GETORIX: The Eagle and The Bullby Judith Geary,

Is a novel for young adults –

A Celtic Adventure in ancient Rome.

Getorix is a captive, a young man “almost fifteen winters old,” son of a defeated Celtic chieftain. He and his father are marched in a Roman Triumph – a celebration ending in death for the defeated leaders.

Let’s make a visit to the world Getorix knew – as it was then and as it exists today.

Today: The Roman Forum lies in ruins

But in 101 BCE Getorix and his father were marched in chains before the Roman mob

via Sacra

Instead of the shining Temple on the hill, They were taken to an underground execution cell.

Model of the Temple of Concord with the Tullanium & Carcer in the foreground.

Today, that spot is San Pietro in Carcere (Church of St. Peter in Chains)

The underground altar in what was the execution cell.

View of The Palatine from the area of The Colosseum

Getorix’s life was spared to serve in the general’s household.

The Roman Domus(from Pompeii)

Lucius, the general’s son, confronts him there.

Atrium of the Domus Lutatius

-- from Getorix: The Eagle and The Bull, by Judith Geary

Colonnade with wall paintings in a Roman peristyle garden(from Pompeii)

The Capitoline Today (from the Piazza Venezia)

Getorix is taken before the Romans at the Temple of Jupiter

Getorix is tormented and comforted by memories and dreams-- from Getorix: The Eagle and The Bull, by Judith Geary

When he continues to rebel, Getorix is taken back to an underground cell at the domus Lutatius.

Lucius questions Brosch, a Celtic slave girl, about how to reach Getorix.

Hero stories & myths, told in a giant tree, bring the boys together

Ruins on the Palatine today

(domus Flavia)

Ruins in the Farnese Gardens

(on the Palatine)

An accident forces Getorix to flee for his life

Roman Forum from the Palatine Hill

Circus Maximus from the Palatine Hill

Getorix hides under bridges and in the great sewer

The Cloaca Maxima.

Pons Fabricas

Getorix hides in the alleys of the Subura

Street scenes from the HBO Series: Rome

and meets Brosh by a public fountain

Street scenes from the HBO Series: Rome

Ruins of the Temple to FortunaBuilt by Quintus Lutatius Catulus to celebrate the victory over the Cimbri in 101 BCE.

Ancient Rome – a strangely familiar world

Details we take for granted – like safety pins and belt buckles were in common use.

Romans lived in apartments, used public bathrooms and ate fast food.

Images from Pompeii

Romans had running water and knew of the power of mechanical energy and steam.

Reconstruction of a Roman crane – from Romerkran

Symbols of Power

Rome was the first Republic – a noble experiment of over 500 years that we have

yet to duplicate.

• History shows us a window into our past.

• Historical fiction can take us by the hand and lead us into that long-ago world.