Welcome, friend, to my snug Seaside Domus in Baiae.

This gorgeous image of the Cup is a gift from cousin M. Fabius. Thank you! By the way, should you be in need of money or have other monetary business in mind, the Argentarius Furius, the Bank of the Furii, is the place for you to go!

I had to purchase a quite small one as the real estate prices around here are beyond reason! Still my house does offer several rooms as you will discover when you wander through it and locate all those places that serve as my homebase for certain activities. In the Courtyard I conduct my social activities here at AncientWorlds and at Rome/Baiae. In my Library you will find a collection of links to resources I found useful, funny or remarkable. My Study is for my rather dilettante historical and academic pursuits. Thanks for visiting my home!

There is much to see and to do around the Cup! Though I usually avoid the area around Pompeii (this nasty garum business can be a real put-off at times!), we can always visit my dear friend, the noble Antinous Flavius, a captivating young man who sometimes resides in the House of the Tragic Poet in Pompeii and has many stories to tell - if he feels inclined to do so, that is. Sometimes he tends to be quite secretive.

Which, by the way, he just confirmed by buying the villa next to mine, the Villa Somnium Lacertae! *smiles happily* Well, maybe I have talked him into moving here (as he claims).

Then there is Misenum for those who want to revel in the spirit of Dionysos. It's all there, tabernas, wild gardens and places just for pleasure. I would have settled down there if it wasn't so crowded all the time.

And then, of course, there's Rome. Our capital. Heart of the known world. And, the greatest bonus, cousin Marcus lives there as well (yes, the same who happens to run the bank). Whenever you happen to visit Rome, drop by at his place - but heed his advice and be careful around his dog, Laconus, he really nipps at people's legs. Rumour has it - yet I'm not sure, knowing the local gossipers - that yet another kinsman, Sextus Furius Maximus, has settled down in Rome and started his olive oil business with Marcus' financial support. As far as I know it's called Volturnas Oils, and his steward, Quintus Servius, will be pleased to give you the grand tour. Yet, whatever he might tell you about olives - the most delicious sorts still grow around here! May I offer you some, by the way?

Not only does Campania grow the best olives, it's also the source of the best wine, famed throughout the world. I'm very happy about that - not only do I sit close to the source, it also lured a dear cousin down here, Q. Falernus Furius. The wine he grows and produces at his estate, the Vinea Falerna, would truly please the palates of the Olympians. He has a beautiful taberna attached to his estate, so if you feel like a day out, go and visit his Casa et Taberna Falerna and enjoy the fresh air along with an elysian drop or two. I'm sure he'll be pleased to welcome you! And, as he advertises:

"If you're planning a party, just ask to speak to my steward and he can arrange swift delivery of any quantity you require to your villa or yacht."

Obviously our gens is expanding now. Two more cousins have moved down to Campania, all ready to throw a big family party. Well, as cousin Lucius Camillus has pointed out, wine and olives won't be a problem; maybe we can even talk cousin Marcus into sponsoring the whole affair? The other cousin, Flavius, has remained close-mouthed about their future plans for the time being. I just hope that whatever they do now to make a living is something legal for a change. Given the fact that they'd been nicknamed "Luscious Lucius" and "Frivolous Flavius" I suppose it's highly unlikely that it will be anything even remotely reputable. *G*

This is a wonderful New Year gift from my dear cousin Marcus! Thank you!!

All credit for the beautiful room pictures goes to Livia Servilius, the image for the Seaside Domus in Baiae is from Rome's Domus Depot, the background was image by me. Origin of ivy leaves unknown, altered and adapted by me. The pine grove background in the Grove of the Furies is a courtesy from Silvia Hartmann, the altar is my own creation entirely, with the exception of the marble pattern, which was taken from The Insipiration Gallery, and the image of a Kakodaimon (or Fury), which stems from a fresco found in Pompeii, relocated to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Naples, Italy.