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