The Silver Pigs
Encyclopedia
The Silver Pigs is a crime
novel by Lindsey Davis
. Set in Rome
and Britannia
during AD 70, just after the year of the four emperors, The Silver Pigs stars Marcus Didius Falco
, informer and imperial agent.
Pigs is a term by which ingot
s are known, and refer to the silver ingots which feature prominently in the plot.
Falco stumbles upon a conspiracy in the trading of silver ingots, but not before it claims the life of a young girl (Sosia Camillina) whom Falco meets and is smitten with. Hired by the young girl's uncle, a senator
, to find out who murdered her, and by the Roman Emperor
Vespasian
, to uncover the conspiracy, Falco finds himself on the next boat to Britain
.
Once there he meets a lady way out of his class, Helena Justina, daughter of the Senator who hired him. At first sight it is mutual loathing, he hates her class and she hates his prejudice. Finding himself working down a silver mine, acting as a mine slave
, Falco learns the meaning of hate, pain and abuse. After being rescued by Helena and a friendly centurion
, Falco heads back to Rome
, as the reluctant charge of the even more reluctant Helena.
Naturally, after spending so much time together, lots of arguments, misunderstandings and denial, Falco and Helena fall in love (subsequently consummated in a horse stable in a public garden). Eventually, Falco sorts out the case, and only has to bring the culprits to justice. However, there is no justice when one of the culprits is Domitian
, the Emperor's very own wayward son. As for the other culprits, only one remains alive, and that person is very close to the girl Falco loves and her senator father. After a final, bloody, retribution is carried out in the climax, Falco is offered the chance to be raised to the upper middle class, the equestrian
rank. As an equestrian Falco could marry Helena without bringing her or her family shame, which is something he could never manage on his meagre earnings alone. He refuses, seeing the offer as a bribe to keep the whole conspiracy hushed-up. After realising his mistake and how he must have insulted Helena, he returns to Vespasian and asks for the chance again, and while he is told that his name can be added to the equestrian lists, he must first raise the 400,000 sesterces himself in order to purchase the land to that value which is the qualification for equestrian status. Dejected he returns to his dilapidated tenement in the Aventine Hill
and there finds Helena waiting for him. She promises to wait for him for as long as it takes.
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
novel by Lindsey Davis
Lindsey Davis
Lindsey Davis is an English historical novelist, best known as the author of the Falco series of crime stories set in ancient Rome and its empire.-Biography:...
. Set in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Britannia
Britannia
Britannia is an ancient term for Great Britain, and also a female personification of the island. The name is Latin, and derives from the Greek form Prettanike or Brettaniai, which originally designated a collection of islands with individual names, including Albion or Great Britain. However, by the...
during AD 70, just after the year of the four emperors, The Silver Pigs stars Marcus Didius Falco
Marcus Didius Falco
Marcus Didius Falco is the central character and narrator in a series of novels by Lindsey Davis. Using the concepts of modern detective stories , Davis portrays the world of the Roman Empire under Vespasian...
, informer and imperial agent.
Pigs is a term by which ingot
Ingot
An ingot is a material, usually metal, that is cast into a shape suitable for further processing. Non-metallic and semiconductor materials prepared in bulk form may also be referred to as ingots, particularly when cast by mold based methods.-Uses:...
s are known, and refer to the silver ingots which feature prominently in the plot.
Plot summary
This is the first novel in the series and introduces the main characters as well as establishing relationships that continue and grow throughout the whole series.Falco stumbles upon a conspiracy in the trading of silver ingots, but not before it claims the life of a young girl (Sosia Camillina) whom Falco meets and is smitten with. Hired by the young girl's uncle, a senator
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
, to find out who murdered her, and by the Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Vespasian
Vespasian
Vespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
, to uncover the conspiracy, Falco finds himself on the next boat to Britain
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
.
Once there he meets a lady way out of his class, Helena Justina, daughter of the Senator who hired him. At first sight it is mutual loathing, he hates her class and she hates his prejudice. Finding himself working down a silver mine, acting as a mine slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, Falco learns the meaning of hate, pain and abuse. After being rescued by Helena and a friendly centurion
Centurion (Roman army)
A centurion , also hekatontarch in Greek sources, or, in Byzantine times, kentarch was a professional officer of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC...
, Falco heads back to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, as the reluctant charge of the even more reluctant Helena.
