He glanced now at Troas. “How many times have you overseen this, Troas?”
“More times than I care to recount, my lord,” the dark- skinned Egyptian said, his mouth tipping sardonically. He read the younger man’s surprise and hardened. “What you learn here today will save others tomorrow.”
The girl moaned and moved on the table. Troas snapped his fingers and Alexander’s two slaves stepped forward. “Take her by the wrists and ankles,” he ordered, “and hold her still.”
She uttered a rasping cry as her broken arm was drawn up. “Yeshua,” she whispered, and her eyes flickered open.
Alexander stared down into dark brown eyes so filled with pain and confusion that he suddenly couldn’t move.
“My lord,” Troas said more firmly, “you must work quickly.”
The girl muttered something in a strange tongue, and her body relaxed. The knife dropped from Alexander’s hand and clattered onto the stone floor. Troas took a step around the slab table and retrieved it, holding it out to him again.
“She has fainted,” he said, glancing from Alexander to the girl.
“Get me a bowl of water.”
Troas frowned. “What do you mean to do? Revive her?”
Alexander glanced up at the mocking tone. “You dare question me?” he demanded imperiously.
Troas looked at the young, aristocratic face. The line had been redrawn, and he dared not cross it, regardless of his own experience or skill. Swallowing his anger and pride, he stepped back. “My apologies, my lord. I only meant to remind you that she is condemned to die.”
“It would seem the gods have spared her life.”
“For you, my lord. The gods have spared her that you might learn what you must know to become a physician.”
“I will not be the one to kill her!”
“By command of the proconsul, she is already dead! It’s not your doing. It was not by word of your mouth that she was sent to the lions.”
Alexander took the knife from him and tossed it back among the other surgical tools in his leather case. “I’ll not risk the wrath of whatever god spared her life by taking it from her now.” He gestured angrily. “As you can clearly see, her wounds have damaged no vital organs.”
“You would rather have her die slowly of infection?”
Alexander stiffened. “I would not have her die at all!” His mind was in a fever. He kept seeing the young woman as she walked across the sand, singing, her arms outspread, as though to embrace the very people who screamed for her death. “We must get her out of here,” he spoke with a fierce determination.
“Are you mad?” Troas hissed.
Alexander didn’t seem to hear him. “I don’t have what I need to treat her wounds or set her arm,” he muttered. He snapped his fingers, issuing hushed orders to his servants.
Troas watched in disbelief, then, forgetting himself, he grasped Alexander’s arm. “You cannot do this!” His voice was low, restrained, and he nodded surreptitiously toward the guard who was, at this moment, watching them curiously. “You risk death for us all if you attempt to rescue a condemned prisoner!”
“Then we’d all better pray to her god that he will protect us and help us get her out without detection. Now stop arguing with me and remove her from here immediately. Take her to my home. I’ll handle the guard and follow as soon as I’m able. Move!”
Troas saw there was no arguing with him and gestured quickly to the others. As the Egyptian whispered further commands in a low voice, Alexander tucked his surgical blade back into its slot and rolled the leather carrier, tying it casually, aware that the guard was watching them intently now. Alexander picked up his case and tucked it beneath his arm. Taking up the towel, he wiped the blood from his hands as he calmly walked toward the guard.
“You can’t take her out of here,” the soldier said, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“She’s dead,” Alexander lied casually. “They’re disposing of the body. I’m sure you don’t mind not having to touch her.” He smiled sardonically at the guard, then leaned against the iron-grated gate and looked out at the hot sand. “She wasn’t worth six sesterces. She was too far gone to be of any use to me.” He looked at the guard pointedly.
The man grinned. “That’s the chance you take.”
Alexander pretended interest in a pair of gladiators who were locked in battle. “How long will this match last?”
The guard assessed the opponents. “Thirty minutes, maybe more. But there will be no survivor this time.”
Alexander frowned as though disappointed. He paused, then tossed the bloodstained towel aside. “In that case, I’m going to buy myself some wine.”
