Nero 31

By Pueros

Chapter XXXI - Wreaths

(Olympia, Elis, Greece, Iul. DCCXCVIII A.V.C., in the 4th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [July, AD 45])

‘Ne cede malis.’

(‘Yield not to evils.’)

- Virgil

Fortunately for Athenodoros, the third kick in the balls was not perpetrated on the 12 year-old’s already anguished groin.

Athenodoros’ captors had dropped the boy onto the damp floor tiles of the caldarium, where the naked 12 year-old now lay, sobbing quietly, whilst clutching his pained genitalia. However, he had been joined on the ground by Kallikles, who was now acting similarly. Meanwhile, the Sidonian’s two 17 year-old co-conspirators had run off holding their noses, which were spilling blood.

Athenodoros then felt gentle but powerful arms lift him off the floor to carry him out of the caldarium. As his genital anguish lessened, the boy managed to stop crying in order to try to see, through his tears, whom the gods of Olympus had sent to rescue him.

Athenodoros recognised the youth immediately, from the month of compulsory training spent with fellow competitors in the city of Elis. The 16 year-old was known to the 12 year-old as Melankomas of Caria, who had entered and been accepted for the strange combination of the junior stade race and boxing and who, unusual for a fighter, was renowned for his beauty.

Melankomas, dressed in a light tunic, carried Athenodoros outside to an empty dark glade at the rear of the quiet baths, knowing that, on this warm summer evening, his young naked charge would not acquire a chill. The youth then lay the nude boy down onto some grass.

“I thought that you might like to recuperate in private,” the considerate Melankomas advised Athenodoros. The latter, rapidly recovering from his genital agony, appreciated the gesture, recognising that the youth was rescuing him from not only Kallikles but also the shame of being seen crying in public.

Athenodoros then felt Melankomas’ hand gently stroke the silky crown of straight blonde hair resplendently displayed on top of the 12 year-old’s sublime head. However, this obvious attempt at reassurance from the youth only caused the boy to become embarrassed at continuing to show signs of distress. The young Aigionian therefore quickly stopped shedding tears and began to wipe as much of the lachrymose dampness off his gorgeous face as he could with the back of his hands.

Melankomas seemed to understand Athenodoros’ sudden abashment and produced a small cloth from a pocket in his tunic and gave it to the boy so that the youngster could fulfil his task more proficiently. This action prompted the 12 year-old to utter his first words since his rescue, which had previously been denied to him by the breathlessness and shock created by the excruciation in his crutch.

“Thank you,” Athenodoros said, as he now mopped up residual tears with the proffered gift, “for everything, not just the cloth.” “My pleasure,” Melankomas replied, “especially as I could tell, from the little bag of coins on the caldarium floor, what Kallikles and his friends had been up to. You see, they tried to bribe me as well. Fortunately, when I also declined their offer, I was presumably too formidable an opponent, being a boxer, for even three of them to try to injure or intimidate me by other means. Equally fortunately, I had decided to go for a late bath and, as I did so, I heard your yells.”

Melankomas noticed Athenodoros become embarrassed at this last revelation, presumably because he had reminded the boy about his noisy reaction to the assault, which, although only to be expected, could be considered in some quarters shamefully cowardly. The 16 year-old therefore now attempted to reassure the 12 year-old that his earsplitting response to genital attack was only natural by suggesting “Of course, if I’d been in your position, I’d have raised the roof with my shrieks.” The handsome Carian was rewarded for his caring efforts with a delightful disarming smile from the beautiful Aigionian. The youth’s cock, hidden under his summer tunic, hardened and quivered in response.

“Do you think we should inform the Hellanodikai about the attempt of Kallikles and his friends to bribe us?” Athenodoros then asked. “No,” Melankomas managed to reply, despite a suddenly very dry throat, caused by belated appreciation of the wondrous charms of the young naked form now adjacent to him, “because it’ll just be our word against theirs. Our finest reaction would be to try our best to defeat them in the junior stade. However, I suspect our efforts might be fruitless because I think that the Sidonian has no need to dabble in corruption to win, as I believe he’s truly the fastest competitor. He’s already beaten me fairly and squarely in a couple of events elsewhere.” The pessimistic youth did not add that the reason for his defeats might have been his recent interest in boxing and his consequent partial neglect of proper training for the sprint.

Noticing that Athenodoros’ tears had now dried completely and that the young beauty appeared to have recovered fully, Melankomas now changed subject. “If you can regain your feet,” the youth advised the boy, “I’d like you to go and stand in the moonlight so that I can check the damage to your groin before we go inside. We don’t want those with whom we share the barracks seeing me do it, or they might develop the wrong idea about what we’re up to!”

On hearing these words, Athenodoros could not prevent either a giggle emerging from his rosy lips or the concept flashing through his mind that perhaps he would prefer the supposed ‘wrong idea’ to be the right assumption. The boy had not previously entertained such a sentiment in respect of anyone else but suddenly the notion of indulging in sexual play with such a handsome youth, sent by the gods to rescue him from Kallikles, seemed rather attractive. The 12 year-old’s own uncovered cock trembled and grew in response to this thought, a development noticed by the 16 year-old, although both tried to feign diplomatic ignorance of the occurrence.

Athenodoros had only very recently begun to indulge in occasional private masturbation, producing a little clear fluid whenever he attained delicious orgasm. However, the most intriguing aspect of the discovery of the whole tasty process for the boy was not his obvious developing wondrous bodily needs and reactions but the desires that stimulated them in the first place. Whenever the 12 year-old had furtively played with his penis, his mind had been full of thoughts not of women or girls but of beautiful youths making love to him.

Athenodoros, continuing to try to disregard his sudden penile hardness with an air of unknowing innocence, in the hope that the embarrassing display would disappear as quickly as it had formed, complied with Melankomas’ request and stood in the abundant moonlight. The next dawn, the third of the 206th Olympiad, would, of course, bring the day of not only the boys’ events but also the full moon.

Athenodoros situated himself so that the moon illuminated the front of his impeccable nude form, placing his hands on his slim hips and standing with his legs apart to enable Melankomas to accomplish his task. On his part, the handsome youth knelt before the beautiful boy to peer closely at the completely smooth 12 year-old genitalia now dangling resplendently immediately in front of him, still-rigid uncut cock pointing directly at the 16 year-old’s eyes. Meanwhile, the young Carian’s own hard member began to throb within his undergarments.

After somehow managing to discipline himself to concentrate on a visible check of Athenodoros’ delectable sexual organs instead of doing what he really wanted to do with them, namely lick and suck the delightful exhibition, Melankomas’ hand gently reached up to cup the inviting young ball sac. However, the youth’s intentions were still honourable because, after ascertaining that there was no obvious genital bruising, he wanted to test how sore the normally immaculate smooth scrotum was after receiving two nasty blows from Kallikles’ sandal-shod foot.

Athenodoros audibly and visibly winced a little from the initial touch but then his lovely body relaxed whilst Melankomas’ palm continued carefully to weigh the 12 year-old testes, a reaction happily symbolic of the fact that no permanent genital damage seemed to have been perpetrated. However, one part of the boy’s superb anatomy did not ease. His unruly penis grew bigger, causing the copious foreskin to pull back to reveal some of the cockhead, whilst the whole slim tubular structure, now lustrously ivory-like in appearance, rose upwards from the horizontal to vibrate in the direction of the moon.

As Athenodoros glanced down at his embarrassingly undisciplined member, he could not help but wonder whether the goddess of the moon, Selene to the Greeks and Luna to the Romans, was somehow influencing the penile action. Meanwhile, Melankomas, whilst thoroughly enjoying the sensations provided by his eyes and hand, began to feel the influence of the deity of love, Aphrodite to the Hellenes and Venus to the Latins, infuse his mind.

