Germanicus' funeral procession must have been one of those generation defining moments. People lined the road to Rome, rioted in the streets, barbarian chieftans declared peace, shaved their beards and their wives' heads. Does grief get any more profound than this? Obviously Pulman didn't allow for the shorn barbarians in his budget, but he does present a motley crowd of mourners to greet Agrippina and the ashes at Brundisium. He draws heavily from Graves who relies almost exclusively on Tacitus.

A few details of this scene, however, are inconsistent with the sources. When would Agrippina have had time, given her hasty winter cruise across the Mediterranean, to commision that paper mache effigy of Germanicus? The sources only speak of the urn and the striking image of the young widow carrying it. Graves mentions the urn being placed in a catafalque upon arrival in Italy, so maybe that's where Jack got his inspiration. According to the ancient sources Drusus and Claudius don't meet up with the cortege until Tarracina- on the other side of Italy a mere day trip from Rome. There is no mention of Herod's presence by any of the sources. Agrippina's rabble-rousing oratory is out of place here and seems more reminiscient of the account of Agrippina on the bridge found in Tacitus Annales I.69.

Oh, and Agrippina seems one kid short.