Eight for Eternity (26 page)
Read Eight for Eternity Online
Authors: Mary Reed,Eric Mayer
Tags: #Mystery, #FICTION, #Mystery & Detective, #General
“So Hippolytus planned the murder.”
John offered Felix a thin smile. “Planned a murder using belladonna? A man who had, by all appearances, strangled another man with his bare hands at Saint Laurentius? And where would Hippolytus obtain such a poison? Was he a friend of Antonina, whose apartments are filled with all sorts of concoctions for magick and aids to beauty, including making eyes more attractive? No, it was Julianna who poisoned Haik to save both her father and her lover. But she saved no one. Not even herself.”
Again in memory John pulled a wisp of green silk over Julianna’s still face.
It was not the last time he would do so.
Eight for Eternity
is based on historical events and many of the characters who appear in the novel were real people.
Justinian I is generally acknowledged as one of the greatest of the Roman emperors. He reconquered Africa and Italy, his codification of the laws served as the basis for western jurisprudence, and we still marvel at the architectural wonders he commissioned, such as Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia. However, his long reign (527 to 565) was nearly cut short by a series of street riots in 532.
Many of the rioters belonged to the Blue and Green factions, who took their names from the colors of the chariot racing teams they supported. The factions were notorious for engaging in agitation, hooliganism, and murder. On January 10, 532, the City Prefect Eudaemon ordered the execution of seven of them. Something went wrong and two—a Blue and a Green—survived their hangings, were rescued, and taken to sanctuary at the Church of Saint Laurentius.
Calls for the release of the survivors soon escalated into a general political uprising. Justinian attempted to placate the citizenry by removing from office three unpopular officials: Prefect Eudaemon, the tax collector John the Cappadocian, and the legal advisor Tribonian. However, rioting and arson continued in Constantinople. Neither armed force nor bribery by the emperor’s treasurer, the eunuch Narses, seemed sufficient to put down the insurrection. The emperor and his court took refuge in the Great Palace. It has been said that Justiian intended to flee but was persuaded to stay and fight by Empress Theodora.
The mobs looked to the family of former emperor Anastasius for leadership. When Justinian expelled Anastasius’ nephews, Pompeius and Hypatius, from the palace, the crowd quickly dragged Hypatius from his house and crowned him emperor. Fortunately for Justinan, the generals Belisarius and Mundus happened to be in the capital with their troops. When the rioters congregated in the Hippodrome, the generals descended upon them and the ensuing slaughter left at least thirty thousand dead and Justinian still in power. Hypatius and Pompeius were executed on January 19.
There are contemporary accounts of the riots from Procopius, John Malalas, John Lydus, and Marcellinus. They differ in their emphasis and their explanations of the causes, although none seems to have pointed to the near adoption of the Persian Chosroes by Emperor Justin some years earlier. The adoption negotiations described in Eight For Eternity actually occurred, according to Procopius in his History of the Wars. As personal secretary to Belisarius he was in a good position to know.
The charioteer Porphyrius was also a real person, famed both for his racing prowess and his excursions into politics, as we mention. Much of what we know about him comes from the epigrams on the monuments erected in his honor.
Belisarius married Antonina. According to Procopius’
Secret History
she kept the great general at her beck and call by means of magick.
All dates are CE unless otherwise indicated
ADOPTION BY ARMS AND ARMOR
Ceremony apparently involving the gift of these items, which when carried out between individuals of similar power but different ages created a father/son relationship. It was looked upon as appropriate only for barbarians.
ANASTASIUS I (c 430-518; r 491-518)
Minor functionary who became emperor upon the death of Emperor Zeno (d 491; r 474-491), whose widow, Ariadne, Anastasius married after his elevation to the purple. Anastasius was a MONOPHYSITE, which put him at odds with the orthodox church and caused an unsuccessful rebellion led by VITALIAN, who was defeated in 515. Anastasius was a supporter of the REDS racing FACTION.
ATRIUM
Central area of a Roman house.
ATROPOS
Oldest of the three Fates. The other two were Clotho, the spinner, who formed the thread of life, and Lachesis, the allotter or dispenser of time, who measured its length. Atropos, the inexorable, cut it with her shears at the moment of death.
AUGUSTAION
Public square on the south side of the GREAT CHURCH, accessible from the MESE.
BATHS OF ZEUXIPPOS
Public baths in Constantinople. Situated northeast of the HIPPODROME, they were generally considered the most luxurious of the city’s public baths.
BELISARIUS (c 505-565)
General whose exploits included retaking northern Africa and successful campaigns against the Vandals and the Persians. He also assisted in putting put down the NIKA RIOTS in Constantinople. He is said to have relied heavily upon advice from his wife Antonina.
BLUES
See FACTIONS.
CABADES I (b 449; r 488-531)
King of Persia and father of CHOSROES I. Also known as Kavadh.
CERBERUS
Three-headed dog guarding the entrance to Hades.
CHALKE
Main entrance to the GREAT PALACE. One of many structures destroyed during the NIKA RIOTS and rebuilt by JUSTINIAN I.