Nevertheless, much as Melankomas, and his own secretly rampant cock, would have liked to have taken matters further, sensing that the exquisite Athenodoros would be a willing partner in some sexual play, the youth somehow disengaged both his mind from such desires and his palm from the boy’s scrotum. The young Carian then stood up and, with a smile, which barely disguised his disappointment at having to terminate his endeavours, declared “It looks as if you’ll live. There’s no bruising or damage, as far as I can see!” The 12 year-old’s erection, in apparent sympathy with the 16 year-old’s frustration, quickly deflated to return to sad flaccidity.

Later, when the pair literally became better acquainted, Melankomas would advise Athenodoros that he had been taught that to indulge in sex before serious competition was unwise. The youth would also confess to the boy that, as a consequence, he had already remained completely chaste throughout his month-long stay in Elis, even depriving his cock of the attention of his hand. Naturally, it was a situation that the healthy 16 year-old was looking forward to rectifying as soon as his participation in the Olympics had concluded.

Sarapion, completely sober because was still successfully resisting the temptations of alcohol, returned to the barracks from his enjoyable reunion with old friends after midnight. He then wondered why the bunk he was supposed to use, next to the one in which Athenodoros slept in one of the large communal dormitories, was occupied by a somnolent youth. However, he decided to take no action regarding the matter until the morning, considerately not wanting to disturb either the trespasser, who, he presumed, was an Olympic competitor who had become disorientated, or his own young charge, happily resting nearby. Accordingly, the trainer just curled up on the floor between the two young athletes to enjoy, as best he could, his own repose.

Next morning, Sarapion learnt from the mouths of both Athenodoros and Melankomas, whom the trainer now recognised in daylight as another competitor in the junior stade, why the young Carian had decided to continue his protective duties by sleeping in the trainer’s empty bed. The 16 year-old also politely apologised for taking up the coach’s bunk, advising that he had only originally intended to stay there until the man had returned.

Sarapion was grateful for the explanation for the loss of his bed. However, it then took a great deal of persuasion by the young athletes to prevent the trainer from seeking revenge against Kallikles and his cronies, and the coach’s acute desire for vengeance had nothing to do with the discomfort of trying to sleep on the floor.

The clinching argument for the ultimate lack of retribution by Sarapion was Melankomas’ probably truthful contention that both the trainer and his young charge would be expelled in disgrace from the Olympics for such action, as no acceptable evidence of perfidy could be laid against Kallikles. The coach was very reluctant to accept the situation, particularly as the evil Sidonian must have been relying on lack of proof in the first place in order to survive any accusations of assaulting Athenodoros. However, in the end, the 29 year-old men’s stade champion of the 204th Olympiad was reluctantly forced to accept the status quo, although he continued to mumble about extracting revenge after the conclusion of the Games, a worthy aspiration that he personally never secured.

For the time being at least, Sarapion instead began to concentrate on preparing Athenodoros for the new day’s junior stade race, having profusely thanked Melankomas for his help in saving the 12 year-old from serious injury. The trainer also wished the 16 year-old good fortune in his own attempts to win the sprint and later the boxing in the boys’ events. However, the coach jested that he hoped the young Carian would not be too disappointed to observe only the rear of the young Aigionian after the run had begun, adding that, after all, it was a delightful perspective. The youth laughed in response, whilst his mind not only enjoyed the joke but also recognised that the latter comment was actually undoubtedly true.

Sarapion subsequently attended the still-naked Athenodoros through his initial bathing and massaging, followed by light warm-up exercises and then hard training, including a full practice run over 200 paces, the length of the stade. Despite the hot early morning sun overhead, the boy hardly raised a sweat during any of this sometimes strenuous activity.

Further bathing and massaging was followed by redressing in a clean light tunic and a good breakfast, bought and brought by Athenodoros’ father according to Sarapion’s strict dietary guidelines. The boy, trainer, parent and kinsmen then went to participate in the traditional ceremonials that take up much of the third morning of every Olympiad in celebration of that day’s full moon.

They joined a great procession, which started from the Magistrate’s House in Olympia and wound its way about the sacred precinct until reaching the large platform that comprised the outdoor altar of Zeus. At the head of the parade marched the judges, followed by the priests in charge of sacrifices, sacred embassies from cities, invariably bearing costly gifts for the paramount god, and finally the athletes and their trainers and kinsmen.

Arriving at the altar, all then watched the final ceremonial act. This was the slaying of 100 oxen on the platform, followed by the burning of the animals’ thighs on the large mound of ashes above, left over from previous Olympiads and never removed because they were sacred to Zeus. Athenodoros estimated that the height of these cinders had reached the equivalent of about four men. Meanwhile, the rest of the sacrificial flesh was taken to the Magistrate’s House for later consumption at the concluding feasts on the fifth day of the Olympics.

As the procession and the huge watching crowds subsequently dispersed at about noon, everyone knew, not least the competitors, that the boys’ events were now to take place imminently in the stadium, starting with the stade race. Accordingly, the venue quickly filled, with a full house of 50,000 excited spectators.

Sarapion attended to the freshly nude Athenodoros’ final preparations, in the small crowded area set aside for these preliminaries just outside the stadium, and lined by many of the people who could not gain access to the full athletic arena. The usual massages and warm-up exercises were indulged. The trainer also reminded the boy, for the umpteenth time, about the key tips for success in the race, although neither expected to come close to victory against the older, stronger and consequently undoubtedly faster competition. Instead, although the fear was left unsaid, both worried that the beautiful 12 year-old might be humiliated.

During these activities, the judges, athletes and trainers convened briefly for the draw for the twenty starting positions, conducted by means of withdrawing small thin lots of shaved wood, on which competitors’ names are inscribed, from a sacred silver urn. Most men’s races involve heats and so this ritual is performed to decide the composition of such preliminary contests, as well as the initial commencement order of each run. However, the Hellanodikai always exercise their judgement to determine the identity of the athletes for the boys’ stade without the need for such an elimination process.

Athenodoros was drawn on the very outside, which not only further diminished but also seemed to sum up neatly the 12 year-old’s chances of success. The stade is a race to be the first to touch the sacred column, the turning point for longer events, at the central far end of the stadium, an act symbolic of the first competitions, which had involved a contest to light the altar of Zeus. An outside draw therefore entails approaching the destination from an angle, so running a longer distance.

Some Games have rectified this unfairness by making the victory objective a line running through the winning post. However, the Olympics have, as in many other areas, remained true to ancient tradition, despite the fact that the resultant running angles of the twenty competitors in stade races often cause accidental collisions. There are rules against bumping or tripping but nevertheless such incidents, or perhaps even tricks on the part of unscrupulous contestants, are still common.

Shortly afterwards, a naked Melankomas approached Athenodoros and Sarapion to wish them luck, a sentiment that was reciprocated with true feeling, and to give the trainer a small jar. The youth advised the coach that the little receptacle contained a perfumed salve that a friend had strongly recommended to prepare leg muscles for arduous labour.

A cautious Sarapion at first looked Melankomas in the eye to see whether there might be any trickery inherent in the gift but perceived only genuine benevolence. The trainer also noticed that the coach of the very handsome youth appeared already to have rubbed some of the ointment into the 16 year-old’s own lithe legs.

Meanwhile, Athenodoros scrutinised Melankomas’ dazzling form up close for the first time, as he had only previously seen the young Carian in the nude from a distance. The 12 year-old noted that, except for the youth’s hair and eyes, which were brown, and a small tuft of pubic hair that crowned otherwise smooth genitalia, the 16 year-old’s body resembled a larger version of his own.

Athenodoros, without being vain, had long accepted the fact that he was regarded by many as exceptionally beautiful. The boy now confirmed that the same description could truly be applied to Melankomas.

Before Melankomas departed to complete his own final preparations, he gave a piece of advice to Athenodoros, whilst Sarapion demonstrated his faith in the youth’s gift by rubbing the sweet-smelling contents of the small jar onto the 12 year-old’s leg muscles. “Whatever happens during the race,” the 16 year-old suggested, “don’t be deflected from running your fastest to the finishing post. You can always pause to consider what might have occurred elsewhere after you’ve won!”

