Marius’ Mortal Age: 35…ish

Like most things about Marius, his mortal age at his making is very uncertain. All of
the “evidence” here is taken from the novel Pandora.

Pandora states that she was born in 15BC:

I was born in Rome, during the reign of Augustus Caesar, in the year that you now
reckon to have been 15B.C., or fifteen years ‘before Christ’” pg. 36.

When she was ten (pg 53), she met Marius, who was already an adult, for the first
time: During this initial meeting, Pandora remarks that Marius could be no more
than 25 at the time,

“Now on this day, this was Marius when he was alive, about fifteen years before he
was to be made a vampire. I can calculate he was only twenty-five” pg. 50.

This would leave one to believe that Marius is approximately 15 years older than
Pandora is, which would make his birth year around 30BC. The problem also starts
here, however, because Pandora states it was about fifteen years before Marius was
made. Upon this statement, the math would be consistent with the fact that Marius
was 40 when he was made.

However, it gets more complicated. Much of the other math regarding Marius’ age is
inconsistent with the calculation that he was 40 when turned into a vampire.

If Marius was indeed 40 when he was made, 15 years after he met Pandora then that
would mean he was made when Pandora herself was 25 years of age. Pandora was
35 when they met again, which is just a ten year span between when Marius was
supposedly made and their reunion.

But on page 283, Marius states says to Pandora, speaking about Akasha:

“For fifteen years I’ve been her guardian.” pg. 283

Again, he reinforces the time frame to Pandora when again speaking of how many
years to that point he has been the caretaker of Akasha and Enkil:

“Over 15 years. I lose count.” pg. 294

As you can see, the math doesn’t add up. He couldn’t have been made at the age of 40
when Pandora is 35 (15 years younger) because he has had Akasha and Enkil for
over 15 years. Subtracting that small estimate from Pandora’s age would leave us
with her being the age of 20 when Marius was made, which would have made
Marius about 35.
Chronological Breakdown based on the dates above:

30 BC - Marius is Born.
* Evidence: Pandora pg. 36 & 53- Pandora born in 15BC. At the stated age of 10,
Pandora says that Marius could have been no older than 25. That makes Marius 15
years her senior. Thus, if Pandora were born in 15BC, Marius is born in 30BC.

15 BC - Pandora is Born.
Marius - 15
* Evidence: Pandora pg. 36- Pandora states this is the year she was born.

5 BC - Pandora & Marius meet.

Pandora - 10
Marius - 25 (app)
* Evidence: Pandora pg. 53- At the stated age of 10, Pandora says that Marius could
have been no older than 25.

0 - Pandora & Marius meet again (Lupercalia)

Pandora - 15
Marius - 30 (app)
* Evidence: Pandora pg. 55- Pandora attends the Lupercalia at the age of 15, making
Marius 30.

5 AD - Marius is made & acquired Akasha

Pandora - 20
Marius - 35 (app)
* Evidence: Pandora pg. 294- Pandora is 35 when she and Marius meet again in the
year 20 AD. Marius states he has had Akasha for 15 years or more, which would
make the date of his acquiring her around 5 AD. Since we know he attained her just
after he was made, that means he has been a vampire for about 15 years, perhaps
more. Being made around 5 AD, which would make Marius around 35.

20 AD - Pandora is made & Marius has had Akasha for over 15 years
Pandora - 35
Marius 50, but 15 of those immortal: 35 mortal years