Overview

In the early days of the Roman Republic, the city is not yet the center of a vast empire. Rome still struggles to survive in the midst of the other, rival city states in the Italian peninsula. The young warrior Capaneus, a proud descendant of the Etruscans, devotes himself to the service of the god Mars, pledging his life to the defense of Rome. During a war with the Samnites, Capaneus and his comrades in arms distinguish themselves in battle. But they also find time for the recreational pleasures which intense male bonding can bring. Nonetheless, challenges are in store for valiant Capaneus. Against his will, he falls in love with a Samnite warrior, who is his sworn enemy. Even more startling, he finds himself the object of a god's lust! Can these conflicting desires be reconciled? After long, suspenseful and agonizing delays, the decisive battle is fought, and its outcome resolves the issues.