Alexandria

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

Zenon – Chief Astronomer and not accountable

Nicanor – Head of Legal Studies, honest (honestly!)

Aeacidas – a self-assured tragedian, as good as anyone

Pastous – a library assistant, closely taking stock

Chaereas and Chaeteas – zoo and autopsy assistants, good family folk

Sobek – a Nile crocodile, hungry for action

Nibytas – an obsessive old reader and book-lover

Heras, son of Hermias – a Sophist scholar, none too wise

Students – as you would expect

Aedemon – an empirical physician (purges and laxatives)

Heron – a deus ex machina, earthly god of machines

Colourful Alexandrian characters

Roxana – an admired young woman, with poor sight

Psaesis – a litter-bearer (deserves a raise)

Katutis – in the gutter, gazing at the stars

Petosiris – an undertaker (knows where the bodies are)

Itchy and Snuffly – his helpers (stitching people up)

Diogenes – an ambitious man of commerce

A box-maker – his sidekick

Also

The legendary catoblepas – not appearing, but deserves a mention

The gnu – pure nostalgia