Aurelian; or, Rome in the Third Century

Through a series of carefully selected letters penned by the Roman senator Lucius Manlius Piso, this work opens a window onto the turbulent third‑century empire. The narrator, Nicomachus—once a devoted servant of the famed queen of Palmyra—arranges the correspondence to illuminate Piso’s character, his family ties, and the broader political currents that roiled Rome and its eastern provinces. Interwoven with his own reflections, the letters reveal the clash of cultures, the rise of new religious ideas, and the personal dilemmas faced by those caught between tradition and change.

The collection also offers a vivid portrait of an age marked by imperial ambition, military upheaval, and the early persecution of Christians under emperors such as Aurelian. Readers will hear the voices of senators, diplomats, and ordinary citizens as they grapple with loyalty, faith, and survival. By presenting these authentic missives alongside a modest narrative thread, the book invites listeners to experience the complexity of a world on the brink of transformation.