And the town's name?" Novius probed.

"It was called Eleusis. My father had a small farm near the town."

Eleusis was a deme of Athens, and most famous for its annual festival of the Mysteries in honour of Demeter and Persephone. The site was also an important fortress protecting Attica, and held several other important festivals, notably the 'Thesmophoria', the subject and title of a comedy play by Aristophanes. The site continued to be an important religious centre through Hellenistic and Roman times, when the site was significantly expanded with monumental architecture being added by several Roman emperors.

"And what is your name?" Novius asked.

Novius knew that Aurarius had been sold into slavery as a young boy, and had forgotten his original name, later being simply referred to by his elderly master as Αγόρι, 'Boy'.

"My name is Φιλων, Philon," Aurarius replied, much to the surprise of Marcus and Novius.

"And may I call you Philon?" Novius asked, trying to establish the validity of the information.

"Of course, it's my name." Φιλων, Philon (Latinized as Philo) is Greek for 'lover' or 'friend'.

"And did you have any brothers, Philon?" Novius asked.

"Yes, I had one older brother, Πάτροκλος, Patroklos," Aurarius replied, apparently not realizing the significance of the name Πάτροκλος, Patroklos in Greek, means 'the glory of the father'.

"So, tell me about this older brother," Novius continued.

"Well… he was a few years older than me, and never wanted to be a farmer, like our father, but instead an athlete, and there were Games held in Eleusis, and I think that's where he got the idea from," Aurarius explained.

"So did Patroklos become an athlete?" Novius queried.

"No, that's where it all went wrong," Aurarius replied.

"You see, he often used to practice discus, in one of my father's fields. On that day, he went to fetch the discus that he'd just thrown, but his friend wasn't paying attention and didn't see him. The friend made his throw, and his discus hit Patroklos' head. When we got to my brother, he was unconscious. Father got a physician from Athens, although he couldn't afford it, and got into debt. Days went by, and my brother did't wake up, and the physician gave up."

"So go on," Novius said, encouragingly.

"Well in the end he appeared to have stopped breathing, so we began to prepare his funeral pyre. But then something very strange happened. He woke up, or 'came round' or something, opened his eyes, and asked for food, and a drink. To begin with we thought it was a 'miracle', a dream come true, but then we realized that he had completely lost his memory. He didn't know his own name, he didn't remember his mother and father, or me, or where he was, or his friends or anything. But he could still speak, read and write. He knew the days, and the names of the gods, but in all other ways, my brother seemed to be lost to me."

Novius looked puzzled.

"So did things just slowly go back to normal?" he asked.

"Well no… You see the rich landowner wanted the loan he had made to my father paid back, but it was a bad harvest, and father had no money, so there was only one way out. Both Patroklos and myself were sold into slavery. Unfortunately we were sold to different owners, so I never saw my brother again… until I saw someone very like him, when I was taken to this very big villa by the sea, but he didn't recognise me, and had a different name, so I thought it was just a coincidence that he looked similar."

Aurarius paused, looking puzzled and somewhat disturbed.

"But I don't know if it matters because, after the accident, Patroklos wasn't really my brother. The accident made him… well… someone else, but I don't know who…," and Aurarius' words trailed off into sadness and disappointment, and even little Glaux, who had been 'listening' all the time, looked sad.

"And did you like your brother, that is before the accident?" Novius asked, somewhat pointedly.

"Yes, very, very much…" Aurarius replied, his voice breaking as he spoke.

"He was…," Aurarius hesitated for a moment. "He was my hero… my Patroklos," Aurarius said quietly, as tears began to roll down his cheeks.

"What do you think, Dominus?" Novius asked, turning to Marcus.

"I think that's enough for this session. It gives us a lot to think about, and discus," Marcus replied.

"Yes I agree," Novius said, and then returned his attention, and his gaze to Aurarius.

"That is all very interesting," Novius said to Aurarius

"Now, when I click my fingers you will forget everything that has happened since you sat down in that chair. Is that clear?" Novius said firmly.

"Yes, sir," Aurarius answered mechanically.

Novius then clicked his fingers, and Aurarius opened his eyes, and looked round the study-room, obviously dazed and tired.

"So what were you going to talk to me about, sir?" Aurarius asked.

"Oh, nothing really!" Novius answered, casually and looking at Marcus, smiling Aurarius looked very confused, and looked to Marcus.

"Nothing to worry about, Aurarius, Novius' little talk with you is over, so lets go back to our apartments."

"Of course, Dominus," Aurarius replied, getting up from his seat a little unsteadily.

"I'm sorry Dominus, I think I must have had too much wine," Aurarius said, looking embarrassed and even more confused.

"That's no problem, but we should go, as Novius needs to get on with his book, or he'll never finish it," Marcus said, winking at Novius.

"Of course," Novius said,"And thank you for visiting me in my little cavea (den)", Novius said, opening the door of the study-room.

"Little!" Marcus said in mock consternation.

"Why it's one of the largest libraries in Rome!" (Bibliotheca, in Latin)

And with that, Marcus and Aurarius left the Library, and returned to Marcus' apartments.

"I think that it would be a good idea if you went down to the ground floor, had a good swim, and then got one of the slaves to give you a good thorough massage", Marcus suggested to Aurarius, once they arrived back in the apartment.

"And you won't need me, Dominus," Aurarius asked, seemingly concerned.

"Not until later when I want you to come to the city with me," Marcus said,"and then, in the evening, you can bathe again, you will be fresh from the pool, your skin will be smooth, and I will enjoy being with you," Marcus replied, his eyes twinkling.

"I understand Dominus," Aurarius replied, giving a knowing smile.

Recensio
Review

Marcus arrived at the doors of the Bibliotheca, and told the Domus-guard to announce him.

"Ah… I thought you'd be back, and soon," Novius said, and Marcus entered.

