I can't say I have much sympathy for Gaia. What she did to Eirene and baby was not simply an act of selfishness or a crime of passion, but a calculated, evil act. When she bought the poison to kill Eirene, Gaia smirked ironically and said she wasn't concerned with controlling the bleeding. She knew that Eirene would suffer before she died, and that was just fine with her.

The slave/master mileu is definitely relevant, but on simple moral grounds, I feel that Gaia got what she deserved. Her confession had less to do with making amends to Pullo and more to do with satisfying the gods she feared in the afterlife, namely Nemesis (see my courtyard for a good description of who Nemesis was in mythology). Yes, Pullo could have just cursed Gaia and walked out to let her die alone, but what he did was consistent with his character as we have known it. Pullo cannot easily control his passions once they are aroused, and blood-lust is one of his passions. Eirene's boyfriend found that out the hard way, and so did Gaia.

Yes, her confession had nothing to do with remorse about her wicked deed. Selfish (w)itch to the end, that was Gaia, and the actress played her well. Maybe it's my Scilian blood, but I was glad to see Pullo avenge the sweet Eriene and unborn child. The candles on the cake for me were him throwing the whore into the Tiber!

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Destitutis ventis remos adhibe.