The Temple Virgin

In 30 B.C., Roman troops under OCTAVIUS overrun CLEOPATRA’s palace in Alexandria, Egypt. She takes refuge in her mausoleum, protected by archers from the Silures tribe in Wales. Eight year old VALENTINE, son of the Silures king, attempts to join his uncle, JOHN, who heads Cleopatra’s bodyguard. Instead, Val is captured and taken to Emperor Octavius, who makes Val swear loyalty to him as a Roman soldier, as he wants the Silures to know they will soon be slaves of Rome.

Nine months pregnant, Cleopatra, orders her baby cut from her womb to save it from Octavius. Her daughter is then smuggled out in a basket to the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Brought as a captive to 28 year old Octavius, Cleopatra tries to seduce him, but fails. Wishing to reward his ally, KING HEROD of Judea, the Emperor gifts Cleopatra (and her inherited legal claim to Judea) to Herod. [Btw, history states that one of Herod’s wives was a mysterious Cleopatra, and that Herod left the entire kingdom of Judea to their son.]

Prince Valentine returns to Wales to grow up. Sixteen years later, Val is sent to King Herod’s palace in Jersualem to head Cleopatra’s guard. He is now working as a spy against Rome, as the Silures tribe fears Rome will invade Wales for their tin mines.

While delivering a message from Cleopatra to NATHAN, the managing priest in the Jewish Temple, Valentine spots a pretty girl, Mary, scrubbing the steps to the Women’s Court. From Nathan, Val learns that Mary has been raised in the Jewish Temple to become the mother of the long awaited Messiah. The plan is for the Messiah to unite pagans and jews against Rome.

Raised as a sacred virgin in the Jewish Temple, Mary has no familiarity with normal men, only elderly priests. Upon learning she is to be sent to JOSEPH OF NAZARETH to be his wife, Mary is distraught. She threatens to kill herself rather than be violated by a man. Knowing Joseph will never compel her daughter, Cleopatra sends the head of her bodyguard, golden haired ladies' man Val, to do the job. Mary is instructed that an angel will visit her, but she must never speak about it. When Val sees how vulnerable Mary looks awaiting her fate, he falls instantly in love, and impulsively runs off with her.

After getting Mary pregnant, Val realizes that as a spy, he can’t protect her. He turns the pregnant Mary over to Joseph, and agrees never to reveal that he is the true father of Christ. Mary vows never to forgive Val. Circumstances throw the two ex-lovers back together several times. For example, when Val rides to Bethlehem to warn the holy family to flee.

Ultimately, Val shows up to testify in front of Emperor Octavius on behalf of several Christians. Octavius orders Val arrested. Swordplay ensues. Val is captured and tortured, but refuses to reveal that he is the father of Jesus. He doesn’t die then, but later, when, in order to save Wales from invasion by Rome, and to protect Mary’s reputation, he orders his own archers to shoot him through the heart. Hence, the symbol of an arrow through the heart for Valentine’s Day, which, although history has forgotten, was originally created to commemorate the life, death and epic love of the biological father of Christ.