As he walked along the torchlit corridor, he forced himself to walk slowly—but his heart beat more quickly with each step. As he came out into the sunlight, a gentle breeze brushed his face.
“Hurry! Hurry!” He heard the words clearly, as though someone whispered urgently in his ear. But no one was there.
His heart pounding, Alexander turned toward his home and began to run, urged on by a still, small voice in the wind.
Glossary of Terms
amorata (pl. amoratae): a male or female devotee, or fan, of a gladiator
andabata (pl. andabatae): a gladiator who fought on horseback; Andabatae wore a helmet with the visor closed, which meant they fought blindfolded.
Aphrodite: Greek goddess of love and beauty, identified with the Roman goddess Venus
Apollo: Greek and Roman god of sunlight, prophecy, music, and poetry. The most handsome of the gods
Artemis: Greek moon goddess. Her main temple was in Ephesus, where a meteor fell (the meteor was then kept in the temple), supposedly designating Ephesus as the goddess’ dwelling place. Although Romans equated Artemis with Diana, Ephesians believed she was the sister of Apollo and daughter of Leto and Zeus and viewed her as a mother- goddess of the earth who blesses man, beast, and the land with fertility.
Asclepius: Greco-Roman god of healing. In mythology, Asclepius was the son of Apollo and a nymph (Coronis) and was taught healing by a centaur (Chiron).
Athena: Greek goddess of wisdom, skills, and warfare
atrium: the central courtyard of a Roman dwelling. Most Roman houses consisted of a series of rooms surrounding an inner courtyard.
“Ave Imperator morituri te salutant”: “Hail, Emperor. Those who are about to die salute you.” A perfunctory phrase spoken by gladiators before the Roman games began.
baltei: the circular walls of the Roman arena. There were three walls, formed in four superimposed sections.
Batavi: a clan from Gaul that fought with the Chatti and Bructeri against Rome
beastiarii: “hunters” in the Roman games. Wild animals would be let into the arena, and the beastiarii would hunt them down as part of the games.
bibliotheca: library room of a Roman dwelling
brassard: an armor piece that covers the upper arm
Bructeri: a Germanic tribe that fought with the Chatti against the Romans. The Bructeri apparently warred with the Chatti before being united with them against Rome.
caduceus: the herald’s staff carried by Hermes. It had two serpents twined around it and wings at the top.
caldarium: the room in the baths that was nearest to the boilers and thus was the hottest (probably similar to a Jacuzzi or steam room of today)
catamite: a boy used by a man for homosexual purposes
cavea: tiers of seats in the Roman arena
cena: Roman name for dinner or a main meal
Ceres: Roman goddess of agriculture
Charon: In the Roman arena, Charon was one of the libitinarii (“guides of the dead”) and was portrayed by a person wearing a beaked mask and wielding a mallet. This portrayal was a combination of Greek and Etruscan beliefs. To the Greeks, Charon was a figure of death and the boatman who ferried the dead across the Rivers Styx and Acheron in Hades (but only for a fee and if they had had a proper burial). To the Etruscans, Charun (Charo
n) was the one who struck the deathblow.
Chatti: one of the Germanic tribes
cisium: a fast, light wagon that had two wheels and was usually pulled by two horses
civitas: (pl. civitates): a small city or village
coemptio: bride purchase—a form of Roman marriage that could be easily dissolved (i.e., the couple could be easily divorced)
confarreatio: a form of Roman marriage that was binding
consul: a chief magistrate in the Roman republic. There were two positions, which were elected annually. An honorific title under the emperor.
corbita: a slow-sailing merchant vessel
cuisse: an armor piece that covered the thigh
curule chair: the official chair of the highest civil officers of Rome, who were the only persons privileged to sit in them. The chair was similar to an upholstered “camp stool” of today and had heavy, curved legs.
Cybele: Phrygian goddess of nature worshiped in Rome. In mythology, Cybele was the consort of Attis (the god of fertility).
