Ludovicus

What an interesting comment on the part of Pliny!

My first response is that writing in ancient times, even letters, was always intended for an audience of more than a few people. The only writing I can think of that approaches journal writing with references to private topics: moods, culpability, remorse, self-questioning, trivia of daily life, is the Confessions of St. Augustine, on the eve of the medieval period. I'm sure others will have sources for you. "Dear Diary, It's nine o'clock, the children are fast asleep, and I'm going over these latest accounts from Trajan's Market before I hit the sack." Ancient people didn't conceive of their world or of themselves in this way.

I understand your point. I was always taught that the Romans invented the aqueduct. No so, you can see a pre-Roman aqueduct in Syracuse, Sicily. Other cultures originated engineering marvels before the Romans came on the scene. It was only the Romans who had the ability to improve them and spread them over one of Europe's largest empires ever. There's a thread in the Forum regarding some of the common errors taught about classical civilization. You'd probably find it interesting, if you haven't already visited/contributed to it.

"any little tribe" !!! The Samnite were a highly developed civilization. Here's a reconstruction of one of their sites, now in present day Pietrabbondante, Italy, near the city of Isernia--in the Molise Region: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/89171723/De-Agostini From Wiki: For most of their history the Samnites were landlocked, but during a brief period they controlled parts of both coasts of the Italian peninsula. The Samnites were composed of at least four tribes: the Pentri (the most important tribe, capital: Bovianum), the Caraceni (principal cities: Cluviae, the modern Casoli, and Juvanum, the ruins of which are spread between Torricella Peligna and Montenerodomo), the Caudini (capital: Caudium, today Montesarchio) and the Hirpini (Oscan for wolf; capital Beneventum), and later may have been joined by the Frentani (capital Larinum, the modern Larino). The federal capital of the League they formed was Bovianum, except for a short period between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, when it was Aquilonia, destroyed by Romans in 293 BC, whose probable location today is modern Aquilonia, in Campania, province Avellino. The earliest written record of the people is a treaty with the Romans from 354 BC, which set their border at the Liris River. Shortly thereafter the Samnite Wars broke out; they won an important battle against the Roman army in 321 BC, and their imperium reached its peak in 316 BC after further gains from the Romans. By 290 BC, the Romans finally broke the Samnites' power, but even so they would join Hannibal during the 2nd Punic War. The Samnites were the last tribal group holding out against Rome in the Social War (91

No such thing as Super Bowl 44. It was, as the world knows, Super Bowl XLIV. That buck in your pocket says Annuit coeptis ("He has approved our endeavors") and Novus ordo seclorum ("New order of the ages"). That buck and all your coins say E pluribus unum ("Out of many, one"). And at the base of that weird Masonic pyramid on the dollar? Not 1776. MDCCLXXVI. How did all this Roman stuff get into American culture? Rome's stamp on America From our money to our pro sports you can see the influence, as an exhibit at the National Constitution Center makes clear. See article on the exhibit in the Philadelphia Inquirer: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/weekend/201...on_America.html

This is a temporary large exhibit at the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia, February 19 - August 1, 2010. On the Center's website you'll find materials for educators as well as images of items from the displays. Ancient Rome & America showcases the cultural, political, and social connections between the lost world of ancient Rome and modern America. The exhibition features more than 300 artifacts from Italy and the United States, bringing together a never-before-seen collection from Italy

JERUSALEM

"The Dream of Scipio," Iain Pears, 2003, explores the sea change from Roman pagan past to Christianity in one of its subplots. Though far from Bishop Cyril's Egypt, the era of the end of paganism and the rise of Christianity in Gaul is an important setting of the novel. Here's a thumbnail sketch of the book: "In the 400s, as the Roman Empire settles into dust, landowner-turned-bishop Manlius attempts to record the ideas of his teacher, the Neo-Platonist Sophia. In the 1300s, this treatise ("The Dream of Scipio") is discovered by poet Olivier de Noyen, whose efforts to understand it lead him to a learned Jew and a secret love that forces upon him a momentous moral decision while the plague ravages the countryside. In the 1930s, Julien Barneuve encounters de Noyen and his references to the wondrous treatise, even as the Holocaust looms and Barneuve struggles desperately to protect the woman he loves a painter and a Jew. The writing here is not as felicitous as in Pears's magisterial An Instance of the Fingerpost, but the plotting is a marvel; the text moves smoothly among the three eras, drawing parallels that rarely seem forced. In the end, Pears asks good, cutting questions about the idea of civilization, showing that those who claim to preserve it are often its worst enemies. Most libraries will want this." - Barbara Hoffert, "Library Journal" No doubt Pears used the historical figure Hypatia as the model for his fictional Sophia. I found the book a very good read. I was fascinated by the scene of barbarians camped outside a Roman villa and the reactions of the owner. This is Gallia on the eve of becoming Francia.

