Ursus

Well, for one thing, the need for unfettered individual mystical experience and personal salvation led to a plethora of private religious cults whose interests were not synonymous with the State, and whose values in some instances were completely incompatible to the State. To the degree one identifies and honors the Roman State, this was not a good thing. 'Tis why Augustus and Tiberius frowned on some of the things pouring out of the East.

I'm afraid I'll just have to disagree with you, Senator. Augustus allowed and even promoted certain strands of Hellenism which were useful and non-threatening, but tried to stem the tide of certain other Hellenistic forces as embodied by his foes at Actium.

Well, yes, and I believe I did qualify that in my above post. But as I also stated, even there it's not a monolithic force.

Any of the recent Hellenophile arrivals want to discuss this further?

Relooking at this thread, I now know what my problem is with it.

Just curious ....

I think the short answer you are looking for is auctoritas. What unites the figure of a ruthless warlord of the late Republic with the benevolent father of a new Empire? Auctoritas, a social standing and spiritual authority Augustus earned by restoring order and prosperity to a chaotic Rome. The Princeps dare not proclaim himself King after Caesar

Well ... one of the Greek Muses was thought to inspire historical poetry. Apollo was leader of the muses and a god intimately connected with tradition and order. Athena was generically the goddess of students and those who sought wisdom. I would suggest looking those up. Here's a website that might help you: www.theoi.com

With the possible exception of some Greek colonies in the south, I can't imagine Italy at the time was worth conquering.

"Rome." HBO's most ambitious and expensive series to date arrives onto DVD on August 15th. Spread over six discs, all twelve episodes of Rome: The Complete First Season will be presented in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1. The bonus materials will include eight audio commentary tracks with the cast & crew; "All Roads Lead To Rome" interactive onscreen guide prepared by the series' historical consultant Jonathan Stamp; "Shot x Shot: Caesar's Triumph" and "Shot x Shot: Gladiator" featurettes detailing the productions of two key sequences from episodes 10 and 11; "The Rise of Rome" behind-the-scenes on the sets, wardrobe and actors' boot camp; "When In Rome" featurette on Roman culture; "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" introduction to the characters; photo gallery with 50 never-before-seen images; an 8-page "Roman Character Guide" booklet featuring names, profiles, relationships and other key information. Retail will be $99.98. Click the cover for a super-size look at the packaging!" http://www.davisdvd.com/news/tv.html .... a hundred freakin' dollars?

Congratulations! I'm happy for you. And flattered that you would mention me. I do hope you enjoy your college experience. Just be aware many liberal arts majors discover their jobs in the real world have little to do with their major.

Neptune. Ancient Italic god of waters. Identified with Greek Poseidon and thus became god of oceans and horses. Identified with another Italian god Consus, also associated with horses. A female companion deity by name of Salacia or Venilia. Temple dedicated in the Circus Flaminius in the Campus Martius. Neptune one of only three gods to whom a bull could be sacrificed. Main festival: Neptunalia on July 23, concerned with propitiating the god for sufficient water during the hot summer. Another festival on December 1. Neptune linked with Mercury insofar as both gods protected travel and trade (Neptune by sea, Mercury by land).

If I have time this weekend I'll break out my books and look for some more info. Nothing comes off the top of my head ... despite officially being one of the twelve "Di Consentes" , the god of waters and horses wasn't critical to the Roman religious landscape. The Romans weren't as found of maritime adventures as the Greeks were. They were, however, found of chariot racing, and it was in this capacity Neptune found his true place in Rome.

Is "golf" really something in which to take pride? I always found it a rather silly excuse for a sport.

Noticed the new icon and rather enjoy it. I've been shopping around for a new one myself but can't settle on anything. May your thigh heal swiftly.

It shall be on my reading list!

Actually, Senator, I'm bogged down in work (despite the fact that I'm checking this at work) and haven't finished the book. If you want to beat me to a book review, feel free. I already have another review in queue for Viggen.

"I do not have to forgive my enemies, I have had them all shot."

Ah! But what about Alec Guinness as an aged Ben Kanobi?

When I think of British, I think of Patrick Stewart.

Some more book reviews might help in that regard ...

But isn't that a great tactic against people who scream for attention. Should any particular user receive repeated hits from the ignore button, it will help send a red flag to the mods that something more drastic might be needed. This feature will serve as a valuable feedback tool.

Indeed. David Potter presents a convincing theory that Constantinople was not about religion at all- it was simply about the glory of the man who ordered its construction Welcome to the forum, znra251. :-)

While I have a certain appreciation for the Celts, the current New Age craze is to attribute everything under the sun to them. If you want to see a "scholar" take the craze to its logical extreme, read Peter Ellis.

If Caesar had lived, it would have been very interesting to see what he would have done with his empire. But the question is completely hypothetical. I do believe Augustus his successor was among the slickest politicans ever. And I also believe Diocletian and Constantine breathed precious new life into the military and political structures of a shaken empire. Among non Romans, I think Ptolemy I Soter is seriously underrated. He shrewdly built up his power base in Egypt rather than risk eveything to conquer all of Alexander's realms. And his cultural and economic handling of Egypt proved quite profitable. His attempt to create a universal religion via the cult of Isis was ahead of its time, and presaged the Christian cult.