Amelia chuckles. “Good. My husband will need someone to defend him, if Cato brings him to trial.”
The women see Scipio stand up and walk into the oak grove. He rustles about in the bushes and emerges with a shining silver javelin.
“Seven years ago I cast a spear from these steps, declaring war on the Latin Party,” Scipio says. “Now we have a new war to wage.”
“Antiochus?” Marcus asks.
Scipio nods. “Hannibal has joined him, and the Aetolians may not be far behind. And King Philip—who knows what he will do? We only know that the Syrians are coming, and that Macedonia and Aetolia may not be far behind.” He pitches the javelin toward the east.
“We will need all our allies. This isn’t a war of nations, it’s a war of empires. And I plan to win it.”
Late that evening, Scipio pads into his sleeping chamber, weary with the day’s activities. He picks Marcus Silenus’ helmet off the shelf above his sleeping pallet and sits it on the side of his bed, caressing its battered helm.
“Well, old friend, we’re getting near the end. I hope I can stay healthy long enough to fight one more battle, and get to the Syrians before the Latins get to me.”
He feels his right arm twitch, his hand convulsing into a claw. “Maybe I should just retire to Liternum, while I still have some years left to me. Haven’t I done enough?”
Scipio stares into the helmet’s yawning darkness. He chuckles. “I know—that’s the coward’s way out. Your son would say the same thing.” His voice chokes. “Gods, Marcus, he is so much like you, you would be so proud!”
Scipio bounces the helmet in his hands. “Very well, I will stay. It’s the only honorable path. Would you be ashamed of me for hoarding plunder from my victories? I swear on my children, I saw no other way to do what we needed to do.”
He taps the helmet's crown, his lips tight. “And I see no other way than what I am going to do to Lucius—and dear Laelius.”
“Are you going to bed?” Amelia says, her voice echoing in from the atrium. “Wait for me, and I will make it worth your while.”
“Then I will certainly wait,” Scipio replies.
Scipio Africanus gently places the helmet back on the shelf. He stretches out on his pallet, his arms folded behind his head. He studies the ceiling’s fresco of him battling Hannibal at Zama.
Will we meet one more time.old friend? Who will be the victor then?
About the Author
Martin Tessmer is a retired professor of instructional design and technology. He also worked as a training consultant to the US Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force.
The author of twelve nonfiction and fiction books, his most current endeavor is the Scipio Africanus Saga, which includes Scipio Rising, The Three Generals, Scipio’s Dream, and Scipio Risen.
He lives in Denver with Hector and Rita, his two Australian Cattle Dogs.
End Notes
* * *
[i] https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Scipio_Africanus
[ii] Gabriel, Richard. Scipio Africanus: Rome’s Greatest General. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books, 2008. p. xxii.
[iii] Martin Tessmer. "Three Victories." The Three Generals. Denver, CO: Dancing in Chains Publications, 2015.
[iv] Livy. Rome and the Mediterranean. Books XXXI-XLV of The History of Rome from its Foundation. Translated by Henry Bettenson. London: Penguin Books, 1976. Book 31, Section 1, Page 24.
[v] Ibid.
[vi] Mutina was the archaic name for Modena, Italy.
[vii] Livy, 31, 2, 25.
[viii] Ibid.
[ix] Ibid.
[x] https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Virgil
[xi] Scipio Rising, by Martin Tessmer.
[xii] https://www.google.com/#q=first+macedonian+war
[xiii] Also called Abydo, this is now part of northern Turkey, in the Dardanelles.
[xiv] Livy, 31, 15, 34.
[xv] Livy, 31, 17, 36.
[xvi] Ibid.
[xvii] Ibid.
[xviii] The first Macedonian War formally ended in 205 BCE, with Macedonia and Rome making peace with each other.
[xix] Livy, 31, 18, 37.
[xx] Ibid.
[xxi] Gabriel, p. 205.
[xxii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthago_delenda_est
[xxiii] http://www.aesopfables.com/aesop1.html
[xxiv] Capitol of the Seleucid empire. Located near the site of present-day Antakya in southern Turkey.
[xxv] Antiochus' brother was murdered. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochus_III_the_Great#cite_note-11
[xxvi] Parthia was located in what is now a region of northeastern Iran.
