Germanicus: The Magnificent Life and Mysterious Death of Rome's Most Popular General by Philip Matyszak & Lindsay Powell

Author:Philip Matyszak & Lindsay Powell [Matyszak, Philip and Powell, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-20T16:00:00+00:00

certainly, there were found hidden in the floor and in the walls disinterred remains of human bodies, incantations and spells, and the name of Germanicus inscribed on leaden tablets, half-burnt cinders smeared with blood, and other horrors by which, in popular belief, souls are devoted to the infernal deities.⁵⁷

The discovery of the use of black magic would reinforce the impression of the couple’s wicked intentions. The little room of horrors may even have been stage-managed by friends of Germanicus, to ensure that there was enough evidence to secure a conviction. Many people had already made up their minds, no matter what any facts might prove, ‘for men, according as they pitied Germanicus and were prepossessed with suspicion or were biased by partiality towards Piso, gave conflicting accounts’.⁵⁸ In the summary court of popular opinion – both in Antiocheia and Rome – the finger of accusation pointed straight at the former governor and his wife.⁵⁹ For Veranius, Vitellius and others, it was a foregone conclusion. They immediately began work on preparing the indictment, ‘as if a prosecution had already been commenced’.⁶⁰ The task now was to find the accused, present the charges, and bring them to justice. Of deeper concern was the suspicion that the Pisones had not acted alone and that they were acting under direct orders from the emperor – or his mother.⁶¹ In the meantime, a suspected accomplice – the woman named Martina, notorious for numerous poisonings in Syria – was taken into custody. The hunt for Piso and Plancina was on.

The former governor and his wife had long since left Syria and were already berthed at the Dodecanese island of Kos, just off the Carian coast.⁶² It was there that they received news of Germanicus’ death. The couple were jubilant. Piso celebrated his joy with sacrifices and prayers of thanks at the local temples. Plancina, who was in mourning for the loss of her sister, now expressed her happiness at Germanicus’ passing, by wearing the brightest coloured clothes she could find. Among Piso’s party were centurions who were still loyal to the former governor.⁶³ They hinted that the legions in Syria would come to his side if approached, and urged him to return and retake his office. His son, Marcus, urged him to go to Rome, however, saying he was not implicated in Germanicus’ death since he had already left before it happened. Moreover, his return to Syria might provoke a civil war.⁶⁴ Domitius Celer, one of Piso’s confidants, backed the centurions’ motion, arguing that he had been appointed the governor by the emperor and that he was still entitled to lead the army stationed there.⁶⁵ Moreover, he – or at least his wife – had the support of Livia, mother of Tiberius, who could exert considerable influence over the emperor. After weighing up his options, Piso decided his best interests lay in taking back command of Syria. He dispatched a letter to Tiberius, in which he accused Germanicus of living a life of luxury and arrogance

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