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NERO
By Pueros Chapter XIV – Ululations (The ‘House of Cybele’, plebeian quarter, Rome, on the Ides of March in the 6th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [Dies Mercurii Id. Mart. DCCC A.V.C., or Wednesday, March 15th, AD 47]) ‘Omnium rerum principia parva sunt.’ (‘Everything has a small beginning.’) - Cicero (‘De Finibus’) Nigerina had experienced some very strange customers, including those who were very inhibited and for whom he had been trained to entice out of their reservations. The black male prostitute had felt obliged to follow this training, as the consequences of a client complaining that he had not enjoyed his time with the nullified eunuch would be very painful. He therefore always tried to give of his best, even towards the end of his daily shifts, which would usually begin at noon and finish with sleeping with someone overnight. However, this had not always saved him from a beating, as false complaints, designed to secure a miserly patron a refund, were not uncommon. Nigerina, however, had never before come across a customer who did not desire sex of some kind but instead only wanted to chat. The 17 year-old had come to appreciate that there were many types of peculiar perversions in this cruel life but he considered his latest client’s taste the most unusual yet. Nevertheless, he was grateful that, for once, it would be his voice rather than his body that would be exercised. He therefore tried to ready himself to talk dirty, in his now reasonably competent but highly accented Latin, for whatever period the man had hired him, which was normally measured by the brothel supervisors by the half-hour, judged using a water clock located on a shelf outside his bedroom door. The supervisors were themselves both slaves and eunuchs, generally former prostitutes who had lost their youthful looks, often when becoming quite flabby. Many were still quite young but the deterioration in their attractiveness had been accelerated by their awful experiences as gelded catamites, although this had made few of them sympathetic to their charges. Most actually seemed to take delight in ensuring that the current batch of feminized male whores suffered as miserable existences as they had been forced to endure. A ‘nefastus publicus’, a day on which a public religious festival is celebrated, such as the Ides of Martius, is usually the busiest for a brothel in the plebeian quarters of Rome. It is a time when many from the minority of the lower class who have occupations take time off work for personal enjoyment. Such people, possessors of some expendable income, form the principal customers of such bawdy houses, as affluent men with similar tastes usually treat themselves to their own catamites or higher class establishments, discreetly located in more salubrious areas. Of the wealthy, only the new rich, who had emerged from common or slave stock, and who were still often both parsimonious and comfortable in the company of the lower orders, such as Palaemon, tended to patronise cheaper alternatives in poorer areas, such as the ‘House of Cybele’. On a ‘nefastus publicus’, Nigerina would normally expect to be kept permanently busy in his bedroom during most of his waking hours. An attempt to alleviate any personal shortage of custom would invariably be made by requiring the nullified prostitute to disport himself alluringly in his feminine garb around the main drinking and dining hall downstairs, or even dance on the central entertainment platform, until the situation was remedied. However, such a requirement was rare on public holidays like today. “What would you like to talk about?” Nigerina asked, expecting a sexual topic to be the answer. However, the reply that he actually obtained surprised the youth, for Cephas had responded “Whatever you wish!” (Via Flamina, Rome, same time) ‘Both potter is jealous of potter and craftsman of craftsman; and poor man has a grudge against poor man, and poet against poet.’ - Hesiod “Well what have we here?” Marcus Salvius Otho enquired rhetorically of Persius and Quintilianus. The 15 year-old was flanked by Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, Silius Italicus and a number of other school and tutorial pupils of one of Palaemon’s main rivals, whose background happened to be more acceptable to the snooty highest class of Roman society, despite being an inferior educationalist. Persius and Quintilianus, having left the company of Axenius and me and temporarily having had their fill of Palaemon’s fare, had decided to explore some of the woodland that surrounded the picnic site. They knew that other children, as well as adults, would do the same, but they had carefully selected a secluded spot for their enterprise, somewhere they thought that they would not be discovered. The location was a pleasant small glade, well hidden from view by surrounding trees and shrubbery. It was indeed an ideal secret spot for their intention, for no-one could have espied them if they had not been secretly followed. Otho had noticed the boys sneak off into the trees and thought that it might be an interesting diversion for his bored gang to see what the 13 year-old equestrians were up to. The 15 year-old patrician also believed that his group’s furtive expedition would be especially enjoyable if it led to the entrapment and a bit of bullying of the outnumbered pupils of Palaemon. Scrapes between young school students of rival teachers are common and, for Otho, this seemed an ideal opportunity to have some fun. However, the 15 year-old did not realise precisely how much amusement he and his younger friends were going to have until they invaded the hidden glade in a coordinated manner to catch the very pretty Persius and Quintilianus in each other’s arms, naked and indulging in mutual masturbation. It was an activity in which the 13 year-olds regularly participated and they had, on this occasion, been particularly stimulated into action by the thrill of indulging outdoors. Unfortunately, they were now about to experience much more than they had anticipated in their quest for pleasurable orgasm. (The ‘House of Cybele’, plebeian quarter, Rome, same time) ‘Nil desperandum!’ (‘Never despair!’) - Horace (‘Carmina’) “My son,” Cephas explained to Nigerina, “without wanting to seem disparaging of your clearly handsome form, I have no desire for your bodily favours. I am actually a neighbour of yours, for I live above a shop in this street, and I heard about the terrible injustice perpetrated upon you from a friend. He has kindly provided me with the money to buy a couple of hours of your time so that we can talk.” “You see,” Cephas continued, “other friends and I are aware of the awful plight of many of Rome’s people, including the many prostitutes in the many brothels, plus those that ply their trade in the streets and alleyways. Following my Lord’s teachings, we do our best to help those who want help but, of course, our assistance is puny compared to the scale of the problem because our resources are tiny. Nevertheless, we do what we can and I’m here to find out what we might be able to do for you.” Nigerina wanted to ask who the customer’s ‘Lord’ might be but he was too overcome by emotion to do so. Instead, tears swelled in his lovely eyes and, in answer to the client’s question, the young nullified eunuch simply begged, in his newly acquired Latin, “Please, kind master, take me away from this appalling place!” (Via Flamina, Rome, same time) Num barbarorum Romulus rex fuit?’ (‘Romulus was not a king of barbarians, was he?’) - Cicero Amidst much giggling, Otho’s little troupe of younger followers delighted in complying with his latest commands by grabbing hold of the shocked and shamed Persius and Quintilianus. The 13 year-olds were older than most of the other boys but numbers told and the resistance of the young nudes, still sporting throbbing erections as a result of their earlier activity, was quickly overcome by many arms. The leader of their captors then issued further orders and 12 year-old Silius Italicus detached his hold on one of the naked prisoners, now easily secured by his fellow pupils, in order to go on the required errand. He returned shortly afterwards with ropes and cords, borrowed without permission from an unattended wagon that had brought tent equipment, some unused, to the nearby picnic area. “Use the ropes to tie them both, spreadeagled and back-to-back, between those two pairs of trees,” Otho now ordered, whilst sporting a wicked grin and pointing to the respective locations, about four paces apart, “so that they can receive appropriate chastisement for indulging in disgusting naughty activity.” The 15 year-old was, of course, being hypocritical, as he had often previously similarly involved himself sexually with others. Despite the desperate struggles of Persius and Quintilianus, both boys were soon helplessly bound in their degrading positions, their completely smooth genitalia, devoid of even the slightest emergence of pubic hair, still displaying sexual excitement. Otho then checked the efficacy of his young captives’ bondage before instructing his companions “Now use the cord to bind their cocks together without any slack.” His requirement almost caused a fight, as his eager younger friends disputed the right to obey. This finally caused the 15 year-old to nominate 9 