Ursus

Beard's closing point on which country is better able to preserve the legacies of the past is key, I think. And it's not just a matter of funding, either. Can ZH promise that the coming generation of virulent islamic Arabs won't treat ancient treasures the way the Taliban treated ancient Buddhist statues in Afghanistan? Should the Elgin marbles be returned to a homeland Greece where the overly influential state religion of Orthodox Christianity despises the pagan legacy? I feel a lot more comfortable with the British safekeeping these ancient treasures.

It is? I thought it was pretty much a given. There doesn't seem to have been any other important event on Dec 25 other than the commemoration of the grand temple to Aurelian's last patron god.

I continue my art studies with Taschen Basic Art series. I have also read "Vintage Guide to Classical Music." I am now moving on to "The Sommelier's Guide to Wine."

Maty, what is your opinion on the author's treatment of the title character?

For a very special Roman Christmas, give a gift that keeps on giving: the immortal poetry of Ron Price.

Small, designer dogs look like food to birds of prey.

Happy Holidays to UNRV members.

And what an impoverished empire that would have been without Hellenic arts and letters. Dull, dirty brick towns and bumpkin Latin writers! The West would have to look at the Celtic bards and smiths for their inspiration, if it looked anywhere at all. On the other hand, I can see two differences that might appeal to some people: 1) It's hard to think that Paulist Christianity - or indeed a lot of other Eastern religions - would have spread to Roman masses without a common Greco-Oriental cultural background. 2) Would the pseudo-monarchs of the post Caesar era have arisen without using Hellenistic autocrats as their examples, or Hellenistic style arts and letters as their propaganda?

Not that I really care, but it's hard for me to believe that Caesar - who so enjoyed being on top in everything else in his life - would play the passive partner for anyone.

Having read the author's other book, I can tell you she is a good writer and academic. However, this troubles me: Oy vey.

The dark beauty of a Pict queen is rather cute. But I'm afraid I am going to skip this one.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/health/24heart.html

Have a good one.

I think it had more to do with Enlightenment intellectualism - the idea of a clockwork universe (cf Newton's laws), with a clockmaker god that became distant once his creation was wound into motion.

I hear you. Thank goodness I am not the only one who feels that way. I wouldn't mind reading more about the Mid East from Ancient Babylon through Sassanid Persia. Beyond that I have no study goals for the ancient world.

The same people who believe the earth is 6000 years old despite all available scientific evidence to the contrary? I rest my case. I'm not sure if you're going to get many recommendations on scholarly literature about the American revolution as this is a Roman forum. But there is plenty of books on democratic Athens and Republican Rome out there.

Yeah, whatever happened to this movie...?

That ewok could kick Jar Jar Bink's ass.

This is an excellent review, though I'll skip the book itself since it's not my area of interest. I agree with the central premise that the Italian conquests were the critical first juncture, though I was not aware that was ever in dispute. Maybe it's just for the general public who perhaps cannot name any other Roman campaigns aside from Caesar's ...?

I believe in the original Jewish theology, Satan means "Adversary" referring to his role as a kind of prosecutor in Jehovah's heavenly court (as in Job), not the sworn enemy of all that is Holy.

Yeah, I am aware of that.

This one always brings a tear to my eye

This is an interesting post. In 'ethical' terms I would say hunting at least has the dignity of being a sport whereas mass slaughter for entertainment lacks dignity.

Anybody planning on getting the Navy book? The Navy would be an interesting change of pace from the legions.