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Welcome back and thanks for sharing!

For me was it was film and tv. Hollywood sword & sandal blockbusters. Kirk Douglas snapping 'the symbol of Rome'. Victor Mature grimacing hopelessly as he strides out into the arena. John Hurt's psychopathic Caligula shocking a bunch of senators believing they were to be executed, only to witness an impromptu dance rehearsal. The image of a monolithic empire teetering on the brink of collapse because of some nutter on a throne was intensely attractive. I know better nowadays of course, but instead of the former image, I have now come to like the liveliness and civic spirit of Rome, even if it was a violent civilisation in the worst possible way.