Wednesday 25 January 2023

L is for... Lucius Petrus Dextrus


Lucius Petrus Dextrus was the official auger of the city of Pompeii. He held a psychic link with the alien Pyroviles which had been slowly establishing themselves within the volcano Mount Vesuvius following a crash. With their planet now lost, they intended to alter Earth to suit their needs, making it their new home. As part of this plan, Lucius was instructed to commission control circuits carved in marble for their device which would trigger the volcano. When he encountered the Doctor and Donna, his psychic abilities enabled him to identify them as a Time Lord and as someone from the future - including foresight of something which would only happen to Donna in an alternative timeline.
As well as psychic abilities, the Pyroviles also caused a physical change to take place with those mentally in tune with them. They slowly began to turn to stone. Lucius had a stone right arm, which the Doctor broke off when attempting to escape from him.
Lucius delivered the circuits to the Pyroviles, but was killed inside the volcano when the Doctor caused it to erupt - sacrificing Pompeii to prevent the alien scheme from destroying the whole planet.

Played by: Phil Davis. Appearances: The Fires of Pompeii (2008).
  • Davis tends to play policemen or villains in contemporary crime dramas, such as the Whitechapel series. He first came to prominence in Quadrophenia, before playing King John in Robin of Sherwood.
  • Petrus is Latin for stone or rock. Dextrus comes from dexter - on the right side - therefore Lucius' unique physical condition was signposted from the outset.

No comments:

Post a Comment