Aurouchs (giant wild cows) in Britain, lions in Anatolia, and a North African species of elephant. What was the natural world of the Roman Empire like? What has that area lost?

Aurochs were immortalised in prehistoric cave paintings and admired for their brute strength and "elephantine" size by Julius Caesar. The huge cattle with sweeping horns which once roamed the forests of Europe have not been seen for nearly 400 years. Now Italian scientists are hoping to use genetic expertise and selective breeding of modern-day wild cattle to recreate the fearsome beasts which weighed around 2,200lb and stood 6.5 feet at the shoulder. For more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/...extinction.html

Roman society was very well intercontected. Free citizens were involved in reciprical, though unequal, relationships. Almost daily contacts were required between patron and his clients. As was said above everyone knew your name and social rank. In North America, the only slaves who won their freedom unequivocally were those who escaped to Canada, where the US Fugitve Slave Act had no power. In Roman imperial times what other political entity existed in the Mediterreaean that would have taken in runawa slaves? Did Roman slaves escape to barbarian lands? I've never heard of that, although I have come across mention of slaves running off with the Goths who plundered Rome in AD 410.

Felix dies natalis!

The Museum of the University of Pennsylvania has a small collection of Roman era textiles, among them hats: "The Egyptian Section houses a small but significant collection of textiles from Egypt. Included in this collection are linen mummy wrappings from Pharaonic Egypt (many examples are inscribed with parts of the Book of the Dead), a unique painted mummy shroud from the Ptolemaic or Roman period, examples of clothing from the Roman Period (cloaks, tunics, and hats), and beautifully decorated Coptic period textiles." http://www.penn.museum/about-our-collectio...an-section.html

Melvadius, Thanks so much for these tips. I'm hoping to interest an archaeologist from the local university to work with the teachers and children. Your advisory to research first before digging is well taken.

I

Here's what I understand from the Italian: What we are looking at is the conduit of the Acqua Vergine, a Pope Nicholas V reconstruction of the Aqua Virgo of Roman times . Letter A is Claudius's monument. C states that this is the new shape of the aqueduct erected in modern times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acqua_Vergine According to another source: The aqua Virgo (original name of the Acqua Vergine) enters Rome on the north side through the slopes of the Pincian Hill and goes until the S

"De Reditu" is a very interesting Italian film based on the work of Claudius Rutilius Namatianus, a fifth century Roman. From IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404363/ Plot Summary for De Reditu (Il ritorno) (2004) More at IMDbPro

Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett, Joseph Fiennes. Excellent historical drama filmed in 1998.

There is a Roman-era painting in the cave tomb of an upper class family at Edessa in Orshoene, in Syria. It contains an inscription in Syriac. The image can be found on page 156 in, "The Roman World, Cultural Atlas of the World," Tim Cornell & John Matthews, Stonehenge Press. The end notes explain that the painting was originally published by J.B. Segal in "Edessa, the Blessed City. Here's a Roman-era mosaic, from the cover of "Edessa, the Blessed City," with Syriac inscription. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/09...7073&sr=8-1

