Domina Victrix

Chapter 37: 26 AD, Antioch and Alexandria

Claudia looked around her at the congested streets of Antioch. After six years in the garrison at Carnuntum in Pannonia, it was a shock to see another city as large as Rome. She thought back over her life so far as the bearers carried her litter through the crowds and the hooves of the horses of their escort clattered on the pavement. She had begun to feel at home in the provincial city alongside the Danubius. There were several young families and she had many friends. She and Gnaeus had had two children. He had scored a significant victory over local tribes and earned an ovation of his own.

Then tragedy struck. A measles epidemic hit the children of the garrison hard. Little Gnaeus and Little Tiberius died within days of each other. Then, Gnaeus was posted to Judea as Procurator or Provincial Governor. He had hoped for a more prestigious posting in Gaul or Hispania, but it was not to be. And, rubbing salt in a wound, Sejanus ordered that he stop in Antioch first to speak with General Marcus, then in Emessa to confer with now-King Alexander. Gnaeus could not see why these conferences were necessary, but orders were orders.

The litter came to a stop before the front steps of the Antony family's townhouse. A servant helped her dismount and Claudia looked up at the columned portico above her. Not even the Domus Augusta in Rome was as grand as this. The doors opened and several members of the family came onto the porch to welcome them. She took Gnaeus' arm and mounted the stairs. A middle-age man stepped forward to greet them.

"Governor Pilate, I'm Marcus Antonius," he said. "Pleased to meet you. Welcome to Antioch."

"Thank you,General," Pilate said. "A pleasure to meet you, as well."

General Marcus gestured to his family.

"My brother, now Legatus Gaius Antonius and his wife Sejana," he said. "My daughter Fortuna and her husband Prefectus Marius Gallinus, and our cousin, Tribune Julius Antonius."

Claudia looked him over.

"Were you the young Tribune in Armenia," she asked.

"No, my cousin Marcus had that dubious honor," he said. "He's in Egypt now. May I present my wife Lepida, and my comrade, Tribune Flavius Messala and his wife Cornelia?"

Claudia greeted them. Fortuna linked arms with her and led her into the home. Intricate mosaics covered the floors and patterned marbles lined the walls. Silver and gold plate, Greek vases, and other curios adorned ledges and shelves. She could hear a fountain somewhere. Fortuna led her to a buffet where wine and fruit were laid out. The men filled their cups and went into another room to speak. Claudia settled in with the Antony women as servants brought their baggage.

"Are you the one studying medicine?" she asked Fortuna.

"No, my sister Victoria is in Egypt where her husband, Prince Juba, is in command."

"And the young Tribune is your brother?" Claudia asked.

"Young Marcus is my son, her cousin," Sejana said.

"We heard about his capture by the Parthians," Claudia said. "He's lucky to be alive and able to serve."

"Indeed," Sejana said.

"So have you been to Judea?" Claudia asked.

"My husband was born there," Cornelia said. "He's happy to be going back. For the rest of us this is a first."

Claudia pondered what to say next but nothing came to mind. It was Lepida who broke the awkward silence by offering a closer look at some of the pottery and curios. As they made their way around the atrium, Claudia spotted Mark Antony's statue.

"He looks like Tribune Julius," she said.

"Lucius and my Marcus are more similar," Sejana said.

"Tell me about him," Claudia said.