year-old Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and the normally rather reserved 14 year-old Rubellius Plautus, who was the great grandson of the Emperor Tiberius, for the privilege, to the acute disappointment of the rest. There was, however, no dissent. Not only was respect for the authority of the dandyish Otho too strong, mainly because of his size and ability to fight, but also everyone recognised the probable righteousness of the nominations. After all, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and Rubellius Plautus possessed the highest status within the gang, stemming from being members of the wider Imperial family, and the 14 year-old was also the second oldest in the group. Neither Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus nor Rubellius Plautus frequented school very often because their lofty social positions required them to receive primarily personal tutoring. However, what attendance the boys had achieved had been sufficient, given their importance, to gain them membership of the status-conscious Otho’s special group. “You do that one,” Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus suggested authoritatively and excitedly to the older but quieter Rubellius Plautus, whilst pointing out Quintilianus, “and I’ll do the other.” P and Q, as the 13 year-old captives were known in Palaemon’s school and domus for residential pupils, soon found their pleasant still-aroused genitalia being handled by the smirking 9 and 14 year-olds to much accompanying chortling from the other boy spectators. Throughout the, for them, subsequent demeaning activity afforded to their still humiliatingly excited sexual organs, Persius and Quintilianus somehow successfully struggled to prevent climax, an act now unwanted because of the disgrace that would have resulted from succumbing in front of their captors. Meanwhile, Otho directed the young perpetrators of the genital binding in their duties, ignoring the pleas of the very pretty recipients of such attention to stop. “Bind the bases of their scrotums so firmly that it brings tears to their eyes,” Otho wickedly commanded, “whilst trying to keep them hard. Then loop the leather round the bases of their cocks and run it underneath their legs. Finally, fasten the cords together so that not only is the connection nicely tight but also any movement by one of the brats will result in him jerking the penis of the other.” His friends, including those charged with carrying out his instructions, were intrigued by, but did not question, the 15 year-old’s orders, all delightfully wondering instead what evil plan their young leader had in mind. The boys’ restraint was helped by the fact that they knew that they should not have too long to wait to learn the answer. Considering that Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and Rubellius Plautus had not performed such an operation previously, they performed their task quickly and efficiently, action which was assisted by great enthusiasm. By the time that they had finished, to the accompaniment of much continued thrilled giggling from their friends, it was not just Persius and Quintilianus who had developed maintained genital hardness. Otho was also experiencing a raging hard-on, a phenomenon apparent by the bulge at the front of his tunic and probably matched by all his younger companions, including the youngest, 8 year-old Marcus Annaeus Lucanus. However, other tunics and underwear successfully hid the potentially embarrassing interest in proceedings of the other gang (please forgive the pun) members. After checking the proficiency of the work of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and Rubellius Plautus and continuing to ignore the entreaties of Persius and Quintilianus, Otho went to some nearby trees, selected a couple of appropriately sized slim branches and broke them off the trunks. The 15 year-old then carefully removed subsidiary foliage from each branch until he had made two switches, the purpose of which was now evident to everyone, not least the imminent victims of the freshly manufactured implements. The begging of Persius and Quintilianus now reached a crescendo, as Otho approached them with his new instruments of chastisement before unsurprisingly giving them to the important Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and Rubellius Plautus. The 15 year-old then instructed the 9 and 14 year-olds in their latest duties before at last addressing the bound 13 year-olds’ pleas. “Don’t worry,” he advised his appalled young captives, whilst displaying a continued protuberance in his tunic as well as a wide smile, the latter reflected on the faces of all his friends, “we’ll stop beating your bottoms when you both cum. Of course, I’m presuming that you’re capable of producing your own seed. If you can’t, we might be here all day and, by the time we give up through exhaustion and the descent of night, your rears will be very sore indeed.” Laughter erupted throughout the small glade at this latter comment, with only P and Q finding the remark unfunny. Nevertheless, their smooth 13 year-old cocks had not only remained hard throughout their humiliating ordeal so far but also now acquired an acute throbbing ivory-like firmness. This was despite, or perhaps more ignominiously because of, their genital bondage and shameful predicament, which now promised much pain and further intense embarrassment. “However,” Otho continued when his friends’ laughter had finally subsided, “I’m sure that you both arrived here with the sole object of making each other cum. I therefore think that you’ll both be able to perform, to bring to an end what I consider your very appropriate punishment for practising depraved carnal acts.” Otho had instructed Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus and Rubellius Plautus that they should inflict blows consecutively rather than concurrently, and at decent intervals so that their young victims could thoroughly appreciate the fruit of their renderings before the next delivery arrived. The idea was that each hit would induce the bodies of the young recipients to lurch forward, despite the rope constraints, an action that would jerk the hard cock of his friend to ultimate climax. However, both imminent boy victims worried that their painful debasing circumstances, plus the tight constriction of the leather cords around their genitalia, might substantially delay or actually prevent productive orgasm. Persius begged “Please no, you’ve had your fun. Please let us go!” However, his pleading was cut short by not only a gleeful shout of “No way” from Otho but also the landing of the first agonising blow of 9 year-old Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus’ switch across the 13 year-old’s lustrous buttocks. The supervising 15 year-old gang leader then added “And by the way, no cheating. We’ll allow you to move your bodies only in response to each of our hits. Otherwise, we won’t stop until you cum for a second time!” As Otho had envisaged, the first blow caused Persius’ beautiful pained body to lurch involuntarily forward, jerking Quintilianus’ bound cock. An anguished ululation, or wail, from the recipient of the hit reverberated around the tree-filled environs. However, although some people nearby heard the scream, no-one took any notice, especially as it was almost drowned out by chortling and cheering from the young spectators of the admirably fulsome strike. Those who had detected the noises simply presumed a slave was being chastised in front of a small crowd, a not uncommon event that was not worthy of investigation. This attitude persisted even when a number of other similar sorrowful sounds, at intervals of about half a minute, subsequently reverberated around the woodland. Meanwhile, the previously very pleasant bottoms of Persius and Quintilianus, not unused to a good beating from their teacher when they had once been enemies instead of friends, began to exhibit an increasing number of vivid stripes, changing colour rapidly from an initial scarlet into various darker hues. Simultaneously, and superficially incongruously, the boys’ now engorged cocks became harder and harder, despite the genital ties and their sufferings. It was Rubellius Plautus’ tenth blow to Quintilianus’ backside that produced the first result as, amidst the loudest laughter so far, a stream of white liquid erupted from Persius’ throbbing cockhead in several distinct phases. The orgasmic 13 year-old now closed his tearstained eyes, whilst his gorgeous body visibly vibrated in a climax of an intensity never previously experienced. At that moment, he guiltily confessed later to his best friend, he forgot about the circumstances and the pain, as his form was enveloped from head to toe in unprecedented delight. However, his unparalleled enjoyment was short-lived, as shortly afterwards his rear experienced an eleventh strike from Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. At the same time, Otho informed the remaining 13 year-old victim of the switching “Your associate has performed his duty by making you cum. You’ll now have to reciprocate this favour to make my young friend here stop the entertainment of your own bottom.” Further laughter erupted when Persius was heard to beg “Please Quintilianus, try to cum soon.” Fortunately, despite the acutely embarrassing circumstances, made worse by the continued chortling all around, his friend managed to comply, finally cumming in reaction to his fellow 13 year-old’s thirteenth bodily movement induced by blows to his ravaged backside. All of the young tormentors, even those who could not yet produce their own semen through masturbation, had seen such penile product previously. For example, most had observed naked slaves so degrade themselves when being whipped. However, Otho had seen the most because he was already sexually promiscuous, with boys as much as girls. The 15 year-old also claimed, to the envy of his gang members, to having seen a young man cum during crucifixion. Afterwards, a very happy Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus manually inspected his craftsmanship, running his fingers along the still hot stripes he had created on the posterior of Persius. Rubellius Plautus was thereby tempted to do the same to Quintilianus. Some of the blows had drawn blood, particularly where they had intersected. 