Chapter 2 - Marcus

to enlarge images open in a new tab

Please note that this chapter is intended for adults (over 18 years), and may contain images and text featuring nudity, explicit adult sexuality and strong language. Please do not view this chapter if you find such features objectionable...

Marcus

It was some time after I first had an interview with my Dominus (Gracchus) that I first met Marcus.

Marcus was Greek, like me. -or so I though.

He spoke Koine, but with a very strange accent.

"OK Ethan....What's Koine ?", Teddy asked

Koine Greek - also known as common Attic or Hellenistic Greek, was the common supra-regional form of Greek spoken and written during the Hellenistic period, the Roman Empire. It evolved from the spread of Greek following the conquests of Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC, and served as the lingua franca of much of the Mediterranean region and the Middle East during the following centuries. It was based mainly on Attic and related Ionic speech forms, with various admixtures brought about through dialect levelling with other varieties

There you are....satisfied ?..... so I will continue...

When Marcus first came to Baiae, he was rarely seen around the villa - and seemed to live an oddly 'private' life, even although he was just a slave.

There was much gossip about him, and most of the other slaves seemed to think that he was Gracchus' 'Ganymede' - particularly as he was very handsome.

In Greek mythology,  Ganymede - Ancient Greek: Γανυμήδης - is a divine hero whose homeland was Troy. Homer describes Ganymede as the most beautiful of mortal boys, and in one version of the myth Zeus falls in love with his beauty, and abducts him in the form of an eagle to serve as cup-bearer in Olympus. In Ancient Rome the term was used for a very handsome boy who was a 'concubinus' (bed-boy) of an older male.

Silver Slave Collar

It was also rumored that he was a Roman citizen, as he had worn a 'bulla' when he first came to the villa, although shortly after his arrival he was given the standard slave-collar - unusually made of silver - a sign that he was the slave of a very rich man.

Ancient Roman Bulla

Bulla, an amulet worn like a locket, was given to male children in Ancient Rome nine days after birth. Roman bullae were enigmatic objects of lead, sometimes covered in gold foil, if the family could afford it. A bulla was worn around the neck as a locket to protect against evil spirits and forces. Bullae (plural of bulla) were made of differing substances depending upon the wealth of the family. Before the age of manhood, Roman boys wore a bulla, a neck-chain and round pouch containing protective amulets (usually phallic symbols), and the bulla of an upper-class boy would be made of gold. Other materials included leather and cloth. A freeborn Roman boy wore a bulla until he came of age as a Roman citizen. Before he put on his toga virilis ('toga of manhood') he placed his boyhood bulla in the care of his parental household deities

Kleon

"Now the rumor was that Marcus (although he had been originally called 'Markos' - Greek), and spoke Koine, was in fact a Roman citizen - and it was illegal to enslave freeborn Roman citizens - and it was for that reason that Marcus' bulla was mysteriously hidden, (probably by Gracchus).

The strangest thing about Marcus, however, was that Gracchus had given him a slightly younger, and very handsome slave called Kleon  - (Cleon in Latin) to be Marcus' 'concubinus' (bed-boy) - and such a privilege was almost unheard of."

And then there was rather a long pause

'Well Teddy, we've been very busy with 'Club Jaguar', but I really think we should consider our readers...and get back to the story....not that I'm going to give you a 'blow by blow' account of what Marcus and Kleon did together....' Ethan suggested.

'Yes Ethan...you should get back to the story !', Teddy replied.

"So time passed, and Marcus was the most spoiled  of all the slaves at the villa, and none of the other slaves could understand why - and strangely - I was told later - not even Gracchus - the Dominus - could really understand his own motives for favoring young Marcus - but something seemed to tell him that it was the right thing to do.

Novius

Novius, Gracchus' boyhood friend - the wise seer and reader of oracles, trained in the mysteries of the ancient Etruscans....he knew why young Marcus was 'special'.

Repeatedly the livers of the sacrifices had told the same tale.

'Marcus is 'beloved of the gods'..'Aureus puer mare cara deum'
('the golden boy from the sea - beloved of the gods')

'I didn't know that you could speak Latin...' Teddy said, obviously surprised.

'Of course I can....what language do you think I spoke at the villa to all those toffs ?', Ethan replied. 

Plato

"And me, well I just worked hard, like most slaves.

Marcus, though had a tutor, Aristarchus, to teach him Greek, and make him learn Homer, and other Greek authors and people like Plato.

And he had another tutor, Lucian,who taught him to talk like a Roman patrician, and lose his 'common' Greek accent - and taught him about Roman philosophers, and poets like Virgil....

Although we, that's us other slave,  didn't realize it.... Marcus was being trained to be like a 'young Dominus' - and in the end that's what he became - but at that point we couldn't ever imagine that happening.

Servius and Marcus - Swimming Lesson

Now I know now what happened in the end - but at the time, when Marcus was given what today we call a 'fitness coach' - well that was just the end....!

A fitness coach for a gladiator or a wrestler...OK !

But not like a 'private coach', and just to make Marcus graceful, and give him a good physique - that was unheard of for a slave-boy.

Centurion Servius Juvenalis

'You sound a bit jealous, Ethan - and it did work, he is still graceful, and has a good physique.', Teddy said.

"But I must admit, I was jealous, and so were many of he other slaves.

The fitness coach was a centurion - but very young - and on extended leave, just to look after Marcus.

But in the end it all led to trouble - but no one could see that coming.

The day that Servius came to the villa was a very bad day for all of us......

Servius 'fancied' Marcus, and Marcus was too young to say no - but in the end the Dominus found out - he had eyes and ears everywhere - and the Dominus definitely did not approve, and if he's dismissed Servius things would have been very different.

Marcus as Cupbearer

And it was at that point that the Dominus made Marcus his 'cup-bearer'.

