AD 165: the development of the Roman Empire reaches its peak. The era of universal peace - the Pax Roma - has arrived, from Britain to Egypt, from Gaul to Greece. This golden age is maintained by Marcus Aurelius, who is as much a philosopher as an emperor. The workshop of the Pinarius family contributes to the beautification of the city with gilded statues and huge monuments carved from marble. This is the age of art and common sense. But history doesn't stop.

The coming years will bring wars, epidemics, fires and famine. The best emperors in history are followed by the worst. The barbarians attack in endless waves and venture all the way to the city of Rome. Soldiers vie for power and give the throne to the highest bidder. Chaos breaks out in the empire.

Meanwhile, the Pinarius family survives, and this is largely due to the fascinum, a talisman older than Rome, the mystical heritage of their countless generations.

Eventually, an even bigger disaster looms on the horizon. Certain sects spread dangerous and inflammatory ideas from the fringes of society. They believe that everyone can worship only one god, their god. They call themselves Christians. Some emperors tolerate them, others deal with them cruelly. Then one of the emperors makes an unfathomable move. He embraces Christianity. His name is Constantine, and the revolution he starts will change the world forever.

Saylor's epic spanning one hundred and sixty years and seven generations, featuring the most vivid figures of ancient Rome, brings to life one of the most moving and defining chapters in human history, the events of which still have an impact on us today.