“The Romans were a hard-fighting cruel people,” Wynstan replied. “Jupiter was a warrior God and he expected to be obeyed.”
Larina did not answer him. They moved away from the Temple of Jupiter and wandered down the narrow streets, which had once teemed with people but now contained only the empty shells of their houses.
They saw the House of the Lyre Player and then began to wend their way gradually towards the exit.
“I am thinking about what you said about the Romans being cruel,” Larina said. “I think the reason was that they did not worship beauty and their Goddesses were not like those of Greece.”
“That is true,” Wynstan agreed. “And they were cruel even to their Vestal Virgins. They took vows of absolute chastity, but those who broke them were punished by being whipped to death.”
