Roma Sub Rosa
(Redirected from )
![]() A paperback version of the first book in the series, Roman Blood. | |
Author | Steven Saylor |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre | Detective, Historical fiction |
Publisher | St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books |
Publication date | 1991 – |
Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) and audiobook |
Roma Sub Rosa is a series of historical mystery novels by Steven Saylor set in ancient Rome and populated by noteworthy denizens thereof.[1] The phrase "Roma Sub Rosa" means, in Latin, "Rome under the rose". If a matter was sub rosa, "under the rose", it meant that such matter was confidential.
The detective is known as Gordianus the Finder, and he mixes with non-fictional citizens of the Republic including Sulla, Cicero, Marcus Crassus, Catilina, Catullus, Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony.
Characters[]
For an ancient Roman, Gordianus has an unconventional family:
- Bethesda, his beautiful Egyptian slave purchased from a slave market in Alexandria. Bethesda and Gordianus have a mutually affectionate relationship and are later married after he frees her.
- Eco, his oldest adopted son, was a mute boy when he first appeared as a key player in the book Roman Blood. He recovered his speech in Arms of Nemesis. He followed in his father's (meaning Gordianus) footsteps as an investigator.
- Meto, his second adopted son, was a slave of Crassus who became a soldier serving under Julius Caesar.
- Rupa, his third adopted son, brother to Cassandra; a mute.
- Diana, his intellectual and headstrong daughter (by Bethesda).
- Davus, his son-in-law (Diana's husband) who was Gordianus' former slave and bodyguard.
- Aulus, his grandson (by Diana).
- Little Bethesda, his granddaughter (by Diana).
Titles[]
The books are listed below in chronological order. For publication order, see the author's page.
- The Seven Wonders (2012) — 92-90 BC: The young Gordianus travels to see the Wonders of the Ancient World.
- "Ill Seen in Tyre" (2014), in the cross-genre anthology Rogues, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, set in 91 BC just before the Epilogue of The Seven Wonders
- Raiders of the Nile (2014) — 88 BC: The young Gordianus must travel into the Nile Delta to find a gang of bandits.
- Wrath of the Furies (2015) — 88 BC: Gordianus travels to Ephesus during Mithridates' war against Rome
- Roman Blood (1991) — 80 BC: Gordianus investigates a murder case for the famous lawyer Cicero.
- The House of the Vestals (1997) — 80-72 BC : Short stories.
- A Gladiator Dies Only Once (2005) — 77-64 BC: Short stories.
- Arms of Nemesis (1992) — 72 BC : Gordianus tries to save the lives of 99 slaves, while Spartacus threatens Rome.
- Catilina's Riddle (1993) — 63 BC: Gordianus is embroiled in the Catiline conspiracy.
- The Venus Throw (1995) — 56 BC: Gordianus tries to discover who murdered an Egyptian diplomat.
- A Murder on the Appian Way (1996) — 52 BC: Gordianus investigates the death of Publius Clodius Pulcher.
- Rubicon (1999) — 49 BC: Gordianus investigates a murder close to home as Rome nears civil war.
- Last Seen in Massilia (2000) — 49 BC: Gordianus looks for his son Meto in the city of Massilia as it is besieged by the army of Caesar.
- A Mist of Prophecies (2002) — 48 BC: Gordianus searches for the killer of a seeress.
- The Judgment of Caesar (2004) — 48 BC: Gordianus travels to Egypt in an attempt to find a cure for his wife's illness.
- The Triumph of Caesar (2008) — 46 BC: Gordianus investigates a conspiracy to murder Caesar.
- The Throne of Caesar (2018) - 44 BC: the Ides of March and the conclusion of the series.
References[]
- ^ Craine, Debra (March 3, 2018). "Review: The Throne of Caesar by Steven Saylor — it's toga and out for a great Roman sleuth". The Times UK. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
External links[]
Categories:
- Roma Sub Rosa
- Novel series
- Novels about slavery in ancient Rome