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Eugenios: Servant of Kings
Two thousand years ago Palestine was a minor kingdom situated between the Roman Province of Syria and the Roman breadbasket, Egypt. Strong hands were needed to keep the peace and Pax Romana prevailed because of the threat and sometimes the use of force.
Into this mix is woven a love story between Sphaerus, a personal servant to the powerful emperor Augustus, and Kallisto, a beautiful Jewish slave girl. To complicate matters, Kallisto brings into this relationship expectations of a Hebrew messiah. Whether in Egypt, Rome, or Greece, every Hebrew considered Jerusalem his home, and God help the Roman ruler who forgot that.
Delightful irony results when Eugenios, the son of Sphaerus and Kallisto, becomes an adviser to Herod. His successful family life provides a stunning comparison to the deranged families of his masters. Even a servant may learn that love is the most powerful weapon in life and the only source of true happiness.
Into this mix is woven a love story between Sphaerus, a personal servant to the powerful emperor Augustus, and Kallisto, a beautiful Jewish slave girl. To complicate matters, Kallisto brings into this relationship expectations of a Hebrew messiah. Whether in Egypt, Rome, or Greece, every Hebrew considered Jerusalem his home, and God help the Roman ruler who forgot that.
Delightful irony results when Eugenios, the son of Sphaerus and Kallisto, becomes an adviser to Herod. His successful family life provides a stunning comparison to the deranged families of his masters. Even a servant may learn that love is the most powerful weapon in life and the only source of true happiness.
270 pages, Paperback
Published April 28, 2014
4 people want to read
About the author
Julian Bauer
23 books8 followersJulian Bauer was born in Chicago, but lived most of his life in Maryland. He was an executive in the Federal Government, owned his own world-wide touring business, served as President of the American Volkssport Association and Liaison to the International Federation of Popular Sports, and acted as the 2nd Vice Commander of the Catholic War Veterans of the United States. He attended Florida State, Baylor, Illinois, DePaul, Northwestern, George Washington Graduate School of Finance, Maryland School of Law. He has been married for 63 years to Carmen Espinosa. Author of six published books, he also published four YouTube slide shows on Faith and Reason.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 18, 2018
Through the eyes of Sphaeros, servant to Augustus, and Sphaeros's son Eugenios, the reader gets a unique view of both politics and family life in the Roman Empire, both in Rome and in Palestine, among both Romans and Jews.
One of my college majors was Classics, but I feel like I acquired a better, more integrated overview of ancient Roman life from Eugenios than I did from my studies. Granted, my concentration was in language and not culture, but I still think that says something of the scale and depth of Eugenios.
There is a wealth of historical information contained in Eugenios, all conveyed in an easily readable manner. The story, however, exists at the service of conveying historical information. (Ordinarily, it works the other way around.) The result is a broad education in ancient Roman practices, including details on flax farming and tunic weaving, but a comparatively distant view of characters. In other words, while I learned a great deal reading Eugenios, I didn't identify closely with the characters.
Even so, I'm glad to have read Eugenios in that it places the life of Jesus in historical context, enriching my understanding of Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
Recommended for students of ancient Rome, Christians seeking to better understand the world in which Jesus lived, and fans of historical fiction that is heavy on the history.
One of my college majors was Classics, but I feel like I acquired a better, more integrated overview of ancient Roman life from Eugenios than I did from my studies. Granted, my concentration was in language and not culture, but I still think that says something of the scale and depth of Eugenios.
There is a wealth of historical information contained in Eugenios, all conveyed in an easily readable manner. The story, however, exists at the service of conveying historical information. (Ordinarily, it works the other way around.) The result is a broad education in ancient Roman practices, including details on flax farming and tunic weaving, but a comparatively distant view of characters. In other words, while I learned a great deal reading Eugenios, I didn't identify closely with the characters.
Even so, I'm glad to have read Eugenios in that it places the life of Jesus in historical context, enriching my understanding of Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
Recommended for students of ancient Rome, Christians seeking to better understand the world in which Jesus lived, and fans of historical fiction that is heavy on the history.
May 31, 2014
With accurate detail, Julian Bauer’s Egenios tells the story of two slaves —father and son—as they cope with the Roman court. From 38 BC through the death of Jesus, the father, Sphaerus and later his son, Eugenios, battle in wars and with court life, marriages, and births where the lives of both slaves and royalty overlap. This a precise and interesting book for lovers of history. I found it very instructional and appreciated the research that surely went into it.
However, I felt that some of the personal story of the characters was lost in the ‘matter-of-fact’ history which left them (the characters) somewhat devoid of emotion. Though there was nice tension in the beginning of Chapter Six, I never felt ‘inside a character’s head.’
I was happy to read Eugenious—I’m in awe of the amount of work. I have a historical novel in progress and it’s no easy thing, so congratulations on this, Julian!
