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NERO
By Pueros Chapter XLII Oracles (Domus of Petronius, Rome, Iulius, DCCCIV A.V.C., in the 10th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [AD 51]) Different things warm different hearts. - Archilochus It was halfway through the many courses of food served up at Petronius intimate cena that activities amongst the host and guests became livelier than chat and observation of the main entertainers. The latter comprised a skilled troupe of sparsely clad slave boy acrobats and dancers, whose almost naked, beautiful, oiled bodies glistened in the lamplight. The juvenile performers, all aged about 13, had, as intended, caused the change amongst those previously watching them, whose latent lusts for their own current lovers, sharing their couches with them, were aroused by the skilful, erotic actions of the delectable youngsters. Petronius had made available guest bedrooms for anyone who wanted to indulge their passions in privacy but no-one made use of the amenities. Instead, 19 year-old Apollinus and 18 year-old Rubellius Plautus kissed and petted each other heavily, whilst hands disappeared under summer tunics towards their lovers groin region. 17 year-old Helius and 23 year-old Doryphoros, as well as 16 year-old Silius Italicus and the similarly aged Marcus Cocceius Nerva, practised the same. Meanwhile, it was the head of Petronius new eunuch slave that brazenly ventured under his masters attire. The very pretty younger boy acrobats and dancers nevertheless continued their act, regardless of the fact that no-one on the surrounding couches was now paying any attention to them. The youngsters, being professionals, were almost immune to such discourtesies, which were common at this kind of private dinner. However, at the sight of the activities of their audience, several cocks, smaller compared to those becoming exited on the cushioned divans, still grew in size within their sole attire. The latter comprised skimpy thongs that barely hid the hairless genital jewels underneath, whilst providing an accurate outline of their shape and present state of excitement. In fact, the minuscule thong of one of the young dancers, who became particularly excited amidst his erotic gyrations because he possessed an unusually ardent libido for someone of his tender age, began to balloon outwards, as his cock grew to rigidity. This pleasant development, which exposed much of the 13 year-olds lovely hairless scrotum to view, had been aided by the practice of the owner and operator of the troupe to feed strong aphrodisiacs to his young slaves. The man aimed to encourage the boys to provide his clients with good displays of their virility, either on stage or elsewhere. The particular tastes of his patrons invariably expected such exhibitions, especially as it would be common for at least some of the performers to end up on the couches or in the beds of the host and guests. Additionally or alternatively, some of the boys might be required to perform lewd acts on each other. Such duties were covered by the standard fee that their master would receive for their entertainment services, although the youngsters would hope to receive a personal monetary tip if they served their particular sexual clients well. However, it was already apparent to the experienced troupe that such extra tasks were unlikely to be required on this occasion, as the customers seemed too engrossed with each other. The boys were not to be disabused in respect of their perception. However, they still received generous tips from Petronius, in return for continuing professionally with their act whilst around them on the couches, after the eventual discarding of all clothing, a lengthy, shameless orgy involving four pairs of homosexual lovers proceeded. Petronius was subsequently to become renowned for hosting many such pleasant events. However, this was not to become a concern of the beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed 13 year-old Gaul, whose tiny thong was bulging whilst he continued his erotic dancing and who did not know at the time that, within 3 months, he would no longer be capable of sporting such an attractive display of rampant, virile, young male genitalia. (Cirrha, Phocis, Greece, 1 week later) ....opposite the Peloponnesus, and in the direction of Boeotia, Phocis stretches to the sea, and touches it on one side at Cirrha, the port of Delphi, and on the other at the city of Anticyra. - Pausanias Another voyage thankfully free of trouble from bad weather and pirates brought Gaius, Hylas, Achilleus and Tyanus from Corinth to the northern coast of the eponymous gulf and the port of Cirrha. Transport in a hired carpentum then allowed the young quartet to travel relatively swiftly and comfortably six Roman miles northeast to Delphi. Both Cirrha and the road to Delphi were very busy because of the imminence of the quadrennial Pythian Games. However, such activity was nothing compared to the throngs of people from all over the civilised world who had gathered at Apollos sacred sanctuary, or témenos, where all local accommodation had long since been booked. Nevertheless and fortunately for the arriving foursome, finding somewhere to stay during the impending festival was not to be a problem for them. Gaius and his boys approached their destination via a gorge possessing large tracts of verdant countryside called the sea of olives, after the abundance of the eponymous trees. As the quartet then came close to the sacred sanctuary, they were awed by the sight of the rust-coloured twin limestone peaks of the Phaidriades suddenly appearing, as if from nowhere, to rise steeply and magisterially above Apollos city.
Located on Mount Parnassòs, which is dear to Apollo and his Muses, Delphi has a special meaning, even in an era dominated by Rome rather than the Greeks. According to legend, when Zeus released two eagles from opposite ends of the earth, their paths crossed in the sky above the sacred sanctuary. This then established the site as the centre, or navel, of the known world, the place where heaven and earth meet, and where man is closest to the gods. Delphi, which is governed by a council of Greek cities called the Amphictyony, is the main shrine for the worship of Apollo, son of Zeus and Latona, who embodies moral discipline and spiritual clarity. However, other deities were previously revered here, including the goddess Gaia, Great Mother Earth. The serpent, Python, son of Gaia, supposedly lived in a nearby cave, the Hàlos, guarding the rocky chasm from which his mother released vapours that induced trances with prophetic powers in humans. Communication with the goddess and her son was made in this manner through a priestess named Sibyl and titled the Pythia. However, the creature was eventually slain by Apollo, who arrived in the form of a dolphin, or delphoi, hence the renaming of, and change to the worship of this particular god, in the locale. Apollo also usurped the prophetic powers of the mysterious, primordial natural force that is released from the chasm. Nevertheless, the god still delegates to the Pythia, who always is over 50 years old and lives apart from any husband, the task of divulging his wisdom to humankind. However, these oracles, sought from states or individuals to resolve quandries, are sometimes so ambiguous that they have to be interpreted by a special priestly committee. A splendid temple to Apollo was eventually built over the chasm so that the Pythia now disappears into a sacred chamber, or àdyton, in the bowels of the structure to receive the oracles. Such ritual, which is never practised in winter when the sanctuary largely turns to the worship of Dionysus, can sometimes be dangerous. Some of the priestesses have been known to be so overcome by the vapours that they either became permanently deranged or perished. Gaius, ever the religious sceptic, later told me that he believed that the perilous vapours are issued from the ground not as part of some mystic process linked to Apollo but instead as a natural phenomenon, probably somehow connected to similar activities on mountains such as Aetna. My later friend, Pliny the Elder, was to support my beloveds theory, although the pair had to be careful to whom they expounded their ideas because veneration remains strong for the Delphic oracle throughout the Greek and Roman world. Delphi is still considered the sacred navel of the world. However, the sanctuarys status as a great political epicentre, where Apollo authorised or vetoed all actions of each Hellenic city-state, or pòleis, as well as of a number of non-Greeks who consulted the Pythia, has, of course, been significantly diluted by the Roman conquest of Hellas. Although Greek poleis are still allowed substantial autonomy by the Romans, ultimate powers of authority and veto now reside with the Emperors in the eternal city and not with Apollo at Delphi. Nevertheless, the place remains exceptionally wealthy. Its riches are boosted not only by the local spending of the many people from all over the known world, who visit the sacred sanctuary to consult the oracle and attend the quadrennial Games, but also by the copious gifts presented to its principal deity over the centuries. Amongst