As a young man, he joined the Roman army and travelled almost the entire empire during his 25 years of service. Before I was born, he was stationed in nearby Mogontiacum (Mainz) and it was here that he met my mother Ada. So I am the "result" of an intercultural marriage - like so many people here on the Rhine.
I am very proud of my father. He rose through the ranks of the military and amassed a considerable fortune. We live very comfortably on our large estate (villa rustica), have underfloor heating and running water. We grow cereals, vegetables, pulses, herbs and fruit in our fields. This not only provides food for our family, but also for parts of the Mainz population. The trunk road from Mogontiacum to Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (now the A 60 motorway) runs right past our property and is always busy.
Where you stroll through the centre of Ingelheim today, there was already a village settlement (vicus) in my time. Traders from near and far meet at the local market to sell their wares. Sometimes there are even precious spices, perfumes or fabrics from the Far East....
In honour of my parents, I had an impressive grave monument erected on the highway. Almost 15 m high, it shines in bright colours so that travellers like you can admire it from afar. You can see from the tomb statues how wealthy and recognised my parents were. My father looks down on us in a toga and with a scroll, while my mother is adorned with fine jewellery. And after my death, I too will stand next to my parents as an elegant tombstone - with a view of our large estate, the busy motorway and my beloved Rhine.