[xxvii] These cavalry were also called the Companions, as well as the King's Friends or Royal Friends. To avoid confusion with the Macedonian Companions, I have used the "Friends" appellation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philoi
[xxviii]http://www.womenintheancientworld.com/divorceinancientrome.htm
[xxix] "Real power lay with the nobiles, an inner circle of senators from a small number of the oldest families." Gabriel, p. 204.
[xxx] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Bellona,_Rome
[xxxi] Gabriel, p. 204.
[xxxii] Gabriel, p. 208. Gabriel states that Flamininus was likely on the committee at Scipio's suggestion.
[xxxiii] Livy, 31, 6, 27.
[xxxiv] http://www.premierexhibitions.com/exhibitions/4/4/bodies-exhibition/blog/edentulous-brief-history-dentures
[xxxv] Ibid.
[xxxvi] Ibid.
[xxxvii] Ibid.
[xxxviii] Livy, 31, 7, 29.
[xxxix] Ibid, p. 28.
[xl] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publius_Sulpicius_Galba_Maximus
[xli] Scipio Risen, "The Raid," p. 133.
[xlii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piacenza
[xliii] Livy, 31, 10, 31.
[xliv] Livy, 31, 19, 38.
[xlv] Livy, Ibid.
[xlvi] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_and_Four
[xlvii] Livy, 31, 19, 38.
[xlviii] Ibid.
[xlix] Present day site of Euboea, Greece.
[l] Livy, 31, 14, 33.
[li] Ibid.
[lii] A.H. McDonald. Introduction to Livy: Rome and the Mediterranean, p.12.
[liii] Located near the southeast coast of modern-day Albania.
[liv] http://www.ancient.eu/Gladius_Hispaniensis/
[lv] Ibid, 31, 21, 39.
[lvi] Ibid.
[lvii] Ibid, 31, 21, 40.
[lviii] Ibid.
[lix] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cremona_(200_BC)
[lx] http://www.unrv.com/economy/roman-taxes.php
[lxi] Livy, 31, 30, 49.
[lxii] Livy, 31, 33, 53.
[lxiii] Ibid.
[lxiv] Ibid, 31, 34, 54.
[lxv] Ibid.
[lxvi] Ibid
[lxvii] http://www.crystalinks.com/rometheatre.html
[lxviii]
Ibid, 31, 35, 54.
[lxix] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_cavalry
[lxx] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Companion_cavalry
[lxxi]
[lxxii] Ibid.
[lxxiii] Livy, 38, 57, 393.
[lxxiv] Livy, 31, 37, 56.
[lxxv] Ibid.
[lxxvi] Ibid.
[lxxvii] Livy, 31, 38, p. 58
[lxxviii] Ibid.
[lxxix] https://www.realmofhistory.com/2016/03/09/25-incredible-roman-quotes-you-should-know/
[lxxx] Brunner, Theodore. Marijuana in Ancient Greece and Rome? The Literary Evidence. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs, 9, 3, 221-225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02791072.1977.10472052
[lxxxi] The Numidian king who Scipio defeated in Scipio Rising.
[lxxxii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_litigation
[lxxxiii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamertine_Prison
[lxxxiv] Plutarch. Roman Lives. Trans. by Robin Waterfield. Oxford: The University Press, 1999, p. 14.
[lxxxv] In Harold Johnson'
s Private Life of the Romans, he notes that by the end of the Republic era, sixty-six days were devoted to public games. http://www.forumromanum.org/life/johnston_9.html
[lxxxvi] http://ancientolympics.arts.kuleuven.be/eng/TC007cEN.html
[lxxxvii] http://archive.archaeology.org/0811/abstracts/gladiator.html
[lxxxviii]
Located near the Golan Heights of modern Israel and Syria. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Panium
[lxxxix] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Panium
[xc] Livy, 32, 9, 78.
[xci] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal
[xcii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthago_delenda_est
[xciii] Livy, 32, 9, 76.
[xciv] Philip lent Hannibal a phalanx of his best men. Scipio's army defeated them at the battle of Zama (see Scipio Risen).
[xcv] Ibid, 32, 10, 77.
[xcvi] Rickard, J (5 November 2008), Battle of the Aous, 24 June 198 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_aous.html
[xcvii] Ibid.
[xcviii] Ibid.
[xcix] Livy, 32, 12, 79.