Diana: Roman goddess of childbirth and of the forest, usually portrayed as a huntress
dimachaerus: (pl. dimachaeri): “two-knife man”—a gladiator who fought with a short sword in each hand
Dionysus: Greek god of wine and revelry, more commonly known by the Roman name of Bacchus
Eros: Greek god of physical love; equated with the Roman god Cupid
essedarius: (pl. essedarii): “chariot man”—a gladiator who fought from a chariot that was pulled by two horses and usually decorated
fanum: (pl. fana): a temple that was larger than a shrine but smaller than the regular temples
far: meal, grain
framea: a spear with a long, sharp head, used by the Germanic tribes. It could be thrown like a javelin or its shaft wielded like a quarterstaff.
frigidarium: the room in the baths where the water was cold
gladiators: male prisoners who were forcibly trained to “compete” in the Roman gladiatorial “games.” Their prison/school was called a ludus; their trainer, a lanista. There were several types of gladiators, each of which was identified by the weapons he was given to use and the role he was assigned to play in the games. Except in unusual situations, gladiators fought until one of them died.
gladius: the standard Roman sword, about two feet long.
gorget: an armor piece that covered the neck
gustus: hors d’oeuvres served at beginning of a feast
Hades: Greek god of the underworld
Hera: Greek queen of the gods. In mythology, Hera was the sister and wife of Zeus and was identified with the Roman Juno.
Hermes: In Greek mythology, Hermes guided departed souls to Hades. He was also the herald and messenger of the gods and was known for his cunning. In the Roman arena, Hermes was one of the libitinarii and was portrayed by a person carrying a red-hot caduceus, with which he prodded people to make sure they were dead.
Hestia: Greek goddess of the hearth; identified with the Roman goddess Vesta
insulae: huge, Roman high-rise tenements, each of which filled a city block
Juno: Roman goddess, comparable to the Greek goddess Hera. Juno was the goddess of light, birth, women, and marriage. As wife of Jupiter, Juno was the queen of heaven.
Jupiter: The Roman supreme god and husband of Juno, Jupiter was also the god of light, sky, weather, and the state (its welfare and laws). Jupiter was comparable to the Greek god Zeus.
kaffiyeh: a headdress worn by Arabs
lanista: a trainer for gladiators. The head lanista at a ludus was held in both esteem and disgrace.
laquearius: (pl. laquearii): “lasso man”—a gladiator armed with a lasso
lararium: part of a Roman dwelling. The lararium was a special room reserved for idols.
libellus: the program listing the coming events of the Roman games
Liber: Liber and Libera were Roman gods of fertility and cultivation. They were both associated with Ceres (Roman goddess of agriculture), and Liber was also identified with the Greek god Dionysus and was thus considered a god of wine growing. At the festival of Liberalia, boys who had come of age were first allowed to begin wearing the toga virilis, the clothing of a man.
libitinarii: the two “guides” of the dead (Charon and Hermes from Greek mythology) at the Roman games. They were in charge of clearing the dead bodies from the arena. At the games, Charon was portrayed by a person wearing a beaked mask and wielding a mallet, and Hermes by a person carrying a red-hot caduceus.
locarius: an usher at the Roman games
Ludi: (plural): refers to the Roman games: “Ludi Megalenses”
ludus: (pl. ludi): prison/school where gladiators were trained
lusorii: gladiators who fought with wooden weapons to warm up the crowd before the deadly games began
maenianum: the sections of seats behind and above the podium in the Roman arena. The knights and tribunes sat in the first and second maenianum to watch the games, and the patricians sat in the third and fourth.
manica: a sleeve/glove that had leather and metal scales
Mars: Roman god of war
megabuzoi: eunich priests in the temple of Artemis
melissai: virgin priestesses consecrated to service of the goddess Artemis
mensor: (pl. mensores): a shipyard worker who weighed cargo, then recorded the weight in a ledger
Mercury: in Roman mythology, the message carrier for the gods; identified with the Greek god Hermes.
metae: cone-shaped turning posts in the Roman arena that also served to protect the spina during races. They were twenty feet high and had pictures of Roman battles carved on them.
mirmillo: (pl. mirmillones): from mirmillo, a type of fish. A gladiator who was armed in Gallic fashion with a helmet having fish-shaped crests, a sword, and a shield. A mirmillo was usually paired against a Thracian.
