The face of Iusta in the third panel is the best image of someone feeling sorrow, sadness and being lost. I also like the determination look she has when she is told that nobody else seems to have survived.
She seems to be her mother’s daughter all right. Vitalis was a really shrewd woman to go from being a slave to a big landowner.
I was looking for more information about the Justa/Calatoria trial. It seems that Vitalis was the manager of Petronius business and when she left his earnings took a plunge. I found a fascinating review of Petronius home. It is assumed that it is Petronius home because it was there where they found the copy of the trial. How it started as a single family unit with no business rental space to a multifamily unit with two business rental areas and a second entrance to the second floor that had been separated from the family. The guy describing the house said that it looked as if the family fell into bad luck.
BTW, If anybody is interested, Iusta was losing it until Stephanus changed his deposition and said that Petronius freed Vitalis before Iusta was born. Iusta had 5 witness on her favor and Calatoria only 3, but the guy who was doing the review said that Stephanus deposition was vital since he was Petronius Majordomo and the man in charge of all the slaves.
Other notable figure who dies in Mt. Vesuvius eruption beside Plius the Elder was Princess Drusilla, daughter of Herod Agrippa, who is married to Marcus Antonius Felix!
Oh, and a version of the word square shows up in the scenery, overgrown under a tree in a mostly abandoned hill village. What it’s doing there remains as an exercise to the reader.
Wasn’t Princess Drusilla Titus lover? He had to let her go when he became emperor. The people didn’t like foreign women in the emperor’s entourage. Plenty of good roman ladies for him to take to bed.
In our story, Domitian tells Felix to advise Titus NOT to give up his foreign love–Berenice, Drusilla’s oldest sister. Felix gives the opposite advice, based on family experience with how Rome reacts to foreign queens.
Titus sent her away. Then took her back. Then permanently sent her away when he became emperor.
The comic about her is one I’d like to redraw someday to make clearer.
DRW, you crack me up, and yet at the same time, I am RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
I’ve been having no success at all getting Spendusa’s last look out of my head, must see rest of story! So glad this comic is back. It’s seriously one of my top all time favorites ever, and I read a loooot of comics.
Looking forward to it! Hope the last couple of days of your week lead into a better next week. 🙂
I dunno how, but Spendusa just sort of stole the show for me. Not exactly sure what it was, but she was a darling! Glad her little one gets to live on, at least.
Looking forward to it! Hope the last couple of days of your week lead into a better next week. 🙂
I dunno how, but Spendusa just sort of stole the show for me. Not exactly sure what it was, but she was a darling! Glad her little one gets to live on, at least.
Man it keeps saying I’ve already made this comment!
As hard as it was, I appreciate the brutal honesty. Volcanos kill good people and bad. We can feel with the survivors thanks to your wonderful storytelling and artwork. Thank you.
I have it on good (made up) authority that Damon’s kitten is the original great-grandmother of all the cats that infest the Colisseum to this very day. (did I spel that rite? Doez anybuddy care?)
It seems that they are talking about the survivor list.
Unfortunately Felix in on the other side of the bay. I hope he can make his to Misenum really fast.
The face of Iusta in the third panel is the best image of someone feeling sorrow, sadness and being lost. I also like the determination look she has when she is told that nobody else seems to have survived.
She seems to be her mother’s daughter all right. Vitalis was a really shrewd woman to go from being a slave to a big landowner.
I was looking for more information about the Justa/Calatoria trial. It seems that Vitalis was the manager of Petronius business and when she left his earnings took a plunge. I found a fascinating review of Petronius home. It is assumed that it is Petronius home because it was there where they found the copy of the trial. How it started as a single family unit with no business rental space to a multifamily unit with two business rental areas and a second entrance to the second floor that had been separated from the family. The guy describing the house said that it looked as if the family fell into bad luck.
BTW, If anybody is interested, Iusta was losing it until Stephanus changed his deposition and said that Petronius freed Vitalis before Iusta was born. Iusta had 5 witness on her favor and Calatoria only 3, but the guy who was doing the review said that Stephanus deposition was vital since he was Petronius Majordomo and the man in charge of all the slaves.
I think I missed this comment when you first posted it. I just wanted to acknowledge it, since it adds some nice information to the commentary.
Oh, wait a minnit! Is that a boob obscured by baby-head, doing what it’s supposed to? Yay Boobs! It’s about time they got a featured role.
Like a service dog, they are working, and should not be petted while on duty.
I think Felix would appreciate that joke, I really do.
Here’s interesting trivia I’ve found, apology if it is already mentioned:
Interesting cryptogram in Pompeii and whether it is Jewish or Christian. Also mentions kosher fish sauce in Pompeii!
http://timesonline.typepad.com/dons_life/2012/11/were-there-christians-at-pompeii-the-word-square-evidence.html
Other notable figure who dies in Mt. Vesuvius eruption beside Plius the Elder was Princess Drusilla, daughter of Herod Agrippa, who is married to Marcus Antonius Felix!
In fact, the Marcus Claudius who changed his name to Antonius to curry favour, and, as our Felix takes pains to point out, is “no relation.”
Heh, I sort of remember that. Got excited by mention of kosher fish sauce.
Oh, and a version of the word square shows up in the scenery, overgrown under a tree in a mostly abandoned hill village. What it’s doing there remains as an exercise to the reader.
Wasn’t Princess Drusilla Titus lover? He had to let her go when he became emperor. The people didn’t like foreign women in the emperor’s entourage. Plenty of good roman ladies for him to take to bed.
In our story, Domitian tells Felix to advise Titus NOT to give up his foreign love–Berenice, Drusilla’s oldest sister. Felix gives the opposite advice, based on family experience with how Rome reacts to foreign queens.
Titus sent her away. Then took her back. Then permanently sent her away when he became emperor.
The comic about her is one I’d like to redraw someday to make clearer.
Okay, it’s Friday already: we’re ready for our thrice-weekly dose of disaster. Waiting impatiently. DRW
DRW, you crack me up, and yet at the same time, I am RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
I’ve been having no success at all getting Spendusa’s last look out of my head, must see rest of story! So glad this comic is back. It’s seriously one of my top all time favorites ever, and I read a loooot of comics.
(sniffle, RIP Spendusa, I loved you best.)
It’s been a tough week, but I have enough inked now that I feel confident about posting a new comic tonight.
I feel bad about dooming Spendusa, to be honest.
Looking forward to it! Hope the last couple of days of your week lead into a better next week. 🙂
I dunno how, but Spendusa just sort of stole the show for me. Not exactly sure what it was, but she was a darling! Glad her little one gets to live on, at least.
Looking forward to it! Hope the last couple of days of your week lead into a better next week. 🙂
I dunno how, but Spendusa just sort of stole the show for me. Not exactly sure what it was, but she was a darling! Glad her little one gets to live on, at least.
Man it keeps saying I’ve already made this comment!
HAHA at least in ONE of the cases it was right!
Oh dear.
I can delete one of those if you like 😀
As hard as it was, I appreciate the brutal honesty. Volcanos kill good people and bad. We can feel with the survivors thanks to your wonderful storytelling and artwork. Thank you.
You’re very welcome!
The list is mighty short:
Justa, Iraneus, Antonia Felicia, Alexander, Damon and Felix.
Don’t forget loveable Spewed-on and all the ladies from the brothel.
And what abotu the kitten?
Damon has the kitten. But it is not an official roman citizen that is why it is not in the list.
I have it on good (made up) authority that Damon’s kitten is the original great-grandmother of all the cats that infest the Colisseum to this very day. (did I spel that rite? Doez anybuddy care?)
I’m pretty sure that’s a 110% super-true fact.