"Of course, I really want to hear what you think about the 'chat' you had with young Aurarius," Marcus said, as Novius busied himself putting away some rather tatty looking scrolls.

"Well… your beautiful boy certainly had some interesting things to say, and my mind's in a bit after a whirl after it, but lets go and sit down, and perhaps if we go through it slowly we might make some sense of it," Novius explained, as he deposited the tatty scrolls on a shelf marked Etruscae Fabulae (Etuscan Legends). They sat down, and Novius called a slave boy and ordered some refreshments.

"So what did you make of it all?" Marcus asked.

"Well… Dominus, I think is poses more questions than answers &– but that is what tends to happen if you probe into anything," Marcus nodded.

"And do you believe what he told us?" Marcus queried.

"Undoubtedly!" Novius replied.

"The kykeon, the pendant and the invocation always elicit the complete truth, however difficult or disturbing we may find it," Novius declared.

"Think of the questioning of the conspirators back in Baiea, it told us everything," Novius continued.

"Yes, you're right," Marcus conceded.

"And now?" Marcus asked.

"Well we know now, for sure, where Aurarius originally came from, and we know his real name, that he believed that he had forgotten, but you see, Dominus, it was there all the time, just waiting for our 'Etruscan magic' to free it," Novius explained.

"Yes, I see," Marcus said, admiringly.

"And will he remember it now?" Marcus asked intrigued.

"No, but we can bring it back to his memory permanently, if we use the 'magic' again, and command him to remember it," Novius said.

"And what if I just tell him his real name, when he comes back from his swim and his massage later?" Marcus asked, pursuing the matter.

"Then he will refuse to believe you, and probably think that you are crazy," Novius said.

"Well that's not surprising… When he first came to us he thought we were all crazy, and he was not far wrong," Marcus said wryly.

"So we have this farmer's boy, who is called Φιλων, Philon, very appropriately, from your point of view, Dominus, as I think I'm right in believing that he is your 'lover'."

Marcus nodded, accepting that there were no secrets between himself and Novius.

"And this 'farm-boy' lives near Athens, and he has an older brother who, strangely, is called Πάτροκλος, Patroklos, which is not a very common Greek name. But so far there is nothing remarkable in that," Novius said.

"True," Marcus agreed.

"And then we come to the part about this much admired older brother wanting to be an athlete, but having athletic ambitions is not unusual with Greek boys. But then things become strange. This aspiring boy athlete has an apparently 'fatal' accident involving a discus. And what does that make you think of, Dominus?" Novius asked.

"Well, Aristarchos taught me much about Greek mythology, and to me. it brings to mind the story of Ὑάκινθος, Huákinthos," Marcus replied.

"Exactly!" Novius agreed.

"And who is the main protagonist in that story, apart, of course, from Huákinthos?" Novius asked.

"Apollo, and here we go again, always Apollo," Marcus answered.

Huákinthos (Hyacinth) was a beautiful youth and lover of the god Apollo, though he was also admired by Zephyrus, the West Wind. Apollo and Hyacinth took turns throwing the discus. Hyacinth ran to catch it to impress Apollo, was struck by the discus as it fell to the ground, and died. When Hyacinth died, Apollo did not allow Hades to claim the youth; rather, he made a flower, the hyacinth, from his spilled blood. According to Ovid's account, the tears of Apollo stained the newly formed flower's petals with the sign of his grief. And so Apollo remains associated with the boy in the epithet of Apollon Hyakinthios.

"But there is a puzzle here, because we don't know who the 'friend' was who threw the discus. And if I had 'caught on' fast enough, I might have asked Aurarius," Novius said regretfully.

"Well we can always ask him during another session, as I'm sure that this matter will throw up more questions that need to be answered," Marcus said, trying to be helpful.

"True…,"Novius replied.

"Now the next part of the story might have some resonance for you, Dominus, the period of unconsciousness, the sleep from which none one can rouse Patroklos," Novius continued.

"Indeed it has. It is oddly like the 'coma' that I experienced after the attack by Glykon," Marcus confirmed.

"Except that when you came back to us, you were the same old Marcus that you had always been, with no memory loss or any other symptoms," Novius said.

"Well that is true, but I must confide in you that I did not feel the same. Something happened to me that changed me during that time I was away," Marcus explained.

"Yes… And where were you during that time, Dominus?" Novius asked.

"Well I know it sounds foolish to say now, but I though I was on Mount Parnassus, with Apollo and the Muses."

Mount Parnassus plays a prominent role in Greek mythology because on its southern slope, overlooking the Gulf of Corinth, lies Delphi, site of the famous oracle. There were many oracles in ancient Greece, but only the one at Delphi achieved a record of reliability. According to tradition, Parnassus was the site of the fountain Castalia, and the home of the Muses. As the home of the Muses, Parnassus was sacred to the God Apollo, and became known as the home of poetry, music, and learning.

"And you said, if I remember rightly, that Apollon Mousagetes looked just like the statue of Petronius, who is of course our discus throwing 'farm-boy' Patroklos," Novius exclaimed.

"Yes," Marcus said, looking perturbed.

"So here we have a very complex puzzle, and we must be careful as to what significance we give to each of its parts, or how we interpret those parts… … But to return to what Aurarius told us, we have confirmation of why Aurarius and Petronius became slaves, which was the debt that was incurred by trying to have Patroklos cured. And then we have the remarkable recovery of the boy. But… and here is a very significant point, when Patroklos awakens, he seems to have lost most of his memories, including who he was. So perhaps he wasn't Patroklos any more…," Novius concluded, and a dramatic silence seem to fall over the proceedings. Marcus looked puzzled.

"Let me try to understand what you are saying, and perhaps I've got this completely wrong, but then I'm no philosopher," Marcus said, rising from his chair and walking round the room.

"You seem to be implying that this boy, Patroklos, may have really died, and his body (σώμα, soma) was 'taken over' by someone or something else?" Marcus said questioningly.