these gifts are the thesauroǐ, or treasure houses, which are small temple-like structures built throughout the Greek world by individual poleis to accommodate their precious votive offerings glorifying Apollo. Up to one tenth of war booty or other significant gains in wealth, attributable to the oracles or alternative actions of the divine son of Zeus and Latona, are often donated. In fact, Delphi is full of ornate structures that, like the thesauroǐ, are, to a religious sceptic, such as Gaius, more beautiful than useful. Successive governments of the poleis, including the occasional sovereign or tyrant, commissioned a variety of edifices in the sanctuary to thank and honour Apollo, and also to glorify themselves or their cities. However, the practicality of the magnificent constructions erected for the Pythian Games cannot be doubted. The Pythian Games were established to commemorate the legendary take-over of Delphi by Apollo. The athletic events and preliminary training for them take place in the usual purpose-built stadium, gymnasium and palaestra. Meanwhile, the championships for the performing arts of music, singing, dancing and acting, for which the divine son of Zeus and Latona is the patron deity, are held in the semi-circular theatre. Athenodoros and Melankomas had themselves arrived in Delphi several weeks prior to Gaius and his boys in order to undertake the usual month-long and sadly celibate period of intensive training they indulged before each periodos. The 18 year-old, with his pine wreath, and his 22 year-old lover and trainer had previously, in the spring, returned victoriously from Isthmia to the formers ecstatic home city of Aigion, which is opposite Cirrha on the southern coast of the Sinus Corinthus. They stayed there awhile, amidst much municipal rejoicing, before crossing the waves towards Apollos sacred sanctuary for the Pythian Games. Naturally, sea transport had been proudly provided by Aigions municipal trireme, named after the citys most renowned citizen, 18 year-old Athenodoros. However, the accommodation facilities provided in Delphi were much humbler. The now universally very famous and popular athlete, whom most not only expected but wanted to become the youngest-ever periodonikes by winning the Pythian stade race, and his equally esteemed trainer followed custom by staying in the usual sparse barracks for competitors. However, as promised, they also pre-booked comfortable local tavern accommodation for Gaius and his boys, as well as for other supporting family and friends who were expected to arrive just before the Games began. No inn-keeper was reluctant to accept a personal booking from the famous Athenodoros and Melankomas. Unknown to the renowned athletes, in order to comply with the pairs requests, some hostelry owners were even to disappoint people who had taken the precaution of arranging accommodation far in advance. Consequently, when Gaius, Hylas, Achilleus and Tyanus eventually arrived in Delphi to meet up with Athenodoros and Melankomas, they found pleasant tavern accommodation waiting for them, along with the two renowned athletes. The latter were initially astonished to find my beloved being accompanied by a third young, pretty boy. Well, I suppose we shouldnt be surprised, Melankomas had smilingly commented at the time of the introduction to Tyanus, the latest member of Gaius young entourage, as a pyramid was obviously too big for you to bring back as a souvenir from Aegyptia. However, youll have some explaining to do to your Bicilus, about whom you keep telling us, as to why you left Rome with one pretty boy but are returning with three. But thats only the latest count, Athenodorus had interrupted, whilst displaying a similar mischievous grin, for our friend from Volsinii still has to visit Athens! Gaius did indeed plan to journey to Athens next before finally returning to Rome and me. The city is considered one of those places that simply must be included on a young Romans tour of some of the sights in the eastern Empire, which represented the height of my beloveds current travelling ambitions. Places in the west, such as Gaul and Hispania, would have to wait to receive his presence. Gaius believed that the trip to Athens would complete his duty to his parents, which he had not minded fulfilling, apart from the fact that he missed me desperately, a feeling that was mutual. My beloved would also now be introducing another two very pleasant boys into my life and into Rome. As is now common for many people arriving in Rome for the first time, the advent of the eternal city into the lives of the former young pirate and street prostitute would either make or break them. (Ostia, Italia, same time) Do not turn back when you are just at the goal. - Publius Syrus Instead of arriving at a port, the parents of Apollinus and Helius were leaving one. They were about to embark on the ship that would return them to their ancestral homeland, which they had never actually seen because they were, by their own calculations, fourth or fifth generation Rhodian slaves in Italia. However, it had always been a family goal, throughout these generations, to return home to the lush isle, although current tearful farewells to family and friends meant that they had to summon up all of their courage to climb on board their boat. Apollinus and Helius were naturally on the quayside to watch the departure of their father and mother, as was Servius, the adopted son. The three discreet lovers of these young males were also present, in the respective pleasant forms of Rubellius Plautus, Doryphoros and Cornutus, as were the parental employer, Axenius, and acquaintances, Petronius and myself. There was also another very special guest, for Rubellius Plautus, great grandson of the Emperor Tiberius, was not the only member of the Imperial family present. Britannicus, temporarily forgetting his own worries, was there too, with his best friend, Titus. The boys had been immensely thankful for the simple but excellent hospitality exhibited by the departing couple during the previous summer, which they had spent in Palaemons small but nevertheless luxurious villa on the late renowned teachers Umbrian estate. The parents of Apollinus and Helius were naturally delighted to be honoured by farewells from the natural son of the fourth Emperor of Rome and from the great grandson of the second, as well as from their other friends and acquaintances. However, equally naturally, the whole occasion was overwhelmed by the emotions engendered by their parting from their sons, including Servius. In fact, the father and mother could barely bring themselves to release their final embraces from the very handsome trio in order to climb up their ships gangplank to seek their long-desired goal. Nevertheless, the deed was eventually done, amidst many tears, and soon afterwards the ship, which the parents of Apollinus and Helius had boarded, was a mere speck on the horizon of the calm, blue Mare Internum. In fact, their equally lachrymose sons did not depart from the harbourside until the vessel was completely out of sight. No-one, of course, appreciated at the time that, after a gap of three years and in totally different, very dangerous circumstances, a similar voyage to Rhodus would be undertaken by two of those present on this day to say farewell to the parents of Apollinus and Helius. (Delphi, Phocis, Greece, next day) If a man persists on the path of excellence, he will be able to hear this spiritual speech which fills the air but can be heard only by those whose souls are pure. - Plutarch Gaius and his boys were walking through Delphis southeast gateway from the Roman agora, a rectangular forum-like plaza outside the sanctuarys walls, from where solemn ceremonial processions commence before progressing up the sloping and winding Sacred Way, which eventually leads tortuously to the temple of Apollo Pythios. The avenue is flanked by many splendid monuments, featuring works by the most prestigious artists of their time and erected over the centuries by grateful states to celebrate and gloat over historic events. One of these monuments is the bronze edifice known as the Bull of Kerkyra, which is immediately to the right after you pass through the gate and was erected by the citizens of the eponymous island in thanks for a miraculously large catch of tuna. Next to this is the offering container of the Arcadians, which celebrates the liberation of the Peloponnesians from Spartan suzerainty over 400 years previously. Then, on the left, is the grandiose memorial to Spartan admirals, which celebrates that city-states naval victory over Athens at Aigospotamoǐ during the Peloponnesian War 450 years before. This monument is followed by one dedicated to prior Athenian triumphs over the Persians at Marathon and the Eurimedòn. Gaius and his boys subsequently passed Argos monuments, which stand opposite each other on two symmetrical semi-circular exedrae, which are single-room buildings open at the front. They also celebrate humiliating defeats inflicted on the hated Spartans. The one on the right is dedicated to the states kings and on the left to its heroes. Gaius and his boys next came across, on the left, the thesauroǐ of Sicyon and then Siphnos, which is a