Antonia
felt great excitement bubbling. Today, the family would be attending a chariot
race at the Circus Maximus. The house buzzed with activity as everyone prepared
for their day out; even the household slaves would be attending. Antonia’s
father Tiberius was especially excited to attend since one of his favorite
racers would be racing this day. With a yell for everyone to start heading out, the family
began their march down the hill with the household slaves following behind.
Everyone was chattering excitedly, the family about the races and the slaves
about the free food and seeing other slaves they knew.
When
they reached the Circus Maximus, they saw the teeming throngs of people. Yells
and laughter rang out as people made their way to their seats or to stand in
the back. Antonia promptly sat on the wooden bleacher, knowing her behind would
be mightily sore by the end of it all. She hoped that she might be able to
sneak a moment with Marius in the midst of the confusion that followed the
races.
The
circus began with the pompa, as the
deities were carried in. The magistrate was in the lead, dressed like a
god/king. Armed dancers, satyrs and silens, musicians, incense bearers and
vessel bearers, and the competitors followed behind the magistrate. The crowds
roaring cheers almost drowned out the music. Once the pompa marched around the
track, the competitors dressed in green, blue, red, and white, ride onto the
field. This race commences with slaves marking the turning stone to keep track
of how many laps have passed. The crowds are cheering on their favorites and
insulting the less favored. A few more races passed and finally the circus was over,
but the festivities continued.
Antonia
exited the venue and was wondering whether she should continue to celebrate, as
she knew her family and most every other person in Rome would, but all the
excitement of the races had given her a mighty headache. However, she caught
sight of Marius who was chatting with other slaves and munching on a piece of
the free bread that had been handed out. Her headache seemed to vanish and she
began instead to scheme for a moment of privacy.