"Well that may be a possibility, Dominus. It could explain why his memories of himself, his family and presumably, therefore, his past, had disappeared, while his memories of how to speak and write, and everyday things, like the names of the days, or the names of the gods were unaffected," Novius said tentatively.

"So whose ψυχή (psyche or soul) are you suggesting was then inhabiting the body of young Patroklos?" Marcus asked.

"Ah… well, that is the big question…," Novius replied.

Plato considered the psyche to be the essence of a person, being that which decides how we behave. He considered this essence to be an incorporeal, eternal occupant of our being. Socrates says that even after death, the soul exists and is able to think. He believed that as bodies die, the soul is continually reborn in subsequent bodies and Plato believed this as well.

"Yes, and I think I know who you might be suggesting, but it's impossible, ridiculous!" Marcus said angrily.

"I know, and I will not dare enunciate my thoughts on that possibility until we have put a lot more thought into the matter. But I have long had my suspicions," Novius said warily.

"Well that is enough for now, and in a way I wish we had not had this conversation," Marcus said, turning to go.

"I agree, but fantastic though it may be we would be unwise to dismiss what Aurarius has told us simply because we find it difficult to believe or frightening, after all, it explains many of the strange events that have occurred since you, 'the golden boy from the sea' arrived among us," Novius said, as he rose to escort Marcus from the Bibliotheca.

Terentius et Servi
Terentius and Slaves

Marcus left the Bibliotheca and made his way to Terentius' officium. At least with Terentius everything was 'cut and dried' and 'normal', at least that was what Marcus was hoping. Terentius rose from his chair.

"Salve Dominus!" he said, cheerfully.

"Salve!" Marcus said, slumping down in one of the chairs opposite the huge marble table Terentius used as his desk.

"I've just been having a session with Novius, trying to prise out more information about Aurarius."

Terentius raised an eyebrow,"Oh."

"And for your records you can put Aurarius' original name down as Philon, and Pretonius' original name as Patroklos, and their place of origin as Eleusis, near Athens, in Achaea," Marcus said, almost mechanically.

"And any more information?" Terentius queried.

"Just don't ask!" Marcus said wearily.

"Oh, it was like that, was it," Terentius commiserated.

"Yes!".Marcus said.

"Now what about these slaves who were going to be gladiators?… I think we have lost eight boys at the last count?" Marcus asked.

"Yes Dominus," Terentius replied.

"But no matter, they are cheap to buy, and cheap to replace," Terentius said brightly

"Yes… Just as well!" Marcus commented.

"But I think that we need another ten, but not to use here. We will send them straight back to Baiea, with Petronius in attendance," Marcus instructed.

"And is that Patroklos or Petronius?" Terentius said, being purposefully awkward, and he imagined amusing.

"Enough, Terentius!, leave it as Petronius I really can't take all this name changing," Marcus said, sounding exasperated.

"Now I need a new slave for myself and Aurarius," Marcus continued.

"You and Aurarius?" Terentius questioned.

"Yes," Marcus said tetchily.

"In case you haven't noticed, Aurarius has reached the age where he needs someone to fuck."

"Yes, of course, Dominus. But what about that nice little lad, Elatos?" Terentius asked.

"That nice little lad, as you put it, is in big trouble. I have decide to make an example of him," Marcus explained.

"Not another execution, and then a replacement I hope," Terentius said wearily.

"No, I just plan to humiliate him, then I will get the boy properly castrated by Agathon, and use him as an attendant in the pool, and then later, after he had served as an appropriate deterrent to the other slaves, you can sell him off to a 'boy-brothel', hopefully at a good price."

"So I see you are really determined to ensure that there are no further problems with the slaves," Terentius commented.

"Yes!" Marcus replied firmly.

"Well that's good, Dominus!" Terentius added, seeing that Marcus was in one of his 'dominant' moods.

"So later today we will take Aurarius to choose a really 'nice' boy, and we can also get some slaves suitable for the arena," Marcus said.

"Of course Dominus. And may I ask how young Aelius is getting on," Terentius responded.

"Well, so far, he's one of the exceptions. He's doing very well," Marcus replied.

"And may I ask, returning to this Elatos boy, what did he actually do that attracts such an unusual punishment," Terentius asked.

"Two things, actually. First, he was making dirty jokes about the sufferings of the slaves who were being punished on the roof-gardens. But far more seriously, he accused me of trying to 'poison' Aurarius," Marcus explained.

"Well the first is possibly excusable with young boys of his age, but accusing you of trying to 'poison' Aurarius, well that is unforgivable. And I can understand why you are so upset, knowing your feelings for Aurarius," Terentius said.

"So you see it's the same old problem, jealousy between slaves," Marcus said resignedly.

"So I am going to see Agathon now, and when I am finished, I would like you to come with me to buy these new slaves," Marcus explained.

"Of course, Dominus.'

Concilio cum Medico
A Meeting with the Physician

Marcus left Terentius' officium, and went down to the 'slave-pens' in the basement, where the domus-guards were very surprised to see him

"You have a slave here called Elatos I believe?" Marcus asked.

"Yes, Dominus," the guard replied smartly.

"Good, then I want an escort to bring the slave with me to the officium of Agathon."

"Of course, Dominus," the guard replied, calling to another guard to go and fetch the boy.

It should be pointed out here that 'normal' Roman houses, even of wealthy patricians, rarely had secure accommodation for prisoners, and guards to supervise them. It was only because of the abnormally large number of slaves accommodated in the Domus Gracchii that such facilities were available. It should also be noted that the paterfamilias had the right, under Roman law, to detain all and any members of his familia, and this included slaves, freemen and blood relations.

A guard quickly returned with Elatos and the three, Marcus, the guard and Elatos, then made their way upstairs to the officium of Agathon. The domus-guard waited outside, in the corridor.

"Salve Dominus!" Agathon said, greeting Marcos.

