Rise of the Magi

Book 2 of the Priests and Magi trilogy.

Shadows stir, and old enemies resurface.

By Iola Mary Ballard (In Loving Memory)

With this epic poem, step into the untamed beauty of Tasmania, Australia where innocence and adventure intertwine.

Unearth the secrets of Agrippa I, the enigmatic last ruler of Roman Judaea. In this captivating exploration, Elizabeth Legge delves into archaeological evidence, revealing how Agrippa’s reign intersected with Hellenistic, Roman, and Judaic influences. From hidden sites in the Negev frontier to the multicultural tapestry of his kingdom, Legge paints a vivid picture of Agrippa’s world. Discover the clash of cultures, the architectural marvels, and the tantalizing mysteries that shaped this pivotal era. First published by the University of Pisa, this self-published edition invites you on a journey through time.

In the shadows of the early Roman Republic, where power and intrigue intertwine like ivy on ancient columns, a hidden tale unfolds. A brilliant prodigy, her lineage a blend of Etruscan heritage and Roman upbringing, walks Rome’s cobbled streets. Secrets cling to her steps, threatening to unravel the very fabric of Rome.

In the shadow of ancient Rome, an archaeologist unearths more than artifacts. A forbidden gate whispers secrets across centuries. Love defies time, but so does danger. The past beckons, and destiny awaits beyond the misty veil.

In the heart of ancient Rome, where marble statues guard their secrets and the Senate chambers echo with whispered plots, two lives converge -- a man known as Marcus and the beautiful and reticent Kyra.

That Which is Hidden

A Dance of Shadows and Secrets

In the shadow of ancient Greece, Thalia flees her past as a coerced oracle, seeking refuge in Lydia with her enigmatic protector, Kratos. But who is Kratos really? And how much can she trust him? Their evolving relationship intertwines with the rise of Cyrus of Persia, espionage, and a quest to unmask a hidden cabal mastermind. As secrets unravel, Thalia grapples with echoes from her time as an oracle -- a haunting connection that leads them to Delphi itself.

In this research, I shall attempt, through a perusal of some of the ancient sources and through reading some of the theories of modern historians, to attain a better understanding of the personality and reign of the emperor Gaius, commonly known as Caligula. To this end, my focus will be on the writings of Cassius Dio. At the same time, I shall discuss of the life of Marcus Julius Agrippa I and his relationship to Gaius, and show how an understanding of Agrippa and his relationship with Gaius might also throw some light on the personality and reign of Caesar Caligula.  

Malhata is one of a group of fortresses on the Roman-Judaean frontier with Nabataea (roughly equivalent to modern Jordan). This fortress, located on a tel in the southern portion of the group, is associated with the remains of a Roman road and occupied a strategically central position on an important crossroads between southern Roman Palestine and central Judaea, and between the Dead and Mediterranean seas. It was also on the Roman sector of the Frankincense Trail caravan trade route with the Arabian Peninsula. As well, it is believed to have been ‘Malatha’, mentioned by the Roman- Jewish historian Josephus as the location where the fugitive Herodian prince, Agrippa I, hid when forced to fiee his privileged life in Rome among the Julio-Claudians. An archaeological excavation report and GIS spatial analysis of Malhata reveal information on the fortress’ purpose, and support its being the location where Agrippa hid.

The following is a discussion on the structure and phases of the Castra Praetoria, the barracks of the Praetorian Guard, built in AD 21 to 23 under the auspices of Tiberius Caesar’s praetorian prefect, Lucius Aelius Sejanus, to concentrate the nine Praetorians cohorts together with three Urban Cohorts at one location within close proximity to Rome’s centre, as related by Cassius Dio.