remains as interested in Alexandria as a baby in a bowl of asparagus. It was their father, Emperor Arcadius, and his father before him, Theodosius, who insured the Christian empire would uphold the edict forbidding pagan practice.”
“What does it mean?”
“That those who are not Christian, like the followers of Mithras and Osiris, Zoroaster, the Druids, the Romans, and even the ancient hierophant of Eleusis may not worship their gods. There has been some tolerance for the Jews, but even that is waning. They are all deemed pagans.” Synesius shook his head. “For all I know, Alexandria may be the last place in the Mediterranean the pagans dare to pray. Elsewhere they have all gone into hiding or embraced Christ to save themselves from persecution.”
“Is that why you became a Christian?”
Synesius clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace. “I am a gnostic Christian, not an orthodox Christian. I have particular interest in Christ and his disciples, especially Mary Magdalene. I am translating her writing and the gospel of Thomas now with a team of other Coptic scribes. The practices of the Parabolani are atrocious, true. Our bishop may be a self-righteous man, but Christ himself was and is a worthy teacher, as are his disciples. Christ’s emphasis was always on inner knowing, and on love.”
“But this girl they killed was practically a child. How can you willingly connect yourself to that?” Hannah squinted up at Synesius where he paused with his head before the sun, an aureole of light illuminating his shoulders as a bee swept past his chin and dove into a purple blossom on the pond.
“As a gnostic Christian, I do not. The teachings of Christ and the church founded in his absence by Paul are not the same. Jesus himself did not create a church, he merely asked his followers to bless others and spread the teachings. Unfortunately, this split among the Christians has sent those of us who believe differently than the orthodox into hiding. Cyril would be killing the gnostics along with the pagans if there were any left to kill. Most students of Valentinus, the teacher of my lineage, were silenced before I was born. I know how to walk in orthodox circles without arousing suspicion, as my life is a work of subtle influence.”
Hannah plucked a flower and twirled it between her fingers, her lips pressed together in thought.
“I disappoint you?” Synesius said.
Hannah shrugged. “Perhaps you care more for those scrolls than you do a young girl’s life. I do not understand.”
Synesius nodded, empathizing with her sentiment. “The Great Library of Alexandria is devoted to uncovering and preserving truth, not resolving human suffering, though the two are certainly intertwined. We study the heavens, the seas, works of all ages, cultures and centuries, and the contributions of great minds that have come and gone and shared their wisdom with us, even those that have made us question our treasured beliefs. The truth is humanity’s greatest inheritance, Hannah. And you are right, I would protect it over all else.”
Hannah shook her head. “I do not understand.” It was a philosopher’s speech that did nothing to reframe the events in the market for Hannah’s heart. Feeling neither more nor less consoled, she gazed down into the little pool at the star-shaped blooms of the blue lotus flowers, listening to the water trickling from the lion’s mouth on the wall.
“Hannah,” Synesius stood up. “I have also come today to invite you to sing at a very important lecture this coming Saturn’s day. Alizar spoke quite highly of your talent before his departure, and our current musical accompaniment has taken ill. We would like you to take his place. Alizar arranged that it will pay you three siliquae. ”
“What kind of lecture?” Hannah sat up in surprise. Here then, was Alizar’s promise that she could earn her freedom; although three silver siliquae were a mere glint on the surface of one
“What does it mean?”
“That those who are not Christian, like the followers of Mithras and Osiris, Zoroaster, the Druids, the Romans, and even the ancient hierophant of Eleusis may not worship their gods. There has been some tolerance for the Jews, but even that is waning. They are all deemed pagans.” Synesius shook his head. “For all I know, Alexandria may be the last place in the Mediterranean the pagans dare to pray. Elsewhere they have all gone into hiding or embraced Christ to save themselves from persecution.”
“Is that why you became a Christian?”
Synesius clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace. “I am a gnostic Christian, not an orthodox Christian. I have particular interest in Christ and his disciples, especially Mary Magdalene. I am translating her writing and the gospel of Thomas now with a team of other Coptic scribes. The practices of the Parabolani are atrocious, true. Our bishop may be a self-righteous man, but Christ himself was and is a worthy teacher, as are his disciples. Christ’s emphasis was always on inner knowing, and on love.”
“But this girl they killed was practically a child. How can you willingly connect yourself to that?” Hannah squinted up at Synesius where he paused with his head before the sun, an aureole of light illuminating his shoulders as a bee swept past his chin and dove into a purple blossom on the pond.
“As a gnostic Christian, I do not. The teachings of Christ and the church founded in his absence by Paul are not the same. Jesus himself did not create a church, he merely asked his followers to bless others and spread the teachings. Unfortunately, this split among the Christians has sent those of us who believe differently than the orthodox into hiding. Cyril would be killing the gnostics along with the pagans if there were any left to kill. Most students of Valentinus, the teacher of my lineage, were silenced before I was born. I know how to walk in orthodox circles without arousing suspicion, as my life is a work of subtle influence.”
Hannah plucked a flower and twirled it between her fingers, her lips pressed together in thought.
“I disappoint you?” Synesius said.
Hannah shrugged. “Perhaps you care more for those scrolls than you do a young girl’s life. I do not understand.”
Synesius nodded, empathizing with her sentiment. “The Great Library of Alexandria is devoted to uncovering and preserving truth, not resolving human suffering, though the two are certainly intertwined. We study the heavens, the seas, works of all ages, cultures and centuries, and the contributions of great minds that have come and gone and shared their wisdom with us, even those that have made us question our treasured beliefs. The truth is humanity’s greatest inheritance, Hannah. And you are right, I would protect it over all else.”
Hannah shook her head. “I do not understand.” It was a philosopher’s speech that did nothing to reframe the events in the market for Hannah’s heart. Feeling neither more nor less consoled, she gazed down into the little pool at the star-shaped blooms of the blue lotus flowers, listening to the water trickling from the lion’s mouth on the wall.
“Hannah,” Synesius stood up. “I have also come today to invite you to sing at a very important lecture this coming Saturn’s day. Alizar spoke quite highly of your talent before his departure, and our current musical accompaniment has taken ill. We would like you to take his place. Alizar arranged that it will pay you three siliquae. ”
“What kind of lecture?” Hannah sat up in surprise. Here then, was Alizar’s promise that she could earn her freedom; although three silver siliquae were a mere glint on the surface of one
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