Praefectus Praetorio
R.I.P. Brother of the Quill
Circum quintam horam (about the fifth hour - eleven AM), as the midday summer heat was rapidly building, Sextus Diocletianus led his dusty, hot, and thirsty patrol into the central forum of Narbo. There, he allowed them a break to drink from the cool mountain water of the aqueduct-fed fountain and refill their canteens. The Tesserarius' concern for his men's well-being offset his stern style of command. After a ten-minute rest, he led on to the harena (arena).
Narbo’s harena was built in 50 AD by Emperor Claudius as a thank you gift to the city for its early support of his elevation to Emperor. Being in a provincial capital in the early years of the Empire, it was a modest public venue. Nothing like the massive stadia for chariot races such as the Circus Maximus in Rome, nor the lavish amphitheaters like the Flavian (often incorrectly called the ‘Colosseum’), also in Rome, Narbo’s harena was an intimate, circular, brick and concrete structure seating about 500 in three rows rising above the central area. Opposite from the entrance gate was the "Imperial Box," whose comfortable, but humble accommodations had never been graced by an Emperor.
Contrary to many modern perceptions, in the 4th Century, this structure in Narbo was not customarily used for bloody displays. Traveling acts such as clowns, jugglers, and acrobats would appear for a nominal admission (subsidized by a wealthy patron or government official) to provide much-appreciated family entertainment. Traveling bestiarum circi (animal circuses) and ludi gladiatorii (gladiatorial games) sometimes did appear. However, by this time, the costs of slaughtering exotic animals or of training slaves only to be killed in the games were economically ruinous. Sometimes there were wounds and a little blood drawn, but the fighters almost always survived with the victors given hearty cheers by the crowd and the losers appropriately derisively booed.
However, on occasion, a particularly heinous crime in this quiet, rural province called for a public punishment to satisfy the desire for vengeance and to slake the mobs' inevitable blood lust. There had been the occasional flogging and one or two beheadings in the last few years, but it had been five years since a crucifixion. Then it had been two highwaymen who had killed several merchants. When these men were caught, their crucifixion together in the harena drew a full house.
Marcus Lycus and Septimus Silva sat on the edge of their seats, watching the scourging of the Goth slave. Both found it highly erotic, though Marcus, as a professional slave trader, felt the waste of a lovely and valuable body being cut and scarred. He hoped that the Praeses would accept his offer to buy her back. Even maimed, he knew he could sell her for a good price. Only after he had spent some time training and enjoyed the slut, of course.
Silva had no such reservations. He felt his manhood rise to hardness watching her delectable body writhe in torment. He loved watching a young girl suffer. He glanced to his side and then nudged Marcus to look at Tertius, sitting between them. The 'old slave' had his head down in his hands and was softly muttering in the old Narboean dialect, “Ay up lass! Ay up lass! Why fur happen this to thissen?”
Narbo’s harena was built in 50 AD by Emperor Claudius as a thank you gift to the city for its early support of his elevation to Emperor. Being in a provincial capital in the early years of the Empire, it was a modest public venue. Nothing like the massive stadia for chariot races such as the Circus Maximus in Rome, nor the lavish amphitheaters like the Flavian (often incorrectly called the ‘Colosseum’), also in Rome, Narbo’s harena was an intimate, circular, brick and concrete structure seating about 500 in three rows rising above the central area. Opposite from the entrance gate was the "Imperial Box," whose comfortable, but humble accommodations had never been graced by an Emperor.
Contrary to many modern perceptions, in the 4th Century, this structure in Narbo was not customarily used for bloody displays. Traveling acts such as clowns, jugglers, and acrobats would appear for a nominal admission (subsidized by a wealthy patron or government official) to provide much-appreciated family entertainment. Traveling bestiarum circi (animal circuses) and ludi gladiatorii (gladiatorial games) sometimes did appear. However, by this time, the costs of slaughtering exotic animals or of training slaves only to be killed in the games were economically ruinous. Sometimes there were wounds and a little blood drawn, but the fighters almost always survived with the victors given hearty cheers by the crowd and the losers appropriately derisively booed.
However, on occasion, a particularly heinous crime in this quiet, rural province called for a public punishment to satisfy the desire for vengeance and to slake the mobs' inevitable blood lust. There had been the occasional flogging and one or two beheadings in the last few years, but it had been five years since a crucifixion. Then it had been two highwaymen who had killed several merchants. When these men were caught, their crucifixion together in the harena drew a full house.
Marcus Lycus and Septimus Silva sat on the edge of their seats, watching the scourging of the Goth slave. Both found it highly erotic, though Marcus, as a professional slave trader, felt the waste of a lovely and valuable body being cut and scarred. He hoped that the Praeses would accept his offer to buy her back. Even maimed, he knew he could sell her for a good price. Only after he had spent some time training and enjoyed the slut, of course.
Silva had no such reservations. He felt his manhood rise to hardness watching her delectable body writhe in torment. He loved watching a young girl suffer. He glanced to his side and then nudged Marcus to look at Tertius, sitting between them. The 'old slave' had his head down in his hands and was softly muttering in the old Narboean dialect, “Ay up lass! Ay up lass! Why fur happen this to thissen?”
