Read Online One Virgin Too Many by Lindsey Davis - Free Book Online
Authors: Lindsey Davis
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Who is the deity?"
"Dea Dia, the lady otherwise known as Ops."
"In charge of crops since time began?"
"Since Romulus ploughed the city boundary."
I glanced down at Julia, but she was contentedly examining one of her own tiny sandals. She had gripped her little fat ankle and pulled up her toes, with an interested expression that meant she was thinking about eating her own foot. I decided to let her learn from empirical research.
Decimus continued his tale: "The first day of the rites takes place in Rome at the house of the Master of the Arvals--the chief Brother for that year. They offer fruits, wine, and incense at sunrise to the Dea Dia, anoint her statue, then hold a formal feast at which further offerings are made and the Brothers receive gifts in return for attending."
Travel and subsistence, eh? A nice clique to join.
"The most important rites--today's--see the election of the next Master in the Sacred Grove of the Dea Dia. I am hoping this will be the cue for them to hint at whether Aulus has been successful. I expect that the newly elected Master has some say in who will be taken on under his leadership."
"I wish you well. It would be a great coup. Being an Arval Brother is one of the honors given to the highest in society."
I did not exaggerate. Young males in the imperial family, for instance, would expect automatic co-option to the Arvals as super-numeraries. Probably our current princes, Titus and Domitian, had joined already. Normal membership totaled twelve only. Vacancies must be keenly sought after. I reckoned the Camilli were probably overstretching when they put up Aelianus for this, but it was not the moment to criticize.
Mildly affected by the wine, even the senator seemed ready to admit the real situation. "We don't stand much chance, Marcus. Bloody snobs!"
"Have they actually voted?" I asked carefully.
"No. That takes place in the Temple of Concord in the Forum and seems to be kept separate."
We perused our cups and thought about the inequalities of life.
* * *
It was at this point that, against expectations, the young man under discussion appeared in the study doorway. His white festival outfit was badly crumpled, and he looked flushed. He was probably tipsy, but his face never gave away much.
Aelianus was more sturdily built and less fine featured than his sister and younger brother. A good chunk of Roman manhood, in his way: athletic and possessing good reflexes. He left his sister to be the reader in the family, while his brother was the linguist. Straight sprouting hair, cut rather longer than suited him; dark eyes; a sallow complexion at present: too many nights out with the boys. I would have envied him his lifestyle, but even though he was given too much freedom, he was plainly not happy.
"Yes, I'm here! Still, cheer up, Aulus." He hated his sister living with an informer. Now Helena and I had made it permanent, I enjoyed teasing him.
Aelianus just stood there, neither coming in to join us nor storming off in annoyance. His father demanded to know any news about his co-option.
"I didn't get in." He could hardly bear to say it.
Decimus asked who was elected. His son forced out a name I did not know; Decimus exclaimed in disgust.
"Oh, he's a good fellow," Aelianus managed to mutter, surprisingly mildly.
I murmured sympathy. "Helena will be very sorry to hear this." She would realize that it was one more slapdown for a brother who might be spoiled for good unless he soon bagged some public achievements.
More than his failure with the Arvals was bothering him. Both his father and I belatedly stared harder at Aelianus. He looked as if he was going to throw up. "Buried your face in too many goblets?" He shook his head. I grabbed a tasteful ceramic from a shelf with a vase collection and proffered it anyway. Just in time.
It was an Athenian cup, featuring a boy with his tutor, a nice didactic subject for one who seemed to have overindulged himself. The vessel had decent proportions
"Dea Dia, the lady otherwise known as Ops."
"In charge of crops since time began?"
"Since Romulus ploughed the city boundary."
I glanced down at Julia, but she was contentedly examining one of her own tiny sandals. She had gripped her little fat ankle and pulled up her toes, with an interested expression that meant she was thinking about eating her own foot. I decided to let her learn from empirical research.
Decimus continued his tale: "The first day of the rites takes place in Rome at the house of the Master of the Arvals--the chief Brother for that year. They offer fruits, wine, and incense at sunrise to the Dea Dia, anoint her statue, then hold a formal feast at which further offerings are made and the Brothers receive gifts in return for attending."
Travel and subsistence, eh? A nice clique to join.
"The most important rites--today's--see the election of the next Master in the Sacred Grove of the Dea Dia. I am hoping this will be the cue for them to hint at whether Aulus has been successful. I expect that the newly elected Master has some say in who will be taken on under his leadership."
"I wish you well. It would be a great coup. Being an Arval Brother is one of the honors given to the highest in society."
I did not exaggerate. Young males in the imperial family, for instance, would expect automatic co-option to the Arvals as super-numeraries. Probably our current princes, Titus and Domitian, had joined already. Normal membership totaled twelve only. Vacancies must be keenly sought after. I reckoned the Camilli were probably overstretching when they put up Aelianus for this, but it was not the moment to criticize.
Mildly affected by the wine, even the senator seemed ready to admit the real situation. "We don't stand much chance, Marcus. Bloody snobs!"
"Have they actually voted?" I asked carefully.
"No. That takes place in the Temple of Concord in the Forum and seems to be kept separate."
We perused our cups and thought about the inequalities of life.
* * *
It was at this point that, against expectations, the young man under discussion appeared in the study doorway. His white festival outfit was badly crumpled, and he looked flushed. He was probably tipsy, but his face never gave away much.
Aelianus was more sturdily built and less fine featured than his sister and younger brother. A good chunk of Roman manhood, in his way: athletic and possessing good reflexes. He left his sister to be the reader in the family, while his brother was the linguist. Straight sprouting hair, cut rather longer than suited him; dark eyes; a sallow complexion at present: too many nights out with the boys. I would have envied him his lifestyle, but even though he was given too much freedom, he was plainly not happy.
"Yes, I'm here! Still, cheer up, Aulus." He hated his sister living with an informer. Now Helena and I had made it permanent, I enjoyed teasing him.
Aelianus just stood there, neither coming in to join us nor storming off in annoyance. His father demanded to know any news about his co-option.
"I didn't get in." He could hardly bear to say it.
Decimus asked who was elected. His son forced out a name I did not know; Decimus exclaimed in disgust.
"Oh, he's a good fellow," Aelianus managed to mutter, surprisingly mildly.
I murmured sympathy. "Helena will be very sorry to hear this." She would realize that it was one more slapdown for a brother who might be spoiled for good unless he soon bagged some public achievements.
More than his failure with the Arvals was bothering him. Both his father and I belatedly stared harder at Aelianus. He looked as if he was going to throw up. "Buried your face in too many goblets?" He shook his head. I grabbed a tasteful ceramic from a shelf with a vase collection and proffered it anyway. Just in time.
It was an Athenian cup, featuring a boy with his tutor, a nice didactic subject for one who seemed to have overindulged himself. The vessel had decent proportions
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