rich Cycladic island. The Sacred Way then turns upwards, along a ramp to the right, where the treasure house of Athens, built shortly after the battle of Marathon and decorated with friezes depicting Theseus victory over the Amazons and Heracles heroic exploits, is encountered amidst hundreds of other monumental artworks. From this perspective in particular, a beautiful panorama can be admired across the sea of olives and its tens of thousands of eponymous trees. Amongst the sights still to see ahead and upwards are the sacred rocks and springs, where Sibyl, the first Pythia, spoke her prophecies and Apollo killed the Python. Also present, on the summit of the third rocky outcrop up, is the pillar of the Naxioi, which is a 10-pace high Ionic column with a winged Sphinx on top of the capital. The inhabitants of Naxos erected the monument over 600 years before, at the same time they built a temple in honour of Apollo on the gods native island, Delos. Other similar structures are present in the sanctuary, some commissioned by individuals like Lucius Aemilius Paulus and Prusias II, King of Bithynia. Lucius Aemilius Paulus was the Roman Consul whose victory at Pidna over two centuries before had marked the end of the Macedonian Empire. His pillar is located at the southeastern corner of the high walled embankment on which the great temple of Apollo Pythios stands. The column possesses a marble frieze, illustrating the battle, which is clearly local in style. However, the general insisted that the associated epigraph was inscribed in Latin, and that his memorial was placed in one of the greatest of Hellenic sanctuaries, in order to emphasise the identity of the new masters of Hellas. Meanwhile, 15 years prior to these historic happenings in Greece, Prusias IIs column, situated on the northeastern edge of the sacred mound, was dedicated to the King by the Aetolians of Asia Minor to celebrate the defeat of the Galatians. To the right of this pair of pillars are golden tripods situated on twin bases. These monuments were commissioned over five centuries before by the Greek tyrants of Syracuse, Gelon and Hieron, to celebrate victories against the Cathaginians and Etruscans. Between these and Prusias column is the colossal statue of Apollo Sitàlkas, erected about 120 years later by the member cities of the Delphic Amphictyony. Aside the high embankment wall, on which the great temple of Apollo Pythios stands, are hundreds of well-executed epigraph inscriptions, mostly decrees granting freedom to slaves from Athens. This development occurred because the structure was used to form one side of the long, elegant Athenian stoa. This stoa is an Ionic portico, made of Parian marble and timber, and was constructed both as a memorial and for the exhibition of sacred objects consecrated to Apollo, mainly as a propaganda display of Athenian might. For example, Gaius and his boys could view inside the prows of captured enemy ships, as well as the gòmene, or flax cables, used by the Persian King, Xerxes, to lash boats together to bridge the Hellespont and begin his ultimately disastrous invasion of Greece The Sacred Way now continues through the eastern terrace wall of the temple of Apollo Pythios, in the midst of many other monuments and thesauroǐ. However, Gaius and his boys did not immediately venture inside. Gaius now paused instead to inspect one of the many koùroi displayed around the environs of Delphi. The term is old Greek for boys and has become associated with Hellenic statues of young male gods and heroes, with the female variety logically called kòrai, or girls. Over the almost seven centuries since such statuary first appeared, they gradually distanced themselves from their Aegyptian and Mesopotamian stylistic origins to assume correct bodily proportions and an intimate, latent vitality. The principal centres of municipalities, usually their acropolis, which literally means high city and is the religious fulcrum, and agora, which is the forum that is the administrative and economic hub, were especially adorned with such sculptures. Apart from the obvious gender disparity, the main difference between the two types of statues is that convention requires the young male koùroi to be portrayed totally naked whilst the female kòrai are dressed in elegant local costumes. However, both varieties are invariably still ideal representations of the young human form in terms of naturalism, harmony and beauty, each expressing the concept of youth as the symbol of perfection. Gaius, given his tastes, naturally did not view the statuary just for aesthetic reasons. He later kindly told me that, in fact, he was trying to find a young male bronze or stone form that could rival my own real human architecture but, despite seeing many fine representations of boys, he failed in his task. Of course, I gave my beloved a lingering kiss of appreciation for this confession. Whilst Gaius contemplated, in the company of Hylas and Achilleus, the latest koùroi to deserve his scrutiny, Tyanus ran off to buy an apple from a nearby vendor, using a small denomination coin kindly given to him for the purpose by my beloved. The growing and now happy boy was, not unusually, in need of a refreshing snack Tyanus had just bought his juicy apple from the vendors stall and was running to return to Gaius, Hylas and Achilleus, who were still standing next to the koùroi in the crowded Sacred Way. However, the 11 year-old was to be temporarily thwarted in his efforts to rejoin his companions when he collided with an equally aged and similarly momentarily careless boy speeding the other way. Fortunately, no damage other than to pride was caused by the collision, and the two boys were soon apologising to each other in Greek, as well as helping each other to regain their feet and brush themselves down to clear the dust accidentally accumulated on their light summer tunics. Mutual giggles were then indulged, when they began to see the funny side of the incident. Whats your name? Tyanus eventually asked of his fellow Greek 11 year-old. The other immensely pretty boy, who was also making his first visit to Delphi, a place in which he was actually to reside for much of his adulthood, answered Lucius. Whats yours? My name is A.... the former Alexandrian street prostitute began to reply before remembering his new appellation and corrected his response to Tyanus. I presume then that youd prefer me to call you the latter and not Aulus, Lucius responded, to the utter confusion of his fellow 11 year-old. Aulus? Tyanus queried, with a clear look of mystification on his gorgeous face. I presumed you said A in the Roman custom, Lucius advised, as the abbreviation for your forename, or praenomen in Latin. Tyanus had previously received no education, other than how to live off his wits on the streets and how to perform certain homosexual sex acts, a situation Gaius had already embarked on correcting by introducing the boy to the Greek and Latin alphabets. The 13 year-old was therefore currently unaware of this Roman nomenclature practice. However, he was bright enough to realise the cause of the other boys error and decided to correct the mistake. No, Tyanus informed, Im not an Aulus but I used to be called something else beginning with A until my new.... The boy now hesitated because he had not so far given a title to Gaius role in his life. However, he quickly resolved the issue by continuing my new adoptive father renamed me after my place of birth, Tyana. The 11 year-old was satisfied that my lovely beloved was due such a description, as he had, after all, assumed legal pater potestas over him. Lucius was not perturbed to learn about his fellow young Greeks obviously recent, given the verbal error, adoption and renaming, as such practices were common when the longevity of natural parents could be short. He therefore did not dwell on the subject, in case he was interfering in matters that might cause upset, and instead apologised for his error and then changed subject. Well, Tyanus, Lucius asked, are you here to watch the Games and, if so, are you supporting anyone in particular? The former Alexandrian street prostitute then told his new acquaintance about Athenodoros. Ooh, Lucius gushed, so you know the famous Athenodoros. You couldnt introduce me to the great athlete, could you? If you did, Id be your friend for life! Lucius was from the Boeotian town of Chaeronea, in the Cephissus River valley, northwest of Thebes. There, the Macedonians under Philip II and his son Alexander had, almost 400 years before, defeated the Thebans, including the Sacred Band of homosexual lovers, and Athenians to end the independence of the Greek cities. The Roman general, Sulla, had, over a century earlier, also defeated in the vicinity the army of Mithradates VI of Pontus, led by Archelaus. The young Chaeronean was to prove as good as his word in respect of his future relationship to Tyanus after, later in the day, the latter brought his fellow 11 year-old to the attention of a certain great athlete. The boys were to become life-long friends, despite the fact that they were actually destined to meet rarely and therefore communicated primarily by letter. Athenodoros, Tyanus requested, can I introduce you to someone whos desperate