Well, they aren’t technically all Roman. They come from Roman history and Greek mythology, by and large.

Arthur doesn’t come from Roman or Greek mythology at all, because he wasn’t named by classicists. He’s named after King Arthur, but what he’s interested in is Greek and Roman history.

Mark: Mark is a Mark Antony, not a Marcus Antonius (they’re different people.) Mark Antony was Caesar’s best friend, lover of Cleopatra, a member of the Triumvirate, and immortalized by Shakespeare in his speech over Caesar’s body ”Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.”

Helen: Helen is named after Helen of Troy. A Greek name.

Julian: Julian is a variant of Julius: Julius Caesar. For Julius Caesar and Mark Antony to be brothers would amuse Arthur.

Olivia: Olivia is really a Livia, but she often tells people her name is Olivia because it sounds less odd. Livia was a Roman empress. She was married to Tiberius Claudius Nero. Again, this would entertain Arthur since our Livvy’s twin brother is …

Tiberius. Tiberius was a Roman emperor; the river Tiber in Rome is named for him. He was portrayed as a tyrannical, vengeful emperor in the histories written by Tacitus (from which the title The Dark Artifices comes) and at his death handed over his powers to Caligula, brother of …

Drusilla. Caligula was a completely insane lunatic, and famous for being a deranged pervert. He was reportedly in love with his sister, Drusilla, though nobody really knows. When she died “Caligula was said never to have left her side, and after she had died, he would not let anyone take her body away. He went on to deify her, consecrating her with the title “Panthea” (all-goddess), and mourning her at her public funeral as though a widower.” Mostly our Drusilla is called Silla by friends and family.

Octavius: Called Tavvy by his family, he’s only six years old. He is however named after Gaius Octavius who became Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, and was adopted by Julius Caesar.

Absolute last is Ariadne; she’s only barely five. With her name, Arthur went back to the Greek myths. Ariadne was the daughter of the King of Minos, and helped Theseus through the Labyrinth to kill the Minotaur. In thanks, he hooked up with her and dumped her. Men!