Neptune: Roman god of the sea (or water), often accompanied by seven sacred dolphins. The Greek, Poseidon.
ocrea: an armor piece that covered the leg
paegniari: mock fighters at the Roman games. Like the lusorii, who came after them in the games, they were used at the beginning of the games to warm up the crowd.
palus: a cloaklike garment worn by Roman women over a stola
patrician: a person of (Roman) aristocracy
peculium: an allotment of money given to slaves by their owner. Slaves could treat peculium as their own personal property, but under certain circumstances their owner could take it back.
peristyle: a section of a Roman dwelling (often a secondary section) that enclosed a courtyard and was surrounded by columns on the inside. Often located in the peristyle were the bedrooms of the family, the domestic shrine (lararium), the hearth and kitchen, the dining room (triclinium), and the library (bibliotheca). In wealthier homes, the courtyard in the peristyle became a garden.
plebians: the common people of Rome
podium: the section of seats closest to the arena where the Roman emperor would sit to watch the games
pollice verso: at the Roman games this was the signal of approval to kill. It was usually a “thumbs-down” sign.
praetor: a Roman magistrate who ranked below consul and whose role was chiefly judicial in nature
Praetorian Guards: Roman imperial bodyguards
proconsul: a governor or military commander of a Roman province, who answered to the Senate
pullati: the highest (and least desirable) section of seats in the Roman arena
quadrans: (pl. quadrantes): a bronze Roman coin
raeda: a heavy, large wagon with four wheels, usually pulled by four horses.
retiarius: “net man”—a gladiator who would try to trap or entangle his opponent with a net and then dispatch him with a trident. A retiarius wore only a short tunic or apron and was usually paired against a secutor.
sacrarii: shipyard workers who carried cargo from wagons and dropped it on a scale
sagittarius: (pl. sagittarii): a glad
iator whose weapons were a bow and arrows
sagum: a short protective cloak worn by the German tribesmen during battle. It was secured at the shoulder with a brooch.
Samnite: a gladiator who used the national weapons—a short sword (gladius), a large oblong shield, and a plumed helmet with a visor
sburarii: shipyard workers who unloaded cargo from ships and put it into wagons
scimitar: a saber (sword) made of a curved blade with the cutting edge on the convex side
scutum: an iron shield covered with leather, used by German tribesmen
secutor: a gladiator who was fully armed and considered the “pursuer” —that is, he was supposed to chase an opponent down and kill him. A secutor was usually paired against a retiarius.
sesterce: a Roman coin, worth one-fourth of a denarius
spina: a long, narrow platform area in the middle of the Roman arena that was both a monument area for Roman gods and the location of an elaborate and ornate fountain. It dimensions of approximately 233 x 20 were dwarfed by the much larger chariot track that surrounded it. The spina was protected from the chariots by cone-shaped turning posts called metae.
stola: a long, skirtlike garment worn by Roman women
stuppator: a shipyard worker who balanced on scaffolding to caulk ships when they docked
tepidarium: the room in the baths where the water was warm and soothing
Thracian: a gladiator who fought with a curved dagger (or scimitar) and used a small round shield (often worn on the arm). A Thracian was usually paired against a mirmillo.
Tiwaz: the war god of the Germanic tribes (Chatti, Bructeri, Batavi), symbolized by the head of a goat
toga virilis: the toga was the characteristic outer garment worn by Romans (although its use was slowly abandoned). It was a loose, oval-shaped piece of cloth draped about the shoulders and arms. The color and pattern of a toga were rigidly prescribed—politicians, persons in mourning, men, and boys each had a different toga. Boys wore a purple-rimmed toga, but when they came of age, they were allowed to wear the toga virilis, or man’s toga, which was plain (see also Liber).