to meet you? Oh, the 18 year-old replied, whilst glancing at the pretty boy in the 11 year-olds company, and who is the handsome young gentleman with this rash desire? Tyanus pushed his suddenly shy, similarly aged and pretty companion in front of the renowned and exceptionally beautiful Athenodoros and announced This is Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus! (Delphi, Phocis, Greece, next day) Aid friends! - Delphic maxim Apollos altar is, like that of all such shrines, externally located, on this occasion to the right of the gods temple. It is of white and bluish marble, on a grey base, and had been, over half a millennium prior to Gaius inspection of its merits, a sumptuous gift from the people of Chios. The temple itself has been rebuilt six times, the last occasion occurring over 400 years prior to Gaius visit, paid for by a powerful Athenian family, the Alcmaeonids. It is a classical peripteral Doric structure, with 15 columns along the longer sides and 6 on the shorter, all like the walls of plastered tufa, which is basically imitation marble, and on a bluish limestone base, about 60 paces by 23 in dimension, built above a beehive of artificial terraces. Adornments include copious works of historical and religious art. In the cella, which is the central shrine in all temples, of the place of worship of Apollo Pythios, the previously purified Pythia, and those who have come to hear the gods answer to their enquiries, present a goat to the deity. If the animal trembles, which it is likely to do as it is earlier soaked with water to encourage such a reaction, the day is considered auspicious to hear the oracle, which is often delivered in verse and, if requested, in writing. The poor quaking beast is then sacrificed before the priestess seeks divine responses to her guests questions. A staircase at the back of the cella in the temple of Apollo Pythios leads to the àdyton, or private chamber, of the Pythia, at the centre of which stands the òmphalos, the sacred navel of the world. This is preceded by a bronze tripod covering the chasm in the underlying rock that releases the inspiring vapours. After inhaling these, the priestess relates her oracle prophecies. Unfortunately, many prophecies are open to wide interpretation. For example, when the Athenians were faced by a Persian invasion, the Delphic oracle told them to Trust in the wooden walls. Some thought that this recommendation referred to the defences on top of the citys acropolis until these were captured by the invaders. Instead, the meaning of the Pythia appeared to become clear when the Athenians, having withdrawn their citys population to the nearby island of Salamis, subsequently defeated the aggressors huge but less competent fleet in a decisive naval battle in the separating sea strait. Not all of the answers sought from Apollo relate to such important issues. In fact, most of the business of the Pythia is connected to private individual issues, for which simple affirmative or negative replies might suffice. For example, one request for information was Lysanias asks .whether the child Annyla is pregnant with is his? Another was Cleotas asks whether it would be beneficial and advantageous for him to keep sheep? Yet another was Agis asks .about the blankets and pillows that he has lost. Could they have been taken by an outside burglar? The lane behind the temple features frescoed porticoes, exedrae decorated with sculptures and bronze votive shrines. Meanwhile, the open-air theatre, to which this pathway leads, lies against the rear terrace of Apollos place of worship. Its cavea, or semi-circular auditorium, is capable of accommodating an audience of 6000 and inclines gently into the natural wooded slope of the mountain on which the sanctuary stands, allowing a magnificent panorama of the surrounding rural scene to be gained from the seating. The orchèstra below, which is the round space between the stage and the seating to host the chorus and dancers, is 18 paces in diameter. The stadium, seating 7000 spectators and the backdrop for the athletic and chariot contests, is furthermost to the rear and is partially dug into the mountainside. Today, the venue was full to capacity because the adult stade final was about to be run, with the beautiful and now currently naked Athenodoros being the great favourite to emerge victorious. Athenodoros had previously limbered up in the local gymnasium. This amenity lies outside of Delphi, in a highly picturesque setting along the road to the smaller, but not dissimilar, nearby sanctuary of Athena Pronaǐa. To reach the gymnasium, amongst whose pleasant amenities is a circular bathing pool 9 paces in diameter, you have to pass two ancient fountains. These are fed by the waters of the sacred spring of Kastalǐa, in which the Pythia ritually washes her hair before each contact with Apollo. Whilst frequenting the gymnasium, and all other places in advance of the racing, Melankomas kept a careful watch on Athenodorus water jar and other equipment, as well as on the beautiful athlete himself. The 22 year-old Caria wanted to ensure that his young lovers evil 23 year-old Sidonian rival, Kallikles, was not responsible for trying to sabotage the beautiful 18 year-old Aigionians attempt to become the youngest-ever periodonikes. (Delphi, Phocis, Greece, next day) Of little use are these Marsian quacks, Village-astrologers and fortune-tellers In crowded circuses, or priests of Isis, Pretend interpreters of all your dreams. These lying conjurers have not the skill To read the future. Just a pack of hypocrites Prompted by hunger, they dont know themselves Let alone others. Yet theyll promise you Enormous fortunes, if youll share with them! - Ennius (the poet is referring to Romes many quack astrologers) The famous Athenodoros had once more been able to secure Gaius a favour in Delphi. Naturally, at the time of the quadrennial Games, the Pythia is very busy providing prophecies for the visiting hordes, giving priority either to those who had booked her services long in advance or the most distinguished arrivals. However, the renowned athletes influence had suddenly enabled the priestess to find a time to accommodate my beloved. The necessary fee was paid and sacrificial goat provided, although Gaius and his boys felt rather sorry that my beloveds desire to receive an answer to a question to a god had to cost the poor soaked animal its life. Nevertheless, after performing the necessary personal ritual cleansing and grooming, and dressing in the appropriate manner, the quartet found themselves with the Pythia in the cella of Apollos temple. The poor goat was seen to shiver and so the Pythia cut the animals throat before advancing down the stairs to her àdyton to inhale the local vapours. Gaius question, designed to challenge the soothsaying of the old woman on Romes Vatican, who had so beguiled him and whom Axenius still firmly believed had been Cybele, was Is the Mother Goddess assessment of the futures of me and my closest friends true? After a short wait, the Pythia did not re-emerge up the stairs with the written answer. This function was instead performed by one of her attendant priests, perhaps because the priestess was still recovering from the trance induced by the earthly gases below. The reply Gaius received from Apollo astounded my beloved, and only added to his mystification about what the old soothsayer had revealed in Rome. (Palatium Britannicum, Rome, same time) Turn your gaze on the temples and shrines of gods by which the commonwealth of Rome is protected and adorned. We owe a great debt to the gods who dwell there. - Caecillius With the Emperors kind permission, I was now spending more time at Caratacus new palatial residence in Rome than at Claudius larger palace on the Paletine Hill. Although I strangely began to miss some of the long, virtually overnight, lessons of history and mythology the Princeps had a habit of inflicting on me, the new temporary arrangements suited me well because I could adopt a more usual lifestyle, especially in terms of waking hours and diet. I actually spent little time with Caratacus, although he always politely tried to greet my morning arrival from the Imperial palace and say farewell at my dusk departure. The latter time with my King was usually longer than the former because he also invariably requested a brief report on the days activities, which centred round the rehabilitation of his five very delightful and pretty children into their new lives in Rome. I spent virtually all of the daylight hours with the quintet, primarily as translator for the childrens new tutor, who, at my recommendation, was a highly capable employee of Axenius. I do not believe that there was a teacher in Rome at the time who could speak the Catuvellaunian dialect, in remembrance and therefore aptitude of which I was now thankfully fully restored. Outside of class hours, I also introduced Caratacus three very pretty young sons, Cyllin, Lleyn and Cynon, and two similarly attractive young daughters, Eurgain and Gladys, to the sights and ways of Rome. Even royal Britannian children were previously brought up in simple one-room roundhouses in the countryside and so their current home and the various, copious structures