"And how can I be of service to my Dominus."

Marcus pushed Elatos forward. "I want this boy castrated," Marcus said bluntly.

Agathon looked surprised and a little shocked.

"This is and unusual request, Dominus. May I be so bold as to ask the reason for this drastic action?" Agathon said quietly, as Elatos looked up pleadingly at Marcus, wordlessly begging him, with his eyes, to reconsider.

"It is a punishment, intended to deter other slaves from disrespecting their Dominus," Marcus coldly explained.

"I see," Agathon said calmly.

"But you must understand that with an procedure like this there is always a certain amount of risk," Agathon continued.

"I know, but you are skilled, and I need this to be done as painlessly as possible, and as neatly as possible, with the very minimum of scarring," Marcus said.

"That I can do, although there will be some pain during the days after the procedure. Let me see the boy naked," Agathon asked.

One of Agathon's young assistants approached Elatos, and carefully pulled off the boy's tunic, and unlaced the boy's thong. Agathon gentltly lifted up Elatos' limp little penis, to expose his scrotum.

"So, I can make an incision in the scrotum here, and remove both testicles," Agathon indicated with a stylus on the exposed scrotum where he would cut, while Elatos stood trembling, obviously terrified at what Agathon was proposing.

"Then I can cut away the unwanted extra scrotal skin, and then sew together two halves of the scrotum, and it will look as if he had never had any testicles, and there will be no bulge, and the penis will lie flat," Agathon explained.

"That's excellent," Marcus commented.

"And this boy, in consideration of his age, will then be unable to have an erection, masturbate, have penetrative sex, or produce any seed. He will be virtually sexless," Agathon added.

"And when do you require this procedure to take place?" Agthon asked.

"Not for a few days," Marcus replied. "But before we go I have one more request," and Marcus paused for a moment.

"I know from Petronius, (and my own experience, from some time ago), that you can fit a 'cock-cage', in order to prevent any sexual activity?" Marcus asked.

"Yes, that is correct," Agathon replied with a knowing smile. (Petronius regularly had the boys who were to perform in the arena fitted with a cock-cage so that they would be excessively 'horny' when they appeared in public)

"Well I would like you to fit one on this boy before we go," Marcus said.

The cage was quickly fitted, and Agathon's assistant helped a concerned young Elatos to dress. As Elatos was led away, he looked back tearfully, but Marcos had his back to him, and did not notice.

Servos Acquirendum, Iterum
Purchasing Slaves, again

Marcus went down the the main atrium, found some slave-boys, and sent one up to collect Terentius, one to the baths to collect Aurarius, and one to the gymnasion to collect Petronius and Adonios.

When they had all finally gathered, they set off to the Graecostadium, the large slave-market near the forum Romanum. As they made their way, Marcus tried to put to the back of his mind the speculations that he and Novius and entertained regarding Petronius, but he found it difficult being in the company of his closest friend. Aurarius, of course, was completely unaffected by the morning's events, having had his memory effectively wiped by Novius.

Once at the Graecostadium, Terentius sought out the venalicius (dealer), called Felix ('Lucky'), a close friend of Terentius, (and actually a client of the late Dominus and therefore now a client of Marcus). This was the venalicius that Terentius regularly used, and together they had a very profitable association, however, on this occasion a minor argument broke out, with Terentius accusing Felix of offloading onto him some obstreperous slaves, who had caused no end of trouble. Eventually the matter was settled with Felix promising, to provide some first class slaves, and also to offer them at a reduced price in consideration of the previous problems.

Terentius then brought in Petronius, whom Felix had met on their previous visit to the Graecostadium, in order to check out the slaves, and ensure that they were suitable for use in the arena. Eventually ten slaves were purchased, to be delivered to the Domus at the end of the trading day.

Puer Servus pro Aurario
A Slave-Boy for Aurarius

Marcus and his companions then returned to the high class slave dealer, situated a short walk from the Graecostadium. Terentius led the way, knowing, to some extent, the proprietor of the establishment.

"Salvete vera Domine! (Greetings, esteemed sir)," the proprietor said, as Terentius entered.

"Salve!" Terentius replied.

"We are pleased to serve you once again," the proprietor said, ushering the group into the main entrance. Petronius, however, excused himself, taking Adonios with him to a nearby thermopolium. For Marcus, Terentius, and Aurarius refreshments were served.

"And may I ask how the boy that you purchased previously is getting on? Is he coming up to your expectations?" the proprietor asked.

"Yes, very much so," Terentius replied.

"And what, exactly, are you looking for on this visit?" the proprietor asked, as slave-boys served wine and delicacies.

"A boy very similar to the lad we bought previously. The boy is to be a concubinus for this young lad, Terentius said, indicating Aurarius, and so slightly shorter in stature, and, of curse, no older."

"And how old is this fine young 'vir' (gentleman)," the proprietor asked.

"Well that's a slight problem, we don't actually know precisely," Ternetius explained.

"No matter, it's a common problem, we can just ensure that the slave-boy we offer you looks a little younger."

(as Aurarius was a slave, and the boy being bought was also a slave, the age difference was not crucial, as it was acceptable for slaves to have both passive and penetrative roles during various aspects of sexual activity, regardless of age (within limits).

"And build and colour?" the proprietor inquired.

Terentius looked to Aurarius.

Aurarius shrugged his shoulders, not being that concerned (after all, he only wanted a good fuck).

"Like me…," Aurarius answered,"Well, not a black boy, and any hair colour, except like those Celts, with their 'red' hair."

"Of course, iuvenis domine."

This reply greatly pleased Aurarius, as 'iuvenis domine' (young sir), was not a form of address normaly given to slaves, but then Aurarius was wearing his gold collar, gold studded wrist braces, and wearing a gold seal ring and carrying a pugio (normally illegal in the environs of Rome, but allowed to members of the House of Gracchus by a special dispensation of Titus Vespanianus, Preatroian Prefect), so the proprietor, being unsure of Aurarius' exact status was 'playing it safe'. This, of course, was what Marcus had intended, when he had 'kitted out' Aurarius and Adonios with various items that intentionally blurred the distinction between 'free' and 'slave'.

