Klingan's Blog

I thought you had a Masters in Ancient Studies. How come you're thinking of going into something completely different like engineering?

I thought you had a Masters in Ancient Studies. How come you're thinking of going into something completely different like engineering?

 

One degree isn't enough to get a PhD in Sweden (In Ancient History), I need to get at least a bachelors to have a fair chance. The question is in what - Engineering would give me a rather unique perspective (if I can find a good program/good courses), languages would open up much more literature. Both might be though.

Wow that's a tough choice, the only tough decisions I have to make these days is what to have in my sandwiches, ham or chicken???!!

 

But in all seriousness mate only you can make that decision, do whats best for you in the long run either way it sounds like the next few years are gonna be pretty hard going for you..

 

Good luck in your decision!

I'm feeling German right now.

Can't you take languages and focus on Latin and/or Greek? that way you could still stay more or less at the ancient study field.

On the other hand engineering will make you uniquely qualified and gives you a safety net in case the PhD-thing doesn't work out (it happens).

On the other hand engineering will make you uniquely qualified and gives you a safety net in case the PhD-thing doesn't work out (it happens).

 

A good point that continues to haunt me.

Hey Klingan !

 

I have been getting up to date with your blog (the other one). Great pictures again. Did you do the very first part of the Via Appia Antiqua on foot ? Well, I survived it and you are a young man, so. But you have to be pretty quick on your feet there, no ? And did you see the little 'Quo Vadis?'-church along the way ? It has a real footprint of Christ. Well, not the real one. It is a copy of the real one which they keep at the curch of San Sebastiano or so a bit further on.

And the picture of the Porta Maggiore. I think yours is taken from outside the Walls. I was staying in the square just inside them last time I was in Rome (five years already), so I had a pretty similar view.

 

Vale optime !

 

Formosus

Hey Klingan !

 

I have been getting up to date with your blog (the other one). Great pictures again. Did you do the very first part of the Via Appia Antiqua on foot ? Well, I survived it and you are a young man, so. But you have to be pretty quick on your feet there, no ? And did you see the little 'Quo Vadis?'-church along the way ? It has a real footprint of Christ. Well, not the real one. It is a copy of the real one which they keep at the curch of San Sebastiano or so a bit further on.

And the picture of the Porta Maggiore. I think yours is taken from outside the Walls. I was staying in the square just inside them last time I was in Rome (five years already), so I had a pretty similar view.

 

Vale optime !

 

Formosus

 

Hey thanks for the comments! Yup I walked all the way from the Circus Maximus, went into the church (I totally missed the footprint, but I familiarized myself with the Domine Quo Vadis story) and up to the Villa dei Quintili (a new favourite!)

 

Yep the view is from the outside as I wanted to take the picture in line with the light How long were you in Rome for?

Hey Klingan !

 

You still living the life of the gods down there ?

 

I was in Rome twice for two weeks each time. Once in '03 and once in '04. Far too little but still, some of the most wonderful days in my life. I had been putting it off for far too long. I had been reading ancient history for many years but never got round to visit Rome. Well, you know how it is, you see a touristic brochure and then you go there and it turns out to be a 'bit' less impressive than in the pictures. But Rome is just the opposite. Even the best brochure cannot in the least convey the impression it makes, at least on those who are sensitive to it. ( There are those who see Rome as an ideal 'shopping' destination, of course.)

It was really a turning point for me. It was there that I truly felt myself a 'Roman'. I walked the lenght and breadth of the city every single day I was there. Only took a metro a handful of times, when I was dead tired. I don't believe in anything supernatural at all, but apart from the magnificent sights I really felt that this place had something magical, that it had been destined for greatness long before the first Romans settled there.

I had promised myself that I would return, rather sooner then later. But I have been putting it off again for the last few years. Bad habit. But of course, meeting so many fellow enthousiasts has stoked up the fire again. I have made no definite plans yet, but I'd say chances are at least 90 % I'll go back this autumn.

 

Here's an anecdote involving the Porta Maggiore aka Porta Prenestina, I posted earlier on the SVR site.

 

 

WHEN IN ROME

God dammit! I don't want to leave my ancient studies.

 

...why not combine both

 

Archaeo-Engineer

 

cheers

viggen