An Owl in a Thornbush

Template:Rome episode "An Owl in a Thornbush" is the third episode of the first season of the television series Rome.

With honor and duty warring within him, and the problems of his family weighing on his mind, Vorenus leads Pullo and his scouts south towards Rome with a message for the Senate. Alarmed at the speed with which the rebel forces approach the city, and with nothing but a few untried and untrustworthy Legions, Pompey and the Optimates opt to flee the city. The great families of Rome are forced to choose: flee with Pompey in hopes of raising forces to recapture the city, or align themselves with the rebellion. It is a choice that will divide allies, and split families asunder. In the confusion of a city tearing itself apart, the treasures of Rome will fall into unsuspecting hands.

Memorable quotes

Marcus Junius Brutus: It's very tempting to abandon Caesar, but to do so now, well, that would look like we're mere… slaves to fashion.

Cato to Pompey: You have lost Rome without unsheathing your sword. You have lost Rome!

Historical/Cultural background

• In this episode, Atia is seen to be "holding court"; obviously wealthy - but presumably plebian - people coming to her, as Caesar's Legion approaches. This was a custom of the Roman nobility known as clientela. It seems likely that wealthy plebs would seek the "protection" of the Julii clan in as cliens with Atia as their Patronus, and thus protect themselves from the "ravages of the Legions" should Caesar actually sack Rome. Of course, this wouldn't happen, but they could not know this. It's quite clear that Atia is not above extorting people for her dubious "protection", demanding 5,000 denarii ( approx USD $500,000 - see an earlier discussion on the relative value of the Denarius) from one of her "friends" for her "protection".

Inaccuracies and errors

• Cornelia, Pompey's wife, uses the Greek name Odysseus in reference to the hero of Homer's Odyssey, rather than the Roman transliteration, Ulysses. (It is difficult to tell how much of a mistake this is, as high-born Romans of the time were consummate Hellenists and might have used the original name themselves; Caesar's last words are quoted by Suetonius as having been said in Greek) .
• After crossing the Rubicon, Caesar didn't march to Rome. He followed the east coast to the south of Italy. Pompey and the senate feared though that Caesar would attack Rome and went south. Because of the speed of Caesar's advance, and a bad mistake of Pompey's ally Ahenobarbus, Pompey couldn't assemble enough experienced soldiers.
• The name Octavian is incorrect, and should be Gaius Octavius instead. In Latin the suffix '-ianus' indicates the original family name after an adoption, as a result of which the adoptive son received the full name of the adoptive father. Accordingly, C. Octavius changed his name to C. Iulius Caesar Octavianus after being adopted and made sole heir in his grand uncle's will (44 BC). As a matter of fact, the future emperor did not like and never himself used the epithet Octavianus pointing at his not being born a patrician.

Episode characters

See also: character appearances in Rome

External links

• "An Owl in a Thornbush" at IMDb
• Plot Summary at HBO
• Trailer in RealPlayer format
• Trailer in QuickTime format