Athenodoros could not help but smile at the ridiculous thought that he might win. Nevertheless, the perfect boy assured Melankomas that he would follow the youth’s advice if it somehow became necessary to do so. The 12 and 16 year-old nudes then returned to their last-moment preliminaries, but only after a supposedly platonic brief hug designed to display mutual best wishes and comradeship. However, Sarapion thought that he detected something else, possibly subliminal, in the embrace. The trainer’s conjecture appeared to be supported by the sight of two suddenly formed erections, as the two young athletes parted.

Athenodoros, however, was not immediately concerned about the state of his very pleasant penis. The boy, tingling sensations racing through his divine form as a consequence of the intimate hug with Melankomas, instead opened his right palm to see what the wonderful youth had furtively placed there during their embrace. The 12 year-old smiled when he saw a small, but undoubtedly valuable, gold good-luck charm, depicting Nike, goddess of victory.

Shortly afterwards, horns sounded to indicate that the time had arrived for the twenty runners in the boys’ stade to gather for the ceremonial procession into the stadium. As they did so, Athenodoros noticed Kallikles looking supremely confident, with his companions of the previous night almost as content, although presumably not through belief in imminent victory but in gratitude for the bribes the Sidonian had undoubtedly paid them. The 12 year-old wondered how many of the other contestants had also accepted the 17 year-old’s corrupt largesse. However, the boy’s musings were then terminated by a further loud blast of trumpets, signalling entrance into the athletic arena. For some unknown reason, the unparalleled excitement of the occasion then caused the young Aigionian’s cock to grow and rise again.

The entrance for athletes into the rectangular stadium at Olympia is by way of a tunnel, located in the righthand corner of one of the shorter ends of the arena. As Athenodoros emerged into the sunlight on the other side, last in the line of young competitors in accordance with the starting draw, the vision and tremendous noise of the vast crowds on the full terraces on all four sides caused his heart to pound in his chest. The causal surge of blood also seemed to make his genital embarrassment worse, with his hard unruly cock now beginning to point vertically upwards towards his cute navel.

Athenodoros had encountered similar embarrassment previously but only in the more relaxed atmosphere of his gymnasium, where he had become accustomed to the common phenomenon. However, this was the first time that the boy’s cock had exhibited penile hardness in public competition and he felt acutely embarrassed about the situation, especially as he was appearing before the largest crowd he had so far encountered in his young life.

Athenodoros knew that he could not hide his abashing display with his hands, as that would mean refraining from marching in the normally accepted manner, thereby only drawing attention to himself and compounding his humiliation. The 12 year-old therefore just swallowed hard and did nothing, hoping that people would not notice his shame. However, the boy’s usually sublime face turned bright red at the prospect of public embarrassment.

The processional march continued along the racetrack to the far end of the stadium, where the starting positions were located. As the entrance parade proceeded, a deeply abashed Athenodoros began to appreciate that his tactic, of trying to ignore his rampant erection in the hope that no-one would notice the exhibition of 12 year-old penile virility, had failed. Instead, many spectators, including unmarried females, were pointing in his direction and laughing. Unfortunately, the boy’s cock only seemed to enjoy such opprobrium and remained resolutely rigid and upright until the distant destination was reached.

As Athenodoros and his fellow competitors assumed their starting positions, the boy’s embarrassment was compounded by noticing that he seemed to be the only athlete whose cock was not flaccid. His scarlet facial hue deepened at this realisation. Nevertheless, the 12 year-old then somehow managed to exclude from his mind not only his abashing circumstance but also the almost deafening cacophony of noise from all around, some now very ribald, in order to concentrate on the imminent race.

Athenodoros, situated on the extreme right of the twenty runners, examined the scene before him. The tall winning post beckoned invitingly at the far end of the relatively narrow rectangular stadium, guarded by the three judges who would arbitrate tight finishes and for him more than 200 paces away. The small stand for the Hellanodikai, basically a little platform with a line of seats, protected by a low stone barrier, was positioned on the left artificial embankment, about two-thirds of the way down the course. The natural terracing on his own side of the arena was actually formed from the lower slopes of the Hill of Cronos, which dominates the northern edge of Olympia.

After the relevant short preparatory ceremonial, involving some loud incantations from priests of Zeus, barely audible above the noise of the crowd, Athenodoros and his fellow runners obeyed the instructions of the supervising judges to prepare themselves for the imminent off. The naked boy rested the back of his bare left foot against one of the twenty marble sills, just a few finger-widths high, which projected from the ground to mark the starting positions of each runner. False starts are punishable with lashes of the arbiter’s whip but are relatively rare because of the existence for 600 years of starting gates.

These contraptions comprise, for every athlete, narrow upright wooden posts, about chest high, to the immediate right of each competitor and embedded in lead-lined holes. Each possess a thin light crossbeam at about waist height, which acts as the actual starting gate by preventing contestants from beginning their runs. These are ingeniously connected in their middles by strings to metal eyes at the top of the vertical posts, and then downwards to individual grooves in the stone ground, which in turn radiate to a starting pit at the side of the stadium.

The strings from the crossbeams emerge from the separate grooves to be fixed tautly to one master baulk. This wooden implement, when tugged by a judge, simultaneously opens all of the gates.

Loud trumpets sounded once more, this time to signal the imminent beginning of the junior stade of the 206th Olympiad. Athenodoros’ tightened his grip on his good-luck charm, presented to him by Melankomas and still held in his right hand. The boy’s body also adopted the particular crouching stance taught to him by Sarapion as being the best position to adopt for a good start. The 12 year-old’s heart beat wildly in his chest, with his still rampant cock throbbing in simultaneous sympathy, as most eyes, including those of the spectators, fell onto the altar of Zeus.

Here, on a signal from the chief of the Hellanodikai, a priest would operate a contraption whereby a bronze eagle, emblematic of Zeus, would rise up a pole, as if beginning to soar into the air to fly. This action would, in turn, spur the relevant judge to open the starting gates to begin the race.

Many of those watching the spectacle considered the ornithological symbolism very appropriate for a boys’ competition, given that Zeus was supposed, whilst in aquiline form, to have abducted Ganymede, most beautiful of mortal youths, to be his cup-bearer on Olympus. Most of those who believed this also thought that the presence of the divine Athenodoros might encourage the paramount god to visit Olympia that very day to secure another young servant.

The thoughts of Athenodoros, however, were now far from such matters. Not even his maintained fulsome erection, or the continued associated loud bawdy commentary, bothered him any longer. The boy’s mind was instead concentrated solely on reaching the distant finishing post as soon as possible after his starting gate opened.

A single drop of blood fell onto the ground under Athenodoros, as the boy waited for the wooden impediment in front of him to be released. However, the 12 year-old was oblivious to the fact or the cause, which was the action of his neatly manicured fingernails as they bit into his right palm, so firmly was he grasping Melankomas’ good-luck charm.

Athenodoros’ lack of concern regarding the blood was compounded by the sight of a bronze eagle soaring into the air above Zeus’ altar and, to accompanying trumpet blasts and increased roars from the vast crowds, the accompanying vision of the gate in front of him finally opening.

(Olympia, Elis, Greece, four years later, Iul. DCCCII A.V.C., in the 8th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [July, AD 49])

‘Nulla res carius constat quam quae precibus empta est.’

(‘Nothing is so expensive as that which you have bought with pleas.’)

- Seneca the Younger (‘De Beneficiis’)

As Athenodoros, now a 16 year-old youth, stood again before the towering statue of Zeus in the Olympieum, having concluded his prayers to the god, another regained his feet besides him.

