Ursus

Major revisions of history can be exciting, but they demand convincing evidence. I haven't read the book but would be interested in reading a quality review of the evidence presented.

Yeah, he'll fit right in.

Hmmm. My whole problem is this: that the Vedics were an Indo-European offshoot related to the Celts is not disputed. But Hindu culture/religion evolved considerably since its Vedic origins, and therefore comparisons between Hindus and Ancient Celts is not as enlightening as its proponents would have us believe. I'd just like to say for the record I'm glad the New Age industry decided to rape the Celts rather than Greco-Roman culture. Imagine if it had been otherwise: everyday we would have people showing up on the forum asking us if the Romans were peaceful, eco-matriarchal types who were concerned with karma and positive energies.

I am currently playing a 5 year old game called "Age of Mythology" where you can play the Greeks, Egyptians or the Norse. It's kind of fun, actually, watching the Greek Cyclops units pick up and throw enemy soldiers across the map. I wish there were something like it with a Roman theme.

But even given the gaps of knowledge, Romanophiles are more blessed than possibly any other student of ancient civilization. They were, unlike some ancient peoples, highly literate, and loved to write about themselves and their neighbors (albeit in a sometimes biased fashion). Latin is easily understood unlike some other ancient languages. The material remains are scattered throughout three continents, and archaeology brings a significant new discovery almost every month it seems. The Romans built with durable brick and marble, unlike some of the cultures that built with wood and mud (but kudos to the Egyptians for building some enduring monuments as well). I choose to concentrate on what we do know rather than what we do not. In contrast, pity the poor Celtophile, whose chief source of literary reference was from a Roman general at war with the culture!

I am not a hardcore gamer, but I just bought a new computer with all the bells and whistles, and its screaming to play some games. So what are some Roman themed games? Rome Total War and total realism are the most discussed, but I'm not exactly a military buff. Ancient Empires: the Rise of Rome is a real time strategy game I hear. And then there are the various incarnations of "Caesar" the city building simulation, which I think I might try. Did I miss anything?

Wonderful job, PP. I hope you didn't go blind doing all the research.

But was what you heard really traditional Celtic music, or was it New Age music masquerading as Celtic? The New Age borrows a lot from Hinduism and Eastern mysticism, and then throws in some Celtic gloss to make it marketable to people of European background.

Happy Birthday, fellow legatus.

Maty is quite right. Furthermore, dripping human blood would probably be seen to profane an altar rather than to consecrate it. The closest thing to "self-harm" is when a Roman general would consecrate himself to the gods and make a suicide rush at the enemy, offering himself as a living sacrifice. This happened at rare occasions.

American high schools are more about sports, marching bands and popularity contests than education per se. Ask any European or Asian exchange students. They think it is a lark. The thing of it is: who cares what Miss America does or does not know? These girls will get through life flashing their pretty smiles (and flashing other parts of their body), and they know it. I think the whole Miss American pangeant is ludicrous. If I want to watch flesh, the adult section of the magazine rack or video store is far more honest and less annoying. And if I want intelligence, I'll look elsewhere besides popular culture and mass media.

"All rare things for the rare" - Nietzsche said, and Nephele Carnalis is one of the more intriguing personalities on a site that doesn't lack for unique individuals.

There 's already a thread on this somewhere, but I'm too lazy to link to it. Ursus = Bear. My ancestors were apparently Bavarian peasants whose surname is actually German for bear. My present family are Pennsylvanian peasants who surname is the Anglosized version of the German for bear. Since Romans often used animals as their third name, I thought it was appropriate enough. It and beer drinking are my only two nods to my mostly Germanic heritage (although the beer drinking doubles for my Irish side).

I will pledge allegiance to our new alien masters in exchange for not being eaten or anally probed.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/209/story_20922_1.html

I think there is a certain parallel between Cato and Yoda.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070816/ts_nm/austria_cross_dc

Everitt makes this very claim in his bio of Augustus, but provides little proof. His theory was that Augustus silently consented to it to provide a smooth transition for Tiberius and prevent a civil war.

Ni!

He is not the Messiah, he is just a very naughty boy.

Excellent. Didn't they discover the federal sanctuary for the Etruscans not long ago? The discoveries keep mounting.

Holding a beer in one hand and a pizza with the other. Yeah, that would be masterful.

Historical relics, natural landscapes, and half-naked women - what more could I possibly ask for?

It was cloudy in my neck of the woods. And since I had to awake at 5, I didn't go out at Midnight to check. Maybe next year.

Congrats!