12 years ago, the Year of Claudius, Rome, under the reign of Caesar Claudius.
“After the matrimony of that beautiful eunuch, the consuls brought in a woman gladiator for their celebration.”
“A woman gladiator? That’s rare. Is she going to play the victim?”
“No, it’s an insult to that eunuch…”
“Shhs! He’s the empress now! Stop using that term!”
“Ah, what’s his name again? Yes, Sporus.”
“We all know Nero loves a gladiator fight, but what’s with a woman gladiator having to do with the new empress?”
“Great Zeus! How could you not get the satire? A man made into a bride and a woman playing a man’s role!”
“Ouch! Now I get it. So this gladiator is going to win the play?”
“Well… I’m not sure about the arrangement, though. The aediles were supposed to find a pretty boy to fight Spiculus th