CHOSROES I (b 501; r 531-579)
King of Persia whose rule spanned most of JUSTINIAN’S reign, he was the third son and favorite of CABADES I. Although Chosroes concluded an Eternal Peace with the Romans shortly after assuming power, hostilities resumed in 540.
CODEX
Book with manuscript pages.
COMPLUVIUM
Opening in the center of the ATRIUM roof admitting light and air and allowing rain to fall into a sunken pool for subsequent household use.
CONCRETE
Roman concrete, consisting of lime, volcanic ash, and pieces of rock, was used in a wide range of structures from cisterns to the Pantheon in Rome, which has survived for nearly 2,000 years without the steel reinforcing rods commonly used in modern concrete buildings.
CONSTANTINE I (c 272-337; r 306-337)
A Christian convert although not baptized until he was dying, he made Constantinople the capital of the empire.
CONSTANTIUS II (c 317-361 r 337-361)
Son of CONSTANTINE I.
DALMATIC
Long, wide-sleeved tunic.
ETERNAL PEACE
See CHOSROES I.
DAPHNE PALACE
Complex of buildings, said to be the oldest on the grounds of the GREAT PALACE. Located on their western side.
EUNUCH
Eunuchs played an important part in the army, church, and civil administration of the Byzantine Empire. Many high offices in the palace administration were typically held by eunuchs.
EXCUBITORS
Imperial guard. JUSTIN, uncle of JUSTINIAN I, became emperor after rising through the ranks to become commander of the excubitors.
FACTIONS
Supporters of the BLUES or the GREENS, taking their names from the racing colors of the chariot team they favored. Great rivalry existed between them, and they had their own seating sections at the HIPPODROME. Brawls between the factions were not uncommon, and occasionally escalated into city-wide riots. Originally the factions also included REDS and Whites. Although these still existed, by the sixth century they had become secondary and were absorbed into the two more prominent factions.
FUNALES
Outer pair of horses pulling a four-horse chariot.
GALEN (c 130–c 201)
Celebrated physician whose writings on medical topics greatly influenced the profession for centuries. Eighty or so are known, and he also wrote numerous philosophical treatises.
GREAT CHURCH
Also known as the Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom). The first Great Church was inaugurated in 360 and burnt down in 404. The second was erected in 415, but destroyed during the NIKA RIOTS. It was replaced by the existing Hagia Sophia, constructed by order of JUSTINIAN I and consecrated in December 537.
GREAT PALACE
Located in southeastern Constantinople, it was not one building but many, set amid trees and gardens. The grounds included barracks for the EXCUBITORS, ceremonial rooms, meeting halls, the imperial family’s living quarters, churches, and housing for court officials, ambassadors, and various other dignitaries.
GREENS
See FACTIONS
HALL OF THE NINETEEN COUCHES
Located on the grounds of the GREAT PALACE, the hall was used for ceremonial banquets.
HECATE
Goddess associated with the underworld, darkness, and sorcery. Crossroads, particularly where three roads met, were sacred to her. She was often evoked in magick rituals and on curse tablets.
HERACLEA
City lying on the coast of the Sea of Marmara. Its modern name is Eregli.
HERULI
Germanic people thought to have originated in Scandinavia. Large numbers of Heruli served in the Roman army.
HIPPODROME
U-shaped race track near the GREAT PALACE. The Hippodrome had tiered seating accommodating up thousands of spectators and was also used for public celebrations and other civic events.
ISAURIA
Province in Asia Minor, occupied by a notoriously rebellious people. ANASTASIUS I quelled a revolt, but although the Isaurians were soundly defeated at the battle of Cotyaeum (491) it took several years to finally subdue them.
JUSTIN I (c 450-527; r 518-527)
Born in the province of Dardania in present day Macedonia, Justin and two friends journeyed to Constantinople to seek their fortunes. All three joined the EXCUBITORS. Justin eventually rose to hold the rank of commander and was declared emperor upon the death of ANASTASIUS I. Justin’s nephew JUSTINIAN I was crowned co-emperor in April 527, four months before Justin died.
JUSTINIAN I (483-565; r 527-565)
Nephew of JUSTIN I and his successor to the throne. Justinian’s greatest ambition was to restore the Roman empire to its former glory. He succeeded in temporarily regaining North Africa, Italy, and southeastern Spain. He ordered the codification of Roman law and after the NIKA RIOTS rebuilt the GREAT CHURCH as well as many other buildings in Constantinople. He married THEODORA in 525.
KATHISMA
Imperial box at the HIPPODROME.
KEEPER OF THE PLATE
Court official responsible for the care of palace plate, which included ceremonial items as well as imperial platters, ewers, goblets, and various types of dishes, often made of precious metals.
KNUCKLEBONRS
Popular pastime resembling a game of dice.
LAZICA
Lying along the Black Sea, the territory was claimed by both Romans and Persians and was the scene of a number of conflicts between the two empires.
LYSIPPOS (4th century BCE)
Greek sculptor notable for his bronze works, said to number over a thousand.
