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The Characters
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
Magister Equitum (Commander of the Cavalry) for Caesar and Dictator
He is the loyal lieutenant and trusted general of the Dictator, responsible for the safety of Rome.
Gaius Julius Caesar
Perpetual Dictator of Rome and Pontifex Maximus
The central figure and the most powerful man in the Roman world.
Junia
Wife of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
Roman matron belonging to the noble and historic Gens Junia (related to Brutus).
Cleopatra
Queen of Egypt
Influential presence in Rome, whose relationship with Caesar and her exotic origin raise fears and political tensions among the Republicans.
Decimus Brutus
General
Caesar's trusted man, valiant commander and part of the political elite.
Quintus Fabius Maximus
Suffect Consul
Man of high rank and Caesar's loyalist, whose unexpected death triggers the investigation.
Marcus Junius Brutus
Urban Praetor
Noble of the highest rank, whose figure is a symbol of republican ideals.
Gaius Cassius Longinus
Praetor
Influential noble and prominent figure of the ruling class.
Claudius
Centurion of the XI Legion
Head of Lepido's personal guard.
Decius
Veteran of the XI Legion
Commander of a cavalry turma under Lepido's command.
Dionysius ("The Greek")
Lepidus' Physician and Pharmacist
A man of science and personal advisor.
Nubian Slave
Personal Servant
Personal servant of Quintus Fabius Maximus.
Lictors
Lictors / Escort Officers
Men in service of Lepido and the other magistrates.
Gaius Epidius Marullus
Tribune of the Plebs
Magistrate who enjoys sacrosanctitas.
Lucius Caesetius Flavus
Tribune of the Plebs
Co-magistrate of Marullus.
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Orator and Senator
The most famous lawyer in Rome and a leading intellectual figure.
Calpurnia
Wife of Julius Caesar
Roman matron, deeply superstitious.
Porcia
Wife of Marcus Junius Brutus
Daughter of Cato, she embodies severe Stoic morality and the purest republican ideals.
Mark Antony
Consul and Lieutenant of Caesar
Loyal and impulsive general, Caesar's consul colleague and public supporter of his power.
Spurinna
Etruscan Augur
Soothsayer and interpreter of omens, whose role is to read the will of the Gods through sacrifices.
Alexander the Great
Macedonian warlord turned legend. He represents the archetype of the perfect conqueror and the ambition to unify the known world.
Anna Perenna
Ancient Roman divinity of the year's cycle and longevity. Her festival (March 15) was celebrated with popular picnics, wine and wild joy.
Apollo
Greco-Roman god of light, music, prophecy and rational order. Often associated with harmony, in contrast to chaos.
Avernus / Hades
The Underworld. Avernus is the physical entrance to the Underworld (often located in volcanic zones), while Hades is the realm of the dead itself. Symbol of darkness and oblivion.
Brutus (Lucius Junius)
The "Ancient Brutus". Legendary founder of the Republic who expelled the Kings. He is the supreme symbol of republican freedom and tyrannicide.
Cacus
Fire-breathing monster who lived on the Aventine Hill, killed by Hercules for stealing cattle. Symbolizes disorder and theft, punished by heroic force.
Elysian Fields
Place of bliss in the Underworld, destined for the souls of heroes and the just. An eternal spring without pain or toil.
Charon
The ferryman of the Underworld. He transports the souls of the dead across the river Styx or Acheron, demanding an obol (coin) in return.
Castor and Pollux (the Dioscuri)
Castor and Pollux, twin sons of Jupiter. Warlike deities and protectors of Rome and the equestrian order. Their temple overlooks the Forum.
Catiline
Lucius Sergius Catilina. Roman noble who authored a famous conspiracy thwarted by Cicero. He has become the historical symbol of betrayal and internal subversion.
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero. Although a contemporary, he is already a symbol of eloquence, of the defense of the law and traditional republican values.
Hercules
Demigod symbol of physical strength, courage and victory over monstrosities (Labours). Venerated as "Hercules Victor", protector of merchants and warriors.
Asclepius
God of medicine and healing. His symbol is the staff with the snake coiled around it.