9 and 14 year-old digits were soon followed by those belonging to companions, including a self-satisfied Otho, who was immensely pleased at the climactic success of his plan. However, for Persius and Quintilianus, a by-product of this humiliating and discomforting attention was the continued display, despite the earlier orgasms, of full throbbing erections by the deeply shamed and tearful 13 year-old victims. This embarrassing exhibition was aided by the maintained tight binding on their genitalia, which were still dribbling extraneous cockhead cum. Finally, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus asked of Otho “Can we leave them here like this for others to find?” The tearful Persius and Quintilianus were appalled at the suggestion and simultaneously renewed their pleas to be released. Their apprehension was intensified when the 15 year-old answered the 9 year-old’s query by declaring “That’s a very tempting idea!” Nevertheless, Otho had only replied in this manner as a further tease on the already well-tormented Persius and Quintilianus, for he knew that complying with Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus’ request would be going too far. As it was, the schoolboy code of honour of the higher Roman classes would ensure that the 13 year-olds would not complain to anyone about their recent dreadful experience, instead having to content themselves with planning somehow to gain revenge. It was an aspiration that the 15 year-old was content to believe would fail to materialise. Otho intelligently perceived that the involvement of any outsiders, who might stumble across still-bound, well-beaten, naked young equestrians, could lead to awkward questions. This could, in turn, ultimately reveal the truth of what had happened in the glade to adults, some of whom might want to seek retributive justice. The 15 year-old and his gang might then subsequently suffer themselves, probably at the hands of their own teachers and regardless of their social status. Accordingly, Otho reluctantly ordered the release of Persius and Quintilianus, much to the annoyance of Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, before he and his friends quickly escaped the scene. Shortly afterwards, their young victims emerged redressed from the woodland, walking very slowly and deliberately. They really wanted only to return to their domus as quickly as possible. However, their perfect manners caused them first to go to Palaemon, still talking to pupils and staff under one of his picnic canopies. The hurting boys had felt obliged to thank the renowned teacher for his excellent hospitality. Palaemon instantly recognised that there was something untoward with Persius and Quintilianus. However, after querying this perception with his young pupils and receiving unconvincing denials in return, he chose not to pursue the issue for now, although he knew that the pleasant 13 year-olds were hiding the truth from him. The boys’ inherent honesty not only made them poor liars but also their present mannerisms, laboured movements and faces that showed signs of recent sobbing overwhelmingly suggested a recent unpleasant ordeal. Palaemon was prepared to bide his time to learn of what happened, which he presumed would be as a consequence of some schoolboy scrape gone wrong, for two reasons. First, he did not want to cause his young pupils unnecessary public embarrassment. Second, he appreciated that he knew someone who could more effectively extract the truth from Persius and Quintilianus. He would ask their domus roommate, Gaius, to question the 13 year-olds diplomatically, rightly believing that the personable 17 year-old would be able to secure the required information. Meanwhile, Persius and Quintilianus, having proffered their thanks for the picnic, slowly hobbled back to their Roman residence, swearing vengeance against certain pupils of another of the capital’s prominent teachers. The boys had been too embarrassed to seek help for their journey from their own adult slaves, whom they instead allowed to remain behind to continue to enjoy Palaemon’s largesse. (Domus of Palaemon’s residential pupils, later) ‘Nam tua res agitur, paries cum proximus ardet.’ (‘It is your business when your neighbour’s house is on fire.’) – Horace (‘Epistles’) As it happened, Gaius was already aware of what had caused his roommates’ distress when Palaemon raised the matter with him the next morning. The teacher was not too disturbed when the youth politely advised that he could not appraise him of the reason for the 13 year-olds’ anguish because he had promised not to tell anyone. The tutor not only respected his pupil’s wish to honour the secret but also had by now correctly guessed the truth. After Persius and Quintilianus had departed his company, Palaemon had spotted Otho and his clearly roguish patrician gang, all laughingly chatty and sporting huge grins, as if they had just achieved a conspiratorial triumph. The boys had just met up with their personal slaves to be returned home, having being allowed some freedom to play together without the close supervision of their escorts in the supposedly very safe picnic environs. The renowned teacher fully knew about the timeless feuds between boys from different schools and what mischief could result. As dusk on the previous day, the Ides of Martius, drew near, Gaius and Hylas, along with the still accompanying Axenius, had reluctantly taken me back to Caius Silius’ urban villa before returning to their own respective homes. After a certain previous unpleasant encounter, all three kept to main thoroughfares and avoided shortcuts through back alleys. Gaius became immediately aware that Persius and Quintilianus were suffering when he and Hylas entered their quarters to find their roommates lying quietly face-down on their respective beds. However, it was not this particular unusual sight that caused the youth to take action but the odd bloodstain evident on the lower rears of the boys’ tunics. Gaius appreciated that Persius and Quintilianus would not have received any admonition with the cane from Palaemon or any of his teaching staff on a public holiday. He also realised that whatever had occurred must have taken place after he and Hylas had left the picnic to accompany Axenius and me to the temple of Cybele. He therefore carefully lay alongside P on his bed and began to stroke the boy’s hair gently. He also indicated to his infant slave to do the same to Q. Both 13 year-olds had now buried their faces in their pillows but their perceptive 17 year-old roommate had recognised the reason for such reserve, for the recipients of the affectionate attention were trying to hide their tears. “Want to tell me what happened?” Gaius quietly asked of Persius, whilst continuing to stoke the boy’s silky brown hair. “Nothing!” the 13 year-old managed to blurt without conviction. “You don’t acquire damaged bottoms like yours from nothing” was the 17 year-old’s gentle retort. However, no further explanation emerged from either P or Q. Consequently, Gaius cleverly changed tactics. He decided to use some of his by now famous anecdotal humour, with which he often entertained his friends, to coax the truth out of Persius and Quintilianus. “Did you know,” the youth enquired, “that a few hundred years ago in Aegyptia there was a royal ‘swnu’, or ‘physician’, named Iri. His sole job was to look after the Pharaoh’s rectum, expertly supervising his master’s regular enemas?” Despite their obvious painful discomfort, two sets of sweet rosy 13 year-old lips could not help but utter giggles at hearing the revelation of the 17 year-old, who was additionally rewarded by the appearance of P’s lachrymose but also now grinning face turning to look into his own. Gaius astutely followed up this gain by suggesting to Persius and Quintilianus “Think of Hylas and me as your own personal versions of Iri, charged with caring for your own regal rears. After all, if great Pharaohs can have servants of that kind, why can’t the even more magnificent P and Q? Mighty highnesses, please permit us, your humble slaves, to inspect and remedy the damage to the royal posteriors!” The 13 year-olds, now completely disarmed and in truth probably desperate for such help, responded with further giggles and no resistance. Gaius carefully lifted the lower part of Persius’ tunic to rest the hem on the boy’s slim waist and expose his bloodstained wrapped loincloth, or ‘subligaculum’, whilst