Six for Gold (22 page)

Epilogue

“I only wish I could have handed my sword to you, John. Not that I minded putting an end to the villain myself.”

Felix took another sip of wine and stared thoughtfully at the wall mosaic in John’s study. “The strangest thing was when I returned to the reception hall after escorting Hektor to the dungeons for execution as ordered. Bishop Crispin kept muttering something about how it was turning out to be true, that Hektor wouldn’t die on the street. What do you suppose he meant?”

John shook his head. “Who can say? Now we know that Hektor alerted Justinian to the plot, which is probably why the emperor gave me so little information. I suspect Hektor didn’t tell him everything he knew.”

“Hektor was trying to wager on both teams at the same time,” said Felix. “I know what I would’ve laid a coin or two on, and that’s that when a scapegoat was needed it wasn’t going to be Theodora’s prize bishop.”

Anatolius spoke up. “I almost feel sorry for Crispin. I’m not sure he believed me when I told him my associates had Nehushtan. However, since I obviously knew about the plot and he was ordered to the audience with Justinian, he had little choice but to go along and hope for the best. He couldn’t have expected anything as ludicrous as that snake on a stick. I wish I had as much hair.” He ruefully patted his scalp, now covered with short, dark fuzz.

“Dedi’s snake oracle appears much more convincing presented in front of an ancient temple ruin in the middle of the Egyptian night,” John observed.

“I’ll have to take your word for it,” Anatolius replied. “Dedi will doubtless boast to the end of his days of his great success performing for the emperor and empress.”

“No doubt he saw it as the opportunity of a lifetime. As indeed it was, particularly since he escaped with his life. Francio’s guests will enjoy his act.”

Anatolius’ gaze went to the window. “See how the sky is purpling, John. We should leave soon or we’ll be late. Francio’s been planning this recreation of Trimalchio’s feast for some time, and I don’t want to miss any of it.”

“Just as well Francio hasn’t set eyes on Cheops,” said Thomas. “I’m afraid he might have been tempted to add ancient feline to the menu.”

Laughter from down the hallway mingled the voices of Europa and Hypatia, now back in residence, with the deeper tones of Peter.

“Whatever is going on in the kitchen?” Felix wondered. “It sounds as if Peter is declaiming something of great import.”

“I believe he’s entertaining the ladies with a magick trick he learned on the boat back,” said John. “For the purpose of entertainment only, of course.”

Thomas laughed. “It’s the leaping coin illusion. Dedi showed him how to do it, as Peter wanted to amaze Hypatia when he returned. It’s quite easy. All you need is a coin with a tiny hole drilled at the edge and a length of black hair or finely woven thread tied through it. A quick twist of the wrist and you can flip it out of a bowl as if by magick. It works wonderfully well, especially in dim light. In fact, I’m going to astonish Isis with it, assuming she’ll allow me to return to her employ after such a long and unexplained absence.”

Anatolius remarked that Peter sometimes surprised him.

“I expect Peter will chatter for months about our trip,” John said. “On the boat back, he observed to me that right from the time we disembarked for Mehenopolis he realized Porphyrios was not what he could call reliable. He said he’d reached this conclusion because despite the supposed charioteer’s statement about dogs running while they drank from the Nile for fear of being dragged in by crocodiles, a dog was standing quite calmly on the bank drinking from the river near where we landed!”

They went down to the atrium. Anatolius paused at the house door. “One thing more that I don’t understand. Felix, at times it appeared to me as if you really thought John had murdered the senator.”

Looking embarrassed, Felix tugged at his beard. “Yes, I could see you were puzzled. John indicated there was more to his exile than it seemed, but he was not very clear.” He scowled briefly at John. “Officially he was being blamed for the murder. I wasn’t certain how much to reveal of what I intended to do if we could not find evidence to clear him.”

Anatolius gave the excubitor captain a questioning look.

“If we could not clear John’s name—and Justinian would not—if John died for a crime he did not commit, I was prepared to take the first opportunity I had to kill Justinian. It would have been a dishonorable act to murder a man I am sworn to protect, but I knew John was innocent and as brothers in Mithra…”

“But John is so valuable to Justinian…” Anatolius argued.

John observed that many valuable subjects had been executed for lesser sins than supposedly murdering a senator.

“That’s true,” Thomas said. “I’d have expected Justinian to have Dedi dispatched on the spot for trying to foist that snake oracle off on him after all that talk about an astounding relic.”

John chuckled. “I suspect Justinian realized Dedi’s act could be used to discredit his religious opponents. Besides, the Christians’ holy book claims Nehushtan was destroyed, and Justinian certainly wouldn’t have welcomed proof the sacred writings were fallible.”

