PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS

Jesus Christ
A teacher and lay priest during the time of emperor Tiberius, viewed by Christians as the Messiah or Christ promised in the Old Testament, who all believe he was the Son of God sent to be crucified and, through his resurrection, provide salvation and reconciliation with God by atoning for the sins of humanity.

 

Lucius Aelius Sejanus
Prefect of the Praetorian Guard who became emperor Tiberius' personal confidant and rose to become arguably the most powerful man in the Roman Empire for a time.

James
Presented in the story as the younger half-brother of Jesus Christ, whose relationship to Jesus as told in the Christian Bible is the subject of ongoing debate.

"Tiberius" - Tiberius Claudius Nero

Second emperor of Rome, following Augustus' (Octavian) death in 14 C.E.

"Caiaphas" - Joseph Caiaphas
High priest of the Sanhedrin which is Judea's highest judicial and ecclesiastical council.

Nicodemus
Member of the Sanhedrin, who, according to the Gospel of John in the Christian Bible, shows favour to Jesus and his family.

"Joseph" - Joseph of Arimathea
Member of the Sanhedrin, who, according to the Christian Bible, donates his tomb to Jesus.

Pontius Pilate
Governor of the Judea from 26 - 36 C.E. and, according to the Christian Bible, presided over the Roman trial of Jesus Christ.

"Livilla" - (Claudia) Livia Julia
Daughter of Antonia, sister of Claudius, granddaughter of Livia, aunt of Caligula, wife of Drusus II (Tiberius' only son), and mistress of Sejanus.

 

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

"Drusus" - Tiberius Drusus Claudius Julius Caesar Nero
His adoption name was Drusus Julius Caesar, later called Drusus II - emperor Tiberius’ only son, and Livilla’s husband, who died under questionable circumstances.

 

"Caligula" - Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
Son of Germanicus and Agrippina, nephew of Tiberius, later emperor of Rome.

Graecinius Laco
Prefect of the Vigiles, the 'policemen' of Rome.

Quintus Sutorius Macro
Sub-prefect of the Praetorian Guard, reporting to Sejanus.

Judas Iscariot
A devoted disciple and the one who betrays Jesus Christ in the Christian Bible.

Aran Eliasaph
A fictitious character - member of the Sanhedrin

"Claudius" - Tiberius Claudius Nero
Handicapped and often ridiculed son of Antonia, and brother of Livilla; later emperor of Rome.

Antonia (Minor)
Also known as Antonia the Younger or simply Antonia (January 31, 36 BCE - September or October 37 CE) is the youngest daughter to Octavia Minor and Mark Antony and also the youngest and favorite niece of her mother’s youngest brother - Rome’s first Emperor Caesar Augustus (Octavian). Mother of Livilla and Claudius.

 

TIERTIARY CHARACTERS

Claudia Procula
Pontius Pilate's wife

"Livia" - Livia Drusilla (Julia Augusta)
Known as Julia Augusta after 14 C.E., wife of Caesar Augustus (Octavian) and emperor Tiberius' mother.

Malchus
Servant of Joseph Caiaphas

 

"Nero" - Nero Julius Caesar Germanicus
First born son of Agrippina and Germanicus with legitimate claim to the emperorship of Rome; not to be confused with the later emperor, Nero.

Nero Claudius Drusus
Later known as Drusus the Elder. Brother of Tiberius.

Junius Quintus Blaesus
General and governor of Pannonia and Sejanus' uncle.

Percennius
One of the leaders of the Pannonian Mutiny.

Vibulenus
One of the leaders of the Pannonian Mutiny.

 

Gaius Asinius Gallus
Roman senator and confidant of Agrippina

Julia
Daughter of Livilla and Drusus II, granddaughter of Antonia

Eudemus
Livilla’s personal physician

Lygdus
A eunuch, Drusus II’s trusted cupbearer and chief attendant.

Barabbas
A self-professed patriot and convicted murderer in the Christian Bible

Gaius Cassius
Centurion who pierced the crucified Jesus Christ with a spear

 

Mary Magdalene
Possibly a disciple of, and married to, Jesus Christ. Present and pregnant at the time of Jesus' crucifixion

 

Peter
Originally a fisherman, became one of Jesus' disciples and a role model for the other discples to follow

 

Aulus Fabricia Poplicola
A fictious character, a solicitor

 

Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso
Caustic Roman statesman, accused and convicted of poisoning Germanicus

 

"Germanicus" Julius Caesar Claudianus
Roman general, adopted son of Tiberius, one of the most revered men in the history of the Roman Empire, struck down in his prime under suscpicious circumstances, his death forever changing Roman history