As Athenodoros and the now 20 year-old Melankomas then left the great Temple of Zeus Olympios, the young Carian tried again to console the younger Aigionian for being disqualified by the Hellanodikai from the junior stade race in the 207th Olympiad. This prestigious event had now already taken place on the previous day.

Athenodoros had waited patiently for four years to gain his last opportunity to win the junior stade. However, nether he nor his friend could deny that, in the circumstances, the Hellanodikai had been correct in their ruling, which centred around a cultural misjudgement on the part of the young Aigionian and his family.

Nevertheless, the hatred of both Athenodoros and Melankomas towards Kallikles, who, like the young Carian, was now too old to participate in boys’ events, knew no bounds, as it had been the now 21 year-old Sidonian who had pointed out the grounds for disqualification to the Olympic judges.

(Ostia, same time)

‘Perierat totus orbis, nisi iram finiret misericordia.’

(‘The entire world would have perished unless compassion had limited the hatred.’)

- Seneca the Elder (‘Controversiae’)

It was not Palaemon but Gaius, still damp but now redressed in his toga virilis, who answered the captain of the Imperial galley. The trirarchon had not at first recognised the young man from their meeting at sea, five months previously.

“I’d like to say that it’s nice to meet you again but, as it isn’t, I shan’t,” Gaius opened bluntly and insultingly. “Nevertheless,” the 19 year-old continued, “let me introduce you to some of my company. This is Palaemon, renowned Roman teacher and newly appointed tutor to the son of the great Claudius. Young Lucanus here is nephew to Seneca, respectively tutor and adviser to the Emperor’s stepson and wife. This is young Helius, an assistant of Narcissus, the Imperial secretary. As you already know, I’m an acquaintance of Titus Flavius Vespasianus, the distinguished general and close friend of the Princeps.”

Gaius had deliberately introduced the captain to those in his company with Imperial connections, not for boastful reasons, because he did not possess a modicum of vanity, but for tactical purposes, which immediately bore fruit. “Now, sir,” the young man from Volsinii followed up by enquiring of the trirarchon, “what were you saying about this poor unfortunate slave? Were you trying to deny Palaemon’s promise to the wretch to save him from a return to your galley? I wonder what the Emperor will say when he hears from five separate sources, namely his son, stepson, wife, secretary and friend, that you exhibited such poor manners towards an important Imperial servant, as well as a reprehensible lack of compassion to a poor soul who, looking at him, won’t be of much service to you for much longer!”

Gaius was, of course, both exaggerating and bluffing, knowing that neither the Emperor nor the named quintet, except undoubtedly for Britannicus, would be bothered about the fate of the young eunuch. He also thought that the captain might suspect this. However, he hoped that the trirarchon would not take the chance of incurring Imperial wrath for the sake of a galley slave.

Fortunately, both Gaius’ tactics and aspiration were proved correct when the captain, suddenly looking suitably humble, apologised. “I’m sorry,” the trirarchon advised, “but I didn’t know that the slave was of such interest to you. Of course, you can do what you like with him, as you’re right, he probably wouldn’t last much longer on my galley. I’m therefore happy to assume that he’s served sufficient sentence on board my ship for whatever his original crime was, especially as replacements are easy to secure. Accordingly, he’s all yours!” The naval officer, apparently now very keen to terminate the conversation, which had turned rather embarrassing and humiliating for him, then declared “Farewell!” just before turning on his heel to return to his vessel.

Shortly afterwards, having said their own goodbyes to Lucanus, Quintilianus and Persius, as they embarked on their own ship for their journey to Hispania, Palaemon, Axenius, Gaius, Hylas and Helius returned to Rome in the renowned teacher’s large horse-drawn coach, or ‘carpentum’, and another similar vehicle hired for the occasion. The ornate and comfortable 4-seat transports had brought one relatively old and seven young passengers on the outward journey, and now returned unexpectedly with a total of five in the younger category, with Servius now amongst their number.

Palaemon, Axenius and Helius shared the lead coach, whilst, in the rear carpentum, Gaius and Hylas nursed Servius, whose emaciated body, regardless of the summer heat, was shivering, despite still being covered by parts of the renowned teacher’s shredded toga.

The 18 year-old eunuch’s bodily shivers were caused by several factors, not least his shock and amazement at his change in fortunes. His perplexed mind was also currently wondering whether he had truly drowned and what was happening to him was actually his welcome to Hades.

(Olympia, Elis, Greece, 4 years previously, Iul. DCCXCVIII A.V.C., in the 4th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [July, AD 45])

‘When Odysseus came home after twenty years, his dog recognised him at once; but you, after a mere four hours’ boxing, are unrecognisable not only to dogs but to the city. Look in a mirror and you will say under oath ‘I am not Stratophon’!’

- Lucillius (addressing a fictitious boxer named Stratophon in a mocking Greek epigram, written in Rome at the time of Nero)

All twenty competitors in the junior stade race, including by far the youngest, Athenodoros, emerged from their starting gates at great pace. Because of the different running angles and viewing perspectives, it was initially difficult for the vast raucous crowds to determine which of the naked contestants had taken an early lead. However, about one third of the way down the course, it became evident that Kallikles was slightly ahead, just in front of Melankomas. Both had been fortunate enough to achieve favourable draws, which afforded them central starting positions.

Meanwhile, Athenodoros, seemingly less well placed, was gamely running on the far right and was approximately in the middle of the field of athletes when the defining incident happened.

Melankomas felt another foot tap his ankle from behind. The collision was minor in force but major in repercussions, for it caused the speeding 16 year-old to lose balance and stumble. As the young Carian fell, he noticed a smirking Kallikles, just behind whose left shoulder he had been placed in readiness to try to overtake the hated rival in a late burst, glance behind.

Melankomas somehow immediately knew from Kallikles’ expression that his participation in the race had been deliberately sabotaged by a pre-planned trip from one of the young Sidonian’s bribed allies, presumably because, probably correctly, the 17 year-old perceived the 16 year-old as his most serious rival for the Olympic wreath. As the young Carian began to hit the hard ground, anger of an almost unprecedented nature swelled within his beautiful form, a reaction that caused his right arm to reach out.

It was now that Kallikles felt a disastrous blow to his own heel, and to his own corrupt ambitions. The 17 year-old screamed in horror as, stimulated by Melankomas’ desperate fingertips, a loss of balance at speed brought a young Sidonian to join a young Carian on the ground, in championship oblivion. To voluminous gasps from the crowd, several more athletes tripped over the prone bodies, thereby forming a large, stationary, floored melee. Meanwhile, a certain young Aigionian obeyed his new friend’s earlier advice.

Melankomas had advised Athenodoros “Whatever happens during the race, don’t be deflected from running your fastest to the finishing post. You can always pause to consider what might have occurred elsewhere after you’ve won!” The 12 year-old, moving at the fastest pace that he had ever run, and well away from the immobile heap of fellow competitors because of his outside starting position, which now looked fortuitous as opposed to unfortunate, rushed past the debacle and suddenly found no-one ahead of him. However, continuing to remember the young Carian’s tip, the boy did not look behind and instead occupied his sensuous blue eyes with the sight of the tall Doric column, which represented the finishing post and was coming closer and closer.

Athenodoros, whose still-rampant smooth genitalia were flopping around wildly amidst his rush, did not even glance backwards when he heard the hard breathing of someone trying to make a desperate effort to overtake him. The boy instead somehow miraculously quickened his pace and soon the panting noise was lost once more amongst the deafening cheering from all sides, as he approached the column ahead.

For the rest of his life, Athenodoros could remember every single one of the last fifty paces he made to try to touch the sacred pillar first. To others watching, the time taken to cover this distance was momentary but, for the boy, it seemed almost a lifetime.

Nevertheless, this particular lifetime eventually passed and Athenodoros’ 12 year-old fingers subsequently embraced the finishing post long before anyone else, to make him the youngest junior stade champion since Damiscus, 400 years earlier. However, the boy’s initial reaction was not to jump for joy, or exhibit any other sign of celebratory exhilaration. The young Aigionian instead squatted close to the sacred pillar, covered his genitalia and closed his eyes.