in their new sprawling urban surrounds were wonders to their brown juvenile eyes. Romes many splendid public buildings, temples and other municipal structures, such as the aqueducts and canals, were particularly amazing to the children. However, they were additionally awed by the sight of the high tenements and other poor facilities present in the citys crowded and squalid plebeian quarters, criss-crossed by dark, narrow, unsanitary and sometimes dangerous streets, where sunlight rarely ventures. Such areas contrasted markedly to the simple, rustic existence of the peoples of Britannia, where the biggest communities, until the Romans arrived, were tribal hillforts. Of Caratacus children, the girls were the eldest. Eurgain was currently 13 and Gladys 12, whilst the boys, Cyllin, Lleyn and Cynon, were respectively 10, 9 and 8. All possessed straight, silky dark brown hair and similarly coloured eyes. When I escorted the quintet around Rome to show them the sights, their very pretty forms received many lecherous stares. Fortunately, however, as long as we did not venture anywhere too dangerous, my white purple-edged tunic, which clearly denoted me as an Imperial slave, provided us with all the protection we needed from any potential nuisances who might want to do more than just admire their bodies. Emperors did not appreciate their servants being troubled when they went about their business on the streets of Rome, and everyone knew that the dreaded Praetorians might come to seek them out if, in any way, they caused Imperial displeasure. Despite merely being a slave, I was therefore generally always treated with great respect by officials and the citizenry when traversing the citys thoroughfares, although I was aware of some dark alleys along which even the Princeps and his soldiers might fear to tread. I naturally steered both Caratacus children and myself well away from such dangerous routes. On this day, I instead steered the young quintet to Axenius luxurious urban domus. I believed that Caratacus children might benefit from becoming acquainted with my friends twin siblings, Anacletus and Axenia, who were also adjusting to new lives in Rome. As it turned out, a friendship between Anacletus and one of Caratacus sons was to become very important for both boys and, I believe, for posterity. A slowly burgeoning relationship between one of my Kings daughters and someone else resident in Axenius domus is also likely to have a similar effect on history. (Cirrha, Phocis, Greece, 2 days later) Dignity does not consist in possessing honours, but in deserving them. - Aristotle More quayside farewells were being undertaken, this time between Gaius and his boys on one hand and Athenodoros and Melankomas on the other. They were boarding separate boats in Cirrha, Delphis harbour, to sail to different destinations. Gaius and his boys were returning to Corinth, from where they planned to traverse the eponymous Isthmus before sailing across the Saronic Gulf to Athens. In their company were Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus and the boys father. Having journeyed to Delphi with his son to watch the spectacle of the Pythian Games, the 11 year-old Chaeroneans parent now had business to conduct in Atticas great city. Meanwhile, Athenodoros and Melankomas were travelling across the Sinus Corinthus to the home of the former. The quayside of Cirrha was so crowded that Gaius and his boys, plus Lucius and his father, experienced difficulty in saying their farewells properly to Athenodoros and Melankomas, with whom my beloved promised to try to meet up again sometime in the future, preferably with me in his company. He was to have his wish, although he would never have guessed the circumstances in which his desire would be achieved. Gaius knew that he could not really complain too much at his inability to express proper farewells to Athenodoros and Melankomas amidst the excited throngs on Cirrhas quayside. My beloveds patient attitude did not just result from the fact that he and his boys had enjoyed a pleasant farewell dinner with the renowned athletes in Delphi on the previous evening but instead stemmed more from the reason why the harbourside was so busy. The cheering crowds had assembled to say their own farewells to 18 year-old Athenodoros, who, as he embarked on Aigions trireme, which had been named after him, and turned to wave to his friends and fans, proudly displayed a wreath of laurel on top of his beautiful head. This trophy denoted not only the Pythian adult stade champion but also historys youngest-ever periodonikes. (Domus of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Pomegranate Street, Rome, Dies Solis A.D. IX Kal. Nov. DCCCIV A.V.C., in the 10th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [24th October, AD 51]) A commander should outclass his troops not in fastidiousness and high living, but in stamina and courage. - Agesilaus Titus Flavius Vespasianus wife, Flavia Domitilla Maior, gave birth to the pairs second son, in their rather humble, small plain domus, located in a quarter of Rome where no patrician would consider venturing let alone living. However, the general had been unusually incorruptible during his military service and so had not earned the bribes that would have enriched him and enabled his family to reside in more affluent surrounds. Sadly, ordinary military revenues do not finance grand lifestyles when Senatorial commanders are expected to serve without salary for the honour alone. Emperors also do not like to prolong the commands of particularly successful generals in case they become rivals for ultimate power. Claudius had therefore stood Titus Flavius Vespasianus down from active service and the sinecure income gained from his subsequent elevation by the Princeps to a couple of honorary priesthoods was still unable to support an affluent existence. Nevertheless, despite experiencing a much more modest lifestyle than would normally be considered appropriate for someone of his achievements and military and Senatorial rank, Titus Flavius Vespasianus was not too troubled by his current comparative poverty. He would naturally have preferred to provide his family with better but he was himself from relatively humble rural stock, as well as a general who was accustomed to sharing the campaign privations of his soldiers, and was therefore used to living unpretentiously. His current low profile also enabled him to be considered by Agrippina as not representing a danger to her ambitions and therefore happily not a target for her enmity, despite him being associated with Narcissus. However, this situation was now suddenly to change because he received an offer that he felt that he could not refuse. Narcissus came to visit Titus Flavius Vespasianus humble abode in Pomegranate Street to congratulate the general on the birth of his second son. Having done so, the Imperial secretary asked By the way, have you heard that the Consul, Servius Cornelius Salvidienus Orfitus, is dead? Titus Flavius Vespasianus advised his friend and mentor that he had not previously heard this news. He then enquired Whos going to replace him as Consul for the remaining two months of the year? The Roman republic had been led by two Consuls, who were joint heads of the Roman state and commanders-in-chief of the army. They were elected only for 12 months and thereafter, in order to prevent any form of tyranny, could not be re-appointed again for a decade. Their main role was to prepare and propose new laws, and this required co-operation between the two, as they possessed the power to veto any proposals by the other. Meanwhile, individual years were, in certain contexts, named after the holders of the posts. Consuls, whose minimum age was 32, and other similar positions and institutions, were retained under the Imperial system, which liked to disguise and legitimise its autocratic regimes under the cloak of republicanism. However, the titles are now really only honorific, although nevertheless still much sought after by ambitious or pompous people, as, after the Emperors, the posts are considered to be the pinnacle of society and therefore carry much social status. Naturally, Princeps themselves frequently assume the titles, whilst often ignoring the previous rules relating to age and frequency of appointment. In fact, the unfortunate Servius Cornelius Salvidienus Orfitus partner as Consul for DCCCIV A.V.C. was the Emperor Claudius, who was enjoying his fifth honour of this type, and the year will forever be recorded as such. However, in answer to Titus Flavius Vespasianus question as to the replacement for the deceased patrician, the Imperial secretary replied with one word. You, Narcissus announced. (Imperial palace, Rome, same time) If a man does not know to what port he is steering, no wind is favourable to him. - Seneca the Younger Gaius Musonius Rufus finally returned to Rome after touring the eastern Empire for over a year and then dutifully visiting his father and mother in his hometown of Volsinii to report on his journeying. However, although his boy entourage had increased in number from one to three, my beloved stayed in his parental domus with only Hylas as company, as was previously customary. Gaius did not want to