Viggen

I think people forget a very important thing about the (at least earlier romans), if they would encounter a mediavel type army for the first time, they maybe would have lost or maybe would have won, who knows, but i am certain of one thing, they would have definitely learned from it, probably even perfecting the knight strategy/armory and creating their own style mediavel Legionnaires and would have won afterwards pretty easily, because they had discipline and practice the medieval armies could only dream of... m2cent... cheers viggen

A controversial new idea suggests that a large space rock exploded over North America 13,000 years ago. The blast may have wiped out one of America's first Stone Age cultures as well as the continent's big mammals such as the mammoth and the mastodon. The blast, from a comet or asteroid, caused a major bout of climatic cooling which may also have affected human cultures emerging in Europe and Asia. Scientists will outline their evidence this week at a meeting in Mexico. full article at the BBC

I know this is a bit off topic but i found this article about real archaeologist and their real possible findings in Bosnia and what challenge they face... Bosnia archaeologists fight red tape, looters

Chinese archaeologists studying ancient rock carvings say they have evidence that modern Chinese script is thousands of years older than previously thought. State media say researchers identified more than 2,000 pictorial symbols dating back 8,000 years, on cliff faces in the north-west of the country. full article at the BBC

Mosaics from the fabled Gardens of Lucullus, one of the pioneering influences on gardening, have been brought to light after 2,000 years by archaeologists in Rome. The vast terraced gardens, or Horti, covered what is now the built-up area above the Spanish Steps. The first known attempt in the West to

Here an (not so seriously ment) example how i imagine how this format should work... These three books is probably all it takes to make your mum sign up at Unrv.com (to find out more about romans) Roman Cookery: Ancient Recipes for Modern Kitchens It worked with my sister who loves cooking, the recipes are easy to follow and not all that difficult to prepare First Man in Rome Just say this is from the author who wrote thorn birds, thats all that is needed, the excellent novel will do the rest... I Wonder Why the Romans Wore Togas Very nice childrens book for 4 to 6 years old, and oh well, this is a double score, not only your mum but also your litte brother/sister gets hooked.

So, maybe this sparks an interesting thread... ...the basic idea is to name 3 books that (you read of course) will help someone to either understand a particular topic, to spark interest, to get new insight, to change your views, to take to an island etc... The focus is obviously the classical world, but world history, archaeology in general will do of course as well... The title plus the author and a short snippet why you need that particular book will do, the titles dont have to be in order of importance but there need to be three... have fun viggen

Eventually, another update to the Contributer List... cheers viggen

The Emperor Augustus said he found Rome a city of brick - and he left it a city of marble. But 2,000 years on, the cracks in his legacy are beginning to show. The Forum, the Colosseum and the palaces of the Palatine Hill still stand as proud testament to the Roman builders' genius. Yet today they are betrayed by monumental neglect. The problem of course is money. It costs millions to protect the treasures of Ancient Rome. via BBC

A SECOND Roman fort has been found in Monmouth, in what the town

After my long abscene this is the first New Books in a while, and there are some very very interesting titles indeed... Working IX to V: Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns, and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World Roman Architecture Rome And the Black Sea Region: Domination, Romanisation, Resistance For the Glory of Rome: A History of Warriors and Warfare Caesar's Calendar: Ancient Time and the Beginnings of History Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day Agrarian Change in Late Antiquity: Gold, Labour, and Aristocratic Dominance The Army in the Roman Revolution

Scientists examining documents dating back 3,500 years say they have found proof that the origins of modern medicine lie in ancient Egypt and not with Hippocrates and the Greeks. The research team from the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology at The University of Manchester discovered the evidence in medical papyri written in 1,500BC

I would like to point out that Divi Filius review was included in the review section on the Cambridge Press product page for Rome's Gothic Wars! congrats again for this excellent review... cheers viggen

I actually read that book, it i thought it was great (as was your review Ursus), My personal summary; the perfect present for the rich CEO uncle you want to get to know roman history... cheers viggen

