Agora (Ágora) (Agora)

How many fools do you think have asked themselves,

"Why don't the stars fall from the sky?"

But you, who have heard the teachings of the wise,

you know that the stars move neither up nor down.

They merely revolve from east to west,

following the most perfect course ever conceived, the circle.

Because the circle reigns in the heavens,

the stars have never fallen, and they never will.

But what about here on Earth?

Here, bodies do fall.

But their movements are not circular, but linear.

Watch again. Watch again.

No, leave it, leave it.

So, what mysterious wonder do you all think

might be lurking beneath the Earth that would make every single person

and animal and object and slave settle there?

What might it be?

-Their heaviness, lady. -No.

Synesius?

Their weightiness.

No, you're both speaking about the same thing,

but you're not talking about the primary cause.

Have any of you ever wondered at the thought that your...

That your feet...

Your feet are standing on the very center of the cosmos

that holds all things together and pulls them together?

If there were no center, then the universe would be shapeless,

infinite, formless, chaotic.

Well, it would make little difference if we were here or there or anywhere,

and we'd all be better off never having been born.

God, our father, lord of the universe, origin of all things,

eternal force of the cosmos,

where everything has its beginning and everything its end.

Almighty Serapis, Isis, Horus, Anubis and all you gods who enshroud us

with your protection, both in Heaven and on Earth.

| don't know what's happening in the market, but...

These amazing things | want to show you...

-1 see. -Lady...

Orestes.

If you'll just let me speak for one moment. Please.

| know you feel something, as well.

-1 see. -I've seen you...

Tell the master we're leaving.

Can you believe he was courting me as if | was one of his conquests?

This Orestes is as foolish as his father.

In fact, | already suggested that he devote his heart to another muse,

one more beautiful than .

-Who? -Music.

Music?

He didn't find it amusing.

But how could 227 ever become 16?

Look, it's 14.

They behave like humans! They eat, drink and fornicate!

If my gods eat and drink and fornicate, good for them!

Know this! Know this,

you who console yourselves with pagan images.

Men, women, birds, reptiles!

Serapis!

Serapis! Who could trust a god with a flowerpot for a crown?

Oh, you Christians!

How arrogant you've become now that the Empire allows you to exist.

My father's father saw them

slaughtered in the circus and fed to the lions!

Enough! Enough! Watch. Watch.

I shall now walk across the fire.

If my god...

If my god is the true God, | shall suffer no harm.

If, however, your gods exist, they will roast me like a pig.

You're mad!

You'll get burnt!

You'll get what you deserve!

Now let's see if you can walk across the fire.

What are you doing?

What are you doing?

Stop, stop, stop, you can't do that. Let the man go!

Be quiet, pagan, or we'll throw you in, as well.

Whose is this?

Whose is this?

How many times must | repeat myself?

Today, the Christians burned a man,

right in the middle of the agora.

| will not have this in my house. Not in the house of Theon!

Give it to me.

Give it to me!

-Master, | beg mercy for your slave girl. -Davus.

-Get up. You have nothing to do with this. -I, too, am a Christian.

What did you say?

I, too, am a Christian. Punish me for the both of us.

So, now they presume to teach us mercy?

-Get a whip. -Father.

Please wait until you're calm before you...

Father, | beg of you. | beg of you.

-Wrapped in a blazing brightness. -It was the flames, stupid.

Then why didn't he burn like the pagan? Tell me.

Leave us.

Come here.

And kneel.

Tell me, is it true that you're a Christian?

-l don't know what to say, mistress. -Why not?

If | said yes, that would be a lie.

If | said no, it'd mean | lied to my master, and | don't know which one's worse.

Then you should say nothing at all.

There.

Thank you.

| want you to know that the master is upset with himself about this.

What is that?

Something | made, mistress.

But it looks like a...

What is it?

-It's Ptolemy's system. -It is.

Did you make this?

Earth is the center of the cosmos.

And revolving around it, the sun

and the five wanderers, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn,

obstinately disobeying the law of the circle.

Nevertheless, Ptolemy shows us that they do obey it.

The fact that we see them move in a loop is due to the joint effect of two circles.

One that travels around the Earth,

and another lesser circle proper to each wanderer.

-Look, the epicycles. -So, you see, it's not Heaven that errs,

but our eyes that deceive us.

Well said, Davus. I'd like you to know that your exposition

shows me that you've been paying closer attention

than one or two others here.

I tell you, the gods should have consulted me before they created anything.

And why do you say that, Orestes?

It all seems so whimsical. Why the joint effect of two circles?

Wouldn't it be more perfect if the wanderers didn't wander

and a single circle gave sense to everything?

Orestes, by what authority do you judge the work of God?

What is wrong with you Christians?

Can a man no longer open his mouth in this city?

If you criticize creation, you criticize our Lord and you offend us.

You should move out to the desert.

You won't hear anything to offend you out there.

You know nothing of what you speak. None of you.

Synesius, what is Euclid's first rule?

-Why the question? -Just answer me.

If two things are equal to a third thing,

-then they are all equal to each other. -Good.

Now, are you both not similar to me?

-Yes. -And you, Orestes?

Yes.

Now, | am actually saying this to everybody here in this room.

More things unite us than divide us.

Now, whatever may be going on in the streets, we are brothers.

We are brothers.

| want you to remember that brawls are for slaves and for riffraff.

Now, | think we should all honor Davus with some very well-earned applause, so...

...to judge us all, alive and dead! And then it will be too late,

because only those who believed in Jesus will be saved.

What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for?

The kingdom of God is upon us.

Do you understand what | am telling you?

-Yes. -Yes.

Yeah, but do you understand like men do, or do you nod your head like sheep?

What are you looking at?

Yes, you. What are you looking at?

Are you Ammonius, the man who performed the miracle?

Do you want to see a miracle?

-Are you the one? -l am.

Come with me.

Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues,

preaching the good news of the kingdom

and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

News about him spread all over Syria,

and people wrote to him from all over the world.

That is Theophilus, the bishop.

"...for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst for righteousness,

-"for they will be filled." -The word of God.

"Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

-The Lord be with you. -With you, too, Parabalano.

So, how were you able to escape the flames?

-The Lord be with you. -And with you.

What do you think | did? | prayed.

You probably do not even know how, huh?

What do you have in that sack? Do you have any food in it?

It's for my master. It's for my master.

-What's wrong with you? - have to pay for that with my own money.

What do you need money for? Look at their faces.

Here. | want you to try it yourself,

and afterwards | will teach you how to pray.

Go on.

-The Lord be with you. -Bless you.

See? That is the miracle.

Go on, keep doing it.

-The Lord be with you. -Please. Please.

Thank you. Thank you.

Bless you, Parabalano. God bless you.

God bless you.

Hey, slave. What is your name?

Davus.

Davus the slavus.

Now you look like a true Parabalano. A true soldier of Christ.

-What are they saying this time? -Telling them to dance.

The men are now heavy with wine.