“By Helios it’s bright and hot today, not my ideal weather
for a long festival”, complained the
prominent Lucius Claudius Valerius.
“It’s fine, next time bring Graecus to provide shade,
household slaves have nothing else to do on these days anyway,” answered his
wife Clodia “which festival is this one again?”
“Oh who can remember these days, there are so many, just
enjoy the fact that I have no business to attend to and you can get out of the
house”.
Their son Young Lucius steps in and begins to rant about the
last gladiatorial game and gives yet another play by play as if his parents had
not seen it.
“It was a fantastic display for sport father, the Retiarius
(net-man) versus the Secutor (pursuer). When that Secutor used his long shield
to catch his opponents net and then the Retiarius thrust his trident into his
helmet but couldn’t penetrate because the prongs were too wide for the eye
holes”!
“Yes, Young Lucius we were there we know what happened” his
father interrupted, annoyed at his incessant talking.
“But I haven’t even gotten to the best part,” young Lucius
insisted on finishing his story with or without a willing audience. “Just when
you thought it would be a boring draw, bam, the Secutor shoots up and stabs the
Retiarius in the abdomen and he falls to the ground,” his eyes lit up at this
instant as if he could see this glorious moment again, “the Secutor looks to us
as we cheer and point thumbs down, then to the Magistrate who rules in our
favor, then crushes his wind pipe under his boot.” Lucius takes a deep breath
after realizing he had not done so for a long time and looks up to see where
they are headed. Masses of people filter into the Circus Maximus for the Circus
Procession. Young Lucius and his family move towards the front, while the
lesser people walk to the upper levels in the back.
“Look! There’s mighty Jupiter, wise Minerva, and….” Master
Lucius was cut off before finishing by his enthusiastic son.
“Mars! Woo-hoo, yeah! Father I am going to be a fearless
general like the great Caesar.”
The mood was
hindered when Clodia seemed to have a less festive attitude.
“This is nice, but I am more in the mood for a comedy” she
looks over at her husband and son who clearly would rather her be at a comedy
as well and not ruin their good time. She spends the rest of the Procession in
silence, clapping loudly for her favorite gods and goddesses. Soon enough it
was time for the theatrical event and they made their way to the stage.