nodding to Hylas to perform the same task with Quintilianus’ garment. Soon afterwards, two sets of subligacula were being very gently unraveled to expose the true extent of the harm they had tried to hide. Neither the 17 year-old nor his 5 year-old slave could resist uttering shocked quiet exclamations of “Ooooo!” as the evidence came into view. However, no questioning to solicit the identity of the perpetrators of the beating was undertaken just yet, my youthful lover recognising that the time was not quite right to secure the facts. Without further query or remark, Gaius simply rose from Persius’ bed to collect a pottery jar from the chest that contained many of his worldly goods, which was located by his own bunk, still platonically shared nightly with Hylas. Shortly afterwards, his 13 year-old patient began to feel the cool soothing effects of proficient herbal healing slave being gently rubbed on his damaged, striped and still hot bottom, a potentially disconcerting by-product of which was a further hardening of his young smooth penis. However, this embarrassing reaction was, thankfully for the maintenance of at least some of his pride in these circumstances, hidden from view underneath him. Gaius, ever honest with me, as well as prone to teasing, confessed, when I saw him next, that his own cock was rigid by the time that he had concluded his work. The youth had found Persius’ delightfully curvaceous buttocks, even in their damaged state, to be a very pleasant environment for manual exercise. As we were naked, having already experienced some very pleasant lovemaking, I took the opportunity to punish Gaius’ confession by squeezing my young lover’s balls sufficiently to induce some dampness in his gorgeous hazel eyes. I inflicted this chastisement safe in the knowledge that it could not be reciprocated. However, the magnificent, in all senses of the word, youth took his revenge by tickling me until I was reduced to hysterics. My loud reaction to the 17 year-old’s probing fingers accidentally woke Hylas, who was enjoying his usual nap whilst his master and I played on the mutually shared enormous bed in one of Caius Silius’ guestrooms. By this time, Gaius was able to tell me how Persius and Quintilianus had received their wounds. He had finally managed to encourage them to confess all after Hylas had assumed control of the jar of salve to treat Q’s bottom. Despite his tender years, the infant slave proved at least as efficient as his young master in performing the remedial chore, having previously exhibited the gentle proficiency of his manual dexterity during the youth’s daily bathing routines. The backsides of both 13 year-old patients were later restored with remarkable swiftness to their previous perfection as a result of such excellent attention, which was frequently repeated for as long as necessary. I eventually asked Gaius whether Persius and Quintilianus would be seeking revenge. The youth answered that he had told the boys that “If they believed in the just wisdom of the divine, vengeance was best left to the gods.” However, he then added with a grin, accompanied by a beautiful twinkling in his eyes, “Somehow, I don’t believe P and Q will accept my advice!” I later learnt that Persius and Quintilianus had allocated new private nicknames to Gaius and Hylas. To P and Q, the 17 and 5 year-olds were now forever respectively ‘Iri’ and ‘Swnu’.
(Domus of Palaemon, Rome, Dies Veneris A.D. IX Kal. Apr. DCCC A.V.C., in the 6th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [or Friday, March 24th, AD 47]) ‘Relata refero.’ (‘I tell what I have been told.’) - Herodotus “Master,” Axenius advised Palaemon, “an invitation has arrived to attend a banquet at the domus of Lucius Vitellius.” “Which one,” the renowned teacher enquired, “the one who shares the current Consulship with the Emperor or his son, Spintria?” The young Germanian could not help but laugh at hearing this nickname because it meant ‘sexual artiste’. The beautiful 17 year-old could also not resist asking how the 32 year-old patrician had acquired the insulting appellation. “Ah,” Palaemon replied, “haven’t I told you about Lucius Aulus Vitellius? When he was quite a lot younger than you are now, he began to be a very naughty boy. He spent much of his early childhood on the island of Capreae, where his father owned a villa near the palatial residence of the Emperor Tiberius. One of the pastimes that this particular Princeps was rumoured to like was encouraging pretty youngsters, particularly of the male variety, to……..how shall I phrase this for decorum? Ah yes, play manually and orally between his legs whilst he was in the bath or pool.” “Tiberius was also said to enjoy seeing the same children,” Palaemon informed the intrigued Axenius, “in his gardens dressed like Pans and Nymphs, in other words with a few bodily adornments but otherwise naked. It is suggested that one of the boys involved was the young Aulus Vitellius, the sacrifice of the son’s chastity being one of his father’s means of advancement. I believe that it was as a result of performing this degrading function that he acquired the sobriquet of ‘Spintria’, for it is said that he not only became very skilled at his demeaning duties but also gained great personal pleasure from them. The latter fact was supposedly evident from the display of a constant rampant erection whilst spending time with the Emperor.” “Only conjecture, of course,” Palaemon continued teasingly, “and possibly scurrilous, although I don’t think so. You see, on Aulus Vitellius’ eventual arrival in Rome, still a boy, he was regarded as a very willing and expert companion for men of certain tastes, despite being from a family of now very high standing. I’m afraid that I have to confess to dabbling myself in the pleasurable fare he eagerly offered on a regular basis.” Palaemon was now hit on the head by a cushion. However, he only laughed at Axenius’ jokingly feigned expression of jealousy at the revelation before, in the same spirit and amongst continued chortling, he felt obliged to appraise his smiling young slave, who was threatening to launch another similar missile, of a truism. “But young Spintria couldn’t, of course,” the teacher advised, “match your delicious offerings!” He was rewarded with the dropping of the would-be projectile, followed by youthful arms engulfing his manly shoulders and a set of divinely rosy lips pressing against his own. Shortly after satisfying his master’s reawakened lust, Axenius left Palaemon’s domus. He had been given the rest of the daytime off to watch more of Cybele’s ceremonials, for today was the ‘Dies Sanguinis’, or ‘Day of Blood’. (Imperial palace, Rome, same time) ‘Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo.’ (‘The drop hollows the stone, not by force but by falling on it often.’) - Ovid At that very moment, Aulus Vitellius was not reinforcing the appropriateness of his present nickname but rather actually helping to earn one much worse. Seeing Valerius Asiaticus as a possible impediment to his own lofty future aspirations, he had begun to support Messalina’s campaign of untruthful vitriol against the Narbonnais Gaul, of which he had become acquainted through obsequious palace contacts, bribed to keep him appraised of happenings within the Imperial household. Aulus Vitellius was currently playing dice for large sums of money with Claudius, both men sharing a passion for such gambling. At the same time, he was gently reminding the Emperor about the amount of wealth and influence enjoyed in Rome by Valerius Asiaticus. He did so with careful tact, for he wanted to seem concerned only with the Princeps’ personal welfare. Claudius began to pay particular attention to what was being said by one supposed friend to the detriment of another when his, in more ways than one, gambling companion feigned worry that Valerius Asiaticus might sometime soon become a real threat to Imperial power. Aulus Vitellius suggested that it was not beyond reason that a situation might arise when his rival courtier might make a bid for the Principate by calling on his large influential family in Vienne to rouse the Gauls into revolt. Mesallina was very pleased to hear such remarks being made by Aulus Vitellius, when her husband later reported them to her. She had not previously considered this particular patrician to be an ally, regarding his family as being more inclined towards the house of Agrippina. However, the Empress was happy to revise her opinion. Messalina was less happy at what she now felt obliged to do in order to bring the demise of Valerius Asiaticus ever closer. She embarked on the unpleasant task of luring her husband to bed, which was not difficult. Messalina intended to follow up Aulus Vitellius’ partially effective earlier work by continuing to destroy Valerius Asiaticus’ reputation through false innuendo during post-sex pillow talk.
