3/11. As Caesar makes a triumphant return to Rome, beleaguered Pompey sends his son back to the city to track down the treasury gold. Contains violence, strong language and scenes of a sexual nature.
(Repeated next Sunday on BBC1) (S) (AD) [web address removed]
The Inside Story: page 100

The Inside Story: "We were striving for authenticity because it enriches the drama," says Jonathan Stamp, historical adviser on Rome (9.00pm BBC2). That meant researching all kinds of detail, not only about the way Romans dressed, but also about how they behaved. "It's all about extrapolating from clues. Tomb inscriptions, for instance. They're priceless indications of the way things were. There's one for a 16-year-old boy that reads, 'Once a slave, now a son.' That speaks volumes about the nature of slavery - it wasn't always shackles and cages, although they existed as well."

Drama: Rome 9.00pm BBC2
This gripping version of ancient history tonight sees the normally docile Octavia consumed with bitterness over the murder of her husband. She suspects her mother Atia of the crime (and quite rightly, of course): "If she did kill him," Octavia hisses, "by the furies, I'll open her throat with my teeth."
It's this kind of no-holds-barred outburst that makes Rome such a joy to watch. It feels dead right, just as when Atia refers to Caesar's mistress as a "raddled old sandal", it's an insult you can well imagine Roman women using.
Tonight there's a feast to welcome Caesar back to Rome and it includes some nice culinary detail, such as the proper use of goats' testicles and how lampreys should be cooked. A tie-in cookbook may not be far off. (DB)