It should be noted here that there were actually laws that prescribed the form of dress that could be worn by various classes (this is related to the Roman obsession with hierarchy, precedence and social class). Most of those laws were based on ancient tradition, but had been given legal status by the reforms of the Princeps Augustus (Octavian). Marcus was careful (with his slaves) not to infringe on those laws, but he took advantage of certain vague areas, so that few people could actually distinguish the exact social position of slaves such as Aurarius and Adonios.

"So if you could just wait a moment, I will have some boys ready for you to inspect," the proprietor said, as he then turned to whisper some instructions the a young slave.

The proprietor then led Marcus, Aurarius and Terentius into a room to view the slaves. Aurarius recognised it as the same room where Demetrius had chosen young 'Mikkos', now known as Aelius. It was small, yet opulent, with cream stucco walls and tasteful mouldings. At one end was an alcove, the ceiling of which was supported by Ionic columns of creamy veined marble, with white marble capitals. At the rear of this alcove was curtaining of a rich, dark red material, and there was obviously a room, or corridor, behind the curtain, as the boys made their entrance through the curtaining.

They didn't have long to wait, and four naked boys, all conforming, more or less, to Aurarius' requirements entered. Aurarius could hardly believe what was happening. Here he was, a poor slave boy, having been neglected for years, and living in squalor with a sick old man in a tumble-down villa, and now he was able to pick a slave-boy who was being bought for him, at some fabulous price, by one of the richest men in the empire, and that man was not old, fat and bald, like most very rich men were, but young, slim, handsome, athletic and virile. He was sure he would wake up soon, but before that happened, he had to choose a boy.

The first four boys were 'nice', much more attractive than most of the young domus-slaves, and far more attractive than any of the slave-boys usually found in the Graecostadium, but Aurarius was determined to find a boy who really appealed to him. The next four lads were better, but still not what he was really looking for, but by then he was worried, hoping that Marcus would not loose patience with him.

Already Terentius was looking peeved, but when the next four appeared Aurarius saw exactly the kind of boy that he was looking for.

"That one there, Dominus, second from the right!" Aurarius whispered excitedly to Marcus.

"Very good 'Boy', you have good taste," Marcus whispered back. And Marcus turned to Terentius, speaking out loud: "Terentius… what do you think about the one, second from the right?"

"Excellent choice, Dominus." Terentius replied.

Marcus then turned to Aurarius.

"Lets go and have a talk to him…," and Aurarius nodded.

Marcus then turned to the proprietor. "Dismiss the other boys, I want to speak to the one second from the right."

One of the proprietor's assistants shepherded the other three boys back through the curtains, leaving just the one boy that Aurarius had selected. The boy looked nervous and embarrassed, which pleased Marcus. Elatos had been far too 'forward' (and was soon to suffer horribly for it), and even Aelius was a little too confident for Marcus' liking.

"So, iuvenis (young man), where do you come from?" Marcus asked, trying not to be too intimidating.

The boy looked a little confused. Worried that Marcus might be put off the purchase, the proprietor intervened.

"Domine, his Latin is not very good, but his Greek is excellent, and refined, and he can read and write to a very high standard."

"That's good," Marcus replied, and continued in 'refined' Greek.

"Από πού κατάγεστε (where do you come from?)," Marcus repeated.

"Απολλωνία (Apollonia), in Ελλάδα (Greece), Domine," the boy replied quietly.

"Ah… that's near Θεσσαλονικη (Thessaloniki)?" Marcus replied.

"Yes, you know it?" the boy replied, his face lighting up at the thought that someone actually knew where he came from.

"I know of it." Marcus said, unnerved by the fact that the town was named after Apollo, considering the session he had with Novius and Aurarius.

"Right, boy, turn around, slowly."

The boy turned.

"And your name, boy, and don't say it's 'Boy'," Marcus asked, as Aurarius grinned.

"My name, domine, is Aniketos," the boy replied.

"Anicetus, (Latinised form), 'unconquerable', very appropriate for a gladiator," Markos said, smiling.

The boy looked alarmed.

"And would you like to be a gladiator, Aniketos? I have many gladiators, and an amphitheatre in Baiae," Marcus continued, 'playing' with the boy.

"No, Domine, I cannot fight, and I am too young," Aniketos said, by then panicking as he imagined that he was to be sold to a lanista.

"Don't worry, young man, I am only joking, although I do have have many gladiators, and an amphitheatre, but you are far too costly to be used in the arena."

"So how did you become a slave?" Marcus asked, being careful with this purchase, as he did not want any more strange surprises regarding members of his familia.

"I am a verna (born as a slave)," Aniketos replied.

"So how did you come to be being sold here?" Marcus asked, puzzled.

Aniketos shrugged his shoulders.

"May I can be of help here?" the proprietor said, intervening.

"When the boy matured a little, his owner, a Roman citizen with a small estate in northern Greece, recognised that the boy was unusually handsome and intelligent, but having no inclination towards boys, if you take my meaning, he saw that selling the boy on, in Rome, would give him a very good return, after all, he could buy many more useful slaves from the profit he made from just this one boy," the proprietor explained.

"And you speak truthfully? Remember Titus Vespasianus is a close friend to me, and if you lie about his boy, the consequences for you could be very grave," Marcus said.

"I know, Dominus. Your name is now well known here in Rome, and I would be a fool to lie to you," the proprietor said nervously.

"Good!" Marcus said smiling.

"And now, young lad," Marcus said, turning to Aniketos,"Let us talk bluntly, as man to man," Marcus said. "I have been told that your previous master did not care for boys, so am I right in thinking that he never fucked you?" Marcus asked.

