Egeria (Rome) - Historical and Cultural Background

Historical and Cultural Background

• Publius Servilius appears confused when ordered to nominate Caesar as his consular colleague for the coming year, pointing out that, as Dictator, Caesar already has full authority and imperium. Caesar's dictatorship was technically unconstitutional, hence Antony's desire to strengthen the pretext of legitimacy to Caesar's office.
• In trying to create new jobs, Antony orders (on behalf of Caesar), that Italian farms must convert their workforces to be at least one-third freeborn. At the time of the late republic, most farming in the Italian countryside was done on large, slave-worked plantations (latifundia), owned by the upper class, including the senators. Being forced to hire freeborn workers for wages instead of relying on slave labor would be a severe financial blow to these owners.
• As Vorenus and Pullo are leaving Antony's audience chamber, Vorenus fumes about Antony's casual way of receiving clients - with a prostitute and dwarf in attendance on him. He mentions the names of some historic heroes of the republic: Cinncinatus, Gaius Marius, and Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. All of these men were regarded as popular heroes. Caesar, in particular, was Marius's nephew, and likewise cast himself in the role of a champion for the common people, against the aristocracy.
• Though it is not mentioned in the episode, Caesar's reversal of fortunes in Greece came after the Battle of Dyrrhachium in 48 BC. The line in Caesar's letter, "now the cat barks at the dog, and Pompey is chasing me," may be an indirect reference to the aftermath of Dyrrhachium, when Caesar was retreating towards Thessaly.
• Niobe prays before a woman painted red, in a shrine to Bona Dea, the good goddess, the goddess of the household and friend to wives. Octavia also exclaims "Bona Dea!" as a minor oath, when she sees her mother examining the naked slave she plans to give Servilia.
• Egeria is a figure of Roman mythology — a water nymph and sympathetic spirit to women. The eponymous nymph was famous and revered for having given wise counsel to ancient king Numa Pompilius; the name is still commonly used in French to mean the female inspirator of a political man. Ironically, Egeria is also the name of the young "lady of the evening" to whom Octavian loses his virginity.
• The price charged for Egeria's services is given as "one thousand." It is unclear what denomination of coin the madam is referring to, but as most prices in the series seem to be rendered in denarii, it is a reasonable assumption that 1,000 denarii is the fee. The value of the Denarius is discussed in How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic, but 1,000 denarii is, roughly, USD $20,000. Even if the "madam" is speaking of 1,000 sestertii, this amount is still approximately USD $5,000. Titus Pullo's amazed reaction seems warranted. Note that this is one third the amount Atia pays for two necklaces earlier in the episode.
• In agreeing to pay the brothel's extravagant price, Pullo warns the madam that Octavian's girl better be like "Helen of Troy." In Rome, Helen was commonly thought of as a promiscuous whore, because her adulterous relationship with Paris was regarded as the cause of the Trojan War.
• Niobe tells Vorenus that "the calendar is right" for having sex with him. Fertility was seen as a paramount virtue in ancient Roman women, and producing children was a wife's sacred duty.
• Octavian tells Egeria to assume a position on her hands and knees before he has sex with her; according to the audio commentary for Episode I, "The Stolen Eagle," this position (called "doggy style" in modern slang), was called "The Lioness," in Ancient Rome, and was very popular.
• When Antony slaps Atia, Merula draws a knife and advances on their bed. In addition to all other duties, slaves were expected to safeguard their masters; those who failed to prevent an attack on them could legally be put to death.
• Pullo comments on the cleanliness of the upscale brothel; most brothels were notoriously dirty, smelly, and violent.
• Slaves were priced differently according to their looks, ages, and, depending on what sort of work they were needed for, their physical attributes and/or their intelligence and abilities with writing and arithmetic. Slaves bought for sexual purposes, such as the one Atia buys for Servilia, were among the highest-priced.
• Along with the stud-slave and crown, Atia instructs her major-domo to send Servilia six barrels of ice. Ice was the ultimate luxury good in Ancient Rome. Since the Romans had no means of refrigeration, ice was gathered from snowpeaks on mountaintops, then brought down in specially insulated barrels and stored in specially insulated holes, to keep it from melting.
• Vorenus assures Pullo that "a very favorable offerering was made to Triton". In ancient times, it was standard practice to make offerings to gods of the sea before a voyage to gain favor and thus be assured that one would have a safe journey.