Circus Maximus - Final Justice: A Tale from Ancient Rome

Circus Maximus, Final Justice is a historical fiction epic set in ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius (42 CE). The story reimagines the classic Ben-Hur narrative with an Egyptian female protagonist facing the son of the infamous Emperor Caligula in a climactic chariot race that becomes a symbol of justice versus oppression.

Main Characters

Khaemwaset is an 18-year-old Egyptian woman from Alexandria, daughter of master charioteer Amenhotep and priestess Nefertiti. Raised in a family renowned for their horse-training expertise, she possesses an almost mystical connection with horses and exceptional racing skills. Her life is shattered when Roman forces raid her family's compound under false pretenses of sedition, killing her parents and enslaving her.

Marcus Caligula Germanicus, the fictional 25-year-old son of Emperor Caligula, embodies Roman arrogance and entitlement. Cruel, intelligent, and obsessed with proving his imperial worthiness, he views Khaemwaset's skills as a threat to Roman superiority and challenges her to a race to demonstrate the natural dominance of Roman blood over conquered peoples.

Plot Summary

The story begins in Alexandria, where Khaemwaset learns chariot racing from her father while her mother serves as a priestess of Isis. Their peaceful life ends when Roman forces, acting on Caligula's orders, seize their property and horses under fabricated treason charges. The raid is actually part of a systematic campaign to eliminate competition in chariot racing and secure the finest horses for Roman teams.

Sold into slavery, Khaemwaset is transported to Rome's imperial stables, where her extraordinary abilities with horses quickly become apparent. Marcus discovers her background and, recognizing both her talent and her symbolic threat to Roman supremacy, forces her into a public race in the Circus Maximus. He frames the contest as a demonstration of Roman superiority over conquered peoples.