“Then the emperor isn’t likely to order anyone to Mehenopolis to seize whatever is in the maze, even if he guesses there’s more to it than Dedi’s performance suggests,” Thomas observed. “Mind you, I wager Melios will go after it while Dedi is here, and then that’ll be the end of Dedi’s livelihood.”

“I doubt if Melios has enough servants to fight his way through the pilgrims who’d rush to defend the maze,” John said. “Besides, by destroying the relic he’d deprive himself and the settlement of a good source of income. For that matter, once Dedi gets a taste of performing at court he might not care to return to Egypt.”

“It’s enough to make my head hurt,” growled Thomas. “I’m a fighter, not a plotter. Give me a fair contest, blade against blade, any day and none of this creeping around and skulking in shadows. Why, even the emperor’s at it now! He needs a few good swordsmen, I’d say! They’d settle things a lot more simply, if not as daintily as some might like.”

“Ruling an empire isn’t so simple as it seems,” John pointed out. “The imperial couple often hold themselves out in public as disagreeing on certain matters. It may be these are attempts to flush out hitherto unsuspected enemies foolish enough to declare themselves to one camp or another. Not to mention it keeps people off balance, always a good advantage to have.”

Thomas frowned. “You mean Theodora wasn’t really championing those heretics, or Justinian isn’t as orthodox as he likes to appear?”

“All I can say is that Justinian requires the support of the orthodox, but he also needs the resources of Egypt, which is not entirely orthodox,” John replied. “The emperor does not confide everything in me. Even a Lord Chamberlain can be trusted only so far.”

“I’ll wager the emperor and empress don’t even trust each other,” Thomas observed with a grin.

“That could be. Whatever the understanding or quarrel between Justinian and Theodora might be on this occasion, I believe they both keep secrets from each other. The real reason for my journey to Egypt is quite possibly one of them.”

“We ought to get on our way,” Anatolius interrupted. “Francio’s expecting a good number of guests. I think he will get them, because according to Hypatia in the last few days—in fact, ever since Dedi’s performance for Justinian and Theodora—they have admitted no further plague patients to the hospice.”

“Strange indeed,” John admitted as they crossed the cobbled square. “And yet, as followers of Mithra, should we not consider that as nothing more than coincidence?”

Glossary

All dates are CE unless otherwise noted.

APIONS
Extremely wealthy and powerful Egyptian family from Oxyrhynchus (present-day al-Bahnasa). A number of its members held high imperial posts.

ATRIUM
Court-like area inside a Roman house. Partly open to the sky, it not only provided light to rooms opening from it, but also contained a shallow cistern (IMPLUVIUM) under a square or oblong opening (COMPLUVIUM) in its roof. While the IMPLUVIUM was also ornamental, its main purpose was to catch rainwater for household use.

BRITOMARTIS
Cretan goddess. She was called the Lady of the Nets because while fleeing unwanted amorous attention she leapt from a cliff, landing in the net of a fisherman in whose boat she escaped to safety.

BATHS OF ZEUXIPPOS
Public baths in Constantinople, named after ZEUXIPPOS. Erected by order of Septimius Severus (146–211, r 193–211), the baths were a casualty of the Nika riots (532). They were rebuilt by JUSTINIAN I. Situated near the HIPPODROME, they were generally considered the most luxurious of the city’s baths and were famous for their statues of mythological figures and Greek and Roman notables.

BLUES
Followers of the Blue chariot racing faction. Great rivalry existed between the Blues and the GREENS and each had their own seating sections in the HIPPODROME. Brawls between the two sets of supporters were not uncommon and occasionally escalated into city-wide riots.

CHALKE
Main entrance to the GREAT PALACE. Its roof was tiled in bronze and the interior was decorated with mosaics of military triumphs, JUSTINIAN I and THEODORA.

CHURCH OF SERGIUS AND BACCHUS
Built in 527, the octagonal domed church is architecturally similar to the GREAT CHURCH. The two martyred saints it commemorates were popular in the east. It was built contiguously with the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, who were particularly venerated in the west.

COMPLUVIUM
See ATRIUM.

DALMATIC
Loose over-garment worn by the Byzantine upper classes.

DELPHIC ORACLE
Most famous oracle in Greece. Priestesses serving in the temple to Apollo on Mount Parnassus prophesied in a semi-conscious and incoherent state after inhaling vapors escaping from the earth and chewing laurel leaves. Their ramblings were interpreted by a temple priest.

EUNUCH
Eunuchs played an important role in the military, ecclesiastical, and civil administrations of the Byzantine Empire. Many high offices in the GREAT PALACE were typically held by eunuchs.

