THE CENTURION OF HERCULANEUM I want to tell you a story. Herculaneum 24 October 79 AD seventh hour. Lucio Cornelio Rufus is a tall, robust 45-year-old man with very short red hair. A year ago he retired from the army with the rank of centurio primus pilus and keeps the golden plaque of the honesta missio in a shrine. He had a good severance pay and settled in Herculaneum, a city full of every kind of entertainment. He has recently finished training in the gym and now wants to go to the spa. Suddenly he hears a roar and sees an imposing column of fire and smoke rising from the top of Vesuvius. Terrified people flee towards the beach where numerous boats are moored. Lucio runs home, dons his sword and pugio and grabs a bag full of gold and silver. He then runs to the beach and makes his way through the crowd. The boatmen ask for a lot of money but the people of herculaneum is rich and can pay. Lucio goes to take the money but sees three hundred women, elderly people and children without ...