looking for a book set in ancient rome.?

Question

I'm looking for a book set in Ancient Rome about a boy named Ambrose, who was adopted by a rich man.  The man taught Ambrose how to make fine jewelry, but when he died his friends who had witness the adoption lied and said the boy wasn't adopted and he was sold off as a slave.

The other thing I remember about the book is a slave girl in Nero's court dancing in Nero's sandals at a banquet and Nero complaining about having to eat fried onions because they were supposed to be good for your voice.

It also has something to do with Christians.  I know its not 'The robe'

I haven't read this book in years and would like to again.  I think it was written somewhere between the thirties and forties.

charming · Accepted Answer

This is "The Silver Chalice" by Thomas B. Costain. (1952)

"Beginning in Antioch, it follows a boy named Ambrose who is sold by his father to a wealthy merchant who adopts him and changes his name to Basil. The story follows Basil's artistic talents and temperament until his father's death. Rather than his adoptive son inheriting Ignatius' wealth, his greedy brother Linus disputes the adoption, bribes judge & witnesses, and sells Basil into slavery. Virtually imprisoned, Basil creates lovely jewelry until Luke steps in and pays off his owner and takes Basil to Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy Christian merchant. Joseph, who is elderly and failing, wants Basil to create a frame that has the faces of the apostles to hold the silver chalice that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper. "
http://www.amazon.com/The-Silver-Chalice-Thomas-Costain/dp/B000NXQFJE

looking for a book set in ancient rome.?

1 Antwort