The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina :: Historical Background

The historical background to
The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina

Long before people celebrated Christmas, the Romans celebrated a festival called the Saturnalia.

It began as a one-day holiday, but by Flavia's time it had been extended to five days.

Much later, when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, church leaders decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus at this time, so that people wouldn't be tempted to celebrate the 'pagan' mid-winter festival.

Therefore, many Christmas customs go back to the Saturnalia: decorating the house with green leaves, giving gifts, feasting and drinking. Even the riddles in Christmas crackers might go back to the practice of sending Saturnalia gifts with a short poem called an epigram.

left: double click the map to bring up a larger printable version...

The 'little tarantula' dance is real. Today it is called the Tarantella, and people still dance it in parts of Italy. Some believe it began as a cure for the first passion of adolescent girls. We are not sure of its origins, but we do know that as far back as Greek times groups of women sometimes used to go into the woods and dance themselves into a trance-like state.

Ostia was and is a real place. You can visit its ruins today. The characters in this story are made up, but who knows? People just like them might once have lived - and loved - in Ostia.

Hercules Romantic Quiz Visit Ostia General Links

below: underneath an Ostian umbrella pine