Domina Victrix

Chapter 59: 29 AD, Caesarea, Antioch, and Capri

Sixteen-year-old Salome of Chalcis wrapped her robe around herself, waiting for her mother to bring the midwife for her virginity examination. Within weeks, she would depart for her new home as the wife of Prince Aristobulus, son of Artaxis of Armenia. She was aware of her family's ancestral allegiance to Antony, and that her Great-Aunt Glaecerys had married Antony's oldest son. Now, she was marrying into the same illustrious family. She was fascinated by Bolt's stories of his ancestor and had met Victoria, and hoped she would be the one doing the exam. She stood as her mother entered the room. Victoria followed.

"Good morning, Princess," Victoria said. "And I should say welcome to our family."

"Thank you, Augusta," Salome said. "I hope my prince will be like Bolt."

"He's a few years older," Victoria said. "I met him when we were in Armenia. He's not as talkative as Bolt, but goodlooking. You should be happy. Shall we get started?"

She told Salome what to expect as her chaperone, Judith bar Simon and two handmaids took places around the bed. Salome was a tall, athletic girl who loved dancing, swimming, and working out. She was also an accomplished rider and archer. She should be healthy and Victoria hoped she was a virgin, knowing Uncle Artaxis would be pissed if she was anything but.

"This will hurt," Victoria said.

Roman midwives used a cervical clamp called a speculum for pelvic exams. It was a metal device with arms that could be widened by a crank. She did not want to do anything that drastic with this young girl. She lubricated the area with ointment and worked her way toward the hymen, a ring of tissue at the opening of the vagina. Old wives tales held that a hymen with any opening was a sign of wrongdoing on a young woman's part, but the tissue had to be open to allow the menses to pass through. There were more reliable indications of a girl's virginity. She probed into the cervix as far as she could.

"She's intact and not stretched," Victoria said. "Is she regular?"

"More or less," Judith said.

"Some irregularity is normal," Victoria said. "Any causes for concern? Migraines, heavy bleeding, stomach upset?"

"Cramps," Salome said.

"Again, normal," Victoria said. "I don't want to clamp her if I don't have to. I'm prepared to say she's a virgin and healthy."

"Thank you," Herodias said.

"Uncle Artaxis will want a direct report from me," Victoria said.

"I expected that," Herodias said.

Victoria washed her hands and prepared to leave. She made her way to the Provincial side of the castrum and saw a few patients left over from sick call. They appeared to be early cases of flu. She admitted them to the infirmary to keep the contagion from spreading. Hopefully, the flu season would not be too vicious. She walked to the Roman side next. There were three flu cases there. She wrote her report to Artaxis and posted it before going to the kitchen in the officers' mess. She had several days rations to prepare as well as medicinals.

Apothecaries were common in most large cities. Many sold legitimate remedies, aloe vera for rashes, minor burns, and scrapes, peppermint for headaches, chamomile for minor pain and tension. Others sold folk remedies such as amulets, stones, written spells. Most apothecaries were also ointment makers who created cosmetics and perfumes. Physicians did not make their own medicines, but Victoria was in addition a midwife and herbalist. Crispinus' mother Vinicia and Layla were skilled practitioners and Victoria drew on their training. As she ground herbs and spices for both remedies and cooking, Flavius opened the door.

"Victory, Pilate needs you."

She found a basket of basic instruments and herbs and walked with him to the Governor's Palace, her arm through his.