Archaeologists in Greece have recovered a rare section of 2,700-year old fabric from a burial imitating heroes' funerals described by the poet Homer, officials said Wednesday. The yellowed, brittle material was found in a copper urn during a rescue excavation in the southern town of Argos, a Culture Ministry announcement said. "This is an extremely rare find, as fabric is an organic material which decomposes very easily," said archaeologist Alkistis Papadimitriou, who headed the dig. She said only a handful of such artifacts have been found in Greece. full article at IHT.com

Hi everyone, i thought on my comeback i give you experts something to ponder about... My question; was there a correlation bewteen the fall of Constantinopel and the Renaissance? Was there an influx of greek (romanoi) intelligenzia to northern Italy that had something to do with it? Wasnt ancient greek all but forgotten by the 13th century in science/art and literature and had a revival because of the final Fall of Constantinople? cheers viggen

thanks to all for the kind wishes, its been a horrible year, but i hope i have left that all behind me and can from now on look forward to a brigher future... cheers viggen

Si vales bene est ego valeo... I had it all, fire in the house, crappy work-situation (and i mean crap when i say crap), one surgery followed by another surgery and voila followed by another one. To sum 2007 so far up ---> Hell I have now hopefully all surgeries done for this year (vene surgery for anyone who cares) and allowed to sit 15 minutes and then have to rest for an hour and so on... in anycase good to be finally back... Yours viggen

Here some new books that will be released in February... Invention of Ancient Slavery Mediterranean Anarchy, Interstate War, and the Rise of Rome A Natural History of Latin Roman Pompeii Augustus: Caesar's Web - Power And Propaganda In Augustan Rome Pliny's Catalogue of Culture The Roman World of Cicero's De Oratore Iron Age And Roman Burials in Champagne I also updated the bestselling books on Unrv.com for January, you can have a look here!

Following the assassination of Commodus on December 31, AD 192, Publius Helvius Pertinax, as both a revered elder member of the Senate and a chief lieutenant of the former emperor, was chosen to replace him. The reign of Pertinax is intriguing for its short length and related tragic turn of events which led to the further erosion of the Roman political state. It is also notable for his personal humble origins marking a distinct difference from all the Princeps/Emperors who ruled before him... Pertinax (feel free to discuss...)

Another review has been completed for our Roman Books section, thanks to community member The Augusta. That Anthony Barrett

A ceremony at the Consulate General of Cyprus in New York on January 10 marked the return of six stolen Byzantine icons to the Church of Cyprus. The repatriation was amicable, with the Charles Pankow Foundation voluntarily giving the icons to the Church. The Foundation, based in Ontario, California, had consigned the icons to Sotheby's in 2005. Hearing of the proposed sale, the Cypriot government intervened and through its Washington embassy requested that the sale in New York be halted, maintaining that the lawful owner was the Church of Cyprus. full article at Archaeology.org

well if you had reviewed it then we would all know now It doesnt say a reviewed book has to be grand and splendour, imo there is nothing wrong with telling that one didnt like a book, if reasonable explained why... and yes, i mention on those list also reprints, or paperback editions if available for a particular month... cheers viggen

Genialinius Gennatus was one fine duck hunter. -- In the third century , he recorded his prowess in high Latin on a stone tablet that he dedicated to Jupiter. That and a hefty donation probably ensured that the tablet won display in the temple to the Roman god in the settlement then called Colonia. Five or six centuries later, Cologne's early Christians, perhaps offended by the tablet dedicated to a pantheist god, chucked it into the silting channel between the Rhine river port and a small island on the Rhine, unknowingly ensuring the hunter's immortality. Historians now know the ordinary man named Gennatus hunted ducks and prayed to Jupiter because of Cologne's decision to punch 2 1/2 miles of new north-south light railway tunnel through the silt and sediment that lie beneath one of Germany's oldest cities. full article at the Boston Globe

Here is a list of some interesting new books that are available from january on (a bit later then usual but if you read here, you might understand ) The Romans For Dummies The Later Roman Empire Roman Woodworking History of the Roman Republic Roman Satire Prostitution, Sexuality, and the Law in Ancient Rome Treasures from Tuscany: The Etruscan Legacy Eating and Drinking in Roman Britain Neaera: Writing a Prostitutes Life Hadrian's Wall We also updated the best selling list for December 2006