Previous Section : Entering Aphrodite's Temple

A Tender Welcome

In no time the two visitors were entertained to a delicious three-course meal, compiled from the rich repertory of bronze age cuisine: Tender trumpet snails and limpets for a starter, sautéed in olive oil and served with crisp leaves of coriander, soon followed by a thick spicy stew of fennel, leek and mallows in thyme sauce, and concluded by nicely decorated slices of a sweet cake made of honey, sesame and almonds. Strongly thinned wine came with the first two courses; a cup of dark red wine accompanied the dessert.

The temple servants followed the familiar ritual, putting aside the first mouthful of each dish for the gods. Separate bowls and vessels were filled for this purpose and emptied to the floor, followed by a short invocation.

Ida and Areus both dined in silence. They hardly understood the servants' dialect and had to communicate with them using gestures rather than words. To Areus, Ida kept quiet as ever. I shouldn't mind, Areus thought, if she was just a bit more talkative.

They had just finished their meal when - friendly but resolutely - they were separated. A young man guided Areus into a small room with a big empty wooden vat in its center. In a corner burnt a stove with pots full of simmering water. A small door led to an adjoining room in which Areus experienced his first flush lavatory. Today we might call it jakes, but for his time it appeared outrageously sumptuous. A hole in the wooden seat reached far down into a channel filled with running water. Small pieces of purified moist sponges were provided for cleaning and to be disposed into the hole, subterraneously carried by the water down to the sea.

Back from the lavatory, the servant gestured Areus to undress. Taking off sandals and loincloth, his only pieces of clothing, Areus sat down in the empty vat and observed the other. He was not older than fifteen, with soft features, bright eyes and shaved hair. All he wore was a narrow scarf wrapped around his waist and between his legs, just covering what's needed. He didn't show any body hair. On chest and shoulders, however, he displayed some body painting. His lips and eyes were painted as well. He mixed hot and cold water until it had the right temperature, poured it over Areus' body and rubbed him softly with a sponge. Repeatedly he dipped the sponge into a bowl containing a substance making it soft and peeling away the grease from Areus' skin like magic. From time to time he fetched a new jar and continued his work, smiling at Areus whenever he touched him. He massaged some of the substance from the jar into Areus' hair, too, and rinsed with much water. He treated all his body, not leaving out any part. Grudgingly Areus noticed some arousal though he never had considered it desirable to be touched by a man. But this young servant's experienced hands were tender and sensitive.

He made Areus get up, dried him with a towel and signaled him to lie down on a wooden bench. He sat down next to him, in touch with his body. From a small jar he took fragrant oil, and with both his hands he spread it over Areus' skin, massaging it in, just leaving out his face. By the time he reached Areus' loins, he was fully erect, and the servant laughingly gestured: No, no! and told him to turn around, so he could treat his back, bottom and legs. He combed back Areus' long moist hair. With a tiny bronze knife he shortened Areus' finger and toe nails and treated them with a special glossy wax.

Thus Areus had arrived in the land of the Keftiu and was truly spoiled as a guest. Never had he expected to arrive here as easily, Areus pondered. And he started thinking about his next steps. How would he get close to the Keftians' secrets?

In between different treatments Areus was offered more food: Cheese, fruit, nuts and watered wine. Then he had to sit up and the servant worked on his face: With a bronze razor softly and dexterously he removed Areus facial hair, continuously regrinding the razor with a leather strap. Never since childhood had chin and cheeks felt that smooth and soft. But the procedure was not finished yet: The servant applied some wax onto Areus' lips, some powder onto forehead and cheeks, painted his brows with a special piece of coal, and - worst of all - painted his eyelids with a dark powder.

When he was done, he made Areus stand up, inspected his work from all sides and was very pleased with Areus' split naked appearance. Areus for a second had the frivolous thought that maybe now his cock would be painted red. If Ida would like that? Or what would Mela, his wife, say if she ever knew what was happening here?

Instead, the servant brought him a brand new splendiferous loincloth, with belt and seam in contrasting color, and a narrow purple codpiece, emphasizing the outline of his anatomy. Areus smiled; he hadn't been too far off. And a pair of closed shoes with sturdy sole and upwardly bent tips. Never had he seen such shoes.

Now he was ready to be brought to the reception room.