Below you find a summary from the Jewish History Sourcebook regarding the status of Jews in the later Roman Empire. If you go to the website you can find a bibliography of the sources: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/jews-romanlaw.html Jewish History Sourcebook: Jews and the Later Roman Law 315-531 CE [Marcus Introduction] The Middle Ages, for the Jew at least, begin with the advent to power of Constantine the Great (306-337). He was the first Roman emperor to issue laws which radically limited the rights of Jews as citizens of the Roman Empire, a privilege conferred upon them by Caracalla in 212. As Christianity grew in power in the Roman Empire it influenced the emperors to limit further the civil and political rights of the Jews. Most of the imperial laws that deal with the Jews since the days of Constantine are found in the Latin Codex Theodosianius (438) and in the Latin and Greek code of Justinian (534). Both of these monumental works are therefore very important, for they enable us to trace the history of the progressive deterioration of Jewish rights. The real significance of Roman law for the Jew and his history is that it exerted a profound influence on subsequent Christian and even Muslim legislation. The second-class status of citizenship of the Jew, as crystallized in the Justinian code, was thus entrenched in the medieval world, and under the influence of the Church the disabilities imposed upon him received religious sanction and relegated him even to lower levels. In our first selection - laws of Constantine the Great - Judaism is denied the opportunity of remaining a missionary religion because of the prohibition to make proselytes. The laws of Constantius (337-361), the second selection, forbid intermarriage between Jewish men and Christian women. A generation later, in 388, all marriages between Jews and Christians were forbidden. Constantius also did away with the right of Jews to possess slaves. This prohibition to trade in and to keep slaves at a time when slave labor was common was not merely an attempt to arrest conversion to Judaism; it was also a blow at the economic life of the Jew. It put him at a disadvantage with his Christian competitor to whom this economic privilege was assured. The third selection, a law of Theodosius II (408-410), prohibits Jews from holding any advantageous office of honor in the Roman state. They were compelled, however, to assume those public offices which entailed huge financial losses and almost certain ruin, and they were not even granted the hope of an ultimate exemption. This Novella (New Law) III of Theodosius II also makes a direct attack on the Jewish religion by reenacting a law which forbade the building of new Jewish synagogues. This prohibition was known a generation before this. It was reenacted now, probably to pacify the aroused Christian mob in the Eastern Empire which desired to crush the religious spirit of the Jews who were massing at Jerusalem and confidently looking forward to the coming of a Messianic redeemer in 440. This disability, later taken over by some Muslim states, was reenunciated by the Church which sought to arrest the progress of Judaism, its old rival. A Latin law of Justinian (527-565), the final selection, does not allow a Jew to bear witness in court against an orthodox Christian. Thus as early as the sixth century the Jews were already laboring under social, economic, civil, political, and religious disabilities. I. Laws of Constantine the Great, October 18, 315: Concerning Jews, Heaven-Worshippers,* And Samaritans We wish to make it known to the Jews and their elders and their patriarchs that if, after the enactment of this law, any one of them dares to attack with stones or some other manifestation of anger another who has fled their dangerous sect and attached himself to the worship of God [Christianity], he must speedily be given to the flames and burn~ together with all his accomplices. Moreover, if any one of the population should join their abominable sect and attend their meetings, he will bear with them the deserved penalties. *Heaven-Worshippers were a sect closely allied to Judaism. II. Laws of Constantius, August 13, 339:Concerning Jews, Heaven-Worshippers, And Samaritans This pertains to women, who live in our weaving factories and whom Jews, in their foulness, take in marriage. It is decreed that these women are to be restored to the weaving factories. [Marriages between Jews and Christian women of the imperial weaving factory are to be dissolved.] This prohibition [of intermarriage] is to be preserved for the future lest the Jews induce Christian women to share their shameful lives. If they do this they will subject themselves to a sentence of death. [The Jewish husbands are to be punished with death.] A Jew Shall Not Possess A Christian Slave if any one among the Jews has purchased a slave of another sect or nation, that slave shall at once be appropriated for the imperial treasury. If, indeed, he shall have circumcised the slave whom he has purchased, he will not only be fined for the damage done to that slave but he will also receive capital punishment. If, indeed, a Jew does not hesitate to purchase slaves-those who are members of the faith that is worthy of respect [Christianity]then all these