Naturally, after spending so much time together, lots of arguments, misunderstandings and denial, Falco and Helena fall in love (subsequently consummated in a horse stable in a public garden). Eventually, Falco sorts out the case, and only has to bring the culprits to justice. However, there is no justice when one of the culprits is Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
, the Emperor's very own wayward son. As for the other culprits, only one remains alive, and that person is very close to the girl Falco loves and her senator father. After a final, bloody, retribution is carried out in the climax, Falco is offered the chance to be raised to the upper middle class, the equestrian
Equestrian (Roman)
The Roman equestrian order constituted the lower of the two aristocratic classes of ancient Rome, ranking below the patricians , a hereditary caste that monopolised political power during the regal era and during the early Republic . A member of the equestrian order was known as an eques...
rank. As an equestrian Falco could marry Helena without bringing her or her family shame, which is something he could never manage on his meagre earnings alone. He refuses, seeing the offer as a bribe to keep the whole conspiracy hushed-up. After realising his mistake and how he must have insulted Helena, he returns to Vespasian and asks for the chance again, and while he is told that his name can be added to the equestrian lists, he must first raise the 400,000 sesterces himself in order to purchase the land to that value which is the qualification for equestrian status. Dejected he returns to his dilapidated tenement in the Aventine Hill
Aventine Hill
The Aventine Hill is one of the seven hills on which ancient Rome was built. It belongs to Ripa, the twelfth rione, or ward, of Rome.-Location and boundaries:The Aventine hill is the southernmost of Rome's seven hills...
and there finds Helena waiting for him. She promises to wait for him for as long as it takes.
In Regio XIII (The Aventine Sector)
- Lenia - A Laundress.
- Lucius Petronius Longus - Member of the Vigiles and friend of Falco.
- Marcia - Daughter of Falco's deceased brother, Festus.
- Marcus Didius Falco - Informer and Imperial Agent from the Aventine.
- Smaractus - Falco's Landlord.
In Regio I (The Capena Gate Sector)
- Decimus Camillus Verus - Senator, father of Helena Justina.
- Gnaeus Atius Pertinax - AedileAedileAedile was an office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enforce public order. There were two pairs of aediles. Two aediles were from the ranks of plebeians and the other...
, ex-husband of Helena Justina. - Helena Justina - Daughter of the SenatorRoman SenateThe Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
Decimus Camillus Verus, aged 23 years. Lover of Falco. - Julia Justa - Mother of Helena Justina.
- Naissa - Maid of Helena Justina
- Publius Camillus Meto - Younger brother of Camillus Verus, engaged in import/export trade.
- Sosia Camillina - Daughter of Meto, aged 16 years.
At the Imperial Palace
- DomitianDomitianDomitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
Caesar - Younger son of the Emperor. - TitusTitusTitus , was Roman Emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, thus becoming the first Roman Emperor to come to the throne after his own father....
Caesar - Elder son of the Emperor. - VespasianVespasianVespasian , was Roman Emperor from 69 AD to 79 AD. Vespasian was the founder of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for a quarter century. Vespasian was descended from a family of equestrians, who rose into the senatorial rank under the Emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
Augustus - Emperor of Rome.
In other parts of Rome
- Astia - Drayman's floosie
- Glaucus - Gymnasium proprietor
- Julius Frontinus - Captain in the Praetorian GuardPraetorian GuardThe Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
In Britain
- Aelia Camilla - Procurator's wife, younger sister of Camillus Verus and Publius.
- Cornix - Mine foreman.
- Gaius Flavius Hilaris - Imperial procurator
- Rufrius Vitalis - Ex-Centurion of the Second Augustan Legion, living in retirement at Isca DumnoniorumIsca DumnoniorumIsca Dumnoniorum was a town in the Roman province of Britannia and the capital of Dumnonia in the sub-Roman period. Today it is known as Exeter, located in the English county of Devon.-Fortress:...
. - Simplex - Medical officer to the Second Augustan Legion at GlevumGlevumGlevum was a Roman fort in Roman Britain that become "colonia" of retired legionaries in AD 97. Today it is known as Gloucester, located in the English county of Gloucestershire...
. - T. Claudius Triferus - Holder of the contract to manage the Imperial silver mine at Vebiodunum.
Major themes
- Investigation into possible treason involving imperial silver mines.
- Developing relationship of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina.
- The influence of family relationships in political affairs.
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
- Set in Rome and Britain in AD 70, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian.
Film, TV, Radio or theatrical adaptations
- Recorded Books Inc: Audio cassette narrated by Donal DonnellyDonal DonnellyDonal Donnelly was an English-born Irish theatre and film actor. He was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, but raised in Dublin, Ireland....
ISBN 0788773534 - BBC World: Radio 4 starring Anton Lesser and Fritha Goodey ISBN 0-563-52569-X
Release details
- 2000, UK, Century, Hardback ISBN 0-7126-8454-9 (new edition)
- 2000, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-941473-2 (new edition)
- 2006, US, St Martins Press, Paperback, ISBN 0-312-35777-X (new edition)