During the emperor’s time, there were many women who became mistresses. Some were gladiators, dandies, and even slave girls. During that time, there was also a plot to kill the emperor.
Roman Emperors
Octavia and her sons are quite famous in Roman society. Octavia hosts salons in her old age. She also enjoys reading good novels.
She has many distinguished forebears in politics. Her son Tiberius Gracchus was raised in luxury. He wants to become a great man like his dad. He plans to take up the plebian torch.
Octavia also has friends in high places. Her sons’ death is violent. But her influence is probably growing the Roman Republic.
Her husband, Servlius, is a member of the Roman Senate. They married in 62 BCE. Their relationship is not a secret. It gives her new contacts and influences. Servilia may not be willing to marry Caesar but it is not a secret. She may also be concerned about Caesar’s motives. She may even prefer Caesar as a lover rather than a husband.
Jewish Slave Girl
Among the many slaves to grace the pages of Mistress of Rome is a Jewish slave girl. Thea is bought as a toy for a spoiled heiress named Lepida Pollia, and is soon swept up in the evil schemes of her ruthless mistress.
Thea is not above corporal punishment, but does have a secret passion for music. The book is also chock full of trigger warnings.
The main storyline takes place in the first century, and it’s all about love. The book begins with the story of two slaves, one Jewish and one Roman, who are caught in a tussle for supremacy in the gladiator ring.
Mistress of Rome is a historical novel set in ancient Rome. It follows the lives of Thea, a Jewish slave girl, and Arius, the newest gladiator in town. The two live together for 20 years, and are not always the best of friends. Thea is also involved in a plot to assassinate the Emperor of Rome.
Roman Dandies
During the Roman era, the city of eternal gladiators had a few notable women. While the ladies of Rome did their best to keep the peace, they were not immune to the rages of the patriarchy. The city of Caesar’s youth is a breeding ground for political intrigue.
It is not surprising that there are a number of cutthroats in the capital. This is especially true during night time. While the city is not prone to streetlights, it does have a number of notable ladies of the night. The most powerful of these ladies is Fulvia, the mob boss’s mistress of ceremonies.
It is not surprising that there are many men of the night in the city of eternal gladiators, but Fulvia is the queen bee. She is not only the master of the mistresses of the night, but she is the most powerful woman in the capital.
Roman Gladiators
Throughout the first centuries of Rome, there were many types of gladiators. These were either free or slaves. Some were trained and others were not. Some gladiators were criminals sentenced to death. Others were free citizens.
Gladiator fights were extremely organized and included live music and drink. Matches lasted about 10 to 15 minutes. The winner was determined by the gladiator who killed his opponent.
Women were not considered gladiators, though they participated in the game. This is because women were considered unnatural and debasement of their social standing. They also fought against animals, a rare practice in Roman society.
The first recorded gladiator fight took place in 264 B.C. at the funeral of a notable aristocrat. The Romans believed that the blood of the gladiator cured the souls of the dead. They also used the blood as an aphrodisiac.
Plot to Kill the Emperor
During the early years of Nero’s rule, the emperor had a powerful influence on the life of his mother, Julia Agrippina. He considered her a problem and tried to keep her from giving answers to foreign countries. As Nero grew into the powerhouse of the empire, his relationship with Agrippina weakened.
During this time, a conspiracy was afoot against Nero. His wife, Domitilla, had a sexual relationship with an actor, Paris. She married her brother, Domitian, after a divorce from her husband. She was a married woman in her late thirties, but Domitian misses her.
One of Domitian’s slaves, Epaphroditus, was loyal to Titus, who was in turn loyal to Vespasian. He was a part of the small group of conspirators against Commodus. He was also a freedman of the emperor.