experience the difficulty of explaining to his father and mother, who were still keen for him to marry a local girl, that he now had responsibility for three boys in case his parents misconstrued his motives. My beloved had instead written in advance to Axenius, requesting his friend to send someone reliable to the western Italia port of Telamonis, north of Rome, where he proposed to land in Italia after crossing the Mare Internum from Athens, via Sicilia. Telamonis was the most convenient harbour from which to travel inland to Volsinii. Gaius hoped that the person appointed by Axenius, presumably one of the young Germanians slaves, could temporarily and furtively take Achilleus and Tyanus off his hands whilst he travelled to his home town to perform his diplomatic familial duty before finally returning to Rome. In the event, an intrigued Axenius was himself waiting in one of his carpents on the harbourside of Telamonis, as Gaius and his boys disembarked onto Italian soil. My beloved was, of course, delighted by his friends generous action, which he performed without his younger twin siblings, whose schooling in Rome, under the watchful supervision of Cornutus, he did not want to disturb. However, he did have his new young slave, Arius, in his company. Although both Achilleus and Tyanus were reluctant to part from Gaius and Hylas, they were eventually persuaded, not least because of Axenius obvious pleasantness and the prospect of gaining another friend in the comely shape of young Arius. The 21 year-old Germanian then took the pair to Rome, where neither had ever been previously. The boys therefore joined the likes of Caratacus children in being shown the citys many wonders, albeit, on this occasion, by their kind doting host, whilst they patiently awaited the return of my beloved from Volsinii. After again persuading his reluctant but always malleable parents to allow him to continue his residence in Rome, whilst he examined career options and dabbled in philosophy, Gaius, with Hylas, eventually returned to the capital of the Empire. On arrival, they immediately made for the Imperial palace on the Palatine Hill. Gaius kindly told me, whilst we were later in bed together in the room I shared with Apollinus in the Imperial palace, whilst Hylas slept on my fellow 19 year-old slaves currently empty bed, that he felt guilty about not first visiting Axenius domus. However, he explained that he had come to me instead because he desperately wanted to become reacquainted with my personality, as well as my, as he smilingly phased it, perfect body, which doesnt seem to have aged a bit! Naturally, I was flattered by these assertions, which were also genuinely reciprocated by me, and was so happy about them that I immediately enthusiastically engaged on providing my beloved with his due reward. I already knew much about Gaius adventures of the last year and more, apart from his interesting visit to Athens, through exchanges of lengthy letters, which also informed him about happenings in Rome. Consequently, after we had made delicious love together after an absence of so long, my beloved did not fall into the trap, encountered by many returning tourists, of boring their friends by retelling their experiences ad nauseam. Gaius instead, over the months ahead, wisely only provided me with short anecdotes about some of the most interesting sights and events missed from his correspondence, except for his longer narrative about his visit to Athens, about which I was still to learn. I shall, dear reader, recount my beloveds fascinating recollections of this trip in my next chapter. Meanwhile, I recall that Gaius satisfied himself for now with showing me just one small memento of his tour, which was a small piece of papyrus. This was the paper that had provided my beloved with the Pythias answer to the question he had asked Apollo in Delphi, namely Is the Mother Goddess assessment of the futures of me and my closest friends true?
Gaius disclosed to me that, despite his normal scepticism about soothsaying, he truly believed that the priestess response applied to me above all others. However, after reading the Greek writing of the document, an act that I was capable of performing thanks to my beloveds kind tuition over previous years, I retorted to my wonderful paramour that he ought not to be so silly. (Domus of Aulus Vitellius, Rome, later same day) Si tibi lubido est aut voluptati, sino Suspende, vinci, verbera, auctor sum, sino. (Please, if it gives you any pleasure, I allow you To hang me up, to fetter and flog me, I allow you.) - Plautus (young Agorastocles in Poenulus, lines 145-146) The same troupe of beautiful 13 year-old slave boy acrobats and dancers that had entertained Petronius and his guests 3 months earlier was now performing a similar function at one of Aulus Vitellius even more notorious banquets. However, on this occasion, the young performers would have to work much harder for their tips. Aulus Vitellius was not the kind of person to allow the boys to perform for long whilst wearing their skimpy, revealing thongs. Consequently, the sparse garments were soon shed and the oiled artistes were continuing with their interesting and erotic act completely naked, whilst lovely and completely hairless juvenile male genitalia flopped delightfully around, as their hectic, exotic movements proceeded. In the process, several excited young cocks grew rampantly in size and began to dribble precum, as a result of their actions as much as the strong aphrodisiacs pervading their bodies. Some of the young performers, especially the blonde, blue-eyed 13 year-old Gaul, also experienced perverse pride at so disporting themselves in front of grateful adult spectators, whose own penises were already hard and who often exhibited their appreciation of the spectacle by shouting loud, very lewd comments. Later, the banquet became more drunken and libidinous, as similarly aged nude girl performers assumed the role of entertainers inside the square arrangement of couches, provided for the lecherous host and his equally rakish guests. However, the main cause of the expected increase in lewdness was not drink or the female acrobatics and dancers but the fact that their young male predecessors now found themselves also on the divans, providing a different form of amusement. The boys completely hairless genitalia, now all thoroughly excited to full erection, were no longer flopping around but were instead being fondled by adults, sometimes to orgasm. Despite their tender years, all of the male entertainers could produce semen, as their genital innocence had long been lost. Regular subjection to masturbation, usually literally at the hands of their clients, had led to an earlier than usual ability to ejaculate, plus pleasantly bigger cocks for boys their age. The beautiful blonde, blue-eyed 13 year-old Gaul, with the particularly strong libido, had been chosen to entertain Aulus Vitellius because the host particularly admired the boys form, especially the long, slender, engorged, throbbing, precum oozing penis that flopped around when he danced. Unfortunately, during subsequent fondling by its 36 year-old admirer, this impressively rampant member accidentally spilled several spurts of semen onto the mans toga. The annoyed Aulus Vitellius immediately called for his rod with which he regularly chastise his own slaves. This wicked, well-used implement of punishment was soon brought by a house servant, whilst the now tremulous young miscreant licked away as much of his mistake as he could. The naked girl entertainers and their musicians were then ordered to cease their activities, whilst the petrified 13 year-old Gaul assumed their stage, where the only dancing he might now do was in reaction to the blows that he would undoubtedly receive on the immaculate curves of his smooth bottom. The nude boy, whose cock had somehow remained hard despite his predicament, was then commanded to bend over and grip his ankles so that the relevant curvature was presented perfectly for imminent punishment. One of the naked 13 year-old girl entertainers was then recalled and handed the rod. Give the brat twenty hard strokes across his bum, Aulus Vitellius then ordered, to make him cry and really hurt. However, if I think that youre flagging in your flogging, Ill reverse your roles! The girl was probably as scared as her similarly aged victim as she began her chore, out of both sympathy for the boy she was about to thrash and fear for her own comely posterior if she displeased Aulus Vitellius. However, she quickly relaxed when she discovered that she was not only quite good at her assignment but also rather enjoyed the task, albeit somewhat guiltily. Several loud noises now reverberated around Aulus Vitellius banqueting suite. There was the sound of the rod, as the implement crashed against the boys curvaceous buttocks. There was also the emission of strident screams and continuous sobs from the young victim, as vivid stripes, initially red but quickly darkening to other hues, were created on his previously immaculate bottom. There were additionally the laughs and ribald remarks emanating from the host and his guest as the spectacle proceeded. The 13 year-old Gauls agony became particularly acute