Eurydice and Orpheus
Tragic myth about love and death. Orpheus descended to the Underworld to save his beloved Eurydice, but lost her by looking back before emerging into the light. Symbol of the fatal mistake.
Faunus
Ancient Italic divinity of wild nature, fertility and forests. Figure central to the Lupercalia festival.
Fortuna
Goddess of chance and destiny. Capricious and unpredictable, she can raise or destroy men in an instant.
Janus
Two-faced god of beginnings, doors and passages. His month (January) opens the year. He looks simultaneously at the past and the future.
Jupiter Latiaris
Jupiter Latiaris was the supreme deity and protector of the ancient confederation of the Latin peoples, venerated on Mount Cavo (ancient Mons Albanus). He represented the sky god and the fulcrum of religious and political unity between Rome and the cities of Latium, celebrated with the Feriae Latinae.
Jupiter Optimus Maximus
King of the Gods and supreme divinity of the Roman State. Guarantor of oaths, of the laws and authority. His temple on the Capitoline Hill is the sacred heart of Rome.
Jupiter Terminalis
Aspect of Jupiter associated with Terminus, the god of boundaries. Sacred and inviolable, he protects the limits of property and the State.
Gracchi
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. Tribunes of the plebs who attempted agrarian reforms and ended up killed. Symbol of social struggles and political violence.
Hydra
Serpentine monster with many heads (the Lernaean Hydra). If one head was cut off, two grew back in its place. Killed by Hercules in his second labour.
Lares
Protective spirits of the home (domus) and of the family. Venerated in the domestic lararium, they watch over the prosperity of the hearth.
Lemures
Spirits of the dead, restless and potentially malevolent nocturnal spirits that have not found peace.
Capitoline She-Wolf
Sacred animal of Mars that nursed Romulus and Remus. Maternal and fierce symbol of the founding and destiny of Rome.
Mars
God of war and legendary father of Romulus. Invoked to obtain martial virtue, strength and victory in battle.
Pluto
God and lord of the Underworld (Greek equivalent of Hades). He governs the shadows and the riches of the underworld.
Pompey the Great
Gnaeus Pompey. Caesar's great rival, defeated in the civil war. He represents the old Republic and, for some, lost legitimacy.
Romulus
Founder and first King of Rome. After his death he ascended to heaven becoming the god Quirinus. Symbol of the sacred origins of the city.
Saturn
Ancient divinity of agriculture and time (associated with the Greek Kronos). According to the myth, he devoured his own children for fear of being overthrown. He reigned during the Age of Gold.
Sibyl
Prophetic priestess inspired by Apollo. The Sibylline Books were consulted by the Senate in times of grave crisis to know the will of the gods.
Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Dictator who reformed the State with blood and proscription lists. Historical symbol of tyranny and absolute power.
Sirens
Mythological creatures half woman and half bird (or fish) who enchant with their song, luring sailors toward ruin. Metaphor of deceptive seduction.
Styx
Infernal river that separates the world of the living from that of the dead. Its waters rendered people invulnerable (as with Achilles) or represented an impassable boundary.
Tarquin (the Proud)
The last King of Rome, driven out for his tyranny. His name is synonymous with despotism and justifies the Roman hatred of monarchy.
Tartarus
The deepest abyss of the Underworld, eternal prison for the Titans and great sinners punished by the gods.
Tiber
Pater Tiberinus. The river god that flows through Rome. Protector of the city, receiving and washing away impurities.
Venus Genetrix
Aspect of Venus as mother and progenitor. The Gens Iulia (Caesar's family) claimed direct descent from her through Aeneas.
Winged Victory
Goddess personifying victory. Often depicted as descending from the sky to crown the victor.
Battle of Munda
The final act of the civil war, fought in mud and blood against the sons of Pompey. It is the victory that delivered absolute power to Caesar, but left deep scars on the veterans who now walk the streets of Rome, tormented by the ghosts of that slaughter.
Civil Wars
Fifty years of fratricidal conflicts that tore apart the Republic. The shadow of these wars still stretches over the City: broken alliances, divided families and a silent grudge smoldering beneath the apparent peace imposed by the Dictator.
