Ursus

Having finally finished the entire season 1 DVD, I can offer a few points. Good, I thought. American production values, British acting, Italian scenery. Delightful combination. Despite any flaws, this proves the most

I think Washington is compared to Cincinnatus because Washington was popular enough to have become King if he had wanted. Alexander Hamilton even suggested something along those lines. However, Washington served a mere two terms in the vaguely defined office of President and then retired, much as Cincinnatus had done after serving his term as dictator.

Just a mod's note - while these hypothetical questions are always initially fun and thought provoking, after a bit they invariably fall prey to snide arguments over points that ultimately can never be proven. The tone of the thread is already sliding in that direction. Should it continue to slide further it shall be sent to the Arena.

Topics specifically related to the Republic should be placed in the Republic subfolder. Topics specifically related to the Imperial era should be placed in the Empire folder. If you need a cut off date, let us say the empire officially begins in 29 BCE with the closing of the Temple of Janus. The main forum here is for broad topics that don't fit comfortably into the two time-specific subfora mentioned above. If you're looking for a lost thread, chances are I moved it from the main forum to a subfora, or vice versa.

To all the residents of the US, Happy Labor Day Weekend. Enjoy the coming 3 day weekend.

Indeed. Although I have to say their interpretation of Cleopatra, and the waif who plays her, leaves me a bit cold.

Yes, let's all reserve judgement until after the first few threads are used as an "experiment." Of course, for those so interested, I am running a secret pool on which member is the first to break the rules of the new forum. You may contact me in private to place your bets.

Just watched the first two episodes on DVD! Loved it! Everything from the dry British wit to the unflinching sex scenes. One question - the military salute used in the show, was that the actual historical military salute?

Augustus presided over the expansion of the empire, urban renewal and beautification at Rome, and a golden age of literature. I'm going to pick him.

Two beautiful women. In bed. With each other.

A cheap bust of Augustus is here: http://www.ancient-empires.com/newmincaesbu.html This one graces my lararium.

Football? *blank look* Favorite team? *blank look* I suppose whichever team has the cutest cheerleaders.

I think the original Star Trek had an episode like this. Captain Kirk lands on a parallel earth where Rome never fell. There are efficient roads everywhere. The World Wars never happened. Slavery is an institutionalized part of a welfare state. And gladiator games are broadcast over TV. Yeah, sounds about right.

The truth of the matter is, Germania beyond the tribes that immediately bordered the empire were not worth conquering or assimilating. They had a level of technology barely sufficient to scratch the soil and feed themselves in their little hovels. This made them unattractive as conquered subjects or clients. The Varus disaster was more a psychological shock than a strategic disaster. Had the Gothic incursions not crowded them altogether into supertribes, the Germans could never have overthrown the Western empire. Since no one could have forseen the Gothic invasions, we can't fault the early emperors for not dealing with the situation more aggressively.

http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~joelja/aeneid.html#b1 The link above has it online for free. If you still get a copy, make sure you get the one translated by John Dryden the neoclassicist (responsible for the beautiful English verse above). The first time I read the Aeneid, I didn't think much of it - because the translation was lifeless. In fact, I believe I have a review of Fitzgerald's translation on the site. I might ask Viggen to take it down, while I resubmit a review for the Dryden translation....

Now low on earth the lofty chief is laid, With eyes cast upward, and with arms display'd, And, recreant, thus to the proud victor pray'd: "I know my death deserv'd, nor hope to live: Use what the gods and thy good fortune give. Yet think, O think, if mercy may be shown- Thou hadst a father once, and hast a son- Pity my sire, now sinking to the grave; And for Anchises' sake old Daunus save! Or, if thy vow'd revenge pursue my death, Give to my friends my body void of breath! The Latian chiefs have seen me beg my life; Thine is the conquest, thine the royal wife: Against a yielded man, 't is mean ignoble strife." In deep suspense the Trojan seem'd to stand, And, just prepar'd to strike, repress'd his hand. He roll'd his eyes, and ev'ry moment felt His manly soul with more compassion melt; When, casting down a casual glance, he spied The golden belt that glitter'd on his side, The fatal spoils which haughty Turnus tore From dying Pallas, and in triumph wore. Then, rous'd anew to wrath, he loudly cries (Flames, while he spoke, came flashing from his eyes) "Traitor, dost thou, dost thou to grace pretend, Clad, as thou art, in trophies of my friend? To his sad soul a grateful off'ring go! 'T is Pallas, Pallas gives this deadly blow." He rais'd his arm aloft, and, at the word, Deep in his bosom drove the shining sword. The streaming blood distain'd his arms around, And the disdainful soul came rushing thro' the wound. http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~joelja/aeneid.html#b12 How un-hollywood! How politically incorrect! How unchristian! How unmodern! How deliciously Roman, or at least Pagan, to slaughter a foe even as he begs for his life out of a sense of revenge and duty. Aeneas, thou art my hero for the ages!

This thread has been split from the one phil25 created as it was beginning to take over the original intent of his thread. My only contribution to this is that "The Godfather" remains my favorite movie. Cheers.

The Hellenes are theoretically the most popular culture on this forum. Because of that, a special subforum has been created for their benefit. As the site grows, the Triumviri may create other subfolders for a given culture. The Celts are currently the obvious choice for future growth.

Absolutely nothing .... which is why it is in the Arena folder. This is an area of the site where the off-topic and subjective can be debated without disturbing the sanctity of the more respectable portions of the site. Think of this place as UNRV's ghetto ..... don't come in here unless you're looking for a fight.

Gods, my Latin is horrific. It should be "tua, Caesar, Aetas." 'Your age, Caesar.' Horace's Ode to Augustus giving him credit for the new age.

Topics like this are always subjective at best. Given some of the recent hyperbole, it is best to consign it to the Arena. And thus it is done.

Gratias. I found a new name for my UNRV blog. :-)

I seem to be one of the few people who didn't care for the style. It was a novel that read like a history book, IMHO - not quite a compliment. The opposite of this is a history book that reads like a novel, a recent example of which is Tom Holland's Rubicon which I devoured.

I discovered I could learn languages very quickly. Unfortunately, I also forget them very quickly if I am not in a constant state of practice. I took Russian and German in college and was head of the class .... a year out of college, with no opportunities to speak it, I had forgotten almost everything. Every few months I pick up a Latin textbook and study the declensions and conjugations - then I get sidetracked and busy, and fall out of practice. It's a curse. I say your best bet is to get the basics down, and then immerse yourself completely in the new language. Either hang out with Arabic speakers somewhere, or buy plenty of language tapes. Always keep it on the tip of your tongue.

The Julio-Claudians did preside over the hallmark of Roman epochs - the transition from Republic to Principate - and set the socio-political framework that was to endure for the next 300 years. Augustus in particular presided over a period of cultural rebirth and renewal - "Tu, Caesar, Aetas."