when the girls proficient blows began to return to the fleshy areas already chastised on her young victims posterior, which was too small to accommodate twenty strikes, even from the most expert flogger, without some of them criss-crossing. On two occasions, the acute pain induced by such hits caused the boy to fall over onto the floor. He was rewarded for these unfortunate reactions by Aulus Vitellius commanding, much to the amusement of the watching guests, his chastiser to discount her last whack from the accumulating number she was counting with each delivery. By the time that the girl had concluded her chore, the whole surface of the sobbing boys bottom was vividly discoloured, with a few droplets of blood visible where some blows had inter-connected. However, another fluid was also observable. During his beating, the young blonde, blue-eyed Gauls beautiful body had noticeably vibrated, but not as a result of shock from the latest strike of the cruel rod. Despite his earlier ejaculation, which had led to this sadistic punishment, the boys cock had incongruously returned to full, throbbing erection. The subsequent quaking of the 13 year-olds sublime form had indicated the further onset of orgasm and spilling, this time onto the floor below, of more creamy semen. Aulus Vitellius was actually delighted at this additional spectacle but feigned annoyance. Accordingly, after the girl had completed her task, the host ordered the poor young victim again to lick up the further evidence that his genitalia were unruly. As, amidst much surrounding chortling, the crying boy somehow complied, despite the burning agony experienced on his bottom, which permeated his whole body, this confirmation of penile indiscipline gave the cruel host a wicked idea for further appropriate punishment. Aulus Vitellius own throbbing penis, still hidden under his toga, almost erupted to produce its own ejaculate just at the exciting thought. After the boy had licked up his own cum from the floor and regained his feet, Aulus Vitellius invited the tearful 13 year-old to approach his couch once more. The host then ordered the young Gaul to turn round so that he could inspect and feel the damage on his juvenile buttocks, which were soon being painfully manhandled by the adults hands. Aulus Vitellius thoroughly enjoyed the sight of not only the boys hurt and discoloured bottom but also the 13 year-olds desperate efforts not to squirm too much whilst his very sore posterior was being manually fondled. The man also appreciated the noticeable heat that had been generated on the fleshy curves. Having finished his examination, Aulus Vitellius ordered the boy to turn round again. After the 13 year-old complied, the man smiled when he saw that the young Gauls cock, which had previously returned to flaccidity, was once more erect and reinforcing the notion of its ill-discipline. Aulus Vitellius now decided to add to the boys shameful masochistic display by move his manual attentions to the 13 year-olds nicely low-hanging and completely smooth scrotal orbs. The mans reward for gently fondling the young Gauls balls was the upward elevation of the rigid, ivory-like penis above from the horizontal to the vertical, an action that coincided with the pulling back of the members copious foreskin to expose the underlying cockhead, which still displayed some evidence of recently spurting copious cum. Youre a sex-mad undisciplined tart, Aulus Vitellius proclaimed, amidst resumed laughter from his guests and as he continued to fondle the boys scrotum, causing the 13 year-olds penis to continue to point rigidly back towards his cute navel. Its a situation, the host advised, that needs to be remedied and Im just the person to organise the change! As Aulus Vitellius made this announcement, intriguing to his guests and correctly worrying to the boy, the latter closed his blue eyes. Despite the agony still endured by his bottom and the fact that he had already ejaculated twice in a short space of time, the young Gaul once more felt his genitalia begin to boil as a result of the hosts intimate attentions. Please, master, the boy requested between continued but muted sobs, be .careful, as your .present action .might .cause me .to cum .again .and spoil .your toga .once more. The 13 year-old then received his own reward for providing this warning. He yelped his loudest scream yet, as Aulus Vitellius, annoyed at the Gauls impertinence at speaking without permission and the insolent nature of the warning conveyed, stopped his gentle fondling and used his strong hand instead to squeeze viciously the youngsters balls. A stream of young semen simultaneously and, in the circumstances, miraculously exploded from the boys revealed, vertically throbbing cockhead to prove the accuracy of the 13 year-olds earlier warning. However, the creamy cum flying through the air but did not besmirch Aulus Vitellius toga. The ejaculate instead landed on the mans face, much to the amusement of his guests and his own acute infuriation. Aulus Vitellius commanded once of his own attendant slaves to fetch a cloth and clean his face of the boys cum, whilst firmly maintaining his fierce grip on the 13 year-olds scrotum. The retention of his agony-inducing hold was actually assisted by the remarkable discipline of his young victim, who, despite the breathlessness and overwhelming pain searing through him, knew better than to try to escape. Aulus Vitellius eventually released his grip on the boy when his own slave returned with the required cloth to clean his masters face. As the servant did so, the 13 year-old, whose sobbing had returned to its previous level of intensity, collapsed to the floor, grasping his hurting genitalia. However, the reducing agony experienced by the young Gaul in that most intimate part of his gorgeous anatomy was soon to be reinvigorated to even more anguishing proportions, as the host was now more determined than ever to pursue his earlier wicked idea. Aulus Vitellius now implemented this idea by immediately buying the young Gaul from his current owner, the operator of the entertainment troupe. The latter was present to supervise the activities of his young performers and, as the customer is always right, was standing discreetly and nonchalantly by, not caring that one of his slaves was being punished by his current client. The fee being received for his boys services was, after all, highly lucrative. By the time that the relevant transaction was settled, after Aulus Vitellius had offered a substantial sum for the boy that his current owner simply could not refuse, the 13 year-old was sufficiently recovered from his genital agony to obey an instruction to regain his feet and resume his position before his new master. The latter now resumed his gentle fondling of the young Gauls balls, whilst he advised his new slave about what he intended to do with him and whilst he maintained a look of grievance on his freshly wiped face. As I said earlier, Aulus Vitellius declared, youre a sex-mad undisciplined tart, which is a situation that needs to be remedied and Im just the person to organise the change. As the 13 year-olds flaccid cock began miraculously to grow again, as a result of the resumed manual attentions to his boyhood, his new master advised Ill do so by having these extracted tonight, as long as I can summon someone who can perform the deed neatly and without killing you! The young Gaul, already appalled by the transfer of his ownership to such a sadistic person, was to be further horrified after he immediately appreciated what were to be cut from his beautiful body when his testicles were again squeezed painfully hard. As I have mentioned previously in an earlier chapter, Aulus Vitellius had become intrigued by eunuchs, although he did not yet possess one of his own. He now planned to remedy this by having the 13 year-old Gaul castrated, before entering the sadistic patricians permanent service and as part of the nights continued entertainment. (Domus of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, Pomegranate Street, Rome, same time) A father's temperateness is the greatest precept for his children. - Democritus Despite Agrippinas ever-increasing influence over her husband and Imperial affairs, Narcissus still wielded his own considerable sway. Claudius had not yet succumbed so fully to his dotage that he was silly enough to allow his wifes power not to be counterbalanced by a rival who had served him very well throughout his Principate, not least in thwarting the outrageous conspiracy of Messalina and Caius Silius. As part of this policy, the Emperor had bravely endured the anger of the Empress and agreed to the Imperial secretarys nominee to replace the unfortunate Servius Cornelius Salvidienus Orfitus as Consul for the last two months of the year. After all, such an honour for a general of Titus Flavius Vespasianus accomplishments was probably overdue. Titus Flavius Vespasianus was extremely honoured by Narcissus offer, which he felt unable to resist despite the aggravation that his elevation might cause to Agrippina and her supporters. The improvement the promotion would provide his curriculum vitae, and thereby hopefully his future career, was simply not to be disregarded. The astute general also calculated, correctly as it turned out, that he should survive the Empress displeasure because his tenure of office was to be so short and he intended subsequently to revert back to diplomatic obscurity until circumstances improved. Having agreed to become the replacement Consul and enjoyed cena with his guest, Titus Flavius Vespasianus proudly showed off his healthy, new-born baby son to Narcissus. What are you going to call him? the Imperial secretary enquired, as he observed the child suckling at his wet nurses breast. Titus Flavius Domitianus, the proud father announced. (Domus of Aulus Vitellius, Rome, later same day) Proprium humani ingenii, est odisse quem laeseris. (It is human nature to hate those whom we have injured.) - Tacitus (Agricola, XLII.4)