Gallic War
The forge where Caesar's legend was forged. Eight years of brutal campaigns that bent an entire people and created an indissoluble bond between the General and his loyalists, including men like Lepidus and Decimus Brutus.
Siege of Massilia
A reminder of iron and discipline for the veterans of the X Legion. It is the place where military valour was measured not only against barbarians, but against other Romans, forever marking the conscience of those who fought there alongside Caesar.
Battle of Pharsalus
The day the world changed. The definitive defeat of Pompey the Great and the moment when Caesar showed his famous clemency, pardoning enemies who now sit beside him in the Senate.
Parthian War
The impending, grand campaign planned by Caesar to avenge the disastrous defeat of Crassus and conquer the East. It is the horizon looming over Rome: a departure that marks an inexorable countdown for the fate of the Republic.
War Against Sulla
The dark past that marked the lineage of the Emilii. An era of proscriptions and terror in which Lepidus' father dared to challenge the dictatorship to restore voice to the people, leaving to his son a heavy legacy of courage and rebellion.
Expulsion of the Kings (Tarquin)
The foundational myth of Roman Libertas. The ancient oath that condemned monarchy and that today resonates as a frightening warning. An echo that transforms the name of "Brutus" into a fate and Caesar's power into a mortal temptation.
Forum of Caesar
Heart of the Caesarian urban renewal; seat of legal activities and of the Basilica Argentaria. It represents the Dictator's self-celebration.
Wikipedia MapTemple of Venus Genetrix
Keystone of Caesar's Forum; symbol of the divine descent of the Gens Iulia from Aeneas and Venus.
Wikipedia MapPallacinae Baths
Thermal complex located near the Circus Flaminius; place of luxury and intrigue for the Roman elite.
Wikipedia MapSuburra / Argiletum
Popular and visceral neighbourhood. Labyrinth of fire-prone insulae and a notorious nightlife.
Wikipedia MapTemple of Hercules Victor
Elegante tempio monoptero nel Forum Boarium; punto di riferimento per i mercanti.
Wikipedia MapPorticus Aemilia
Gigantic supply structure along the Tiber. Logistic hub for grain storage.
Wikipedia MapCircus Maximus
The largest entertainment building; theatre of chariot races and great gatherings.
Wikipedia MapCuria of Pompey
Temporary seat of the Senate in the Pompey's Theatre complex. Site of the assassination of Caesar.
Wikipedia MapDomus Publica
Official residence of the Pontifex Maximus in the Roman Forum. Caesar's dwelling during his term of office.
Wikipedia MapRostra Vetera
Orators' podium in the Roman Forum. The stage of militant politics and rhetoric.
Wikipedia MapCollis Quirinalis
The Quirinal Hill; hill associated with Sabine origins and seat of aristocratic residences.
Wikipedia MapRupe Tarpea
Rocky cliff on the Capitoline Hill from which traitors were thrown. Symbol of capital justice.
Wikipedia MapSaepta Iulia
Vast space in the Campus Martius originally intended for voting and later for monumental uses.
Wikipedia MapAventine Hill
The hill of the plebs and merchants, seat of numerous temples and popular neighbourhoods overlooking the Tiber.
Wikipedia MapBasilica Emilia
One of the great basilicas of the Forum, famous for its splendid façade and its shops (tabernae). Centre of business and commercial exchanges.
Wikipedia MapBasilica Giulia
The great basilica on the south side of the Forum, begun by Caesar. In 44 BC it was still an open-air construction site, symbol of the Dictator's building ambitions.
Wikipedia MapCapitoline Hill (Capitolium)
The religious and political centre of Rome, seat of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus and symbol of state authority.
Wikipedia MapCampus Martius
The vast plain consecrated to Mars, place of military training and popular assemblies.
Wikipedia MapCarceres
The starting gates for chariot races. Twelve simultaneous-opening stalls that ensured a fair start for the teams (Factions).
Wikipedia MapCaelian Hill
Hill characterised by sacred groves and luxurious residences, located southeast of the Forum.