This unusual reaction to victory was actually not a show of Athenodoros’ usual modesty or, as many observers thought, an act of reverential prayer to thank Zeus for his miraculous success. The boy was instead trying to recover some composure and decorum, having entered sexual orgasm at the feel of the winning post.

Fortunately, no-one else, apart from a single individual, ever recognised this potentially embarrassing happening, partly because Athenodoros was currently insufficiently mature to expel the evidence of semen when climaxing. Consequently, when his very short reverie was terminated, after he was engulfed by officials and some of the more generous of his defeated rivals, as well as his trainer, father, kinsmen and a number of the crowd, the naked boy’s sexual secret was not exposed. This circumstance was helped by an eventual return to flaccidity of his naughty young member. Only a recovered, and ecstatically and unselfishly happy, Melankomas had spotted the telltale little droplet of clear fluid on the 12 year-old victor’s uncut cockhead.

Subsequently, the most senior of the Hellanodikai, who were undoubtedly very happy at the vindication of their controversial decision to permit a mere 12 year-old to run in the junior stade, awarded Athenodoros the winner’s sacred olive wreath. The naked boy was then loudly acclaimed by the crowd of 50,000, as well as being pelted by them with flowers and light olive branches. Only Kallikles and his fellow defeated competitors, with the noticeable exception of Melankomas, seemed miserable at the outcome.

Although success had perhaps been fortuitously achieved, the victory was nonetheless universally regarded as being as meritorious as any other because everyone believed that the good fortune had emanated from divine intervention. Such luck had revealed that the gods, especially Zeus himself, had wanted Athenodoros to win. Accordingly, the boy was considered to be as worthy a champion as there had ever been, especially when his age and diminutive frame, compared to his rivals, was taken into account.

The tumult lasted a long time until trumpeters ended the celebrations because the stadium needed to be cleared for the boys’ boxing. It was then that Athenodoros, trying his best to wear his immensely prestigious olive wreath on his head, although it had clearly been made for someone older, delighted Melankomas, who was participating in the next event, even more. The 12 year-old stade champion, having gained the permission of his incredulously ecstatic trainer and father, who would, at that moment, have granted their young charge anything he desired, asked to be one of the 16 year-old’s seconds, alongside the youth’s closest kinsmen.

The duties of a boxer’s second are largely honorific, being confined to minor menial tasks associated with the fighter’s preparations and recoveries from individual bouts. Nevertheless, as Melankomas sought his own olive wreath in his second competition, Athenodoros wanted to be close to his new older friend in order to assist in anyway that might be useful, especially as the event had a very brutal reputation.

Athenodoros secretly feared for Melankomas’ welfare, although he would not disclose such trepidation, not wanting to do anything that might undermine the youth’s confidence or esteem. The boy instead hoped to somehow provide assistance that would lessen his new friend’s inevitable sufferings, which he felt might be compounded by the recent disastrous exertion in the stade.

Athenodoros also furtively prayed to the gods, whilst hoping that he was not pushing his luck too far by doing so on that day. The boy begged the deities to allow Melankomas not to sustain any permanent damage to his very handsome nude form, which, like that of the 12 year-old, attracted many admirers but seemed very insubstantial for a winning athlete, especially a fighter. However, the young Aigionian was realistic enough to recognise that his plea to the divinities would probably go unheeded, as fulfilling a boxing tournament unwounded, or ‘atraumatistos’, was very rare, even for the top champions.

In the fighting events, there are few rules, no weight-classes and no time limits. Top-level bouts are therefore generally restricted to tough, well-muscled contestants, famed for indulging in copious meat diets to gain bulk and strength. Many participants, even at junior level, are huge and possess bull necks. Consequently, Melankomas’ beautiful slim lithe frame, of average height, contrasted sharply with the norm. A deeply concerned Athenodoros, not currently knowing the youth’s background in the discipline, therefore wondered how the 16 year-old had passed the scrutiny of the Hellanodikai in order to enter the competition stage of the most prestigious boxing tournament of all.

As a result of his late appointment as one of Melankomas’ seconds, Athenodoros, now redressed in a light tunic, found himself once more in the preparation ground, just outside the stadium, before shortly afterwards re-entering the athletic arena in another procession. Without any public slight intended to the boxers, it was obvious to all that some of the resultant cheering was aimed at the quickly returning victor of the junior stade, who was now a great hero, especially because he had been victorious at such a tender age. I suspect that the boy’s physical loveliness also added to his sudden immense popularity.

Nevertheless, Athenodoros, whilst politely acknowledging the cheers, was now primarily concerned about Melankomas’ wellbeing. His worry stemmed not only from observing the mammoth fierce proportions of the youth’s prospective opponents but also recall of one of the works of Nicophon, a writer of epigrams, about a competitor from Milesia, who had participated in an Olympics over half a century earlier.

Nicophan had suggested that “Not even Olympian Zeus watched without trembling, as the Milesian giant, with the thick bull neck, the iron shoulders of Atlas, the hair and beard of Heracles and the eyes of a lion, won the boxing event.” To Athenodoros’ worried eyes, Melankomas’ first opponent, drawn by earlier lot from the silver urn and despite supposedly being only 17 years old, appeared to fit the epigrammatist’s description perfectly.

Athenodoros had never given boxing, or the other pair of combat sports, wrestling and pankration, much consideration previously, believing such violent pastimes worthy only of barbarians not supposedly civilised Greeks and Romans. However, as Melankomas was being prepared by his trainer, the boy looked on fascinated as the youth’s hands and wrists were tightly bound with the requisite hard sharp leather thongs, which left the fingers free. Nevertheless, the 12 year-old still had the mental capacity to remember the 16 year-old’s lucky charm, which bad brought the younger competitor such magnificent recent glory in the junior stade.

Athenodoros returned the tiny gold depiction of Nike to Melankomas’ own palm, with words of copious thanks and a look that suggested something more complex. The boy ensured that the charm was tightly engulfed by the manual bindings, without the possibility of the talisman bringing either the wearer or his opponents any harm, apart from that resulting from the luck the little icon would hopefully bestow on the former.

As Athenodoros saw the charm disappear amidst the thongs, he prayed quietly to both Zeus and Nike to give Melankomas both protection and victory. Then, just after the trumpets sounded to herald the beginning of the boxing, the boy not only gave the readied youth a hug but also a brief kiss on the cheek. When the pair separated again, the naked 16 year-old’s cock was no longer flaccid. The phenomenon was also matched on the 12 year-old’s lovely form, although this was now hidden from public view by his newly acquired tunic.

Thankfully, Melankomas’ potentially publicly embarrassing phenomenon did not persist and his cock had softened again by the time that he confronted his first and, in Athenodoros’ opinion, probably last opponent. The boy could not see how the youth could possibly defeat such a monster, who not only towered over the young Carian but also possessed limbs that looked like tree trunks bristling with muscles and a torso that resembled a small mountain. The ugly face of the 17 year-old, which suggested a much older age than that declared for entry into the junior boxing, additionally indicated extensive brutal fighting experience, given the nasty scars present.

Athenodoros’ concern for Melankomas’ welfare now extended to worrying about how the youth could possibly deliver a knockout blow because his tall opponent’s chin seemed almost unreachable. The boy presumed that blows to the monstrous body would be ineffectual, with the ogre’s ugly head potentially the only weakness in his defence. However, to stand any chance of hitting that target, the 12 year-old realised that the 16 year-old would have to be standing very close to the supposed 17 year-old, so making himself very vulnerable to counterattack, which, in the young Aigionian’s mind, would probably be terminal. He just hoped that it would also not prove to be fatal.

Deaths in fighting contests are not unknown. In fact, the law covered the possibility by exempting fatalities in Games from being subject to murder charges.

