Roma Sub Rosa Explained

Roma Sub Rosa
Author:Steven Saylor
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Detective, Historical fiction
Publisher:St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books
Release Date:1991 –
Media Type:Print (Hardback & Paperback) and
audiobook

Roma Sub Rosa is a series of historical mystery novels by Steven Saylor set in ancient Rome and therefore populated by famous historic Roman citizens.[1] The phrase "Roma Sub Rosa" means, in Latin, "Rome under the rose." If a matter was sub rosa, "under the rose," it meant that such matter was confidential.

The detective is known as Gordianus the Finder, and he mixes with non-fictional citizens of the Republic including Sulla, Cicero, Marcus Crassus, Catilina, Catullus, Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony.

Characters

The family of Gordianus grows through the series to become "a typically Roman extended family":[2]

Other notable fictional characters

Non-fictional characters

Titles

The books are listed below in chronological order. For publication order, see the author's page.

  1. The Seven Wonders (2012) — 92-91 BC Chapters I-VI: The young Gordianus travels to see the Wonders of the Ancient World.
  2. "Ill Seen in Tyre" (2014), in the cross-genre anthology Rogues, edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, set in circa 91 BC just after Chapter VI of The Seven Wonders
  3. Chapters VII-X of The Seven Wonders of the World are entitled, "Styx and Stones, The Return of the Mummy, They Do It With Mirrors, Epilogue in Alexandria." The Seven Wonders is set in circa 90 BC.
  4. "The Alexandrian Cat" from The House of the Vestals (1997) set partly in 90 BC.
  5. Raiders of the Nile (2014) — 88 BC: The young Gordianus must travel into the Nile Delta to find a gang of bandits.
  6. Wrath of the Furies (2015) — 88 BC: Gordianus travels to Ephesus during Mithridates' war against Rome
  7. Roman Blood (1991) — 80 BC: Gordianus investigates a murder case for the famous lawyer Cicero.
  8. "The Treasure House" from The House of the Vestals (1997) set in Summer 80 BC.
  9. "Death Wears A Mask" from The House of the Vestals (1997) set in September 80 BC.
  10. "A Will Is A Way" from The House of the Vestals (1997) set in May 78 BC.
  11. "The Lemures" from The House of the Vestals (1997) set in October 78 BC.
  12. "Little Caesar and the Pirates" from The House of the Vestals (1997) set in Spring and summer 77 BC.
  13. "The Consul's Wife" from A Gladiator Dies Only Once (2005) set in 77 BC.
  14. "If a Cyclops Could Vanish in the Blink of an Eye" from A Gladiator Dies Only Once (2005) set in 77 BC.
  15. "The Disappearance of the Saturnalia Silver" from The House of the Vestals (1997) set in December 77 BC.
  16. "King Bee and Honey" from The House of the Vestals (1997) set in April 76 BC.
  17. "The White Fawn" from A Gladiator Dies Only Once (1997) set in summer and autumn 76 BC.
  18. "Something Fishy in Pompeii" from A Gladiator Dies Only Once (1997) set in 75 BC.
  19. "Archimedes' Tomb" from A Gladiator Dies Only Once (1997) set in 75 BC.
  20. "Death by Eros" from A Gladiator Dies Only Once (1997) set in 75 BC.
  21. "The Alexandrian Cat" from The House of the Vestals (1997) set partly in 74 BC.
  22. "The House of the Vestals" (1997) set in Spring 73 BC.
  23. "A Gladiator Dies Only Once" (2005) set in summer and autumn 73 BC.
  24. Arms of Nemesis (1992) — 72 BC : Gordianus tries to save the lives of 99 slaves, while Spartacus threatens Rome.
  25. "Poppy and the Poisoned Cake" from A Gladiator Dies Only Once (2005) set in 70 BC.
  26. "The Cherries of Lucullus" from A Gladiator Dies Only Once (2005) set in spring 64 BC.
  27. Catilina's Riddle (1993) — 63 BC: Gordianus is embroiled in the Catiline conspiracy.
  28. The Venus Throw (1995) — 56 BC: Gordianus tries to discover who murdered an Egyptian diplomat.
  29. A Murder on the Appian Way (1996) — 52 BC: Gordianus investigates the death of Publius Clodius Pulcher.
  30. Rubicon (1999) — 49 BC: Gordianus investigates a murder close to home as Rome nears civil war.
  31. Last Seen in Massilia (2000) — 49 BC: Gordianus looks for his son Meto in the city of Massilia as it is besieged by the army of Caesar.
  32. A Mist of Prophecies (2002) — 48 BC: Gordianus searches for the killer of a seeress.
  33. The Judgment of Caesar (2004) — 48 BC: Gordianus travels to Egypt in an attempt to find a cure for his wife's illness.
  34. The Triumph of Caesar (2008) — 46 BC: Gordianus investigates a conspiracy to murder Caesar.
  35. The Throne of Caesar (2018) - 44 BC: the Ides of March and the conclusion of the series.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Craine . Debra . Review: The Throne of Caesar by Steven Saylor — it’s toga and out for a great Roman sleuth . 24 December 2020 . The Times UK . March 3, 2018 . en.
  2. Web site: Beard . Mary . The Preface quotes this comment from the Times Literary Suppliment . A Gladiator Dies Only Once - PDF Free Download . 24 August 2023.