The decorated Circus Maximus for the Roman games and chariot races excited Roman citizens. The set up of the theater enticed passer-bys in the Forum. Everyone prepared to honor Caesar’s victory in sport and theatrical art using the spoils of the Pompeic Wars. They were good distractions for Marcus Scribonious Dulcitius as news of his missing father — General Lucius Scribonius Dulcitius — flooded his mind.
“He was supposed to be back to see the chariot races with me,” Marcus mumbled to himself as he entered the circus. Meanwhile, Lucius and his comrade, Faustius Aemilus Galeo, were contemplating what was happening in Rome after being captured by barbarian rebel Gauls and taken into slavery. They could imagine how Caesar’s triumph was — seeing the army parade down the Via Sacra, seeing the lead chieftain of the Gauls executed, feasting, and seeing reenactments of their victories performed by slaves. But, they were stuck. Stuck in slave wagon. Faustius not only wanted all that glory from victory but also cared about being surrounded by beautiful women at the theater and then go home with them. Lucius did not care about all of that. He wanted to see the chariot races with Marcus just as badly as Marcus did.
The pounding and the cheering of the crowd as unstoppable horses mangled fallen chariot races were too much for Marcus to handle. The race only reminded him more and more about his father. He had to get away. Later that night, Marcus decided to see a play at the theater of Pompey. A Greek comedy happened to be performing that night. He needed some good slapstick humor as well as a happy ending to get his mind off of the violence. Unbeknownst to him, Lucius and Faustius were desperately working on a plan to escape from their captors.
-Jordanne Pascual
