Jewells of Thought

High School broadened my perception of history. Of course turning into a teenager with a tragic loss helped me to mature a bit from everything being music… music… music in my life. My history teacher had a movie to go with nearly every topic we discussed. When it came to world history can you guess the movie it was… a Colosseum that came to life?

Rome was an intriguing world power in so many ways. As cultured as they were for being at the top of the food chain of power in the world within their time of influence, moral depravity and manipulation was seen and witnessed through their mocking of life with their largest commodity… slavery.

Gladiator demonstrated a fairly stark reality for slaves. Nero and Caligula were two Caesars that were such nightmares for the Roman Empire and their perceived enemies. Christians in particular were targeted in the most extreme brute force by Nero that was sickening. Yet knowing all of this studying Roman architecture, art, food and their influence they did things in excess; almost equally the good and the bad of their culture.

I would probably never have heard about this man if it wasn’t for my local Christian book store; I say local but it is a 45 minute drive. This book was one of the good deals in the store. It took some time to make the decision.

Time travel to the 3rd Century. Not all traveling through time is plausible and most seem more cartoon-like at times. However, the price was do-able and it was like a magnet; I couldn’t stay away from it so I eventually bought it. That purchase brought so many ideas to life including a Ladies night at Church. I might sound crazy, but I do know God gives us things we need in mysterious ways. This series created by Lynne Gentry really blew my mind and allowed me to analyze my life and all of this happened before Covid hit.

There is so much meat in this Series to learn from and through with others. This could totally be a ladies study of sorts featuring medical and historical aspects. Not to mention the oratorical skills and prowess of some of the intellectual aristocrats. Cyprianus Thascius was a normal patrician of the Roman World. He had everything he could possibly want or need; his father’s wealth seemed endless and so was his influence.

God picked this man from all the Romans of Carthage not quite 300 years after Christ died. Among my research and from what Ms. Gentry wrote in the book was that for a long time a mass grave of children was found and thought one way about it. Apparently the first inklings to those minds studying the ruins were that those children were sacrificed to pagan gods. Except usually burning was the usual method unfortunately, so that doesn’t really make sense that they would think that first. Time eventually settled on another theory an epidemic.

In the book this affluent man was referred to as Cyprian for most of the Series. The absolute intrigue for me about these books goes back to my love of history and interest in caring for others; but also the romantic in me. All of this overwhelmed me through my first read of the first book.

Why would this typical wealthy aristocrat be taken in by a Jesus who lived 250 years before him? Why did he use the funds he inherited from his father’s death for the works of prophets who wrote about Jesus and His time and His disciples? Why would an affluent Roman citizen give up his possessions to follow God’s will? Cyprian himself was a gifted writer and speaker. Why did he allow another teacher with a zealous love for Christ with a talent to orate as well to bring Jesus into his life? This man became a walking contradiction of his aristocratic life and the choice to put the Church of Carthage before himself!

In the grand scheme of history he was forgotten by the world; it took a preacher’s wife to bring his story back to life with a fun twist.