Flavia Gemina

This could lead us into the whole area of Roman hand gestures, for example, the 'sign against evil' which I often use in my books. I assume it was the manus ficus but when young fans ask I direct them to an image of three satyrs on a tripod from Pompeii extending left hand with palm forward. Flavia

In his delightful volume of short stories, The House of the Vestals, Steven Saylor has a short story called 'The Lemures'. In it, Gordianus's next-door-neighbour hallucinates after burning yellow leaves from an exotic shrub in his inner garden. Unfortunately Saylor doesn't say in his end-notes what it was... Flavia

In my books I have my Jewish doctor Mordecai use 'poppy-tears'. I got that term from Celsus. He's getting addicted to them in my latest book -- after a death in the family -- but he never smokes. I agree with others that HBO's Rome is just trying to make things 'contemporary'. What a shame. I would much prefer seeing roots and bulbs pounded in a mortarium. Spittle, I think it's great that you're an expert on the wild west, etc. My next series is going to be a kids' detective series set in Virginia City in the 1850's. I may call on your expertise again! Valete, omnes!

'Pollux!' cursed Crispus. 'He'll hunt us all down. And he'll never forgive me. He'll have that giant Lucius Brassus chop me up into tiny pieces and throw me to the fishes!' from The Pirates of Pompeii

Another excellent contribution! Thanks, Cato! I still love spurcifer! and am going to use it in my next book!

You're one of the few people to have 'got' that Lucius Brassus is a reference to Luca Brasi, despite all my 'Godfather' references... Thanks for noticing! Flavia

I'm afraid the reference to psychedelic mushrooms is more a nod to my University days at Berkeley! If you've found a Latin name, all the better!

Superb!

Salvete, Omnes! The producer of the TV series (which is not "mine" but is based on my books) is in the middle of going through the screenplays for season 2. She noticed one of the screenwriters using insults like 'idiots' and 'morons' and thought these sounded quite modern. (The screenwriters have totally changed my stories so no point me referring to the original source...) She asked me to come up with some more 'authentic' Roman insults. I suggested 'blockheads!', 'plebs!', 'barbarians!' and 'peasants!'. Any other suggestions? Remember: it's a TV series for kids! Flavia

Thanks, Honorius! You can be my friend! Flavia (AKA Caroline Lawrence)

Thanks for that, guys! Yes, I said on my site that most Roman men bathed daily and that the make-up lady's misconception probably arose from the fact that it was unlucky to cut your hair on board ship. This was because if you survived a shipwreck you cut your hair and offered it at the Temple of Neptune. So cutting hair on board ship was just tempting fate! Gratias ago! Flavia

I thought maybe you were a Star Trek fan... but that's 'Klingon'!

The problem is the costume lady who lets Pliny the Elder dress in full Admiral's regalia to go investigate the volcano and the screewriter who thinks it's cute to have the bride throw a bouquet at a Roman wedding!

Almost: 'Having your book turned into a movie is like seeing your oxen turned into bouillon cubes.' John leCarre

It's the TV series based on my books. As I'm sure you know, for a film or TV series based on novels, the author is not always consulted on every detail of a production!

My name -- Flavia Gemina -- is the name of the main character in my novels The Roman Mysteries. Flavia is a kind of first century AD Nancy Drew, an equestrian and only daughter of the widower Marcus Flavius Geminus, a sea captain. I am like Flavia in that I am a bossy know-it-all. I am UNLIKE Flavia in that I am NOT blonde, blue-eyed and 11 years old!

I have just watched a video clip interview with the costume designer and make-up lady on my TV series. The make-up lady, Leslie, says Roman men 'only washed their hair twice a year, because it was considered unlucky'!!! Before I shoot this comment down in flames on my website, is there any evidence for this? Thanks! Flavia P.S. You can watch the clip HERE (The Costumes)

I've told the producer about freedman's caps and she like the idea of 'Santa's hat without the fur trim, and in lots of jolly colours...' (my description) They needed something to toss in the baddies' faces to distract them; that's why they introduced coloured flour. I suggested they hurl pistachio nuts or hot spiced wine instead. Any other suggestions welcome! Flavia

These screenwriters are crazy! (said with voice of Obelisk while tapping side of head) Thanks, Nephele! I can always count on you. Do you want a job as my research assistant? Flavia

Salvete, omnes! I have just received the screenplay adaptation of my book The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina, set during the Saturnalia in AD 79. The screenwriter has Romans throwing coloured flour at one another as part of the Saturnalia festivities!!! I thought I was familiar with all the elements of the Saturnalia: feasting, dancing, gambling, putting up greenery and lights, giving dolls and other gifts, choosing the 'King'... But this I've never heard of. Is there any evidence at all for this or did he completely make it up? Look forward to hearing from you... Flavia

Me writer. Me lyrical. (Nice pix!) Flavia

Blood-blossom = St John's Wort I think I got 'blood-blossom' from a book which I'm sure is on your shelf: A Pompeian Herbal, by Wilhemina Feemster Jashemski, (ISBN 0292740603). She writes this about St John's Wort: Dioscorides' description (3.172) is similar. He says the plant... 'androsimon [man's blood] is a kind of hyperikon.' Popular fancy has always been struck by the blood coloured liquid which oozes from the penduncles when the flowers are pulled up... p56 I guess I then made up the name 'blood-blossom' based on that description. Hope that satisfies your curiosity. Flavia

Maximas gratias for the above and for the practical goodies you sent me. Very useful. I guess I'm the 'Roman Names Enthusiast'! Cura ut valeas! Flavia

I hope so too! You can read about their exploits in October when The Beggar of Volubilis is published! Vale. Flavia

Sorry, but I disagree. I'm sure there would have been caravans across North Africa selling goods of all sorts, including slaves. The Sahara was, as has been pointed out, savannah as well as desert, and not as inhospitable as today. As for camels, Caesar introduced them to Africa in the first century BC. Camel bones have been found in Ostia and there is a VIVARIUM or animal holding area just south of Ostia (for beasts brough from North Africa for the arena in Rome). There is, I believe, a Roman toy camel in the British Museum. Also my characters travel by camel caravan from Sabratha to Volubilis in my forthcoming book... so that proves it! Flavia