(Vatican, Rome, same time) ‘……..the Gallae come; And hollow cymbals, tight-skinned tambourines Resound around to bangings of their hands. The fierce horns threaten with a raucous bray. The tubed pipe excites their maddened minds In Phrygian measures; they bear before them knives, Wild emblems of their frenzy….’ - Lucretius (‘On the Nature of Things’) As we approached the Vatican, I was, as was invariably the case, full of questions that Gaius, apparently a true fountain of knowledge, always seemed capable of answering. On this occasion, my quest for learning was unusually not connected with our present splendid urban surroundings. My gentle inquisition was instead stimulated by remembrance of the more rural scenes during the picnic that took place by the first milestone of the Via Flamina nine days earlier. “How do the Romans keep their roads so straight,” I asked, “and how do they measure the milestones and….” “Hold on,” Gaius gently responded with his customary smile, “one at a time!” I blushed at my admonition, but my red face quickly returned to its more natural hue when my youthful lover kindly began to address the first topic. “Engineers, called ‘gromatici’” Gaius replied, “first use many beacons on high points, such as the tops of hills, to estimate the straight line between the two places to be linked by road. They then use a surveying instrument called a ‘groma’. This consists of a vertical iron staff, a ‘ferramentum’, pointed at the lower end and with a pivoted cross arm at the top that supports the main revolving aligning devise, the ‘stelleta’. The latter is basically a horizontal cross with plumblines suspended from each limb and is utilised to align several of the beacons at a time. Eventually, after many careful adjustments, all the beacons between the two locations will be perfectly in line. The only exceptions to this would be when insurmountable geographical barriers are encountered that they have to go round, although ‘round’ is probably the wrong word as you’ll never find a curve on a Roman road!” “My one regret about all this straightness,” Gaius continued, “is that the engineers do not include in their exceptions the special places of the peoples whose land the roads cross. For example, they wouldn’t care if a sacred burial ground was in the way. The road would be driven right through it. I regret to say that I have heard that the legions in your homeland have already desecrated some of your people’s ancient royal funeral mounds in this manner.” I was saddened but not surprised to learn of this, having personally experienced the brutal attitudes of Roman invaders a year previously. I have also since learnt that the legions perpetrate such acts not only for the convenience of their communications but also as a demonstration of their irresistible power for the benefit of the populations who try to defy them. “The military, of course,” Gaius advised, “build roads quickly in newly conquered territories so that the legions can move more speedily and effectively to quell opposition. They also use them, once pacification is achieved, to help to measure land size by reference to the milestones. Such assessments are important because much tax is based on land ownership. Besides informing the traveller of how far he has been and has to go, the calculation of taxation is therefore also another purpose of the milestones, which brings me nicely to your second question. Miles, ‘mille passus’ or ‘1000 paces’, each pace comprising two steps, or 5 Roman feet, are judged accurately using an odometer device. This is a wheeled vehicle that, by ingenious gearing, eventually turns a small horizontal wheel with a number of pebbles located in sockets around the circumference. A pebble will fall through its socket every time the contraption has moved exactly one mile. Now, what was the third question you wanted to ask?” I tested both Gaius’ knowledge and patience by enquiring about the other data invariably detailed on milestones. “Oh,” he responded, “that’ll be the names of the people associated with the construction of the roads. Like many others, they want to be remembered in perpetuity for their achievements.” “Would you like to be?” I now pestered my youthful lover. “I would prefer my beliefs to be,” he answered. My further questioning was then terminated by our arrival at the Vatican and the appearance of Axenius, whom we had arranged to meet there. Gaius now looked down because he felt Hylas pulling on his toga. The youth knew that the infant was excited but that was not the reason why he forgave his slave an action that most other masters would have considered impertinent and rewarded with a whipping. The 17 year-old instead met the 5 year-old’s presumption with a kind smile, which the boy sweetly reciprocated. “What is it?” the youth asked both patiently and gently. “Please, Gaius, can we have our fortunes told?” enquired Hylas, compelling his master to ignore other acts that would have led to a thrashing for other slaves from most other masters. The 5 year-old had been instructed not to ask for favours or to call the 17 year-old by his praenomen in public, especially when they were in company. These requirements of etiquette were not out of any selfish arrogance on the part of Gaius, who did not possess a modicum of reprehensible attitude in him, but out of courtesy. The youth politely did not want to discomfort anyone in his company who might feel requests from, or the use of a master’s forename by, a mere slave to be shockingly incorrect behaviour. Accordingly, the 17 year-old preferred to keep such unusually liberal verbal intimacy private. At this time, however, Hylas’ errors, clearly caused by his eager excitement, did not matter. His master’s current companions, who comprised not only Axenius and me but also Apollinus, were all now considered by Gaius to be, despite our servile status in Roman society, amongst his closest friends. Following the youth’s excellent example, we were also all very patient and understanding in respect of each other’s sporadic lapses. Apollinus had already managed on a few occasions to escape from his chores in Caius Silius’ urban villa to go with Gaius, Hylas and me on our supposedly educational expeditions around Rome. The official excuse was that he was running errands for the major domo. In fact, the freeman in charge of my own master’s household had been encouraged to allow my fellow 15 year-old’s occasional release by a silver denarius pressed into his always willing palm by my youthful lover at my behest. On this day, we were additionally in the very delightful company of Axenius, for he had volunteered to attempt to explain to us the strange rituals of the ‘Dies Sanguinis’, or ‘Day of Blood’, when the neophyte gallae undergo their initiation into the mysteries of Cybele. We were currently standing in the open spaces of the Vatican, near to the sanctuary of the priesthood of the Magna Mater, or Great Mother Goddess. We were waiting amidst large crowds to see the novices dance to the deity’s temple on the Palatine, where they would castrate themselves and where the young Germanian had managed to use his influence so that we could watch this ceremonial denouement. Reader, you might consider this desire, stemming from natural boyish curiosity, to observe the sanguine spectacle rather morbid. However, our young consciences had been assuaged by Gaius, who had declared that it was right for people to become acquainted at first hand with all aspects of life in Rome. The youth would propound the same cause of self-knowledge when he took me to see the much bloodier and deadlier scenes in the Campus Martius two months later. As I have mentioned earlier, the Vatican is named after the hordes of ‘vaticinari’, or ‘fortunetellers’, to be found there, trying to scrape a living by advising the highly superstitious people about their destinies. Gaius was reluctant to grant Hylas’ request because he did not share the belief of the majority of the population in such soothsayers. However, as usual, he succumbed to a smiling entreaty from his infant slave. Gaius looked around at the many alternative foretellers of the future available. They were of both genders, varied widely in age and possessed many different means of determining individual destiny. However, the youth’s choice was made for him by the sudden appearance before him, apparently from nowhere, of a disheveled old woman. The youth thought that he recognised her face but could not recall where previously he might have come across her. “You wish the futures of your companions and yourself predicted, master,” the old woman perceptively did not question but simply announced, “and you’d like me to begin with your young slave first!” Gaius was astounded at the apparently knowing intervention and found himself meekly nodding affirmatively. “Please give me your hands, boy,” the old woman proceeded to ask of Hylas, who obliged with keen anticipation. I did not quite share the infant’s eagerness, wondering whether it might be better to leave the future unknown. The old woman examined Hylas’ two small palms very carefully before predicting “Much of your long life will be consumed serving a great cause. There will be many ups and downs but you will remain loyally steadfast and efficient until your work is done. You will also always relish the role you play.” The fortuneteller, who obviously did not believe in delivering lengthy insights into people’s fates, then turned towards Axenius, who looked rather anxious. Nevertheless, he gave his hands to the foreteller of his fate. “Ah yes,” the old woman suggested with succinctness, “I see a good person who loves well, and ultimately learns much from the reciprocated deep affection afforded to him to the benefit of many.” Apollinus was next. My fellow 15 year-old’s hands were trembling when he extended them towards the old woman, for the young Greek’s national background made