She listens to him talk about his estates, suspecting that Julia’s questions are designed to show off his wealth, just as she has contrived to show off Amara’s skills at entertaining. From the conversation, it seems that Demetrius not only owns vineyards and olive groves, but also a large fishery off the coast. Amara tries to concentrate on her performance, doing her utmost to block out the endless litany of riches.

Julia and Livia press Demetrius to talk about his life in Rome too, but he is tight-lipped about his business for Emperor Vespasian, only offering the blandest praise for his master. His discretion reminds her a little of Philos, or even Secundus. Service always leaves its mark. She finds herself wondering, in spite of herself, how Demetrius came to be owned by the Imperial family, how he gained his freedom, whether he was enslaved in Greece, or whether, like her, he was born free.

The topic that never seems to exhaust him is the transformation of his adopted city, Rome. He takes pains to describe the new Temple of Peace and the ongoing construction of the Flavian Amphitheater. “You could fit Pompeii’s arena inside, perhaps ten times over,” he explains to Julia. “The scale of it is unimaginable. All the wealth of the great Temple from Jerusalem has gone into its construction.” His words set off an echo in Amara’s mind, recalling her old maid, Martha. Ask the admiral why Jerusalem is now nothing more than ashes. Amara strums the strings of the lyre, no longer singing, so that she has a better chance of hearing what is being said. “You might not recognize the city you once visited,” Demetrius continues, nodding at Julia and Livia. “Its greatness is unlike anything I ever expected to witness. And I say that as a man who grew up in the shadow of the Temple of Zeus.”

“You are from Olympia?” Amara cannot help interrupting. “You grew up in the sacred city?” Demetrius nods, not looking displeased by her interest, but not volunteering more either. “My father always wanted to make a pilgrimage there,” Amara says. “To see the statue of Zeus, before he died.”

“You are from Attica,” Demetrius replies, in Greek. It is a statement, not a question, and Amara does not know whether he guessed from her accent or because he learned this from Pliny. “They say Pallas Athene always leaves her mark on those from her own kingdom. I wonder if that is true of you.”