Alexandria

The skin, then a layer of yellowish fat, was peeled back on both sides. Philadelphion explained that there would be little blood, because the flow ceases upon death. The incision must have pressed right down to the bone. Now, his assistants held back the flesh, one each side, while Philadelphion severed the ribs from the breastbone by sawing through the co

Squeamish or not, the rest of us were gripped. We watched Philadelphion carefully remove and inspect the heart and lungs, then other solid organs - the kidneys, liver, spleen and smaller items. He named each dispassionately as he handled it. Particular attention seemed to be paid to the stomach and the reams of intestine. Their contents were investigated, with predictable results. A couple more members of the audience remembered prior appointments and fled.

It was all dignified, all methodical. Anyone with a modicum of religious attendance had seen similar procedures with animals, though often conducted out of the direct line of vision of all except the gods. (When acting as a priest, you try to hide your mistakes.) The dissector here was completely open but he had the same ma

It was not gentle. Though not butchery, it was a muscular activity. Even to de-bone a chicken needs exertion. No one who had been a soldier would be surprised at the physical strength needed to open flesh and dismantle a human skeleton. Philadelphion had to hack and rip. Young men who had spent their lives poring over scrolls were visibly shocked.

They were more disturbed when we reached the part where the skull was sawn open and the brain removed.

Philadelphion completed the procedure fully without making pronouncements. He worked steadily. Once he had finished, he asked Chaereas and Chaeteas to replace the organs in the body and reassemble it for sewing up. While they did that, we all shifted in our seats, stretched our limbs and tried to recover our composure. Philadelphion washed his hands and forearms thoroughly then dried them on a small towel, as if politely preparing to eat di

This did not take long. His assistants removed the bowls and instruments, and pushed the table with the body to an exit door; I thought I glimpsed Petosiris the undertaker, with his mismatched assistants, Itchy and Snuffly, waiting outside to receive the cadaver. Chaereas and Chaeteas closed the door and took up positions there for the a

Philadelphion stood for his oration. He held his notes, though he only rarely referred to them. His ma

‘I shall give you my conclusions now. You are welcome to ask questions.’

Aeacidas, the big dissenter fidgeted abruptly. He was beside another, quieter man, also older than the students. ‘Apollophanes,’ whispered our young friend Heras, himself a much healthier colour now. ‘The Head of Philosophy.’ Aeacidas did not in fact interrupt; even his bumptiousness seemed to have been deflated by the clinical choreography.

‘Much of what I found was normal for a man of Theon’s age,’ pronounced Philadelphion. ‘The rib cartilage, for example, is begi

There was laughter at that - not from Aeacidas, in fact, but from Apollophanes. His laugh was gentle, almost sympathetic. The Head of Philosophy enjoyed a joke, it seemed, but was not strident.

Philadelphion himself smiled. He had not intended to be witty, but accepted that his straight remark could be taken two ways. ‘The areas I consider significant are concentrated in the digestive system. The liver, for instance, is larger and heavier than it should be, and when I sliced it through, the internal structure suggested that Theon had been drinking hard recently. This could be an indication of anxiety. As his colleague, who knew him professionally and socially, I would not have described him as a devotee of Bacchus.’

‘More fool him!’ commented Aeacidas. Philadelphion ignored it.

‘The condition of the liver was not enough to cause death. In fact, my observations failed to find any explanation for what we would consider a “natural” demise. We have, therefore, to determine an u

‘How can you say the time?’ demanded one of the note-taking students.

‘I could tell from the food’s state of digestion and position in the organs. If everyone else is prepared to take my word for it, I can talk you through it later, young man; come and see me privately -’ Most of us were quite prepared to skip the details. ‘I shall be weary this evening; I suggest tomorrow morning at the zoo.’

‘How much can you ascertain about the meal?’ one of the other young men asked. Philadelphion looked uneasy and shrugged.

Aulus stood up. ‘There is no need to speculate. Details of the meal are known, sir.’ He gave a full breakdown of the menu, adding, ‘It has been established that all dishes were eaten by more than one person, with no other diner suffering any ill-effects. Two of us, indeed, have a strong enough stomach today to watch your necropsy.’

‘And much wine was drunk?’ the second student asked him.

Gri

‘As far as you remember?’ quipped Philadelphion. Clearly he too had a sense of humour. Aulus acknowledged the comment with another relaxed grin, and sat down again. ‘Since he was the honoured guest, we presume Theon would have been served as much as he wanted. A witness says his behaviour seemed unexceptional. So if he regularly over-drank,’ Philadelphion suggested, ‘this was done in private. Secret drinking, particularly when it has not been the drinker’s prior custom, is to be regarded as significant. I referred earlier to Theon seeming preoccupied, and this would reinforce my remark that he may have been experiencing mental anguish of some kind. Why am I concentrating on this supposition? Because in his stomach and oesophagus were intriguing remains - something he had eaten or drunk later than his di