him a strong believer in the sagacity of oracles and soothsayers. He told me later that he truly feared her wisdom and that his initial apprehension was not dismissed when she at first advised “Yours will be a life mainly led protecting a very dangerous secret.” However, my friend’s concern was somewhat lessened when she added “Nevertheless, the love you receive in return will mean that you will have no regrets.” It was now my turn. “Boy,” the old woman announced, “you will not only be another guardian of the same very dangerous secret but also its creator. However, for you, there will additionally be other challenges to be faced over a number of decades and how you handle these problems will not only determine your own fate but also that of Rome!” I was speechless at such a dramatic suggestion for a mere barbarian eunuch slave. Finally, came Gaius’ turn. The old woman smiled for the first time, revealing blackened teeth, before declaring “Sir, I am privileged to meet you.” I have to confess that, at that instant, I suspected her of trying to boost her fee from her undoubted paymaster, his status easily recognisable from wearing the toga virilis of a rich equestrian, which contrasted sharply to the simple slave tunics of his companions. My cynical attitude seemed proven when the fortuneteller went on to say, whilst gripping instead of glancing at the youth’s hands, “Sir, you can become one of the world’s greatest philosophers.” My skeptical suspicion was later to be disproved but how long this process took I shall leave the reader to work out as my saga unfolds. “Unfortunately, sir,” the old woman continued, “you will be cursed by having your voice listened to and obeyed by few in your time, or for ages to come. Instead, certain other lesser philosophies will be followed that will cause the world much grief over many centuries. However, the day will eventually arrive when, amidst much blight, your teachings are finally given proper consideration. This overdue happening will then lead to the salvation of mankind, but only if you follow your predestined path by conducting your life and airing your opinions as your conscience dictates. Never be deflected from these aims by anyone, for the sake of generations far into the future!” Gaius was initially as speechless as I had been at the old woman’s brief predictions of our respective destinies and this reaction prevented him from questioning the fortuneteller’s prophesies, an unusual phenomenon for the young sceptic of such superstition. Nevertheless, he eventually managed instead to splutter thanks on behalf of us all, before politely inviting the soothsayer to advise him about the size of her consultation fee. Another unexpected declaration was then heard, when the old woman answered “Nothing, master, for true insight into the future carries no price other than the ability to adapt oneself well to the knowledge!” However, despite this sagacious statement, Gaius was inherently too generous to allow the fortuneteller to go unrewarded for, even if her advice was nothing but hokum, it had at least given us all cause for thought. In response to the Gaius’ kind insistence, the old woman eventually requested “Please give whatever you see fit to the beggar boy sitting at the base of the statue over there.” She then stood aside to allow all our eyes to turn to focus on the young street urchin in question, dressed in filthy rags and located crosslegged behind her. We then heard her say “Go, Gaius Musonius Rufus, Bicilus, Axenius, Apollinus and Hylas to your futures, always remembering that love for others is the wisest guide to life!” We all immediately turned to where the old woman had been standing, determined to find out how she knew our names. However, she had disappeared and no amount of searching around the Vatican environs could find her again. Gaius therefore eventually suggested to the rest of us “Let’s go to give the beggar boy his due donation, as the new gallae will soon be passing.” For the readings of fortunes, even for five people, the fee would normally have been small, even if the client had been a very rich person. However, I saw the flash of gold as Gaius pressed a coin into the young urchin’s filthy hand. The boy looked up at the unexpected benefactor of such fortune and smiled, revealing sparkling white teeth that contrasted markedly with the colours displayed by the other visible parts of his malnourished form. However, his expressions of gratitude were then drowned out by the loud clashing of cymbals and drums and ululations, or wailing, of Oriental flutes and horns, as the neophyte gallae emerged from their nearby sanctuary. My youthful lover, as always not wanting to be disrespectful, not even to a street beggar, politely nodded to acknowledge the thanks, before instructing the rest of us to rush with him to positions where we could watch the procession. We all obeyed Gaius’ summons with a strange mixture of excitement at what we were about to see and regret at having to leave the poor beggar boy behind to his sad existence, albeit substantially temporarily improved by the coin in his hand. However, we all also knew that, regardless of how compassionate we were to the awful plight of such street urchins, we could help them little for they were so numerous. After all, four of us were mere slaves and there were limits to what even the kindly young equestrian in our company could do. I have to confess, though, to reflecting on how ironic it was that, despite its servile nature and the dangers that came with having an uncaring and potentially very cruel master, my life as a slave seemed much better than that of the boy, who was probably a free-born Roman citizen. He might have run away from a cruel father or his family might have disintegrated through hardship, death or other tragedies. Alternatively, they might simply have abandoned him as too costly to keep. Many rural poor had been displaced in recent centuries from their countryside smallholdings by rich powerful avaricious land grabbers. Most of them had then flocked to Rome to try to secure better futures. They considered such relocation to be a better alternative to labouring for the new farm owners, an existence that was often much worse than that endured by slaves. However, actuality for most of the newcomers to the Empire’s capital was life in terrible squalor. The presence of the huge slave population meant that there were few job opportunities in Rome for the poor citizenry. The latter were therefore forced to live in ramshackle tenements or on the streets and had to rely on the corn dole and perhaps crime to survive. I doubted that the boy was an escaped slave for he surely would not have been begging so publicly. Soldiers from the Roman garrison frequently attempt to clean the streets of such urchins, particularly from the main thoroughfares that might be traversed by important citizenry. The troops sometimes simply move the children on, but culling by sword also occasionally takes place. However, the identities of the youngsters are always checked first, as military bloodlust tends to enjoy crucifying fugitives from enslavement. Crucifixion is the normal punishment for miscreant slaves. There are also two other main methods of execution practiced by the Romans. These are burning and exposure to wild animals, with the latter in particular practiced in the amphitheatre, although all three methods have been known to be used for the entertainment of the crowds in that terrible oval. Criminals are also sometimes used in that awful place for other amusements, such as being forced to fight each other to the death without the benefit of protective armour. Even the survivors are often so badly injured that they have to be put out of their misery by having their throats cut to celebrate their pyrrhic victories. As we eagerly complied with Gaius’ instruction, not wanting to miss any of the imminent spectacle, I glanced behind at the beggar boy, who had retained his broad smile whilst looking closely at the unprecedented largesse in his hand. Neither of us, young slave or urchin, knew at the time that the gold aureus he held in his dirty palm would change the course of Roman history. (Via Flamina, Rome, same time) ‘At vindicta bonum vita iucundius ipsa.’ (‘But revenge is sweeter than life itself.’) - Juvenal (‘Saturae’) Persius and Quintilianus, as a pair, were undoubtedly determined and audacious. As it was a school holiday, they had returned to the scene of their recent humiliation, taking great care this time to ensure that no-one was following. The boys were almost fully recovered from their ordeal, although their pert posteriors still displayed dull stripes, which thankfully were soon destined to disappear completely. The 13 year-olds had decided that the woodland glade was still a suitable venue to indulge their mutual passion in the outdoors, as well as an ideal location to plan their revenge. More young sperm was soon being spilled in the pleasant secluded surroundings. However, on this occasion, it was as a consequence of the attentions of the delicate touch of the hand of a true friend. No ululations resounded amongst the trees, just low sighs of supreme pleasure before similarly stifled conspiratorial whispers. (Vatican, Rome, same time) 'Mother of the immortal gods, She prepares a fast-riding chariot, drawn by bull-slaying lions. She who wields the sceptre over the renowned pole, She of the many names, the honored one! Thou occupiest the central throne of the cosmos, And thus of the earth, while thou providest delicate foods! By thee there was brought forth the race of immortal and mortal beings! By thee, the rivers and the entire sea are ruled! Go to the feast, O lofty one! Delighting in drums, tamer of all, Saviour of the Phrygians, bedfellow of Cronos, child of Ouranos, The old one, life-giving, frenzy-loving, joyful one…. Gratified with acts of piety! Generous Goddess of Ida, you, Mother of Gods, Who takes delight in Dindyma…. And in towered cities…. And in lions yoked in pairs…. Now guide me in the coming years! Goddess, make this sign favorable! Stride beside me with your gracious step!' - Virgil (‘Aeneid’) The procession of the feminine-clad gallae passed my four friends and me. Axenius was, of course, accustomed to such sights, having participated in several similar parades. However, even he had not previously seen frenzied young devotees of Cybele scourging themselves with short whips as they danced their musical way, full of accompanying ululations, to the Great Mother Goddess' temple. The eyes of the six handsome young men, aged between about 17 and 20 and dressed in ornate women’s clothing, who performed this rite of self-flagellation, surrounded by slightly older priestly colleagues, were noticeably glazed, unlike those of their companions. The sextet were the initiates, who would have earlier been given a drugged potion to fortify their zeal, thereby encouraging their extreme devotion sufficiently so that they would not let Cybele down on this defining day in their lives. After the noisy procession had passed, with the large crowds watching respectfully, Axenius instructed his own four companions to “Come, I know a shortcut to the temple. The Archigallus has promised us a good view of the final proceedings!” Our mutual deep apprehension at observing young men castrate themselves had been subsumed by natural boyish curiosity and so we all complied with Axenius’ command. We soon found ourselves striding up the main entrance steps of the temple of Cybele to be personally greeted by the expectant Archigallus long before the gallae procession had completed its circuitous route to the same destination. The Archigallus was, of course, primarily present at the top of the wide tall steps in order to welcome the initiates but he nevertheless greeted Axenius and the rest of us with genuine warmth. I could tell by the look in the man’s eyes that he still had substantial regard, if not undisclosed love, for the young Germanian. However, none of us could dwell on this situation for it was one of the great temple’s busiest and most important days. The Archigallus introduced us to another priest, whom Axenius knew and who politely guided us inside the cavernous temple, through a side doorway and up a narrow stairwell to a viewing gallery, soon to be filled with other favoured guests. We then waited excitedly for the initiation denouement. It eventually arrived when the processional party entered the main marbled sanctum below, full of tall colonnades. There, the young initiates completed their scourging and dancing before being helped to disrobe by gallae. Axenius whispered to us that one member of the gallae would have been allocated to each initiate to aid him through the earlier induction process. This would have included rigorous examination of the young man’s physical and mental suitability to join the priesthood, as well as thorough instruction in the required rituals. The young Germanian also explained that this was the first occasion that Roman citizens had been permitted to indulge in the ultimate rite, as a direct consequence of the Emperor Claudius’ recent liberalisation of religious law. This had increased the number of annual neophytes, who had previously been provincial subjects, mainly from the east of the Empire. Axenius went on to explain with quiet reverence, not wishing to disturb the music still being played by many cymbals, flutes and drums, that he had heard of another innovation this year. Self-castration had previously generally been achieved by use of knives but, on this occasion, one of the initiates had sought and obtained permission to use a specially manufactured bronze clamp, adorned with symbols relating to the Magna Mater. I have to confess to being intrigued by the sight of the six handsome young men ritualistically disrobing in order to unman themselves. I do not believe that I was alone in experiencing this feeling amongst the many spectators gathered around the sanctum, or on the balconies above, to watch the event. Indeed, both Gaius and Apollinus later confessed to me that they both developed substantial hidden erections, which endured throughout the ceremony. On this occasion, I did not jealously chastise either young set of balls for the revelation. I mentioned earlier, in respect of my relationship with Axenius, that I never sexually cheated on Gaius. This was forever the case. However, the equestrian youth’s unselfish liberality did encourage him to grant me permission to have occasional fun with others, usually as thanks for favours rendered. Gaius had known, from the very beginning of our intimate friendship, that I had frequently rewarded Apollinus in a certain way for his care in looking after both my body and wider welfare in the abode of our mutual master, Caius Silius. In this particular case, the youth had virtually ordered me to continue to proffer such largesse. I believe that Gaius not only did not want to disturb a mild sexual relationship, which had predated the more serious and loving one I enjoyed with him, but also he did not want to upset Apollinus or discourage the boy’s interest in my wellbeing. The 17 year-old’s attitude was undoubtedly helped by clearly recognising the importance to me of my fellow 15 year-old’s caring friendship whilst I endured an otherwise potentially unpleasant existence in Caius Silius’ household. However, he always urged me to take great caution when playing with the young Greek, fully appreciating what our master might inflict on us if we were caught. It might be a fate, Gaius had declared, that his blackmailing hold on Caius Silius might not be able to save us from, as he was sure that there were limits to the man’s tolerance of such coercion. The youth was aware of some of the terrible previous examples of penances inflicted on other slaves for such sexual misdemeanours, not least the nullified youth and infibulated girls about whom I had acquainted him. The 17 year-old suggested that my master might feel that his ‘patria potestas’, or ‘father’s power’ as head of the household, would be damaged if he took no action against us. Worse still, he might consider his ‘dignitas’, or public ‘status’, to be endangered if word leaked that he had softened his attitude towards his servants. The ‘dignitas’ of a high class Roman comprises mainly of three principal virtues. These are ‘virtus’, or courage in war, ‘pietas’, or fidelity towards the gods, and ‘fides’, or good faith towards others, along with other publicly recognised personal achievements and attributes. No patrician of Caius Silius’ particularly high standing could accept harm to his prestige, even if it was only in the minds of his slaves. The handsome young men were eventually all naked, seemingly unconcerned about their very public nudity and the fact that they all sported fulsome erections. They danced again, with six sets of excited but endangered genitalia flopping around wildly as they performed their gyrations. The sound of flailing whips could again be heard above the music. However, this time the noises were noticeably different from before. Instead of thin harsh leather striking feminine garb, vulnerable bare flesh was now clearly being hit. As a result, louder ululations now left the mouths of the young men, emitted as a result of intense anguish as the sextet flagellated their own naked bodies, previously decorated only by dull red stripes but now being covered by more vivid sanguine lines. They did not stop their agonising nude performance until their handsome forms were covered from neck to toe, front, back and sides, in whip marks. By this time, the penises of all six were incongruously vertical, engorged and drooling precum. It was the Archigallus who finally signalled the end of this painful routine, having satisfied himself that all of the young initiates had appropriately been scourged. The music then changed to a much slower but more foreboding tempo, whilst the neophytes assumed their self-castration positions. Most would not actually accomplish the now imminent deed entirely on their own, as their personal gallae mentors would be required to help. The young naked men sat on the floor, with legs outstretched and wide apart and despite the anguish that must have been endured when whipped buttocks and legs encountered the cool marble surface. My eyes focused on the youth, about 17 years of age, who had elected to use the innovative clamp, which was handed to him by his attendant priest. The initiate carefully positioned the bronze device so that his throbbing erection was placed in the security of the safety hole whilst the viciously sharp serrated cutting edges threatened his substantial scrotum, with the handles pointing away from him. Although the neophyte’s method of perpetrating his