slaves who are found in his possession shall at once be removed. No delay shall be occasioned, but he is to be deprived of the possession of those men who are Christians. III. A Law of Theodosius 11, January 31, 439: Novella III: Concerning Jews, Samaritans, Heretics, And Pagans Wherefore, although according to an old saying [of the Greek Hippocrates, the "father" of medicine] "no cure is to be applied in desperate sicknesses," nevertheless, in order that these dangerous sects which are unmindful of our times may not spread into life the more freely, in indiscriminate disorder as it were, we ordain by this law to be valid for all time: No Jew - or no Samaritan who subscribes to neither [the Jewish nor the Christian] religion - shall obtain offices and dignities; to none shall the administration of city service be permitted; nor shall any one exercise the office of a defender [that is, overseer] of the city. Indeed, we believe it sinful that the enemies of the heavenly majesty and of the Roman laws should become the executors of our laws - the administration of which they have slyly obtained and that they, fortified by the authority of the acquired rank, should have the power to judge or decide as they wish against Christians, yes, frequently even over bishops of our holy religion themselves, and thus, as it were, insult our faith. Moreover, for the same reason, we forbid that any synagogue shall rise as a new building. [Fewer synagogues meant less chance of Christians becoming Jews.] However, the propping up of old synagogues which are now threatened with imminent ruin is permitted. To these things we add that he who misleads a slave or a freeman against his will or by punishable advice, from the service of the Christian religion to that of an abominable sect and ritual, is to be punished by loss of property and life. [That is, the Jew who converts any one to Judaism loses life and property.] On the one hand, whoever has built a synagogue must realize that he has worked to the advantage of the Catholic church [which will confiscate the building]; on the other hand, whoever has already secured the badge of office shall not hold the dignities he has acquired. On the contrary, he who worms himself into office must remain, as before, in the lowest rank even though he will have already earned an honorary office. And as for him who begins the building of a synagogue and is not moved by the desire of repairing it, he shall be punished by a fine of fifty pounds gold for his daring. Moreover, if he will have prevailed with his evil teachings over the faith of another, he shall see his wealth confiscated and himself soon subjected to a death sentence. And since it behooves the imperial majesty to consider everything with such foresight that the general welfare does not suffer in the least, we ordain that the tax-paying officeholders of all towns as well as the provincial civil servants - who are obligated to employ ,heir wealth and to make public gifts as part of their burdensome and diverse official and military duties hall remain in their own classes, no matter what sect they belong to. Let it not appear as if we have accorded the benefit of exemption to those men, detestable in their insolent maneuvering, whom we wish to condemn by the authority of this law. [Jews have to accept financially ruinous public offices without hope of exemption.] This further limitation is to be observed, namely, that these public servants from these above mentioned sects shall never, as far as private affairs are concerned, carry out judicial sentences, nor be wardens of the jail. This is done in order that Christians, as it sometimes happens, may not be hidden away and suffer a double imprisonment through the hatred of the guards- [imprisonment is bad enough without having a Jewish jailer.] And furthermore it may be doubted that they have been justly imprisoned. IV. A Law Of Justinian, July 28, 531: Concerning Heretics And Manichaeans And Samaritans Since many judges, in deciding cases, have addressed us in need of our decision, asking that they be informed what ought to be done with witnesses who are heretics, whether their testimony ought to be received or rejected, we therefore ordain that no heretic, nor even they who cherish the Jewish superstition, may offer testimony against orthodox Christians who are engaged in litigation, whether one or the other of the parties is an orthodox Christian. [but a Jew may offer testimony on behalf of an orthodox Christian against some one who is not orthodox.]

Does this help? In a Roman woman's hand from Vindolanda, near Hadrian's Wall, a party invitation: http://vindolanda.csad.ox.ac.uk/4DLink2/4D...isplayEnglish=1

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt

Treat yourself or another to the Oxford Archaeological Guide to Rome: http://www.amazon.com/Rome-Oxford-Archaeol...2429&sr=1-1 It's everything you've wanted to know about the Eternal City's Roman era buildings. Some of the commentary continues the buildings' stories into medieval and later times.

I would love to find Mary Beard's "the Fires of Vesuvius" under my Christmas tree.

She has a wonderful mausoleum in Ravenna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mausoleum_of_Galla_Placidia Yes, I agree she's due a movie or even a mini-series.