Just as Petronius had done at his earlier orgiastic banquet, Aulus Vitellius made available bedrooms for any of his guests who wanted to enjoy sex in private with the boy and girl entertainers hired for the occasion. Unlike on the previous occasion, when the friends of the elegentiae arbiter had left the amenities unused and satisfied their lusts in situ on their couches, tonights bedchamber facilities were temporarily occupied by some of those attending the intimate event, particularly by those wanting to fornicate or sodomise rather than just be the recipient of fellatio. Those present, who were content to secure the satisfaction of their sexual urges through the oral method, were generally happy to allow the young perpetrators of the act to disappear under their togas, whilst they remained on their divans. Meanwhile, the understandably petrified young Gaul, who was to lose his balls, was being held tightly by two of Aulus Vitellius adult slaves, charged with preventing their prisoner from running away whilst an appropriately skilled craftsman was summoned from his home. During the wait, that to the terrified boy seemed an eternity but was actually less than two hours, the 13 year-olds unruly cock, which had brought the youngster to this awful fate, maintained an amazing show of virile naughtiness by rapidly and astoundingly returning to hardness, despite his three earlier productive orgasms in quick succession. However, neither the host nor guests, who were all delighted at the prospect of the further amusement to come, were now unsurprised at this development, as it seemed obvious to them that the eunuch-to-be must possess a strong masochistic streak in his persona, which would be boosted in its intensity by the aphrodisiacs fed to him. One of the guests present owned eunuchs to attend his wife and conveniently happened to know where the castrator who had converted the males into geldings resided. He had happily, out of not only courtesy but also mounting interest in the entertaining spectacle to come, conveyed this information to his host when the latter had made the relevant enquiry of his friends. By the time the castrator arrived, any guests who had retired to a bedroom, to engage in fornication or sodomy with slave boys or girls, had returned, temporarily sexually satisfied, to their couches in readiness for the further entertainment. The latter commenced when the young Gaul was forcibly spreadeagled, face-up on the floor where he had earlier danced and been beaten. The crying 13 year-olds wonderfully lithe, splayed limbs were held immovably in place by four of Aulus Vitellius adult slaves. The placement of the boys still hurting curvaceous buttocks onto the cool wooden surface induced more pain to his rear. However, the 13 year-old was more concerned about the further agony and permanent damage about to be inflicted on the front of his form, in the area of his groin. The young Gauls desperate shouted entreaties for mercy were not only ignored by his now smirking new owner, who had recently relieved his own accumulated genital needs by receiving fellatio from one of the boys former colleagues, but were also subdued when the castrator efficiently gagged his imminent victim. The craftsman then circled the 13 year-olds delightful scrotum so tightly with leather cord that the twin ball sacs bulged, clearly indicating the location of the testicles within and simply inviting attention. The castrator waited patiently for the boys scrotum to change from its present healthy creamy pink colour to an injurious deep purple before his knife accepted the invitation. After this hue had been attained, the craftsman began his work, proceeding with deliberate slowness at the request of the commissioner of the process, Aulus Vitellius, who wanted to extend the entertainment for his guests for as long as possible. Meanwhile, the young Gaul struggled vainly to escape the resolute clutches of Aulus Vitellius slaves before giving up to writhe in agony, dejection and shame instead, whilst his boyhood was taken away from him. Nevertheless, as the painful procedure progressed, the 13 year-old experienced the strange masochistic pleasure of one final orgasm, which no longer brought incredulity to the faces of the observers, given the youngsters previous astounding record on this, for him, fateful night. The captivated and expectant watchers instead cheered volubly when more cum gushed out from the boys rampant cockhead, simultaneous to his castrator holding up to everyones view the first small, off-white orb that he had extracted from the 13 year-olds now half-empty scrotum. The only consolation for the young half-eunuch, as his own semen flew in an arc to splatter his own chest and face, was that he would not, on this occasion, be forced to lick up his mess. The young Gaul soon felt his castrators blade rest against his remaining intact spermatic cord, whilst residual cum continued to ooze out of his still rigid cock. Shortly afterwards, more cheering resounded around the banqueting suite when the craftsman perpetrated the little snip that converted the boy into a fully fledged eunuch and showed the raucously celebrating spectators the 13 year-olds second testicle, before presenting the pair of extracted balls to Aulus Vitellius, who owned them, as well as every other part of his slaves sublime body. Guests then began to ask Aulus Vitellius what he proposed to do with the little testes, which he gleefully held in his hands and brought close to his eyes for inspection. He particularly sadistically enjoyed the fact that what he was carrying, representing his new eunuchs former boyhood, had so very recently been fondled and squeezed by him when they had still been inside their original, rather attractive home. Aulus Vitellius had just about formulated and completed his answer to his guests question by the time the castrator, working quickly as his audience now appeared disinterested in his next task, stitched and bandaged the latest young victims empty scrotum. As the cum-splattered boy was subsequently being carried away to start elsewhere his recuperation and new life as a eunuch, he heard his new sadistic master declare Ill have the whores balls pickled to aid their preservation before having holes drilled through them. Theyll then be threaded with silver chain to form a nice necklace. The tart can subsequently wear the adornment, as a permanent reminder of his loss and that it is dangerous to cause me any displeasure whilst in my service. Im also sure that the unusual jewellery will be a frequent topic of my own and his conversations with others, so adding to the sluts misery. Naturally, Ill insist that the harlot continues to display the ornamentation even when hes naked, especially if hes in that state of undress to satisfy my sexual needs. Im sure to appreciate greatly the look on the brats face whilst my intact balls provide me with the pleasure that the testicles resting against his chest can no longer afford him! Ill look forward to my new eunuchs recovery and admission to my service and bed, Aulus Vitellius continued, because I want to experiment with his gelded genitalia and sexuality. Ill enjoy seeing if I can still somehow bring him to erection and orgasm! As Aulus Vitellius said these words, he still did not know his new eunuchs name. The evil patrician also did not appreciate that his freshly purchased and gelded slave would one day acquire sweet revenge for the personal suffering that his wicked master had already inflicted, and would continue in the years ahead to perpetrate. This ultimately satisfactory conclusion to the cruelly one-sided relationship between the pair would be aided considerably by another eunuch, who happened to be me.
(Dacia, Iulius, DCCCLIX, in the 8th year of the reign of the Emperor Trajan [July, AD 106]) Nosce te ipsum. (Know thyself.) - inscription at the temple of Apollo in Delphi Now, as I describe my life story to my worthy scribe, 55 years after the events I have recorded in this chapter, I am less sure about the correctness of my retort to Gaius, relating to the Pythias response to his question. However, perhaps you, dear neutral reader, will be better placed to make such a judgement after you have fulfilled the long task of reading my lengthy saga to the end.
Gaius papyrus read During the significant lives of you all, your love will achieve the most! (To be continued in chapter XLIII Athens)
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