Eponina and Sabinus

An illustration this time only signed by A de Neuville

In the time of Vespasian there was great unrest in Gaul, a rebel named Maricus initiated a rebellion citing national independence and despite being caught and executed. Many other revolutionaries fallowed his example. Notably a Gaul named Julius Sabinus, who claimed to be Julius Caesar's great grandson, his revolt was squelched, not even by Romans but by the Sequani, a large Gallic nation loyal to Rome. Sabinus' escaping the fate that befell his soldiers faked his death and hid in his families tomb where he was shortly there after joined by his wife. After nine years of living in the tomb and being supplied by their remaining followers they journeyed to Rome seeking a pardon from Emperor Vespasian.

Despite a powerful appeal for clemency that won the respected of other Roman contemporaries such as Plutarch Vespasian had Sabinus and Eponina executed and their two sons sent to opposite sides of the Mediterranean.

The image is of Eponina, Sabinus and their children, hiding in a crypt beneath the ruins of Sabinus' fortress.