Think of bright sunbeams caressing the purest turquoise water of the Mediterranean shores. And think of the whitest of marbles, whose surface shows fine silvery veins in a tortoise-shell pattern. These are wordless symbols of an ancient story, now told by Italian pen-maker Aurora through two pens: Mar Adriatico and Gaius Julius Caesar.
You can find them at Giardino Italiano’s.
“Alea iacta est”
Julius Cesar
From water to marble
Gallic Wars were coming to an end, when Roman general Gaius Julius Cesar was ordered to go back to Rome by the Roman Senate. Sensing the betrayal of the Republic of Rome, he remained were he was, instead, lingering at the border of Gaul with his loyal soldiers and designing a plan to attack Rome. At the time, Italy and the Roman territories were divided by a small river, running 320 km (~200 miles) north of Rome and flowing into the Adriatic Sea: the Rubicon.
The name of the Rubicon is due to the color of its waters, dyeing in ruby red while flowing through its clayey riverbed. Its contrast with the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea is stunning, and is also a symbol of blood shed in battle being washed away by the purity of the Adriatic Sea’s brackish waters.
Eventually, on January 1o, 49 BCE, Julius Cesar crossed the waters of the Rubicon leading an army of 50,000. He marched to Rome, thwarted his assassination plan and won. It is said that, before resolving to make such a move, Julius Cesar first hesitated, and eventually made up his mind, saying the words “Alea iacta est”, the die is cast.
From that moment on, the victories of Julius Cesar became legendary, and his power associated with the white marbles of the Roman palaces in the entire Mediterranean area. That’s when another of his quotes, “Veni, vidi, vici” (meaning I came; I saw; I conquered) became even more famous than the latter. This quote reportedly originates from a letter that Julius Cesar wrote to the Roman Senate around 46 BCE, in Turkey, after achieving a victory at the Battle of Zela. Since then, “Veni, vidi, vici” is worldwide known and used in case of a swift and conclusive victory.
Mar Adriatico, a symbol of purifying water
The Adriatic Sea divides Italy’s shores from the Balkans and is known for its shallow waters whose color is a bright turquois.
Aurora’s pen bears such a color on its body, furrowed by a white pattern that recalls the reflection of sunlight over the surface of calm waters. Indeed, Mar Adriatico’s barrel is made of translucent marbled auroloid in the shades of blue and green, with rhodium-plated finishes.
The cap’s ring, that holds the clip, is decorated with one of the symbols of the Adriatic Sea: gondolas. The barrel’s ring, instead, shows sunscreens, long-chairs and pedalos. Finally, its caseback shows anchors and lifesavers to represent Italian marine expertise in navigation.
Mar Adriatico is a limited series of pen, the last of a series dedicated to the Italian seas. The pen comes with an ink jar and an elegant silver-and-black box.
Gaius Julius Caesar, the white marble of victory
Gaius Julius Caesar is a limited series composed of 919 fountain pens, 190 roller pens, and 19 solid gold fountain pens. Together with Mar Adriatico, it shares the same size, model, nib and piston filler system. In continuity with Mar Adriatico, the pen dedicated to the Roman general is made of marbled auroloid: however, the color of Gaius Julius Caesar is white and silver to recall the white marbles of Roman palaces and it has aged silver finishes.
The central ring bears the image of the chariot, used at war or during the Roman games. The laurel wreath, symbol of victory, is on the barrel’s ring, instead. Finally, the caseback is engraved with the “Veni, vidi, vici” quote (I came, saw, won).
Two pens, one story
The history of Italy is made of great characters whose tights with their natural environment were keys to their success: from the greatness of the seas to the majesty of the Roman palaces, you can now relive their incredible adventures with Aurora’s pens.
Both Mar Adriatico and Gaius Julius Caesar are available at Giardino Italiano: go, seize, and buy!
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