Rome, the epic HBO miniseries about the fall of the Roman Republic, has ended its run, alas. Rome was without a doubt the greatest television series about the ancient world that has ever aired.
One of the charming aspects of Rome was it’s “upstairs/downstairs” look at Roman society. On the one hand, some various famous charecters performed for their timne on the stage. These included Caius Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Octavian, Cleopatra, Brutus, Pompey, Cicero, and lesser known Roman notables such as Atia of the Julia, Servillia, and Octavia. Rome take certain liberties with some of these charecters for dramatic effect. It is unlikely that Atia was the power mad slut that she was depicted as being, for instance, nor was her daughter, Octavia, both a slut and drug addicted. And Octavian, while certainly bright and creepy at turns, likely dd not sleep with his sister nor beat his wife Livia for sexual pleasure.
The really bright spot of Rome, though, were the charecters of Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo. They are mentioned in Caesar’s War Commentaries:
“In the Legion were two very brave centurions named Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus, both of them nearly qualified for the first grade. They were always disputing who was the better soldier, and every year the competition for promotion set them quarreling.
“When the fighting at the entrenchment was at its height, Pullo cried, “Why hesitate, Vorenus? What better opportunity do you want to prove your courage? Today shall decide between us.” With these words, he advanced outside the fortification and rushed into the thickest place he could see in the enemies’ line. This brought Vorenus, too, over the rampart, hastening after his rival for fear of what everyone would think if he lagged behind.
“Pullo stopped a short way from the Gauls, hurled his spear, and transfixed one of them who was running forward from the ranks. the man fainted from his wounds, and his comrades covered him with their shields, at the same time showering missiles upon Pullo and preventing him from advancing further. His shield was pierced by a javelin, which stuck in his sword-belt; and as the blow knocked his scabbard out of place, he could not get his hand quickly to his sword when he tried to to draw it, and was surrounded by the enemy while unable to defend himself.
“His rival Vorenus ran up to rescue him in his distress, and all the Gauls immediately left Pullo, who they thought had been mortally wounded by the javelin, and turned upon Vorenus. Vorenus drew his sword and fighting hand-to-hand killed one of his assailants and drove the rest back a little; but pressing on too eagerly he stumbled down a steep slope and fell. It was now his turn to be surrounded but Pullo came to his aid; both of them escaped unhurt and after killing a number of the enemy returned to camp covered with glory. Thus fortune played with them in their strugglefor pre-eminence: bitter rivals though they were, each helped and saved the other, so that it could not be decided which was the more deserving of the prize of valour.”
In Rome, we first see Vorenus as a Centurion and Pullo as an ordinary legionary at the Battle of Alesia, where Caesar broke the last of the Vecingetorix rebellion. After a while they become fast friends and all involved, at least on the fringes, in almsot every event in Roman history up to the Battle of Actium and the fall of Antony and Cleopatra. Vorenus is a stern, traditional Roman who honors the gods and places family above all. His insistence on being the strick but lovong praetor familius gets him into all sorts of trouble with his family, with tragic results.
Pullo is a more spontanious sort, the sort of man one could have a drink with and swap dirty stories with. But he is lethal when angered, as several people in the miniseries find out to their cost. Though definately lower class, he is not stupid. And he is loyal to his friend Vorenus to a fault, even when Vorenus doesn’t deserve it.
Through Vorenus and Pullo we see a portrait of Roman life below the salt, as it were. It was a hard scrabble existence, even for a pair as clever and resourceful as Vorneus and Pullo. At one point they are running something called the Aventine Collegium together, a kind of Mafioso organization the serves as an unofficial government in the dangerous part of Rome. At other times they are serving both together and against one another underneath the Eagles.
The best parts of Rome occur when Vorenus and Pullo interact with their betters. They seem to be at turns in awe and bemused at the power games being played by people like Antony, Pompey, Antony, and Octavian. But a sense of duty and honor lead them to serve, even when it’s clear that Antony–for example–is too besotted by Cleopatra to be an effective ruler and Octavian–as another example–is too much of a creep to be admired.
I’m not sure that the shades of the real Vorenus and Pullo would appreciate how they are depicted on Rome. I hope that they are at least amused. In any event, since there will be no more episodes, they will be missed.
