Introduction of Characters
Aurelia received word from the messenger that her husband
would be returning home in two days time. Immediately her heart was filled with
excitement. He had spent too many nights away from home while he was off
attending to business matters with the other high-powered men. As soon as the
messenger left her presence, she walked to the other corner of her room where
their clothing was kept. She reached her hand out to touch the fabric of his
senator tunic, and the stripes that ran down it. She continued on to the set of
toga
splendēns hanging next to the tunic, which she then
straightened and smoothed out. She did this often while her husband Appius was
away. It was the only thing she had to remind herself of him on the days she
felt like she was spending too much time alone.
She then shifted her eyes to the floor where
their sandals were neatly organized. There she only saw his house slippers, or soleae,
because she knew he was wearing the calceus senātōrius pair, or the shoe
for senators. It was then she imagined what he would be wearing the moment she
would see him next. Complete with the single iron ring, which he wore on his
left hand.
She then took a look at the stola she
was wearing, which wrapped around her body and fell all the way to the
ground. She was grateful for such nice clothing, and the brooch that her
husband gave her, which held her fabric together for her sleeves. She knew her
husband loved her and took good care of her. After her family was broken up
during the civil wars during Caesar’s rule, she felt like she had nothing left.
Appius found her in the market selling bread just to get by and took her into
his household as his wife. She felt very blessed to be with a man of great
wealth, and living in a house with slaves that were ordered to tend on her at
every moment. She also knew there was a price to pay for it all, and that was
having her husband gone for weeks, and even months, at a time.
