Eucleides

yeah, this is big brain time

**Eucleides** is a Greek slave of Gaius Cornelius Calvus. He is from Rhodes. According to his placard, he is skilled in geometry and rhetoric. He is also friends with Apollodorus. He was purchased by Titus Cornelius for 35,000 sesterces in the Forum in Rome shortly after he purchased Davus in 50 AD.

Later, in 80 AD, he traveled with the Cornelii, Sextus, and Syrus, to Rome after Gaius Cornelius was summoned by the emperor, and, after their carriage crashed into a ditch while on the way, led the Cornelii and Sextus, but not Syrus, who stayed to guard the carriage, to Apollodorus's inn, where they spent the night.

## Biography

### Living in Rhodes

Sometime prior to 50 AD, Eucleides lived in Rhodes.

### Purchase

In 50 AD, after purchasing Davus, Titus Cornelius offered 10,000 sesterces for Eucleides, who was being auctioned off as a slave in the Forum in Rome. His placard stated that he was "skilled in geometry and rhetoric". This bid confused Davus as Eucleides seemed unfit to him for manual labor given his "pale, half-starved" appearance. Titus's overseer was annoyed by this but initially said nothing, but as Titus’s bid rose he became angrier and angrier. When the bid had risen to 30,000 sesterces, the overseer insisted Titus withdraw his bid, but he did not listen and ended up purchasing Eucleides for 35,000 sesterces. The overseer believed that the qualifications listed on the placard must have contributed to Titus's interest in him. He and Davus were then loaded onto a cart with Thracians who were also bought that day.

### Giving Cornelia a book

Some time before Gaius Cornelius Calvus was summoned by the Roman Emperor and presumably after his purchase, Eucleides gave Cornelia a book about her namesake (it is not clear who exactly that is), which she would later read while sitting under a tree.

### Departing for Rome

In 80 AD, after Gaius Cornelius Calvus was summoned by the Roman Emperor, the Cornelii and Sextus prepared to depart for Rome, bringing Syrus and Eucleides with them. After Cornelius's slaves had finished loading the luggage of the Cornelii and Sextus onto their carriage while being supervised by Davus, Eucleides, along with Marcus, Sextus, Aurelia, and Syrus, but not Cornelius or Cornelia, climbed into the it. Cornelius was ready to climb in but then Aurelia suddenly asked where Cornelia, who was running in the road, was. Cornelius immediately ordered her into the carriage. They then departed.

### The Cornelii's carriage wrecks

After departing for Rome, the Cornelii's carriage crashed into a ditch while traveling along the Appian Way. Afterward, when the sun was setting, Eucleides asked Cornelius if he saw Apollodorus's inn, to which Cornelius responded that he did. Eucleides then explained that it was an inn, and asked Cornelius if he wanted to spend the night there. Aurelia then interrupted that she did not like inns because they were dangerous. Eucleides responded asking her why she was afraid and explaining that the inn in question was safe and that not all inns were dangerous, and that he was friends with the owner of this inn, who he said was a good Greek man. Aurelia responded that Cornelius was a senator and that senators did not respond the night in inns.

Cornelius finally responded by asking her where they could sleep, and explained that since they could not sleep in the road, they must go to the inn, before promptly ordering Marcus, Sextus, and Eucleides to join him. They then traveled to the Apollodorus's inn, but Syrus stayed in the road to guard the horses and carriage by himself.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter XVII of the fourth edition of Ecce Romani I.
2. ↑ Chapter XVIII of the fourth edition of Ecce Romani I.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Roman Life III of the fourth edition of Ecce Romani I.
4. ↑ Ecce Romani I is set in 80 AD according to the opening to Ecce Romani I, and Roman Life III, in which Davus and this slave is purchased, states that Davus had become the overseer of the Cornelii estate 30 years after being purchased.
5. ↑ Roman Life III of the fourth edition of Ecce Romani I.
6. ↑ Roman Life I of the fourth edition of Ecce Romani I.
7. ↑ Ecce Romani I is set in 80 AD according to the opening to Ecce Romani I.
8. ↑ Chapter VII of the fourth edition of Ecce Romani I.
9. ↑ Chapter X of the fourth edition of Ecce Romani I.
10. ↑ Chapter XIII of the fourth edition of Ecce Romani I.
11. ↑ Chapter XVII of the fourth edition of Ecce Romani I.