ALEXANDRIA
Lindsey Davis
To Michelle With thanks for being an intrepid travel companion and guide And apologies for the culture shock, the sandstorm, the closed museum and that airport
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS
Marcus Didius Falco fixer, traveller and playwright
Helena Justina his well-read wife and tour-planner
Julia Junilla, Sosia Favonia, Flavia Albia their well-behaved poppets
Aulus Camillus Aelianus Helena's brother, a diligent student
Fulvius Falco's enigmatic uncle, a negotiator
Cassius his life partner, a wonderful host
M. D. Favonius, aka Geminus Falco's father, who was ordered not to come
Thalia who will regret bringing him, an artiste
Jason her python, a real curiosity
At the Royal Palace
The Prefect of Alexandria and Egypt highly renowned (name not recorded)
A bunch of dim rich boys his admin staff, typical high-fliers
Legionaries
Gaius Numerius Tenax a centurion who gets the awkward jobs
Mammius and Cotius his back-up, hungry for glory
Tiberius and Titus on duty at the Lighthouse, bored (not for long)
At the Alexandria Museion
Philetus the Museion Director, uplifted on merit?
Theon Librarian of the Great Library, downcast
Timosthenes of the Serapeion Library, hungry for promotion
Philadelphion the Zoo Keeper, a ladies' man
Apollophanes virtuous Head of Philosophy, a toady
Zenon Chief Astronomer and not accountable
Nicanor Head of Legal Studies, honest (honestly!)
Aeacidas a self-assured tragedian, as good as anyone
Pastous a library assistant, closely taking stock
Chaereas and Chaeteas zoo and autopsy assistants, good family folk
Sobek a Nile crocodile, hungry for action
Nibytas an obsessive old reader and book-lover
Heras, son of Hermias a Sophist scholar, none too wise
Students as you would expect
Aedemon an empirical physician (purges and laxatives)
Heron a deus ex machina, earthly god of machines
Colourful Alexandrian characters
Roxana an admired young woman, with poor sight
Psaesis a litter-bearer (deserves a raise)
Katutis in the gutter, gazing at the stars
Petosiris an undertaker (knows where the bodies are)
Itchy and Snuffly his helpers (stitching people up)
Diogenes an ambitious man of commerce
A box-maker his sidekick
Also
The legendary catoblepas not appearing, but deserves a mention
The gnu pure nostalgia
EGYPT: SPRING AD77