The Oxen Farmer of Rome: Lucius Valerius at Foro Boario

The Oxen Farmer of Rome: Lucius Valerius at Foro Boario

Lucius Valerius, a sturdy man in his early forties, was a well-known figure at the bustling market just outside the walls of Rome. His family had been farming oxen for generations, and he took great pride in raising strong, healthy animals. Every market day, he would lead his oxen from his farm to the Foro Boario, the cattle market nestled near the bend of the Tevere River, close to the Aventino hill and the grand Circus Maximus.

As the sun rose over Rome, Lucius would arrive at the market, his oxen plodding steadily behind him. The Foro Boario was alive with activity—merchants haggling, animals bellowing, and the scent of hay and sweat mingling in the air. Lucius knew many of the buyers by name, and they respected him for his honesty and the quality of his animals. He would greet them with a firm handshake and a warm smile, always ready to share a story or two about how he had raised his oxen on the fertile lands around Rome.

Merchants, landowners, and even bakers in need of sturdy animals for their mills haggle over prices. Lucius, experienced in the art of negotiation, knows when to stand firm and when to yield. “These beasts know the land like a veteran legionary knows his sword.” A good sale means silver in his pouch, food on his table, and perhaps a new tunic for his eldest son.

As the day wanes and the shadows of the Circus Maximus stretch across the market, Lucius secures his earnings and begins the journey home. The road is long, but thoughts of his family quicken his steps. His young wife, Livia, greets him with a warm embrace, while his three children—Marcus, Gaia, and little Quintus— clamor for stories. With a grin, he recounts how an Etruscan merchant tried to outwit him in a bargain, or how a senator’s steward sought the finest oxen for a new villa near the Aventino.

In the shadow of the Aventino, as the fire crackles, laughter fills the modest home, under the watchful gaze of the gods, Lucius Valerius was a man who found joy in the simple things—a good day at the market, a warm meal, and the laughter of his children: tomorrow Rome’s market will call again.

You might discover more about the tale of Lucius Valerio at Foro Boario by booking our walking tour: “Monks and Knights walking tour on Aventino“