Sarapion had once told his young charge, in one of his frequent anecdotes with which he often tried to entertain the boy, about one bout in the Nemean Games, when two competitors, one from Syracuse and the other from Epidamnus, could not score a knockout. They therefore agreed to hit each other in turn until one went down or gave up. The first blow was an unsuccessful attempt to the head. However, this was immediately followed up by another punch that was so contrived that fingers penetrated into entrails, which were then torn out, creating a fatal wound. The survivor was disqualified, not for causing death in such a heinous manner, but for breaking the agreement by administering more than one strike during his turn. Athenodoros had never been able to tell whether his trainer’s story was true or was just one of the tall tales that gullible visitors to Games often hear from the local guides they can hire to show them round. The coach himself did not reveal the secret, instead just smiling mischievously when the 12 year-old asked about the veracity of the yarn.

The rules allow hits to be made below the waist but Athenodoros did not believe that Melankomas would dishonour himself by trying to strike his opponent’s hairy genitalia, which were incongruously tiny given the monster’s other proportions. The boy also appreciated that the blows, which could include those with both the fist and open palm, would continue without time restraint until one boxer was either knocked out or raised his right hand to signal surrender.

Judges, supervising each bout, would use their whips, if necessary, to ensure that the combatants stayed within reasonable reach of one another, because no-one was interested in watching bouts that were little more than lengthy shadow boxing. The public also did not have all day to await a conclusion. They wanted to see bloody violence instead and the arbiters were present to ensure that public taste was catered for.

Sixteen contestants, including Melankomas, had been selected by the Hellanodikai for the junior boxing, committing the eventual winner to four successive successful bouts, during the course of the afternoon, to achieve his victory. It was not unknown for one of the surviving pair to be forced to withdraw from the final because of injuries received in the earlier rounds.

Melankomas first round bout against the monster was the third to take place in the centre of the crowded raucous stadium, a location where spilt blood was already evident on the ground. As the 16 and 17 year-old ill-matched opponents squared up to each other, there was no greeting, nor would there be any polite congratulations or commiserations between the two afterwards. Everyone knew that such sentiments were incompatible with their aim, victory, to achieve which, as Pindar once phrased it in respect of rivals, ‘You meant them harm’.

Athenodoros closed his eyes when the trumpet resounded to signal the commencement of the fight, because the boy was now too terrified for Melankomas’ wellbeing to watch.

(Imperial palace, Rome, 4 years later, dies Martis A.D. VIII Kal. Iul. DCCCII A.V.C., in the 8th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [Tuesday, 24th June, AD 49])

‘Uva uvam videndo varia fit.’

(‘A grape changes colour [ripens] when it sees [another] grape.’)

- Juvenal

Whilst Palaemon was in the very pleasant company of Britannicus and Cornutus, the renowned teacher was content that he had secured Servius’ wellbeing. The famous tutor had despatched the 18 year-old, in his carpentum and in the care of reliable servants, to his quiet Umbrian vineyard, where he knew that the kind parents of Apollinus and Helius would nurse the young eunuch back to full health in their rural idyll. The young man’s recuperation should also almost certainly be aided by the fact that he was going to an environment that resembled his own rustic roots.

(Olympia, Elis, Greece, later that day)

‘Vivamus……..atque amemus.’

(‘Let us live……..and let us love.’)

- Catullus (5, 1)

16 year-old Athenodoros and 20 year-old Melankomas reached the quiet summit of the Hill of Cronos at dusk, which falls late in the month of Iulius, and looked down at the amazing sight of Olympia below, still heaving with vast crowds and beginning to be illuminated by many lamps. The two close friends sat awhile to contemplate the day’s events, whilst observing the scene, arms wrapped round each other’s backs.

Then, as darkness descended further, Athenodoros and Melankomas stood up and began to walk in the full moonlight down the opposite wooded incline from the one they had originally climbed. Olympia was now shielded from their view by the hill.

The resumed walk led Athenodoros and Melankomas to an area they had visited four years earlier, and which now hid them from the view of the hordes visiting Olympia for the 207th Olympics. All contests had now concluded and the next, fifth, day of the quadrennial Games would concentrate on ceremonials, particularly those honouring the victors.

As Athenodoros and Melankomas sought their own revered sanctuary, they held each other’s hands tightly, not through fear of the darkness or the slope but rather because of another, altogether different, powerful emotion.

(Olympia, Elis, Greece, 4 years previously, Iul. DCCXCVIII A.V.C., in the 4th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [July, AD 45])

‘Vulnerant omnes, ultima necat.’

(‘All of them wound, the last one kills.’)

– Inscription, referring to hours, on a Roman sundial

12 year-old Athenodoros and 16 year-old Melankomas, attired in light summer tunics, sat on the grass in the small tree-lined copse, besides a narrow fast-running stream, on the far side of the Hill of Cronos from Olympia. The young Carian had been shown the secret secluded venue during his earlier visit to the area four years previously. The young Aigionian, still wearing the ill-fitting olive wreath on his sublime head, was asking of his companion “Where did you learn that boxing technique?”

“A ghost taught me,” Melankomas answered intriguingly, with a few tears beginning to form in his sensuous brown eyes. This unexpectedly disturbing reply caused Athenodoros to wrap his arm round his older companion, the first time he had dared such an action outside the supposedly platonic hugs the pair had afforded each other at various times during the past momentous day. The 12 year-old was pleased to note that the 16 year-old did not shy away from such intimacy but instead reciprocated it.

Melankomas fell silent, apparently not initially keen to expand his answer. However, a gentle verbal prod from Athenodoros encouraged the youth to tell his story.

Melankomas related how, in his homeland of Caria, he had acquired, at the unusually early age of twelve, a pedagogue four years older. “I know it sounds stupid for one so young,” the youth had advised, “but it was love at first sight!” Athenodoros yearned to say that he could well understand the phenomenon, because he was beginning to experience the same, but somehow remained quiet to allow his new friend to continue his story.

“He was a 16 year-old boxer,” Melankomas informed, “a sport I had never been interested in, because I was a runner, until I saw him compete. Unlike those he fought, he was far from monstrous or ugly, and he possessed a personality to match. He was also successful, winning many minor junior tournaments, achievements that brought him here four years ago. He said he wanted to win the boys’ wreath in the 205th Olympiad and then the men’s at the 206th Games, after which he would retire to concentrate on loving me.” Recall of the latter remark brought a smile to the young Carian’s beautiful face, which was unfortunately very short-lived once he resumed his tale.

“His successes,” Melankomas announced, “were achieved not through ignorant brute force but via guile and athleticism. Always obeying the rules, and so avoiding the judges’ whips, by keeping within easy reach of his opponents, he used exceptional speed and reflexes to duck and weave himself out of the way of hostile strikes aimed at him, whilst delivering a few hard blows of his own. However, he rarely knocked anyone out. Instead, those he fought usually collapsed to their knees, or otherwise surrendered, through exasperation and pained exhaustion, until, that is, he reached the junior final at the last Olympics, which I was honoured to attend as one of his seconds. He brought me to this grove to make love on the night before he fought.”

Tears now began to flow down Melankomas’ cheeks in response to the pain of recalling the 205th Games. Athenodoros therefore tightened his grip on his new friend’s back and wondered whether he should wait patiently for the youth to be ready to recount the rest of his story or tell him that he could discontinue if he preferred. However, before the 12 year-old could decide what action to take, the 16 year-old resumed his discourse.

“My lover lost his footing early on in the final,” Melankomas advised, with tears still flowing, “on some blood spilt in earlier bouts. As a result, he suffered a leg injury that not only slowed him substantially but also completely undermined his normal tactics. Consequently, he was battered by the massive brute who was the other finalist. However, my lover wouldn’t give up, despite shouted entreaties from me to do so, until finally he was knocked out. By this time, his once beautiful face had been smashed into a pulp.”