Aniketos looked a little surprised at how 'blunt' Marcus was being.

"No, he never used me in that way. But not because there was anything wrong with me… he just didn't 'fancy' boys," Aniketos explained.

"But it wouldn't be a problem for you, being fucked I mean?" Marcus asked, pointedly.

"If it was what my master wished, then it would be no problem," Aniketos answered carefully. (Aniketos was no fool. He had quickly realised that Marcus seemed a reasonable master, and he would probably be fortunate to have such a master, so regardless of what he might like or prefer, it was wise to acquiesce to any of his possibly new master's wishes.)

And Marcus then turned to Aurarius. "And you like this boy?" Marcus asked, with a smile.

"Yes… very much, Dominus!" Aurarius replied enthusiastically.

"Good," Marcus said, and turned to Terentius.

"Terentius, could you arrange a price, and we will take the boy with us, if some clothing can be provided."

Aniketos looked pleased and relieved, as Terentius and the proprietor went off to do some serious bargaining. Once Aniketos had been provided with a tunic and sandals, and Terentius had paid the agreed sum, Marcus, Terentius, Aurarius and Aniketos left the slave dealers, and went across the street to collect Petronius and Adonios from the thermopolium.

"And who is this Dominus?" Petronius asked, and he took a good look at the new slave-boy.

"This is Aniketos," Marcus replied,"and he is to replace Elatos."

"I see, and what is going to happen to Elatos?" Petronius asked.

"Well, that is something that we must discuss, but at the moment I think we should get back to Domus, and get Aniketos settled in," Marcus replied.

Reditus ad Domum
Returning to the Domus

On returning to the Domus, Marcus was met in the main atrium by Nicander, who had a letter from Titus.

"This Nicander, is Aniketos, and he is to replace Elatos as a slave in my apartments," Marcus stated as he received the letter..

"I see Dominus," Nicander replied, trying to be as businesslike as possible.

"Later, provide him with a silver slave collar, and sort out some good quality spare clothing for him, and order some new items, if necessary," Marcus ordered.

"Of course, Dominus," Nicander replied.

"Now Petronius, I would like to meet with you later in my apartments this evening, if you are not busy," Marcus requested.

"No problem, Dominus, and can I bring Adonios and Glaux, I think that Glaux would like to meet the new boy," Petronius replied.

"Of course," Marcus answered, and he smiled as he noted that Petronius seemed more relaxed. Marcus and Aurarius then guided Aniketos up the marble stairs to Marcus' apartments.

Introductiones
Introductions

Aniketos looked bewildered and amazed as he made his way up the vast marble staircase to Marcus' apartments. The boy said nothing, but was obviously filled with questions about the huge building to which he had been brought. Eventually they arrived at the huge gilded bronze double doors leading to Marcus' apartments which the domus-guards, bowing, opened silently as Marcus approached.

"This, Aniketos, is where you will be living for the moment," Marcus said as they entered the atrium.

"Aurarius! Show Aniketos the culina, and get him to help you to bring some wine," Marcus ordered, as he flopped himself down on one of the couches. Moments later the boys returned with a gold flagon and goblet, on a tray, for Marcus.

"Good," Marcus said quietly

"Now Aurarius, you go and tidy up the scrolls and tabulae ceratae (wax tablets), and put away any clothes, while I have a talk with Aniketos."

Aurarius nodded, and quietly left the atrium.

Aniketos now stood nervously before Marcus, who was still holding the unopened scroll from Titus.

"So, iuvenis (young man), you are now a member of the House of Gracchus, which I deem to be a great privilege for you," Marcus began, speaking in Koine Greek (ἡ κοινὴ διάλεκτος).

"It is, domine," Aniketos replied, not daring to look his new master in the face.

"And please, always call me Dominus. You only call freedmen and guests domine," Marcus explained.

"I understand, Dominus," Aniketos replied, looking puzzled. Then Aniketos finally took the courage to look at Marcus. "My I ask a question, Dominus?" Aniketos asked.

"Yes…" Marcus said slowly, and somewhat apprehensively.

"Do you really have an amphitheatre and gladiators?"

Marcus looked at the boy, and shook his head in puzzlement.

"Of course Aniketos. Why would I have said that if it was not true?" Marcus answered, refusing to be annoyed.

"But I thought only Emperors, and very rich men could afford to have an amphitheatre and gladiators," Aniketos innocently explained.

"Well, sometimes people who are not so rich save their money, and buy expensive things, things like you, for example," Marcus said, with a broad grin.

Almost instantly a suppressed giggle sounded from the study.

"Enough Aurarius!… Get on with your work, and stop 'eaves dropping'… and shut the door properly!" Marcus said, feigning anger.

"So… you are interested in gladiators?" Marcus asked.

"Yes Dominus," Aniketos replied.

Marcus took a sip of wine and leaned back on his couch.

"And have you been to an amphitheatre, and seen a fight?" Marcus continued.

"No, Dominus, but my master had lots of mosaics in the floors, showing gladiators fighting, and I had an oil lamp in my cubiculum (bedroom) with gladiators fighting on it," Aniketos said enthusiastically.

"Well… my amphitheatre is not here, but in Baiae… Do you know where that is?" Marcus said.

Aniketos shook his head.

"Baiae is on the west coast of Italia, in a beautiful bay, and there is a villa, right next to the sea… and it's very beautiful…," Marcus said dreamily, and suddenly a longing overcame him, and he knew he would have to return there very soon.

Well…," Marcus said, snapping himself out of his reverie,"there I have a modest amphitheatre, and a Ludus, a school for gladiators, and we regularly stage ludi, games, for all the rich visitors to the town," Marcus explained.

"So that's your job, Dominus, putting on games for rich people," Aniketos said, as if finally working out who Marcus was, and what was going on.