However, I felt that some of the personal story of the characters was lost in the ‘matter-of-fact’ history which left them (the characters) somewhat devoid of emotion. Though there was nice tension in the beginning of Chapter Six, I never felt ‘inside a character’s head.’
I was happy to read Eugenious—I’m in awe of the amount of work. I have a historical novel in progress and it’s no easy thing, so congratulations on this, Julian!
March 27, 2015
Julian Bauer's latest release, Eugenios, is a novel based on the evolving relationship of two Jewish families with some key Roman politicians and Jesus' family.
The book is divided into two sections. In the first one, the reader will meet the Jewish slave Sphaerus, his wife Kallisto, and their children; Eugenios, Theodoros, and Sarah. The second part describes the lives of their descendants, especially on Eugenios's whose role in Roman politics will affect all their extended families.
The story begins in 38 BC during the reigns of Emperor Augustus Octavian, and Herod, governor of Galilee. After Herod invades Joppa, his soldiers murder the family of Kallisto. At the time a young virgin, she is taken as slave and offered as a gift to Octavian. However, Octavian orders Sphaerus to marry her, so as to avert a jealous fit from his wife, Livia; thus Octavian hoped to keep the peace of his household. That night changes Kallisto's fate forever, from a life of comfort as the daughter of a very wealthy Jewish merchant to that of an impoverished housewife of a slave. Nonetheless Sphaerus's love, consideration, and patience win her over and save her from becoming entertainment for Octavian's soldiers.
In the first part of the story, the reader will follow Sphaerus and his family through political intrigues, challenges, and the ordeals of Rome and its colonies. However, since Octavian appreciates Sphaerus's loyalty, service, and wise counsel, the slave's family benefit from the protection of the emperor. However, it will also be influenced by the societal and religious that emerge as Jesus' ministry begins to flourish.
In the second part of the novel, the Roman Empire is under attack and its enemies are allying against it. Mr. Bauer reveals how the constant political changes in Rome have ripple effects on all its citizens and specifically on Eugenios, Theodoros, and Sarah.
In contrast with other books by Mr. Bauer that I have read, this is a well-researched historical-fiction novel emphasizing current topics such as corruption, lack of integrity in government, earnest ambition leading to war, strategic treaties, the decline of social morals, and religious metamorphoses”. The author skillfully weaves the threads of Jesus' life with that of Sphaerus and his family. Their relationship will come together in an unexpected climax at the end.
Eugenios is a thought-provoking book that educates and creates awareness of how the choices we make affect our future.
For me, it is one of the best books written by Mr. Bauer.
I highly recommend Eugenios to readers who enjoy historical fiction novels that interweave universal themes in a refreshing new way!
The book is divided into two sections. In the first one, the reader will meet the Jewish slave Sphaerus, his wife Kallisto, and their children; Eugenios, Theodoros, and Sarah. The second part describes the lives of their descendants, especially on Eugenios's whose role in Roman politics will affect all their extended families.
The story begins in 38 BC during the reigns of Emperor Augustus Octavian, and Herod, governor of Galilee. After Herod invades Joppa, his soldiers murder the family of Kallisto. At the time a young virgin, she is taken as slave and offered as a gift to Octavian. However, Octavian orders Sphaerus to marry her, so as to avert a jealous fit from his wife, Livia; thus Octavian hoped to keep the peace of his household. That night changes Kallisto's fate forever, from a life of comfort as the daughter of a very wealthy Jewish merchant to that of an impoverished housewife of a slave. Nonetheless Sphaerus's love, consideration, and patience win her over and save her from becoming entertainment for Octavian's soldiers.
In the first part of the story, the reader will follow Sphaerus and his family through political intrigues, challenges, and the ordeals of Rome and its colonies. However, since Octavian appreciates Sphaerus's loyalty, service, and wise counsel, the slave's family benefit from the protection of the emperor. However, it will also be influenced by the societal and religious that emerge as Jesus' ministry begins to flourish.
In the second part of the novel, the Roman Empire is under attack and its enemies are allying against it. Mr. Bauer reveals how the constant political changes in Rome have ripple effects on all its citizens and specifically on Eugenios, Theodoros, and Sarah.
In contrast with other books by Mr. Bauer that I have read, this is a well-researched historical-fiction novel emphasizing current topics such as corruption, lack of integrity in government, earnest ambition leading to war, strategic treaties, the decline of social morals, and religious metamorphoses”. The author skillfully weaves the threads of Jesus' life with that of Sphaerus and his family. Their relationship will come together in an unexpected climax at the end.
Eugenios is a thought-provoking book that educates and creates awareness of how the choices we make affect our future.
For me, it is one of the best books written by Mr. Bauer.
I highly recommend Eugenios to readers who enjoy historical fiction novels that interweave universal themes in a refreshing new way!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews