As so often happens with these Roman stories of mine this story was inspired by an artifact. This time it is a little phallus shaped Bronze Stud found on the site of a temple dedicated to Mercury at Uley in Gloucestershire England and dated 2nd or 3rd century.
My name is Geminia, sister of Geminius who is my twin brother. When we were born our father Felixius Domiti Ventris wanted to give thanks to the gods, because not only had his wife Claudia survived her ordeal, but he also had two healthy children. Accordingly he promised me as a votive gift to the Temple of Isis.
My childhood was no different to that of other girls of Roman families. I played with other children, whose parents were of the same Roman rank as my father; we did not associate with the natives. My dearest friend was Antonius Lucius the son of another Prefect. My father commanded an Alae of auxiliary cavalry, Antonius’s father commanded a cohort of auxiliary infantry. As we were both from families of equites rank, in the normal course of events we might one day have married, but as I said, I had been promised to the Goddess Isis. Despite this, we stole kisses and exchanged small gifts, fearing their disapproval I hid Antonius’s gifts from my parents.
In due course when by the laws of Rome we became adults, my brother Geminius and my Antonius took their togas, and I instead of being married, moved to the Temple of Isis. The temple was a large complex, consisting of buildings where people worshipped Isis and other gods either publicly or privately. Another set of buildings housed the priests and a lesser building was for the women who had been given or given themselves to Isis. Surrounding these buildings were the hortus where cremation urns were buried and the temple women worked.
I do not know what the practice is in other parts of the Empire, but on this far flung northern island the temple women earn money for the temple. To put it in plain terms the women are sacred meretrix. As darkness falls the women walk through the gardens, if, when, they are accosted by a man they cannot refuse him. They must go and lie with him, regardless of how large or small the offering he makes.
I was soon to learn the stated policies and the practices of the temple are not the same. At first I was not to go with men, during the time of darkness I stayed in the building. This was the time of my instruction when I learnt the arts of love, how to please a man. Using an ivory phallus I learned how to handle a man’s penis, to manipulate it by hand, to take it in my mouth without gagging. Painfully I learnt about anal intercourse, the method most of the women preferred as it avoided a pregnancy. The only thing I did not learn in a practical manner was vaginal intercourse.
It was important to Isis that I remained virgo intacta until the first man entered me. The time when I was to first walk the gardens was set for the Feast of Venus. "At least it will be spring, and you won’t get a cold back." Cackled old Agrippina, who was my praeceptrix.
Agrippina was a woman in her late thirties, who was too old and ugly to continue servicing men. Most women married and left the service of Isis before this happened to them, but for a few a potential husband had never materialized.
It was from Agrippina that I learnt about the auction; my hymen had become a precious commodity. Men were making bids to be the first man to lie with me. "I thought I had to lie with the first man who accosted me." I said to Agrippina.
"That’s what we are taught. But with a virgin it is always arranged so the highest bidder will be that first man. It is better for you, some older experienced man will initiate you with skill and care."
My heart sank, I did not want to lie with some wrinkly, fat, old merchant or prefect. I wanted to lie with Antonius, who if my father had not made his ridiculous pledge would have been my husband. I think it was then I began to make my plans!
When I next saw my brother Geminius in the gardens I made my request. The sense of filial duty is strong; my brother was duty bound to obey our father. However the bonds forged in the womb transcend all other bonds, and reluctantly Geminius agreed to help me.
In the late afternoon the gardens are deserted. The women are preparing themselves for the dusk when they will walk the gardens, and people who have come to pray or honor the dead have returned to their homes, not wanting to be mistaken for a temple woman or her client. Old Agrippina my tutor was diverted from attending to me, to act as an ornatrix to the other young women.
On the afternoon of the appointed day as was my habit I bathed. After I had bathed I took especial care when I oiled and scented my body, I wanted to be perfect for my Antonius. Standing naked in the bath-house I ran my hands over my body, admiring myself.