Fortunately Aurarius had closed the door to the atrium firmly, otherwise he would have been rolling round on the floor, laughing hysterically. Marcus, though, was puzzled. He couldn't decide if Aniketos was stupid, or just playing some weird game with him. Marcus got up from his couch, and took a scroll from a nearby table.

"Read this," Marcus said.

Aniketos started reading:

ὣς οἳ μὲν περὶ νηὸς ἐϋσσέλμοιο μάχοντο:
Πάτροκλος δ' Ἀχιλῆϊ παρίστατο ποιμένι λαῶν
δάκρυα θερμὰ χέων ὥς τε κρήνη μελάνυδρος,
ἥ τε κατ' αἰγίλιπος πέτρης δνοφερὸν χέει ὕδωρ.
τὸν δὲ ἰδὼν ᾤκτιρε ποδάρκης δῖος Ἀχιλλεύς,
καί μιν φωνήσας ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα:
τίπτε δεδάκρυσαι Πατρόκλεες, ἠύ̈τε κούρη
νηπίη, ἥ θ' ἅμα μητρὶ θέουσ' ἀνελέσθαι ἀνώγει
εἱανοῦ ἁπτομένη, καί τ' ἐσσυμένην κατερύκει,
δακρυόεσσα δέ μιν ποτιδέρκεται, ὄφρ' ἀνέληται

"Enough!" Marcus said, even more puzzled.

"And what is it about?" Marcus asked, taking the scroll from Aniketos.

"Dominus… it's Ὅμηρος (Hómēros) - the Ἰλιάς (the Iliad) - about the death of Πάτροκλος (Patroklos)," Aniketos explained.

"Well at least that shows that you're not stupid!" Marcus said, obviously exasperated.

"But tell me, boy, do you really think that I am a lanista?" Marcus asked, determined to get to the truth.

Aniketos looked frightened. "I'm sorry, Dominus. I don't know what a 'linista' is, and I don't mean to offend you," Aniketos said backing away from Marcus

"Sorry, Aniketos, I forgot that your Latin is poor. So I'll say again, in Greek… do you think that I am γυμναστή (Greek form of lanista)", Marcus said, trying to calm down.

A lanista was a free Roman citizen who purchased and looked after gladiators. They could gain considerable wealth in renting or selling gladiators, particularly to small, local games, but their social status was considered very low. For Aniketos to suggest that Marcus was a lanista was a grave insult to his new master.

"I do't know, I'm confused. I don't know what you are," Aniketos mumbled, seemingly near to tears.

Marcus sat down again.

"Tell me, Aniketos, what did you do for your previous master," Marcus asked, thinking that he might have worked out what the explanation was regarding the boy's odd innocence and ignorance.

"Well… Dominus, I looked after his clothes, kept his private rooms tidy, served him his drinks and meals, read to him, accompanied him in the streets, when he went shopping, or to the baths and when he went to his little farm… and that's it," Aniketos explained.

"Were there any other slaves of your own age in your master's villa?."

"No Dominus, all the other slaves were older," Aniketos replied.

"And did you make friends with them?" Marcus asked.

"No, my master would not permit me," Aniketos said bleakly.

"So you were all alone?" Marcus continued.

"Yes, Dominus, I only had the scrolls in my master's big library," Aniketos admitted sadly.

"Ah… now I see… so that explains a lot," Marcus said, rising from his couch.

"Now listen… I am not a lanista, but one of my freedmen acts as one, Terentius. The amphitheatre is a χόμπι (hobby), not a job, as people like me do not have jobs. I am a Roman citizen, and a ευγενής (Patrician), and this is one of my homes, the 'Σπίτι του Γράκχου' (Domus Gracchii), and I have other houses, and villas also, and you, if you prove your worth, are to be one of my special slaves. Is that clear?" Marcus said slowly, trying t explain things as simply as possible.

Aniketos' eyes widened, and he looked around the room. "But… but… I didn't think that all this was yours…," he stuttered.

"I though that you just worked for whoever owned all this." Aniketos looked down at the gleaming marble floor.

"You must think me very stupid," he said quietly.

"No, you're not stupid Aniketos, just inexperienced," Marcus said gently. "Your previous master treated you badly, keeping you just to himself, and leaving you with just dusty old scrolls, instead of letting you see something of real life. But that will change now, and I will give you a new life," Marcus said, relieved that he had made contact with his handsome new slave.

"Aurarius!" Marcus called. Aurarius arrived far too quickly, making it obvious that he had had his ear to the door of the atrium.

"Take Aniketos, and show him how to prepare the triclinium, Petronius is coming later, and remember how it was for you, on the first day that you arrived at the villa in Baiae."

Serva Torquis
Slave Collar

There was a soft tap on the door.

"Enter!" Marcus said, looking round. It was Nicander.

"Excuse me, Dominus, the armourer will fit a slave collar on Aniketos, if that is convenient for you."

Marcus stood up,"Good, Aniketos, go and wait in the corridor for a moment. And Nicander, I would like to have a word."

Nicander entered, and stood before Marcus.

"This new boy, he's had a very sheltered life. He may seem, on first acquaintance, a bit slow, maybe even stupid, but don't be fooled, he's very smart, and I think he will make a very good slave, in time, so be careful with him. Also… make sure that none of the other boys bully him. If there is any problem that way, inform me straight away, and I will deal with it, very severely. Is that understood?" Marcus said.

"Yes Dominus, I shall take special care with this boy," Nicander assured Marcus.

While Marcus was waiting for Aniketos' slave collar to be fitted, he went into his study and broke the seal on the scroll from Titus. It was as he expected, and invitation to visit Vespasian. Titus stressed that it would be informal, as they had already agreed on most matters, and it was only a matter of their 'principals' (those freedmen and other officials acting on their behalf) meeting a little later, in order to agree the various details. Titus had suggested that Marcus visit in three day's time. Marcus closed the scroll, put it in his secure document chest, left the study, and went to inspect the triclinium, while he waited for Aniketos' return.