imminent castration would soon become the accepted norm, on this occasion his five nude companions all prepared to use knives. A young gelded slave of the gallae then stepped forward to sing a hymn. I thought that the youth performed his task well but members of the priesthood subsequently suggested to me that Axenius’ would have been even better, his voice having been recognised as being the best to have been heard in the great temple in living memory. This attribute seemed to have formed, alongside his beauty and character, another reason why the young Germanian’s loss to the order was genuinely regretted. The delightful hymn finally finished and, to a musical crescendo, the Archigallus invited the initiates to sacrifice their manhood for Cybele, just as Attis had done. Then, yet more ululations resounded around the cavernous sanctum as the young men proceeded to obey. My eyes focused on the youth with the clamp, who hesitated only briefly before grabbing the handles of the device and trying to force them together. However, the induced agony was obviously too much for him and he let go. Nevertheless, the handsome 17 year-old seemed to have sufficient control of himself to obey an instruction from his attendant mentor, for he now lay his flailed back on the marble floor whilst the priest finished the excruciating task. Not long afterwards, the bloodstained priest, now also soiled by semen that had erupted from the initiate’s cock during the clamping process, proudly showed the now tearful youth a severed 17 year-old scrotum. Meanwhile, most of the other mentors had also been needed to help their young charges complete their duty using knives, with only one neophyte successfully managing to cut off his own ball sac completely. For the gallae, the day after the ‘Dies Sanguinis’ is the ‘Hilaria’, the joyful feast of Attis, now considered reborn in splendour as a new daughter of the Divine Mother. The Archigallus declares “Behold, I have eaten from the tympanum. I have drunk from the cymbal. I have entered into Her Sacred Presence!” The following day, the ‘Requietio’, is one of rest and contemplation whilst the next, the ‘Lavatio’ is when the ritual ablution of Cybele’s icon takes place. The goddess’ silver statue, containing the meteoric stone, is carried from the Palatine temple down the Via Appia to a small sanctuary on the Almo River. There, the collegium of the fifteen magistrates bid her to return quickly to Rome for the other approaching festivities in her honor. Accordingly, amidst joyous flowers, singing and dancing, the Magna Mater returns to her splendid sacred abode in the capital. As Gaius, Axenius, Apollinus, Hylas and I left the temple gallery, whilst the initiates’ genital wounds were being carefully and expertly tended by their attendant gallae, we proceeded amidst as much solemn quietude as could be mustered. However, when we had left the temple environs to enter the wide square in front, I broke the silence by asking my companions “Why do young men want that done to them? Surely it can’t only be out of devotion to Cybele? Surely there must be something in their characters that wants them to become eunuchs? Axenius, Hylas and I sadly didn’t have any choice over our own gelding but I can’t imagine any of us under any circumstances wanting to volunteer for castration!” There was actually no immediate response from my friends. My initial thought was that they must have been asking themselves the same questions and had been unable to produce any satisfactory answers. However, I then noticed Axenius standing transfixed and white-faced, looking backwards and upwards at the huge statue of Cybele, located on the front apex of the roof of the goddess’ temple. My companions had also stopped out of concern for the young Germanian. Gaius was the first to react. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Look,” Axenius answered with awed solemnity, whilst pointing up at Cybele’s statue, “add some years to the Great Mother’s face and it’s the old soothsayer at the Vatican!” (Domus of Valerius Asiaticus, Rome, Dies Martis A.D. V Kal. Apr. DCCC A.V.C., in the 6th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [or Tuesday, March 28th, AD 47]) ‘Ut dirum nomen latronis taceam et odi illud palestricum prodigium quod ante in domum consultatum intulit quam colonia sua solidum civitatis Romanae beneficium consecuta est.’ (‘I wish to silence the evil name of the brigand [i.e. Decimus Valerius Asiaticus] and I hate this gymnastic prodigy who brought the consulate into his house before his colony had received the full benefit of a Roman city state.’) - Emperor Claudius (Speech in the Senate, AD 48) On the same day as the ‘‘Lavatio’, Messalina, with the unexpected help of Lucius Aulus Vitellius, had finally managed to secure the end of Valerius Asiaticus. However, the latter’s bitterly estranged friend, the Emperor Claudius, had given the first ever Senator from Narbonnais Gaul the option of suicide instead of execution, a choice the former famed patrician athlete had indeed selected. Valerius Asiaticus approached his suicide in a courageous and dignified manner, choosing to die surrounded by the magnificent splendours of his gardens. Carrying on his usual routine, he first bathed and dined cheerfully, suggesting that it would have been more honourable for him to perish due to Tiberius’ trickery or Gaius Caligula’s fury than to succumb to a woman’s deceit and Aulus Vitellius' shameless tongue. He then cut his veins open. Beforehand, Valerius Asiaticus had visited his own readied funeral pyre, ordering it moved to cause the minimal disruption and damage to his beloved gardens. As he later bled to death, tears formed in his eyes at the terrible thought that his resplendent surroundings would soon undoubtedly be in the possession of the jealous avaricious Empress. (Domus of Aulus Plautius, Rome, Dies Mercurii A.D. III Kal. Apr. DCCC A.V.C., in the 6th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [or Wednesday, March 28th, AD 47]) “To Aulus Plautius he also granted an ovation, going out to meet him when he entered the city, and walking on his left as he went to the Capitol and returned again.” - Suetonius (‘Claudius’, xxiv.2) On the day after the ‘Lavatio’, the Initium Caiani takes place in the gallae sanctuary on the Vatican, when a bull is sacrificed. This is followed by a great feast, which celebrates the further renewal of the world in springtime glory. However, another splendid banquet was also scheduled for the same day in celebration of the return of a Roman hero.
“Welcome home, husband,” Pomponia Graecina greeted the man whom she had not seen for four years prior to this day, with the expected formality before embracing her spouse, fresh from his ‘ovatio’, or ‘ovation’, through the streets of Rome. The rest of the family and most of the large number of household servants and slaves, many of whose faces would be new to the general, had also been paraded to welcome the returning conqueror. Augustus had reserved the distinction of a full triumphal parade only for members of an Emperor’s family. Accordingly, Claudius had instead honoured his old friend with an ovation, which follows the same route and which incidentally turned out to be the last granted to anyone without Imperial blood in my lifetime. The event is a lesser scaled-down form of victory procession, in which a conquering general enters Rome upon a caparisoned horse instead of a chariot, and without his face being smeared with red lead in imitation of terracotta images of triumphant Mars. Plautius was related to Claudius through the Emperor’s unfortunate first marriage to Plautia Urgulanilla. However, they had been companions since boyhood and so their friendship survived the subsequent acrimonious divorce. Consequently, Plautius had gained high favour when Claudius became Emperor, a position from which even Messalina had realised the patrician could not be displaced. The man had been the Princeps’ main commander during the successful invasion of south and west Britannia, with the equally very capable Titus Flavius Vespasianus senior, father of Britannicus’ best friend, being one of his principal subordinates. Plautius had conquered my homeland roughly up to the Rivers Severn and Trent before being recalled to Rome for his ovation. He had thoroughly enjoyed the glory of the occasion, part of which had been observed by his admiring wife, before he had made this brief courtesy visit to his home. It was of necessity short because he was due to attend the Imperial palace later with his spouse to participate in a banquet in his honour. However, the sojourn to his own domus would permit him time to bathe and put on a fresh uniform. “Who’s this?” Plautius asked of his wife when he saw the handsome black youth, attired only in a sparse loincloth and carrying towels. “He’s a new slave of the inner household,” answered Pomponia Graecina, “who’ll help you at your bath.” “Inner household slave,” Plautius commented, thinking of his womenfolk, “I hope he’s been….” However, the general did not manage to complete his question. His astute spouse knew what he would be enquiring about and so replied with premonition “Oh, don’t worry. He has been, completely.” “By the way,” the kindly Pomponia Graecina then added, “his name’s Nigerinus.” (To be continued in chapter XV – ‘Sacrifices’)
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