In Ancient Rome banquets were held in tricliniums where philosophy, literature and art were discussed along with intrigue and scandal. On my blog you can enjoy interviews, reviews, guests posts from historical novelists and art. And also history – both trivia and the serious stuff! So come and join my banquet!
The attached image is from a wall painting in the Tomb of the Shields in Tarquinia, Italy (C4th BCE) It is one of my favourites. It depicts the beautiful Velia Seitithi and her husband Larth Velcha upon their dining couch. She rests her hand tenderly on his shoulder while he, bearded and wreathed, extends his hand to hers as she offers him an egg, symbol of fertility. To one side a female slave in fine robes fans them, her hair cut short. The divan’s coverlet is lavishly woven with geometrical patterns. You can almost touch the eggs, fruit and cake upon the repository table in front of them. Velia wears a semi transparent robe with a bordered mantle and gorgeous little ankle boots. There is a golden diadem on her fair hair which falls in corkscrew curls, her dangling earrings like clustered grapes. To me, the couple are gazing at each other with tenderness, captured in this intimate pose for eternity.
5 Responses
I so enjoyed your books! Your descriptions of the characters and the cities made me feel as if I knew these people and the cities of Rome and Veii! Even the villains were explained, causing them to be sympathetic characters. I loved all of them and the primary and secondary plots!!
Many thanks, Ruth. You’ve made my day:) I’m so glad you enjoyed the series.
Thanks so much, Ruthe. It means a lot to hear you acknowledge the complexity of my characters and plots :)
Enjoyed all three books. Only meant to read the one but I had to know what happens next.
It was like living in spirit realm and could know all their feelings, smell all around them, see from every prospective.
Felt very real.
Thanks so much Danielle. I’m glad I hooked you! I certainly enjoyed creating the ‘spirit realm’.
Warm wishes, Elisabeth