[c] Ibid.
[ci] Ibid.
[cii] Ibid, p. 79.
[ciii] Livy, 32, 13, 79.
[civ] Livy, 32, 28, 96.
[cv] Ibid.
[cvi] Ibid.
[cvii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lex_Oppia
[cviii] Cato became praetor to Sardinia in 198 BCE, and it was likely through a consular appointment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cato_the_Elder#Aedile_and_praetor
[cix] "Three Vows." In Scipio Rising: Book One of the Scipio Africanus Saga.
[cx] According to Plutarch (Roman Lives), Cato learned Greek later in life, although there are suspicions that he covertly learned Grecian language and literature much earlier. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cato_the_Elder#Later_years
[cxi] https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Cato_the_Elder
[cxii]
Livy, 33, 7, 113.
[cxiii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cynoscephalae
[cxiv] Ibid.
[cxv] Livy, 33, 8, 115.
[cxvi] Livy, 33, 9, 114.
[cxvii] Polybius. The Histories. Kindle ebook, p. 426.
[cxviii] Livy, 33, 10, 116.
[cxix] Ibid.
[cxx] Livy, 33, 9, 116.
[cxxi] Ibid.
[cxxii] The "Primus Pilus." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primus_pilus
[cxxiii] Livy, 33, 9, 116.
[cxxiv] Ibid, 117.
[cxxv] Polybius, p. 427.
[cxxvi] Livy, 33, 11, 117.
[cxxvii] https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Marsi
[cxxviii] Livy, 33, 36, 129.
[cxxix] Ibid.
[cxxx] Ibid.
[cxxxi] Near present day Como, Italy.
[cxxxii] Livy, 33, 36, 129.
[cxxxiii] Ibid.
[cxxxiv] Ibid.
[cxxxv] Martin Tessmer, The Three Generals: Book Two of the Scipio Africanus Saga. Amazon.com
[cxxxvi] A large neck torque was taken from this battle and hung in the Capitol as a gift to Jupiter. Livy, 33, 37, 130.
[cxxxvii] Livy, 33, 37, 131.
[cxxxviii] Ibid.
[cxxxix] https://www.google.com/#q=battle+of+cannae+maharbal
[cxl] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_torpedo
[cxli]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_in_ancient_Rome#Herbal_and_other_medicines
[cxlii] This sentiment is echoed by Flamininus in Livy, 33, 13, 119.
[cxliii] Ibid.
[cxliv] Livy, 33, 12, 118.
[cxlv] Livy, 33, 30, 124.
[cxlvi] Plutarch. Roman Lives, p. 13.
[cxlvii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cato_the_Elder
[cxlviii] Part of modern-day Turkey, near the Hellespont.
[cxlix] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peltast
[cl] Plutarch. Roman Lives. Trans. by Robin Waterfield. Oxford: The University Press, 1999, p. 14.
[cli] Ibid, p. 15.
[clii] Livy, 33, 40, 133.
[cliii] Ibid.
[cliv] Ibid.
[clv] In fact, the rumor of Ptolemy's death was greatly exaggerated. Antiochus did not learn this until later.
[clvi] Livy, 33, 43, 134.
[clvii] Livy, 33, 43, 135.
[clviii] Nero used an emerald for the same purpose. http://www.museumofvision.org/exhibitions/?key=44&subkey=4&relkey=29
[clix] Livy, 33, 45, 136.
[clx] Livy, 33, 47, 138.
[clxi] Ibid.
[clxii] Livy, 34, 5, 147.
[clxiii] Livy, 34, 7, 150.
[clxiv] Located in present-day Iraq, on the banks of the Tigris River. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucia
[clxv] Livy, 33, 41, 134.
[clxvi] http://www.amputee-coalition.org/resources/a-brief-history-of-prosthetics/
[clxvii] Livy, 33, 46, 137.
[clxviii] Ibid.
[clxix] Similar to our Senate, Carthage's Senate would appoint special-purpose committees from its ranks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Carthage#Government
[clxx] Livy, 33, 48, 138.
[clxxi] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysistrata
[clxxii] http://www.maicar.com/GML/Lemnos.html
[clxxiii] Livy, 34, 1, 141.
[clxxiv] Livy, 34, 2, 142.
Scipio Rules Page 45