EXCUBITORS
GREAT PALACE guard.

FLOWERS OF PAION
Peonies.

FORUM BOVIS
See MESE.

FORUM CONSTANTINE
See MESE.

GARUM
Spicy, pungent, fermented fish sauce much used in Roman cuisine.

GOLDEN GATE
Principal gate at the southern end of the Theodosian Wall protecting the land side of Constantinople.

GREAT BULL
See MITHRA.

GREAT CHURCH
Colloquial name for the Church of the Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia). One of the world’s great architectural achievements, the Hagia Sophia was completed in 537, replacing the church burnt down during the Nika riots (532).

GREAT PALACE
Situated in the southern part of Constantinople, it was not one building but rather many, set amidst trees and gardens. Its grounds included barracks for the EXCUBITORS, ceremonial rooms, reception halls, the imperial family’s living quarters, churches, and housing provided for court officials, ambassadors, and various other dignitaries.

GREENS
Followers of the Green chariot racing faction. Great rivalry existed between the BLUES and the Greens and each had their own seating sections in the HIPPODROME. Brawls between the two sets of supporters were not uncommon and occasionally escalated into city-wide riots.

HIPPODROME
U-shaped race track next to the GREAT PALACE. The Hippodrome had tiered seating accommodating up to a hundred thousand spectators. It was also used for public celebrations and other civic events.

HORACE (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–68 BC)
Eminent Roman lyric poet, satirist, and literary critic.

HORMISDAS PALACE
Residence of JUSTINIAN I and THEODORA before JUSTINIAN I became emperor.

IMPLUVIUM
See ATRIUM.

JUSTINIAN I (483–565, r 527–565)
His ambition was to restore the Roman Empire to its former glory, and he succeeded in regaining North Africa, Italy, and southeastern Spain. His accomplishments included codifying Roman law and an extensive building program in Constantinople. He was married to THEODORA.

KALAMOS
Reed pen.

LAKE MAREOTIS
Body of water south of Alexandria. During Roman times the lake was larger than it is today, stretching for nearly 60 miles. It was connected by canals to both Alexandria and the Nile.

LIBERTY CAP
Distinctive conical cap of soft material, worn by manumitted slaves with its peak pulled forward. Representations of Liberty often wear this type of cap.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Typically a EUNUCH, the Lord (or Grand) Chamberlain was the chief attendant to the emperor and supervised most of those serving at the GREAT PALACE. He also took a leading role in court ceremonial, but his real power arose from his close working relationship with the emperor, which allowed him to wield great influence.

MEHEN
Egyptian snake god who protected the sun god Ra by coiling around the solar barque in which Ra voyaged through the underworld each night.

MESE
Main thoroughfare of Constantinople. Enriched with columns, arches, statuary (depicting secular, military, imperial, and religious subjects), fountains, religious establishments, workshops, monuments, emporiums, public baths, and private dwellings, it was a perfect mirror of the heavily populated and densely built city it traversed. The Mese passed through several fora, including FORUM BOVIS and FORUM CONSTANTINE.

MIN
Egyptian fertility god.

MITHRA
Sun god who slew the GREAT BULL, from whom all animal and vegetable life sprang. Mithra is usually depicted wearing a tunic and Phrygian cap, his cloak flying out behind him, and in the act of slaying the GREAT BULL. Mithra was also known as Mithras.

MITHRAEUM
Underground place of worship dedicated to MITHRA. These places have been found on sites as far apart as northern England and what is now the Holy Land.

MITHRAISM
Of Persian origin, Mithraism spread throughout the Roman empire via its followers in various branches of the military. It became one of the most popular religions before being superseded by Christianity. Mithrans were required to practice chastity, obedience, and loyalty. Women were excluded from Mithraism. Parallels have been drawn between this religion and Christianity because of shared practices such as baptism and a belief in resurrection as well as the fact that Mithra, in common with many sun gods, was said to have been born on December 25th. Mithrans advanced within their religion through seven degrees. In ascending order, these were Corax (Raven), Nymphus (Male Bride), Miles (Soldier), Leo (Lion), Peres (Persian), Heliodromus (Runner of the Sun), and Pater (Father).

MITHRA’S TORCH BEARERS
Representations of MITHRA often show him accompanied by the twin torch bearers Cautes and Cautopates, statues of whom were also part of the sacred furnishings of a MITHRAEUM. Cautes always held his torch upright, while Cautopates pointed his downward. The pair are said to represent the rising and setting of the sun. Another interpretation is that they symbolize the twin emotions of despair and hope.

