Senate session had been long and arduos. There were many questions to deal, many different opinions from various gentes and families of the Republic. Events in last days had inmersed Rome in a state of excitement and nervousness. City squares were full of activity, people gathered in cliques to talk about latest news from Southern Italy, about Cilicians war declaration, and recent recruitment and calls to arms...



As went by the streets, Marcus Aurelius watched his fellow citizens' faces; even having had to overcome so many difficulties, obstacles and struggles in the past, their faces still showed hope and confidence, but also a subtle restleness.

Marcus stopped in front of stall. There were some scrolls over the table, some of them written in Greek, others in Punic, one of them even seem to be written in Aramaic characters. Salesman was a slim middle-aged man, his hair a bit grayed but with sturdy hands and arms, and he was unequivocally greek, as his accent showed inmediatly, probably native from one of the ancient greek colonies of Magna Graecia. Senator spent a few moments talking with him. The man, Cineas, was worried about current state of affairs between Roman Republic and Hellenic nation.

- For heaven's sake!!!! It's unbelievable... so many years fighting and suffering hardship, barbarians, bandits, Ildico's coup, and now that everything was again OK... somebody comes to mess it up!!

Marcus tryed to calm Cineas down; Senatus had nothing against greeks roman citizens, he reassured him, and only Gods knew how current conflict was going to end but, for sure Rome will finally be victorious again! Cineas smiled.

After buying a punic treaty On Farming, Marcus took his way again, heading for his villa. There was a lot of diplomatic mail waiting for him in his table; many were the friend countries which offered their help, and they all deserve an appropriate answer.



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It was a really muggy morning. Fog clung to roman streets and alleys, unwilling to turn back to Tiber course, and only some sunbeams exceeded the Praenestini Montes. Urbs woke up lazy and tired...

Last day had witnessed a great activity. Collegium Fetialium carried out the traditional rituals to officialy declare war on Cilician, Hellenic and Carthaginian nations. Carefully watched by Senators, Consuls and ordinary citizens, priests pronounced the different ritual expressions demanding Gods' support, recounting enemy crimes against the Roman People and, finally, throwing a sacred javelin into their territory.

Meanwhile, Campus Martius had been taken by military officers in charge of organizing the new legionary recruits in centuriae and manipuli, giving them equipment and weapons, arranging the new legions itinerary for Southern Italy...

Senate session in the evening was even much harder than previous, discussing roman strategy for the war, electing legions commanders and army generals to lead roman weapons until the final victory.



Marcus thought about that, while his horse moved along the street towards the Porta Capena and Via Appia. Ralen, Egil, Aeneas and many other roman senators and praetors were next to him, followed by narrow lines of legionaries, completely armed and equipped. When finally came out of his reverie, he was straight down the gate arch, looking at nymph Aegeria relief. In ancient times that water spirit helped Numa Pompilius in making Rome strong, powerful and close; perhaps being under her look was a good omen for coming days...