Concilio cum Glauco
Meeting with Glaux

Some time later Aniketos was brought back to the apartment by a slave-boy after being fitted with one of the magnificent silver slave collars, and shortly after a domus-slave announced the arrival of Petronius, Adonios and Glaux. They all met in the atrium. Aniketos seemed very retiring, and rather overwhelmed by the seeming boisterousness of Adonios and Aurarius. What greatly surprised Aniketos was Glaux, balancing deftly on Adonios' shoulder.

"Glaux," Adonios explained to Aniketos,"really belongs to the Dominus, but because I looked after him, from the time he first came to us, he spends most of his time on my shoulder."

"But why does he stay in the Domus?" Aniketos asked.

Marcus then intervened, a he didn't want Adonios getting too excitable about Glaux.

"He is, according to my Etruscan Arguer, Novius, a gift from Apollo, and Apollo was given Glaux by Athena. His task is to look after, and guide us," Marcus explained.

"Really?" a wide eyed Aniketos

"Yes really," Marcus replied, and everyone stood round looking at Glaux.

Glaux tried to look shy, blinking demurely, but everyone knew he was simply basking in all the attention.

"Let's see if he likes you," Adonios said, and lifted Glaux up to Aniketos' shoulder. Glaux stepped daintily onto Aniketos, looked at the new boy carefully, blinked, and then snuggled up to Aniketos' neck, and nibbled at his ear. Adonios looked to Aurarius.

"I think you made a good choice with our new friend." Marcus was relieved, and then put his hand on Petronius' shoulder, and took him to one side.

"Come into the study with me, I want to have a little talk," Marcus said.

Meanwhile the boys, Adonios, Aurarius, and Aniketos, settled down to a chat, while they fluffed and ruffled Glaux, who drunk up all the attention.

In Tablino, Marcus et Petronius
In the Study, Marcus and Petronius

Once in the study Petronius and Marcus sat down.

"There are a couple of things I want to discuss with you. First I'm interested to know about these new slaves for the arena," Marcus began.

"Well this time I think we have a better batch than before. Six of them have had previous gladiatorial experience, so there is no need for a delay in using them, and they all seem keen to fight, but of course they were a bit more expensive, but I got Terentius to pay, in the end," Petronius explained.

"The remaining four I am sure will not cause the same sort of problems as the previous batch. Anyway, to be on the safe-side, I've given them all separate accommodation," Petronius continued.

"That sounds excellent," Marcus enthused.

"This time I thought that I had to be extra careful in my selection, as the last time I felt that I had let you down," Petronius admitted.

Marcus shook his head,"Not at all!" he insisted.

"So, do you want to take them back to Baiae now, or do you think it's safe to keep them here for the moment?" Marcus asked.

"I think it's fine to keep them here. I can spend a bit of time training them, and if we need to put on another show, then they will be ready, and should be no trouble," Petronius replied.

Marcus then changed the subject.

"So… you have seen the new boy. What do you think?" Marcus asked.

"He's beautiful, but seems a little shy and nervous, but that may well be a good thing," Petronius opined.

"Well, there is a reason for that. As I have already explained to Nicander, he was very much isolated by his previous master, and seems to know very little about the world, apart from what he's read in the many scrolls in his master's library," Marcus explained.

"I see—" Petronius said thoughtfully.

"Well I think he'll soon grow out of his shyness once he's spent some time with Adonios, Aurarius," Petronius added, smiling.

"Another matter I wanted to discuss was what I wanted to do with Elatos," Marcus then said, launching into a new subject.

"Elatos has not proved satisfactory, and in fact made a vicious accusation against me, so he must be punished," Marcus continued.

"I see, and what was this accusation?" Petronius asked.

"He accused me of trying to poison Aurarius, when I was only adding some medicine that Novius had given me to the boy's drink," Marcus explained.

"So… Novius has been trying to extract information from Aurarius…," Petronius said, looking annoyed.

Marcus looked embarrassed, as he had obviously been 'caught out'.

"And do you think that is wise, Dominus?" Petronius asked.

"Well… that's neither here nor there," Marcus blustered.

"But in addition I found Elatos making lewd jokes with Aurarius about the punishments given to the condemned slaves, and I feel that the boy is leading Aurarius down the wrong path," Marcus continued, attempting to guide the conversation to a different, but related topic.

"So I want you to arrange a 'private' little 'punishment, session for Elatos, but only witnessed by Demetrius, Aurarius, Adonios and the new boy, Aniketos. I want it based on the punishment of the boy Sophos, but I don't want Elatos killed, but just made to think he will be killed. We'll let him live, but I've arranged for Agathon to castrate him safely, (in private), and later Terentius will sell him to a boy-brothel here in Rome," Marcus explained.

Petronius looked puzzled.

"And Terentius has agreed to this, Dominus?" Petronius asked. Marcus nodded.

"Then it will be done, Dominus," Petronius said.

"When can you arrange it?" Marcus asked.

"Tomorrow, late afternoon, Dominus," Petronius said.

"And now, just one more thing… Does the name 'Philon' mean anything to you?" Marcus asked.

"Ah…!" Petronius said,"this is from you and Novius questioning Aurarius, isn't it?" Petronius replied wearily.

"Well?" Marcus asked.

"Yes, Dominus… it's the name Aurarius had before his previous master, and then the late Dominus changed it," Petronius admitted.

"I see…," Marcus replied, suddenly feeling very light headed.

"But I think that you should leave matters there," Petronius said very slowly, as the study door, even although it was made of heavy gilded bronze, blew open, and Glaux fluttered in, and came to rest on Petronius' shoulder.

"Yes… perhaps you're right," Marcus said – Let's go and join the boys… …," and he rose unsteadily, and left the study.

'and the story continues - Elatos is punished, and Marcus meets Vespasian