“He died that day,” Melankomas proceeded, “not in body, because he survived to return to Caria, but in soul. Despite our continued mutual devotion, and the best efforts of me and many others to repair and console him, he continued to grieve in our homeland for his lost pride and beauty, destroyed by much facial disfiguration. One day, he disappeared. Later, his dead form was found at the foot of sea-cliffs near Halicarnassus, our home city. My subsequent acute grief was intensified by my acceptance that I had brought about my pedagogue’s defeat. You see, by allowing him to make love to me, here on the night before his event, I believe that I drained him of some of his vigour. Moreover, because of silly excitement, I forgot to take to the stadium a certain small bag, with which I had been entrusted as one of his seconds and which contained his two most precious athletic possessions. These were the charm and the salve that assisted your great victory today. After his funeral, I swore to the gods that, in restitution and in his honour, I would learn his sport in his style and win the two Olympic events, boys’ and men’s, he had aimed for, before settling down myself to love someone.”

Quiet descended on the glade for a while, as Athenodoros thoughtfully attempted to grant some peace to Melankomas to allow the 16 year-old to overcome his tears and melancholy. However, before long, the boy could not resist the temptation to ask the youth gently “Who would you settle down with to love?”

Melankomas tried his best to dry his eyes and face before looking into the unparalleled beauty of the blonde blue-eyed visage next to him. However, as the youth finally achieved his aim, he found himself unable to speak. The gorgeous boy, recognising the situation, therefore continued his questioning, whilst maintaining his firm hold on the lovely 16 year-old form next to him.

“Could you love me?” Athenodoros enquired. The boy was answered when the lips on the youth’s completely unmarked face reached out to meet those of the 12 year-old.

Shortly afterwards, two discarded light summer tunics rested at the side of the glade. On top of each was an olive wreath, one awarded to the winner of the boys’ stade and the other to the victor in the junior boxing.

(Olympia, Elis, Greece, 4 years later, Iul. DCCCII A.V.C., in the 8th year of the reign of the Emperor Claudius [July, AD 49])

‘Augescunt aliae gentes, aliae minuuntur; inque brevi spatio mutantur saecia animantum et quasi cursores vitae lampada tradunt.’

(‘Some people increase, others diminish; and in a short space, the generations of living creatures are changed and like runners pass on the torch of life.’

- Lucretius (‘De Rerum Natura’)

16 year-old Athenodoros and his pedagogue, 20 year-old Melankomas, reclined naked in each other’s arms, once more on the grass in their secret glade, with their discarded tunics lying on the ground nearby. They were reminiscing about the day’s events, having just made love again, for the umpteenth time over the past four years. However, as usual, they had done so with the same sort of passion that had overcome them for the first time on that glorious night of the 206th Olympiad, as 12 and 16 year-old Olympic champions. Neither had ever grown tired of each other’s wondrous bodies or, for that matter, impeccable personalities and faithful, piquant companionship.

Athenodoros and Melankomas, and their trainers and kinsmen, had received tumultuous acclaim on their return, with their Olympic wreaths, to their respective home cities. They were feted in the traditional manner and received the customary munificent largesse, which enriched them, their coaches and their families. However, the main concern of the champion pair had actually been to meet up again and they achieved this feat by agreeing to a pedagogic association, in which they would compete together at the same Hellenic Games.

Sarapion and Athenodoros’ father had, in Olympia, immediately recognised the telltale signs of the new relationship between the two Olympic victors and, despite the younger boy’s tender years, they decided not only not to interfere but also to support the affair. As far as the adults were concerned, such love, developed in such sacred and glorious circumstances, between two delightful young champions, had to be divinely inspired.

Consequently, the wishes of Athenodoros and Melankomas to enter into a pedagogic association, and compete together in the same Games, were met, with competition timetables set accordingly. However, the boy initially concentrated on age-segregated stades, whilst the youth abandoned his running to give his fullest attention to boxing.

Sarapion’s decision not to allow Athenodoros to participate in open age events stemmed from a desire not to want to test the gods, who grant good fortune, too far. The trainer believed that, in a straight problem-free race against the top competitors, his beautiful young charge would not win, although he was now sure that he would also not come last or anywhere near. The 12 year-old was therefore denied the opportunity to compete as a junior against those up to five years older, such as Kallikles, and we shall therefore never know whether his victory in the 206th Olympiad, whilst of such tender years, was a fluke or not.

Sarapion’s ruling was assisted by that fact that neither Athenodoros nor he were now reliant for funds on municipal grants. They therefore did not have to comply with the probably over-ambitious competition demands of Aigion’s civic leaders in respect of the city’s very young Olympic champion.

Sarapion’s policy lasted for three years, until Athenodoros became a 15 year-old and had no choice except to compete against contestants who included 16 and 17 year-olds. Up to then, the boy’s renown and riches had grown even more, because he had remained unbeaten in the many Games, throughout the Roman Empire’s Hellenic eastern provinces, in which he had participated. Melankomas had simultaneously achieved the same feat in the boxing, even though he had now graduated to the men’s competition. The pair’s copious victories were always assisted by a certain good-luck charm and salve, the latter obtained from a Carian apothecary.

Athenodoros’ first major competition as a 15 year-old, which he came to still undefeated, having now beaten older youths in open age stades at minor Games, was the sprint in the biennial summer Nemean periodos festival of DCCCI. The boy emerged from his race against the top 16 and 17 year-olds runners with the wreath of celery, as did 19 year-old Melankomas for his involvement in the men’s boxing.

Melankomas had actually won the boys’ boxing at Nemea two years previously, as a 17 year-old. Meanwhile, the then 13 year-old Athenodoros had been denied the opportunity by Sarapion’s probably correct, at that time, proscription of his young charge from participating in open age events. The young Carian had subsequently gone on to remarkable victories in the equivalent men’s fighting events in the following year’s major periodos Games, the biennial Isthmian at Corinth, held in spring in honour of Poseidon, and quadrennial Pythian, held in summer at Delphi for Apollo.

Through his splendid achievements, Melankomas became a ‘periodonikes’, a champion in all four primary athletic celebrations, albeit one whose accomplishments included only a junior championship at Olympia. The young Carian felt he needed to win as a man in the 207th Olympics to earn the title properly, after which he intended to retire. He would then have discharged his pledge to honour his deceased pedagogue, and so he could instead concentrate on fulfilling his promise to focus the rest of his life on loving Athenodoros.

Melankomas’ accomplishments were particularly famed, throughout the Hellenic world, for the manner in which they were attained. The young Carian had refined his deceased pedagogues’ boxing technique even more, so that he never needed to inflict a blow on his invariably huge but cumbersome opponents. He instead just weakened them so much by his unprecedentedly agile defensive movements that he eventually brought them to their knees. In doing so, he always managed to avoid personal harm, so retaining his resplendent lithe athletic bodily beauty into early manhood.

Of course, Melankomas’ boxing tactics did not result from a selfish desire for self-protection. Recognising, from personal experience, the horrific physical and mental damage fighting can cause, the young Carian instead wanted to fulfil his pledge to his deceased pedagogue by inflicting no real harm, other than exhaustion and the misery of defeat, on opponents. He would have considered victory by more violent means disgracefully unworthy.

In the spring of the present year, DCCCII, Athenodoros and Melankomas, having now passed their 16th and 20th birthdays, won respectively the boys’ and men’s pine wreaths at the spring Isthmian Games. The award represented the second such victory for the young Carian.

Athenodoros was now the junior stade champion in three of the four periodos festivals, with only the Pythian title eluding him, as Sarapion’s wise protective policy had precluded the boy from competing as a 14 year-old at these Games two years previously. This prevention, of course, had also sadly denied the trainer’s young charge the opportunity to become a junior periodonikes, because he would be classified as a man when the next quadrennial athletic event in honour of Apollo took place at Delphi.

