Call to Juno (Tales of Ancient Rome #3)(150)

Finally, I must mention my favorite piece of Etruscan sculpture. It’s an example of the symplegma, or “erotic embrace,” which is an apotropaic symbol invoking the forces of fertility against evil and death. The relief depicts Larth Tetnies and Tanchvil Tarnai lying naked on their bed beneath a transparent shroud, staring into each other’s eyes. I see Caecilia and Vel in this same way, embracing each other even now, their love eternal. The thought helps me hold back tears whenever I think of bidding farewell to the two characters I’ve lived with for more than fifteen years.