MONOKYTHRON
Similar to a stew or casserole, it was made from cheese, fish, and vegetables. More elaborate versions of monokythron (Greek, one-dish or one-pot, from the method of cooking) called for the addition of garlic, wine, olive oil, and more than one variety of fish to the basic ingredients.

MONOPHYSITES
Adherents to a doctrine holding that Christ had only one nature, and that it was divine. Despite condemnation by the church the belief remained particularly strong in Syria and Egypt.

NATURAL HISTORY
Encylopaedic work written by PLINY THE ELDER. It numbered over thirty volumes and its topics included botany, anthropology, minerals and gems, geography, medicinal plants, zoology, and the arts.

NOMISMATA (singular NOMISMA)
Gold coin in circulation at the time of JUSTINIAN I.

NUMMUS (plural NUMMI)
Smallest copper coin during the early Byzantine period.

PAION’S FLOWERS
See FLOWERS OF PAION.

PATRIARCH
Head of a diocese or patriarchate. The ancient patriarchates were Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.

PHAROS
Lighthouse at Alexandria. Regarded by the ancients as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, it was completed c 280 BC and destroyed by an earthquake towards the end of the 14th century.

PILGRIM FLASKS
Small clay bottles, brought back from pilgrimage sites as souvenirs. They contained holy water or oil from lamps at a saint’s tomb, and were thought to have miraculous powers. The flasks typically were flat with a short neck and two handles.

PILLARS OF HERCULES
Strait of Gibraltar.

PLAGUE
Writings by Procopius (known 6th century) and John of Ephesus (c 505–585) provide vivid eyewitness accounts of the Justinianic plague. It appears to have broken out in Egypt or central Africa and, spreading along trade routes, arrived in Constantinople in the spring of 542. Sufferers generally died within three days of the onset of symptoms, which included hallucinations, fever, anxiety, chills, and swellings in the armpits, groin, or beside the ears. Some patients lived only a few hours after infection. In many cases, victims’ bodies became covered with black blisters. In Constantinople up to 10,000 people died each day, so that by the time the plague departed the population of the city had been reduced by 40 percent.

PLATO’S ACADEMY
Founded in 387 BC and situated on the northwestern side of Athens, its curriculum included natural science, mathematics, philosophy, and training for public service.

PLINY THE ELDER (Caius Plinius Secundus) (c 23–79)
Roman naturalist and author of the encyclopaedic work NATURAL HISTORY. He died during the eruption of Vesuvius, having traveled to the area to observe the event.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS (fl 1st century BC)
Syrian-born former slave who became a successful writer of, and actor in, theatrical presentations. He was also the author of a large number of maxims and pithy sayings. Several hundred have survived and many have entered common speech.

QUAESTOR
Public official who administered financial and legal matters.

ROMANOS MELODOS (known 6th century)
Hymn-writer and saint, Romanos Melodos (The Melodist) composed over a thousand works, of which about 60 have survived. His subjects included sacred festivals and saints’ lives.

SAINT MENAS (d c 295)
Egyptian soldier in the Roman army who was martyred for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. His cult was centered at a healing spring at present-day Abu Mena, near Alexandria. According to legend, the site for his tomb was indicated when the pair of camels bringing him back for burial refused to go any further. PILGRIM FLASKS from his shrine were popular souvenirs, and the saint was depicted on them dressed in a tunic and cloak and standing between two camels.

SAMSUN’S HOSPICE
Founded by Saint Samsun (d 530), a physician and priest. Also known as Sampson or Samson the Hospitable, he is referred to as the Father of the Poor because of his work among the destitute. His hospice was near the GREAT CHURCH.

SPINA
Low platform separating the two arms of the U-shaped race track in the HIPPODROME.

STYLITES
Holy men who often spent years living on platforms atop columns. They took their name from
stylos
(Greek, column or pillar) and were also known as pillar saints. Constantinople boasted a number of stylites.

THEODORA (c 497–548)
Influential and powerful wife of JUSTINIAN I. It has been alleged she had formerly been an actress and prostitute. When the Nika riots broke out in Constantinople in 532, she is said to have urged her husband to remain in the city, thus saving his throne.

TOOTH POWDER
Manufactured from such ingredients as shells or animal hoofs and horns, which were burnt and then ground into powder. Astringent substances were sometimes added to these mixtures.

TRIMALCHIO’S FEAST
Vulgar and extravagant banquet described at length in
The Satyricon
, written by Roman satirist Gaius Petronius (d c 66). Courses included pastry eggs containing small cooked birds, a hare fitted with wings to represent Pegasus, saffron-filled cakes, honeyed dormice sprinkled with poppy seeds, and bread served from a silver oven.

ZEUXIPPOS
Thracian deity whose name combined Zeus and Hippos (horse).