Meanwhile, Kallikles, like Melankomas, was already now classified as a man. Unfortunately, this evil, corrupt young Sidonian had additionally remained unbeaten since his demise in the 206th Olympiad, winning the men’s stade at the five periodos festivals that had taken place since the last Olympics. However, this fact only partially helped to assuage his feeling of disgrace, at failing to secure victory in the world’s primary athletic celebrations four years previously, and his resultant intense desire for revenge.

Accordingly, at the next Olympics, the 207th, Athenodoros, Melankomas and Kallikles arrived in Olympia unbeaten since the previous sacred celebrations there, with the latter athlete also intent on securing vengeance for his earlier defeat, not necessarily by sporting means. However, the young Aigionian did not expect to have to face the Sidonian again in these Games. The now 16 year-old was looking forward to defending his junior stade title, for which event he was red-hot favourite, whilst the 21 year-old was competing, with similar very short betting odds against his chances of success, in the men’s equivalent.

No-one, not even the legendary Damiscus, who had disappeared from history after his win as a 12 year-old, had been known to attempt to defend the junior stade, let alone accomplish the feat. This circumstance stemmed mainly from the fact that past winners usually emerged from the upper end of the boys’ age group and had therefore become men by the time of the next four-yearly Olympics.

Athenodoros and his supporters, as well as virtually all visitors to the Olympics, were therefore bitterly disappointed that the boy, with such an estimable record, was denied the opportunity to achieve this unprecedented accomplishment, through being disqualified by the Hellanodikai from the event on a cultural technicality. Kallikles had attempted to secure at least some retribution on the young Aigionian by complaining to the judges that the 16 year-old should already be classified as a man, thereby making him ineligible to defend the junior stade.

Kallikles had heard from an acquaintance, who had competed in Aigion’s annual Games, that Athenodoros had been spotted wearing a toga virilis. The boy had innocently succumbed to family wishes to undertake, after reaching 16 years of age, the relevant Roman manhood ritual, which reflected familial Latin roots despite recent Hellenisation. No-one, except the evil vengeful Sidonian, had appreciated the likely consequences for participation in Games if anyone reported the event.

Athenodoros and his supporters did not argue against the ruling of the Hellanodikai, recognising that the judgement was sound because, in ultimately prevailing Roman law, the 16 year-old, having ritually accepted the toga virilis, was regarded as a man not a boy. The young Aigionian’s participation in the stade race was therefore instead reluctantly transferred to the men’s event, where not only the extremely fast Kallikles stood between him and the wreath but also many other speedy older competitors from all over the Hellenic world. In fact, there were so many other contestants that heats would have to take place in order to decide the finalists.

Athenodoros was once again the youngest competitor in an Olympic championship. The 16 year-old was also no longer the red-hot favourite to win, as few gave him a chance against the formidable older athletes. Kallikles shared this opinion, or he would not have taken his action to have the boy disqualified from the junior race. However, the Sidonian also decided to take out some insurance to ensure the young Aigionian’s failure in his new event.

Despite Sarapion’s confidence in Athenodoros’ supreme abilities in the junior stade, the trainer also did not believe that his young charge, whose beauty had only refined, not lessened in any way, since the last Olympics, was fast enough to win the senior race. The coach additionally worried about the effects on the 16 year-old of having to run preliminary heats, which did not happen with the boys’ event.

Sarapion thought that Athenodoros should reach the final but that, by then, his young charge’s slim, lithe lower limbs might be so tired that he was unable to compete effectively for the ultimate prize. The trainer was eventually proved correct in his first assumption and the boy became one of the twenty finalists. However, the coach prayed to the gods that his second conjecture would reveal itself to be without merit. The man’s hopes were also lifted a little when the 16 year-old secured a favourable central draw for the race.

When the procession of the naked finalists entered the stadium on the fourth day of the 207th Olympiad, it was obvious, from the cheering, that the vast crowd favoured Athenodoros, although virtually none had put their money on him to win with the bookmakers who attended all Games. Most of the spectators had disliked the way the boy had been disqualified from defending his junior title, and therefore hoped that Zeus would compensate him by granting him victory in the adult event. However, few had actual expectancy of this happening, as the beautiful 16 year-old was easily the youngest, most diminutive and least muscular of the contestants.

Athenodoros’ popularity undoubtedly also stemmed from his retained physical perfection. His impeccably formed frame remained very boyish in appearance, making his appearance amongst the men even more visibly incongruous. In fact, the only concession the 16 year-old’s body had apparently given towards categorisation as a man, through his unfortunate acceptance of the toga virilis, was a small neat golden tuft above his otherwise still completely hairless and smooth genitalia.

Athenodoros’ favouritism amongst the crowd was probably intensified still further by the appearance of another fulsome erection whilst he entered the stadium. As the beautiful blonde cast his sensuous blue eyes downwards to glance at the renewed genital embarrassment, he wondered what it was about Olympic finals that caused such a display, because the phenomenon did not occur elsewhere. However, the 16 year-old also realised that he was happy to maintain such a humiliating penile exhibition, and to orgasm again at the finishing post, if, in return, his fingers touched the sacred column first. His attitude was maintained even though he recognised that, this time, copious white ejaculate would be readily visible as guilty witness to the literal climax of such a race.

Athenodoros’ show of young male virility was still present when subsequently the bronze eagle soared into the air and his starting gate opened, to accompanying wild cheering. However, the boy’s aspirations for a second olive wreath appeared to be condemned almost immediately when an adjacent athlete seemed to trip, taking, as he fell, the young Aigionian to the ground with him.

As Athenodoros looked up from his prone position, he saw the other runners racing ahead. As Melankomas had done four years previously, the boy also noticed the guilty but happy smirk on Kallikles’ face, as the 21 year-old glanced behind to ensure that his vengeance was complete. However, unlike the situation for the young Carian then, the evil, corrupt Sidonian was out of the young Aigionian’s reach.

Athenodoros and his supporters, especially the highly protective Melankomas and Sarapion, had ensured that the boy had been safe away from the stadium. However, they had sadly been unable to prevent an act of perfidy taking place in the athletic arena itself.

Athenodoros now felt the tiny golden shape of Nike in his grip, such possession of the lucky charm still being a constant habit during competitive races. Unprecedented anger then seared through the boy’s gorgeous naked body, as if the goddess herself was making her fury, at being denied another victory, known to him.

In an instant, Athenodoros had regained his feet and was again racing.

(Latium, Italia, same time)

‘Nosce te ipsum.’

(‘Know thyself.’)

- Inscription at the temple of Apollo in Delphi.

Servius, neatly attired in a rich warm toga, and being munificently attended by two of Palaemon’s servants whilst he rode through the countryside of Latium, north of Rome, in the renowned teacher’s carpentum, silently thanked the gods for his salvation. However, he then rather ungratefully wondered if he really wanted to continue to live in the longer term, even away from the hell of the galley, without his wife, child and balls.

Fortunately, despite the return of such disturbing depressive thoughts, the young 18 year-old eunuch eventually decided to afford life in this world one more chance, by seeing what eventual arrival in Umbria would bring.

(Olympia, Elis, Greece, same time)

‘Bis vincit qui se vincit in victoria.’

(‘He who conquers himself into victory, wins twice.’)

- Publius Syrus

Whilst holding each other’s hands, Athenodoros and a still unmarked and very handsome Melankomas had found their secret hillside grove once more. They then, without speaking, again quickly helped each other to strip, finding their respectively 16 and 20 year-old cocks already rigid in anticipation of the night to come.

After making love, the beautiful pair would invariably reminisce until their sexual desires and energies were restored and their mouths were required for other tasks.

Meanwhile, their discarded tunics, on the ground nearby, were crowned with two more freshly won olive wreaths, symbolic of a duo of men’s champions of the 207th Olympiad.

(To be continued in chapter XXXII – ‘Circumcisions’)

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