'And what's a cup-bearer ?', Teddy asked.

'Good of you to ask, because I don't think many of  our readers know either.' Ethan said.

A cup-bearer was often a slave whose duty it was to serve the drinks at the table of his master. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold the position. He must guard against poison in the master's cup, and was sometimes required to swallow some of the wine before serving it. His confidential relations with the master often gave him a position of great influence. The position of cup-bearer was greatly valued.

'And presumably Marcus never got poisoned ?, Teddy asked.....
'Never....', Ethan replied.

Petronius - 'Magistri Harena'

Then, with Marcus gaining the favor of the Dominus by the day, he was given into the care of Petronius (Zac) - one of the most senior slaves  owned by the Dominus.

It was Petronius who organised and arranged all the the Games and Festivals that took place in the arena.'

'So what was so special about the arena ?', Teddy asked.

'Well these were the times before there was any movies and television.

There was theater, but that was really only for the rich and educated - so that just left the 'Ludi' as the Romans called them - the Games.

But the games were not like anything we have today.

When we watch movies and people are killed, it's all just pretend, but with the Romans it was real.

Of course the people who were killed and injured were all slaves.'

'Yes - but Marcus, and this guy Petronius were slaves - so weren't they in danger of being killed.', Teddy asked, sounding a bit confused.

'No...", Ethan replied, "because they were favorites of the Dominus.'

'I see...", Teddy said, 'So go on......'

Executions in the Arena at Baiae

Pompa for Spes Vespasianus

 in the Arena at Baiae 69 AD

'Well the 'Games' were the only real excitement in most people's lives - even the rich ones, and they were always held on special occasions, - like when someone became emperor, which happened more often than you would imagine, on important peoples' birthdays, marriages,  or funerals, - or big Roman victories.

Titus Flavius Vespasianus

Titus Flavius Vespasianus - (17 November 9 – 24 June 79 AD) - known as Vespasian, was Roman emperor from 69–79, the fourth, and last, in the 'Year of the Four Emperors'. He founded the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Empire for 27 years. On becoming Emperor, he was a personal friend of Marcus (by then Marcus Octavianus Gracchus)

Prometheus - Mythological Re-enactment

And they were not just slaves being killed in the arena, although there were always gladiator fights and executions - but there was also grand processions....dancing, and singing, and the acting out of stories from Greek and Roman mythology - and of course when the stories involved sex and violence, there was a lot of that as well.'

Ancient Roman Pantomimus in the Arena at Baiae

Pantomimus, which derives from the Greek word παντόμιμος (pantomimos), consisting of παντο- (panto-) meaning 'all', and μῖμος (mimos), meaning a dancer who acted all the roles or all the story. The Roman pantomime drew upon the Greek tragedy and Greek mythology. According to an oration by Aelius Aristides, the pantomime was known for its erotic content and the effeminacy of its dancing. Roman pantomime was a production, usually based upon myth or legend, for a solo male dancer, accompanied by a sung libretto (called the 'fabula saltica' or 'dance-story'). Music was supplied by flute and the pulse of an iron-shod shoe. Performances might be in a private household, with minimal personnel, or else lavish theatrical productions involving a large orchestra and chorus and sometimes ancillary actors.

'And it was this guy Petronius who organised all of that ?' Teddy asked.

'Yes - and now, of course we know him is Zac.', Ethan replied.

'Ah, and that's why he taught you and Josh about guns, and is always taking you and Jim to the gym....', Teddy said knowingly.

'Of course....

When Faunus does things to our memories, he always leaves us with the same character - so we are the same person.', Ethan explained - being unusually very 'grown up' and perceptive.

'Yes..that makes sense....

I can see it  in the 'Boss' - cruel but sentimental at the same time, and in Zac- the tough organizer....', Teddy replied, thoughtfully.

'Marcus and Petronius got on very well together, and he spent a lot of time with Petronius at the Amphitheater in Baiae.', Ethan continued, but almost intermediately was interrupted again by Teddy.

'And this 'Baiae' you keep mentioning....I presume it's a place...but where is it.?', Teddy asked, sounding a little exasperated..

'Yes....Baiae.....

Well for me, Jim, Josh, Zac, Novius and of course the 'Boss' it holds many memories - some good - some bad.

So now Petros is going to give you all the info about Baiae -', Ethan said......

Baiae - Sinus Neapolitanum - Bay of Naples

Baiae was built on the Cumaean Peninsula in the Phlegraean Fields, an active volcanic area. It was probably originally developed as the port for Cumae. Baiae was particularly fashionable towards the end of the Roman Republic and early Empire. Marius, Lucullus, and Pompey all frequented it the town. Julius Caesar had a villa there, and some of the town became imperial property under Augustus. Nero had a notable villa constructed during the 1st century, and Hadrian died at his villa in ad 138. Resorts like Baiae often capitalized on their imperial associations, and Suetonius mentions that the cloak, brooch, and gold bulla given to the young Tiberius by Pompey's daughter Pompeia Magna were still on display around ad 120. Baiae was notorious for the hedonistic lifestyle of its residents and guests. An elegy by Sextus Propertius written in the Augustan Age describes it as a "den of licentiousness and vice". In the 1st century, 'Baiae and Vice' formed one of the moral epistles written by Seneca the Younger; he described it as a 'vortex of luxury' and a 'harbor of vice', where girls went to play at being girls, old women as girls and some men as girls according to a first century BC wag. The Amphitheater at Baiae was owned and built by Gracchus, and the most magnificent villa in the town, standing on the coast of the 'Sinus Neapolitanum' (Bay of Naples), was the Villa Auream, built and owned by Gracchus.

'Yes...very interesting.....', Teddy replied, sounding like he's wish he'd never asked.

'So go on.....'