People had started arriving at the Circus Maximus beforedawn, so the tiered stands were almost completely filled by the time Steigerand Marshall arrived. However, unlike the plebeians. their places were assured.They sat in the front rows, which were reserved for senators, aristocrats, andVestal Virgins. Steiger decided that he didn’t quite fit into any of thosecategories.
The sight of the Circus itself was awe-inspiring. Shapedlike a long rectangle rounded off at one end in a semicircle, the CircusMaximus was six hundred yards long and two hundred yards wide, built to hold aquarter of a million spectators. Caesar had rebuilt it. making it even granderthan it was before. He had surrounded the arena with a moat, the better toseparate the animals from the spectators during shows that involved wildbeasts. Marshall explained that Pompey had used an iron fence, but the bars hadbuckled under the weight of elephants that had been pitted against some haplessprisoners and the spectators had been somewhat upset when the pachydermsdecided that they wanted out.
The spina. the built-up “spine” dividing the center of thearena between the turning posts (three on each end). had been adorned with giltbronze statues of the gods looking down upon the games. It also held the
Outside, beggars, wine merchants, pastry cooks, astrologers,and prostitutes vied for the attention of the crowd. The courts had all beenclosed. Marshall explained that no business would be transacted in the citywhile the games were on. Indeed, it seemed to Steiger as if all of Rome hadpacked itself into the Circus. The spectators were a sea of white togas. Asthey approached their seats. Marshall pointed out a handsome. dark-haired manwith a high forehead, an aquiline nose, and a full beard.
“That’s Antony.” said Marshall.
“What’s with the sword?” asked Steiger.
“Antony always wears his sword whenever he appears in public,”Marshall replied. “It’s part of the image. His family claims to be descendedfrom Hercules. by his son. Anton. and Antony likes to play the part to thehilt. The big macho warrior. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
“Ah. Martian!” Antony said boisterously as they approached. “Come!Sit with us! Who is your friend?”
“Greetings. Marc Antony.” said Marshall. “Allow me topresent Creon Sabinus, who has come to visit me from Ilerda. I’ve bought manyfine strings of horses from him over the years.”
“Indeed?” said Antony, turning to Steiger with interest. “Andwhat brings you to Rome from the provinces, Sabinus?”
“A little business and a little pleasure,” Steiger replied. “Marcianhas decided that I’ve been charging him too dearly for the horses that he buysfrom me. so he proposes to purchase my entire farm, so that he can sell themmore cheaply to himself.”
That sounds like our Marcian.” Antony laughed. “Alwayscounting his fortune and finding it wanting. Take care that you do not sell yourfarm to him too cheaply, Sabinus.”
“He needs no advice from you. Antony,” groused Marshall. “Theprice that he has named amounts to a king’s ransom.”
“Come now, Marcian. it is a fair price and you know it.”Steiger protested.
“Fair? You’ve been cheating me for years. you scoundrel. Asyou have doubtless cheated others.” He turned to Antony. “He knows that if Ibuy his farm. I must retain him on a salary as breeder, so it is all to hisadvantage. He has, I’m afraid, less need for my money than I have for his horses.I’ve brought him to the races in the hope that I can induce him to lose some ofit. Perhaps then he will become more reasonable.”
“What, you plan to bet against him?” Antony asked,surprised. “Marcian, I have never seen you wager so much as a denarius!”
“No, not I,” said Marshall. “I have already lost enoughmoney to this brigand through our business dealings. I will not risk losingmore. However. knowing you to be a shrewd judge of horseflesh and charioteers,I thought perhaps you would be good enough to fleece him for me. I wouldappreciate it if you would take as much of his money as possible. he’s beenmost insufferable.”
Antony threw back his head and laughed. “Did you hear myfriends? Marcian brings me a sacrifice of a provincial!”
They all laughed.
Steiger stiffened, as if with affront.
“No, no, do not look so, Sabinus,” said Flaminus, clappinghim on the shoulder. “I assure you, Antony meant it merely as a joke.”
“Yes, doubtless we provincials, being so backward and naive,provide you Romans with much amusement.” Steiger said.
“Come now, Sabinus. I meant no offense,” Antony said placatingly.“And to prove it, and as much to please my good friend. Marcian. I will offeryou a small. friendly wager, if you like. Not so much as you can’t afford tolose.”
“Indeed? And what makes you think that I will lose?” askedSteiger.
“Oho!” said Antony. “You hear Trebonius? It seems that wehave pricked his pride!”
“Have a care. Antony.” Trebonius said in mock warning. “Heis a breeder and must know his horses well.”
“Perhaps. but does he know his charioteers?” asked Antony. “Ittakes more than a good team to win a race.”
“That is true enough,” said Steiger. “But I have had an opportunityto watch them exercise and have formed a few opinions as to the skill of thevarious drivers. Perhaps they are not as educated as your own, Marc Antony. butI have observed enough to guide my wager.”
“Very well, then.” Antony said with a grin. “We shall see.Shall we make a wager on the first race?”
“If you like.”
“How much would you care to risk?”
“I do not know what is customary,” said Steiger. “Would tenthousand sesterces be appropriate?”
“Ten thousand sesterces!” Trebonius said.
“See here, Sabinus.” said Antony condescendingly, “pride canbe a costly thing. Despite what Marcian said. and I am certain he was onlyjoking. I have no wish to see you lose so much.”
“It is a sum that I could easily stand to lose,” saidSteiger. “However, if you could not. I would certainly understand.”
Antony raised his eyebrows. “I could stand to lose a greatdeal more than that. my friend,” he said with a smile. “Very well. then. Tenthousand it is.”
The sound of trumpets rang out through the arena and thecrowd cheered as the presiding consul entered in his chariot, followed by hislictors and attendants. After them in the procession came the legionaries andthe cavalry, followed by the teams of chariots. The drivers were all attired incolored tunics that denoted their teams. They had the reins wrapped aroundtheir chests, leaving one hand free to manipulate them and the other to use thewhip. Driving a chariot took great strength and dexterity, as well as skill.and by wrapping the reins around their chests, the charioteers were able to addtheir full body weight to the task. a, well as using it to balance the lightchariots. It made the driving very dangerous. because in the event of a spill.the charioteer had to draw a sharp dagger and quickly cut the reins, otherwisehe would be dragged along behind his horses. Even if he could cut himself loosein time, there was, still the danger of being trampled or crushed by the wheelsof the following chariots.
After the chariots came the singers. followed by the priestsand the incense-hearers. ‘Then came the images of the gods carried on biers.The crowd cheered and applauded as they made their circuit of the arena to thepounding of the drums and the blaring of the trumpets, then the cheering grewstill louder as the Emperor appeared in his box, just a short distance fromwhere Steiger and Marshall sat with Antony and his friends.
Steiger turned to look at Julius Caesar. He stood in theimperial box, wearing a laurel wreath and a purple- trimmed toga with fringes onthe sleeves, holding his arms out to the crowd.
“Is that your first sight of the Emperor?” asked Trebonius,raising his voice to he heard over the cheering of the crowd around them.
