passer by to look at his merchandise, or make exaggerated proclamations that his items were the finest in Rome. Instead, the storekeeper sat, keeping his eyes forward as he smoked a curved pipe.
Antony , who had grown bored with his own games followed Gaius as he broke from the adults and crossed through the crowd, making his way over to the small stand.
Once he drew closer, Gaius saw that the stand seemed to sell all sorts of medallions, each of them of artistic quality. He looked across the trinkets that lay stretched out before him on the table, or hanging off from the poles that held the shop up. They came in all shapes, sizes and substances, such as gold, silver, wood and clay. Symbols of various Greek and Roman gods, historical figures, heroes of old, and creatures of fantasy, representing dozens of cultures: Hellenistic, Persian, Egyptian, Gallic and Roman adorned the medallions.
Antony fumbled through them, picking one up, and then setting it back down. He didn’t seem as interested in them as Gaius. The old man said nothing as he sat, legs crossed, smoking his pipe, watching the boys. And then Gaius’ eyes caught sight of one medallion, in particular. It wasn’t made of fine metal or engraved with gold, silver or ivory. The object was simple, round and made of hardened clay. However, it was the image of the white wolf engraved on it, which fixed his attention.
Gaius’ eyes fixated on it, taking in every detail as he stared into the animal’s unblinking eyes, as it were, the same wolf he had seen earlier in the forum – in fact, he was sure that it was the beast, down to the last detail.
As he was about to touch it, the old man spoke abruptly.
“Ah, so your eyes gaze upon Lupus? Good choice, young Roman.”
“Excuse me?” Gaius asked as he pulled his hand back.
The old man stood to his feet, propping himself up with the help of a thick cane that looked as if it was from an un-carved tree branch. He limped over toward Gaius, keeping his eyes on him and not taking notice of Antony, who took a step back.
“That is Lupus, the She-Wolf – mother of Rome,” the old man spoke again as he reached out and picked up the medallion, holding it for Gaius to see more closely.
“Here, take it,” he urged it closer for Gaius to hold as he continued.
“It is said , those who are drawn to Lupus are protected by her; that they have a destiny. You do know her story, don’t you, young master?”
Gaius glanced over at Antony, who stood next to him, also looking down at the medallion that Gaius now held in his palms. “No sir, I do not believe that I do. Could you tell us?” Gaius answered.
“Of course. A strong Roman boy such as you should certainly know the story of our city, and our protector,” the old man replied with a wide smile.
“Then please tell us, sir,” Gaius asked eagerly.
The old man smiled as he stood a little taller. Still, as he began, his words were directed towards Gaius even though Antony’s own attention was interested in the tale.
“Well, our story begins a long time ago, many generations now past, with the fall of a great king who was removed from his throne by his brother, Amulius. The king’s daughter, Rhea Silvia, was forced by her uncle to become a Vestal Virgin, which meant she was forbidden from bearing children. If she were, then they could claim right to the t hrone, as heirs to the true king. However, the god of war, Mars, came down from the heavens and took an interest in Rhea Silvia. He saw greatness in her and knew that she would bear him not one powerful son, but two, both of whom would carry his banner and build a new nation that would honor him unlike any before.”
The old man paused, the boys hanging on his every word.
“I will spare your young minds the more intimate details of that night, but by the winter's end, the young and very beautiful Rhea Silvia indeed carried two children, as Mars had foreseen; two sons whom she named Romulus and Remus upon their
Antony , who had grown bored with his own games followed Gaius as he broke from the adults and crossed through the crowd, making his way over to the small stand.
Once he drew closer, Gaius saw that the stand seemed to sell all sorts of medallions, each of them of artistic quality. He looked across the trinkets that lay stretched out before him on the table, or hanging off from the poles that held the shop up. They came in all shapes, sizes and substances, such as gold, silver, wood and clay. Symbols of various Greek and Roman gods, historical figures, heroes of old, and creatures of fantasy, representing dozens of cultures: Hellenistic, Persian, Egyptian, Gallic and Roman adorned the medallions.
Antony fumbled through them, picking one up, and then setting it back down. He didn’t seem as interested in them as Gaius. The old man said nothing as he sat, legs crossed, smoking his pipe, watching the boys. And then Gaius’ eyes caught sight of one medallion, in particular. It wasn’t made of fine metal or engraved with gold, silver or ivory. The object was simple, round and made of hardened clay. However, it was the image of the white wolf engraved on it, which fixed his attention.
Gaius’ eyes fixated on it, taking in every detail as he stared into the animal’s unblinking eyes, as it were, the same wolf he had seen earlier in the forum – in fact, he was sure that it was the beast, down to the last detail.
As he was about to touch it, the old man spoke abruptly.
“Ah, so your eyes gaze upon Lupus? Good choice, young Roman.”
“Excuse me?” Gaius asked as he pulled his hand back.
The old man stood to his feet, propping himself up with the help of a thick cane that looked as if it was from an un-carved tree branch. He limped over toward Gaius, keeping his eyes on him and not taking notice of Antony, who took a step back.
“That is Lupus, the She-Wolf – mother of Rome,” the old man spoke again as he reached out and picked up the medallion, holding it for Gaius to see more closely.
“Here, take it,” he urged it closer for Gaius to hold as he continued.
“It is said , those who are drawn to Lupus are protected by her; that they have a destiny. You do know her story, don’t you, young master?”
Gaius glanced over at Antony, who stood next to him, also looking down at the medallion that Gaius now held in his palms. “No sir, I do not believe that I do. Could you tell us?” Gaius answered.
“Of course. A strong Roman boy such as you should certainly know the story of our city, and our protector,” the old man replied with a wide smile.
“Then please tell us, sir,” Gaius asked eagerly.
The old man smiled as he stood a little taller. Still, as he began, his words were directed towards Gaius even though Antony’s own attention was interested in the tale.
“Well, our story begins a long time ago, many generations now past, with the fall of a great king who was removed from his throne by his brother, Amulius. The king’s daughter, Rhea Silvia, was forced by her uncle to become a Vestal Virgin, which meant she was forbidden from bearing children. If she were, then they could claim right to the t hrone, as heirs to the true king. However, the god of war, Mars, came down from the heavens and took an interest in Rhea Silvia. He saw greatness in her and knew that she would bear him not one powerful son, but two, both of whom would carry his banner and build a new nation that would honor him unlike any before.”
The old man paused, the boys hanging on his every word.
“I will spare your young minds the more intimate details of that night, but by the winter's end, the young and very beautiful Rhea Silvia indeed carried two children, as Mars had foreseen; two sons whom she named Romulus and Remus upon their
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