Wikipedia MapCuria Giulia
Construction site for the new seat of the Senate, desired by Caesar after the fire of the old Curia and the demolition of the Basilica Porcia.
Wikipedia MapEsquiline Hill
A vast area that hosts both densely populated neighbourhoods and the prestigious Gardens of the Roman nobility.
Wikipedia MapForum Boarium
The ancient cattle market along the Tiber, seat of the Temple of Hercules Victor and the Temple of Portunus.
Wikipedia MapJaniculum Hill
Hill located on the right bank of the Tiber, fundamental strategic observation point over the city.
Wikipedia MapPalatine Hill
The hill of origins, where Romulus founded the City. In 44 BC it hosted the most exclusive aristocratic residences.
Wikipedia MapAemilian Bridge
The oldest stone bridge in Rome (today known as Ponte Rotto). It connected the Foro Boario with Trastevere, a crucial route for commercial traffic.
Wikipedia MapSublicius Bridge
The oldest bridge in Rome, entirely wooden (without iron nails) to be easily dismantled in case of attack. Linked to the legend of Horatius Cocles.
Wikipedia MapPorta Triumphalis
The monumental arch located at the curved end of the Circus. From here triumphal processions made their solemn entry or exit.
Wikipedia MapCloaca Maxima Outlet
The outlet into the Tiber of the great sewer system built by the Tarquins. Fundamental for the drainage of the Forum marshes and the health of the City.
Wikipedia MapTheater of Pompey
The great complex desired by Pompey. Here, in the adjoining Curia, Julius Caesar was assassinated.
Wikipedia MapTemple of Concord
Symbol of the unity between patricians and plebeians. Here the Senate met often during the late Republic, including the crucial days of the conspiracies.
Wikipedia MapTemple of Pietas
An ancient temple dedicated to Piety, located in the area of the Forum Olitorium. It was destroyed by Julius Caesar in 44 BC for the construction of the Theatre of Marcellus.
Wikipedia MapTemple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus
King of the Gods and supreme divinity of the Roman State. Guarantor of oaths, of the laws and authority. His temple on the Capitoline Hill is the sacred heart of Rome.
Wikipedia MapTemple of Quirinus
Ancient sanctuary on the Quirinale hill dedicated to Quirinus, the divinity into which Romulus was assumed after his death.
Wikipedia MapTemple of Venus Victrix
Temple dedicated to Venus Victrix, located at the top of the cavea of Pompey's Theatre, legitimising the construction of the theatre itself.
Wikipedia MapTullianum (Carcere Mamertino)
The ancient maximum-security prison where enemies of Rome, such as Vercingetorix and Catiline's conspirators, were imprisoned and executed.
Wikipedia MapVelabrum
The valley located between the Palatine and the Capitoline Hill, connecting the Roman Forum to the Forum Boarium. Originally marshy, it was drained by the Cloaca Maxima.
Wikipedia MapJupiter and Saturn
Explore the Map of Rome of 44 BC
Immerse yourself in the streets alongside Lepidus and Claudius. Navigate between the places of power, from the alleys of the Suburra to the grandeur of the Forums, and discover where history was written.
Chronology of Events
- The Consul
- The Oath
- Venus's Gaze
- The Strigil
- The Underworld
- The Rite
- Eurydice
- Il Greco
- The Public Villa
- The Sunset
- The King
- The Sun of Rome
- Thyme Honey
- The Truth
- The Ascent
- The Diadem
- The Awakening
- The Tribunes
- The Flock
- Concordia
- The Scream
- The Family
- I Am Caesar
- The Cliff
- Hercules
- The Vow
- The Man
- An Orphaned Victory
- The Blade and the Wolf
- The Two Fathers
- Romulus
- Superstition
- Science
- Archimedes
- The Sibyl
- The Reflection
- Semper Amici
- Calpurnia
- The Shadow Army
- The Last Supper
- The Rite di Mars
- The Children of the She-Wolf
- The Sirens
- Remove the Mask
- Awareness
- A Flash
- Blind Vanity
- The Commander of the Cavalry