The wealthy and educated Roman patrician Marcus Mezentius Manilianus travels through the eastern part of the Roman Empire, passing through Alexandria to Jerusalem, where he arrives in the spring of the year 30 AD, on the same day that a certain Jesus of Nazareth is crucified there. In a series of letters addressed to his former lover Tullia in Rome, Marcus attempts to clarify his understanding of this Jesus: Who was this King of the Jews and what is his secret? To this end, Marcus also seeks contact with the disciples of the crucified man. In this gripping historical novel, Waltari presents his perspective on the emergence of Christianity. The narrative spans from the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus to the events surrounding Pentecost. This marks the beginning of a trilogy.