The House Of Promise

The Boxing Match

"In Alexandria, there is great excitement over the boxing match in the Gymnasium this afternoon!"  Hassuf the usher exclaimed.

"The House of GAMULA carrying the turquoise colors are backing a certain Roman youth called Quintus just arrived from Rome!"

Marcia was looking that Spring for a romantic contact and her handmaiden had a roving eye for a handsome male figure, especially those who were lavishly garbed.

That afternoon, Marcia and her new handmaiden Cressa called for their litter to take them to the Gymnasium.

Quintus would be boxing, she knew that!

The entrance to the Gymnasium was lined with stalls from which various items were for sale.  All kinds of sweet meats, candied fruits, nuts, raisins, drinks and the like were available at these stalls.  Prices for these comestibles were very reasonable.  The coin known as the "as" amounting to about two cents could purchase many a delicacy.

"The House of KO is represented by a Nubian slave, Erastus. The rivalry is keen!  Much betting is in progress.  The winner of the match will fight the House of PARA!" said Hassuf.

Thus, it was in 41 B.C., three y ears after the assassination in Rome of the Roman Emperor, Julius Augustus Caesar, that Quintus Daimon, a former Roman citizen and A GOLDEN BOXER, was returning to his home in Alexandria to box in the Arena.

He was a freedman and a professional athlete.  Many of the gladiators were slaves and subjected to the penalties of death in the Arena. Quintus did not need to choose the Chair of Life or the Chair of Death, usually proclaimed by the Emperor of Rome.

He was the Roman Senator Arsin Daimon's son of the House of Promise.

Just five years ago, today, in Alexandria, Quintus' father Arsin was murdered, fleeing Rome.

Roman senators were forbidden to go into Egypt.  This was the start of the first day to avenge his father's death.  His house had had nothing to sponsor him with, since his villa had been sacked. The House of GAMULA came to his aid.  Soon, the world would see the late Arsin Daimon's son Quintus, as a powerful man.

Abroad, they knew him as:  A GOLDEN BOXER of Rome.

The great community of Alexandrians and others clambered to get near him!

Jubilant cries of Victory for Quintus!  The sound rose in the harbor!

During Cleopatra's time, the city of Alexandria was immensely rich and could compare in beauty or lines and structure with the most modern city of today.  It was the largest city in the ancient world after Rome.  And, as a free city it retained its own senate and seat of government.  Alexandria was the capitol of Egypt.

At the Gymnasium, Hassuf the usher was very anxious to be popular among the Alexandrian matrons who always frequented the games.  He was speaking to them now and was always willing to run errands for them or transmitting notes to and from the dandies and fops who hung about, ever alert for an affair with a society matron, particularly if matrons like Marcia from the House of PARA who were affluent in the matter of worldly goods.

As was customary with the great families of the era, they maintained boxes at the Gymnasium on the mezzanine floor for the season.

The House of KO and the House of PARA had choice locations from which there was always an excellent view of the contests games or boxing matches.

As they dismounted from their sedan at the main gate of the huge edifice dedicated to public entertainment they were met by cheap hawkers of wares who had the gift of sharp words that delighted many an onlooker.  There were conjurors and snake charmers who were willing to put on a show at the slightest provocation, provided there were a few denarii in sight.

Marcia marveled at the democracy displayed at these gatherings.  Farmers from the country.  Sarmatians of fierce mein who were said to feed on the raw blood of their horses.  Arabs.  Sebeans. Ethiopians with knotted hair and others from the far corners of the earth, all rubbed shoulders along the wide concourse.

Marcia's first glimpse of Quintus in his royal toga, emblazoned with the words:  GOLDEN BOXER of ROME, caused the blood to rush to her head.  Her emotions became aroused and displaced her customary rule of reason.  Her fingers clinched so that her long nails made deep indentations in her palms.  She looked sharply at Cressa to see if her handmaiden had sensed her sudden pertubation.  But the girl was intent upon the activity in the Arena.

Quintus stood proudly at attention and the audience yelled acclaim and antagonism according to their preferences.  Marcia stared at hi