INSVLA TIBERINA

Musa wished to show off the statue of his father that Augustus had erected for his life saving services. He led him to the Tiber, the young man pointed at what appeared to him to be a very large boat in the river. The young man questioned in astonishment how such a structure with so many temples on was able to stay afloat. Musa laughed and told the young man it was actually an island, he proceeded to point out the two stone bridges the Pons Fabriscius and the Pons Cestius that ran to it from each bank, although he did concede that they did look like giant ores. They reached the Pons Fabriscius and began to cross, the young man was fascinated by the island, he leant over the wall of the bridge to get a closer look at the down stream end that was shaped like a ships prow. Musa was impatient to get to his fathers statue but nevertheless stopped to answer the questions his companion asked. He had grown to quite like talking about his city, he was amazed at how much he actually knew with so little effort. It was like he just consumed the knowledge from the city itself, each building telling him a story as he passed by day after day. 

 The young man's main concern was how the island got there in the first place. Musa recalled the myths surrounding the island to his eager companion.(1) He recalled how Tarquins the last of the seven kings of Rome tried to reclaim his throne through deception. When the Senate found out after a humble slave had over heard the tyrants plans all Tarquins property was confiscated for the people of Rome to take as they wished. Tarquins' land was also confiscate and consecrated to Mars, thus renamed the Campus Martius. The crop that was on the land at that time could not be used for religious reasons so was harvested and thrown into the Tiber. It was from the crops that the island was gradually formed.

On the island Musa led him to the Temple of Aesculapius which was situated at the downstream end of the island. Stood near by was the statue of Musa's father. The young man was astonished that Musa's father had received such an honour from Augustus, he thought the Princeps must be a truly good man to have such appreciation of someone from such a humble back ground. Musa stood a while in front of his fathers statue as his companion took a look around he recognised the Temple as one of Aesculapius, another god that was close to his heart as the god of medicine, he often prayed for his assistance and was glad to know where his temple was so he could come himself to worship. Musa joined him again and the discussed their patron god. Musa told his companion the story of Aesculapius' arrival in Italy he was one of the first foreign gods to do so .  

They entered the temple where they could see the pot terracotta votives that people had left near the alter and staues of the medicine god. They spent some time in the temple just looking at the votive and discussing the possible cure for ailments. As they left the temple Musa took another moment at his fathers statue then proceeded to the last stop on the tour. They left the island both feeling very noble in their profession. They made their way back across the Pons Fabriscius where they joined large noisy crowd developing around the Theatre of Marcellus. 

FROM THE PORTICUS OCTAVIAE                        HOME                                   TO THE THEATRUM MARCELLI

(1) See Livy: The Early History of Rome II.5