MESE
Main thoroughfare of Constantinople. Enriched with columns, arches, statuary depicting secular, military, imperial, and religious subjects, fountains, religious establishments, monuments, emporiums, public baths, and private dwellings, it was a perfect mirror of the heavily populated and densely built city it traversed.
MITHRA
Sun god. It was said Mithra was born in a cave or from a rock, and that as soon as he emerged into the world he clothed himself with leaves from a fig tree and ate of its fruit. Mithra is usually shown in the act of slaying the Great (or Cosmic) Bull, from which all animal and vegetable life sprang. A depiction of this scene was in every MITHRAEUM. Mithra was also known as Mithras.
MITHRAEUM
Place of worship dedicated to MITHRA. They have been found on sites as far apart as northern England and what is now the Holy Land.
MONOPHYSITE
Adherent to the belief that Christ had only a single divine nature, as opposed to the orthodox church’s position that Christ had both a divine and a human nature. Monophysitism had many adherents during the sixth century including ANASTASIUS I and, reportedly, THEODORA.
MUNDUS (d 536)
General serving JUSTINIAN I. He was in Constantinople when the NIKA RIOTS broke out and assisted BELISARIUS in defeating the rioters.
NARD
Persian name for backgammon.
NARSES (c 478-573)
Served JUSTINIAN I both as chamberlain and general. A EUNUCH, he held administrative roles at court and was among those responsible for subduing the NIKA RIOTS. In 552 he was commander of the Roman forces which temporarily reconquered Italy.
NIKA RIOTS
Much of Constantinople was burnt down in 532 during these riots. They took their name from the mobs’ cry of Nika! (Victory!) and almost led to the downfall of JUSTINIAN I.
NOMISMA (Plural: NOMISMATA)
Standard gold coin at the time of JUSTINIAN I.
NUMMI (Singular: NUMMUS)
Smallest copper coin in the early Byzantine period.
ON HORSEMANSHIP
See XENOPHON.
PATRIARCH
Bishop of the see of an eastern orthodox church.
PERISTYLE
Colonnade around a building or the four sides of a courtyard or similar enclosed space.
PLATO’S ACADEMY
Greek philosopher Plato (?428 BCE-347 BCE) founded his academy in 387 BCE. It was among pagan schools closed in 529 by order of JUSTINIAN I.
PORPHYRIUS (6th century)
Born in Libya, Porphyrius had a long and successful chariot-racing career, originally with the BLUES and then the GREENS, subsequently switching back and forth between them. Both teams erected statues honoring him on the SPINA of the HIPPODROME. He is said to have continued racing until into his sixties.
PRAETORIUM
Housed the administrative offices of the Prefect of the URBAN WATCH, courts, and a prison.
QUADRIGA
Chariot drawn by four horses harnessed abreast.
REDS
See FACTIONS.
RESHEPH
Ancient near-eastern god of pestilence.
SAMSUN’S HOSPICE
Founded by Samsun (d 530), a physician and priest. Also known as Sampson or Samson the Hospitable, he is referred to as the Father of the Poor because of his work among the destitute. His hospice was near the GREAT CHURCH.
SAUSAGES
Popular Roman dish. Spicy Lucanian sausages, said to have been brought to Rome by soldiers returning from service in Lucania in southern Italy, were considered the best type.
SCHOLARE (Plural: Scholarae)
Member of a ceremonial mounted military unit, composed largely of wealthy young courtiers.
SILENTIARY
Court official whose duties were similar to those of an usher.
STYX
River crossed by the souls of the dead in order to reach the underworld.
TESSERAE (Singular: tessera)
Small cubes, usually of stone or glass, utilized in the creation of mosaics.
THEODORA (c 497-548)
Influential wife of JUSTINIAN I, whom she married in 525. The contemporary writer Procopius alleges she had been an actress and a prostitute. Her father was said to have been a bear-keeper for the GREENS, a faction she subsequently supported.
THEODORIC (454-526; r Ostrogoths 47l-526; r Italy 493-526)
Known as Theodoric the Great, he was educated in Constantinople, having been taken there as a diplomatic hostage at the age of eight. During his reign he favored Roman methods of government and law.
TREBIZOND
Important center of commerce located on the Asia Minor side of the Black Sea.
TUNICA
Under-garment.
URBAN WATCH
Responsible for maintaining public order and equivalent to a modern day city police force.
VITALIAN (d 520)
Defeated after leading a rebellion in Thrace against the MONOPHYSITE beliefs of ANASTASIUS I, Vitalian went into hiding in 515. When JUSTIN I became emperor in 518 Vitalian returned to Constantinople. Appointed consul in 520, he was murdered several months later at an imperial banquet. Popular rumor maintained JUSTINIAN I was responsible for his assassination.
XENOPHON (c 430 BCE-c 355 BCE)
Athenian soldier, historian, and author, his treatise ON HORSEMANSHIP is an outstanding work on equine training and care. Having fought on the side of the Spartans in their war with Athens, he was exiled and lived for some time in Sparta. Although his banishment was lifted, it is not known when or if he returned to Athens. The location and date of his death is uncertain.