Gaius Octavius

Thanks Moon & Faustus.

Probably to memorialize the last guy she de- Gaius! ed.

Not an academician. I have three of his books on my shelves. I like his "Atlas of Ancient History (1700BC to 565AD)"

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. I also saw hundreds of cedar trees festooned with Christmas lighting and I have also heard Christmas carols openly over the radio there, just as in Western countries. No Stars of David because there is hardly any Jewish presence there. Plenty of Christians though, all practising openly. There are also Christian officers in the Royal Jordanian Army, some of whom were friends with my Dad, just as there were Christians in Saddam Hussein's Iraqi army. My aunt, who was an Evangelical Christian, lived many years in the Middle East and said she was never harassed for her faith, which she made no attempt to hide. I don't think anyone here is claiming that Spanish is an Arabic tongue. As an Evangelical Christian, could your aunt do her Christian duty and proselytize, as Moslems may do in your country? Didn't the American wife of the last king but one have to convert before the wedding? I can just envision a Jewish P.M. I never claimed that Spanish is an Arabic tongue. The fact that there are Christian officers in the Royal Jordanian Army, is a hangover from the British officered Jordanian Legion. Why, their military bands are decked out as Highlanders; kilts, bagpipes and all!

The modern regiment evolved from the Roman legion as it, itself, evolved from its earliest forbears in names, functions, and command structures. A company is not entirely comparable to a century. A battalion is comparable to a cohort; a regiment to a legion. Modern air forces and navies are neither explained nor defined in terms of legions, even though Roman naval legions existed. The word 'comparable' does not mean 'equal to'. What blunders have occurred because modern terms have helped to explain the legion? If we had to use the exact same terminology to explain a word, there would be no dictionary. Modern military battle maps use the same symbols to denote unit positions and types as are used to denote Caesar's battles. Taking a practicing idiot, such as myself, and without writing a boring tome, how would one 'explain' a legion? We are moderns. The 'laws' of chemistry have changed, yet the old 'laws' are still used when preparing a student to become a chemist.

Those 'summertime' soldiers went through some rather rigorous training before engaging in battle. Of course it is beyond the realm of possibility, that Caesar, knowing the tactics, strengths, and abilities of his adversaries, could afford to be 'sloppy', with impunity, on the march. This, of course, could not have been his 'trap'. This is why he was most often attacked and defeated on the march. The Germans held him in such great contempt, that they allowed him to build a bridge across the Rhine in less than a fortnight, (a feat unaccomplished to this day), while they went picnicking in the hinterland. At Alesia, Vercingetorix knew that Caesar was a klutz. That is why he allowed Caesar to build a double wall around his strong point, and thought it unnecessary to call upon the half million Celts, playing polo in the background, to make an end of these works. Contrary to the popular press, it was Caesar who was brought in chains before Vercingetorix, and not vice-versa. The idiot, Caesar, neither could or would have adjusted his tactics in a confrontation with Stilicho's Teutonic legions. All this is why the tactics of the Dominate legions are studied in all military and naval academies, and not those of Caesar.

What you have in your hands has nothing to do with the Paragon Of Tyranny. He does not hang-out in bathrooms. No comment on ditch-digging which is a noble trade IN DEED Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! A likely retort. Tell it to the Fleet Gyrines!

Thanks for all the work and time you take. Nonetheless, Go Pats! Go Yanks!

"In my hands", I have irrefutable proof positive that Tyrannos Paragon is an itinerant ditch digger cum bathroom attendant!

St. Bennie just went to 2% on Fed Funds. Hell, why doesn't he pay the banks and primary dealers 2% when they borrow from the Fed. Seems to me that the biggest part of the problem is that the 'off balance sheet' entities, alleged hedge funds, and assorted scum, are able to get money from the banks at a rate of 30 to 1. The horses' coolies in the administration would be for that. Trickanomics.

I wouldn't lead any revolting side.

We ain't all bigots and knee jerk reactionaries over here sonny. What, in particular, is bigoted about that statement? A screed such as this appeals to fear and bigotry,you have to be incredibly naive not to recognize that. If Obama is the nominee you will see a lot of this sort of thing. It's something the Republicans do very well, although they will publicly disavow it. Before it is over Obama will be portrayed as some slathering anti-American Muslim fundamentalist lusting after white women. It doesn't work on everyone but it will constantly be in the background and will sway many white voters. That does not answer the question I posed. 'Sonny' as used above is a rather inclement, if not insulting usage, (of course, in my opinion).

If you mean they were all Roman forts lying to the north of Hadrians Wall then yes they are - BUT before you ask they also are a long way to the south of the Antonine Wall. I wasn't going to ask, but thanks anyway.

G.H., did you see crosses on the tops of churches? Synagogues? Stars of David on their tops? Because St. Augustine adopted Plato's philosophy, it does not follow that Aristotle was consigned to the dust bin of history. Evidence to the contrary notwithstanding, CHRISTIAN Europeans were a bunch of klutzes barely able to eat soup out of their own hands. Much of the chatter on this thread reflects an anti-Christian bias and a desire to be 'politically correct'. From Greek/Latin into Arabic and then back? Since Arabic grammar is so different from Indo-European grammar, could it be that this led to much misunderstanding of ancient texts? By even the Arabs themselves? Yeah, I know, this statement proves that the present Christian Bible is a fraud. Why, in the name of twaddle, with 7,000 Arabic loan words, is Spanish a Latin tongue? I, for one, will have no more of this; Spanish is an Arabic tounge! I will make it my object in life to alert all Mexicans, Chileans, etc., of their great blunder!

In the last couple of 'military' threads, I left out cohort/battalion. Some authors use the TITLE captain to indicate an overall commander, such as Scipio and Hannibal. Now, I am in noway trying to gainsay Caldrail. Let me try to explain myself. Although imperfect, when one tries to explain, (not define), something, a comparison might be used. For example, an atom. One uses balls to indicate the electrons 'circling' a nucleus. This is not nearly correct, but it gets the point over - especially to a novice. The word 'military' is used to indicate both land and naval forces. This is not correct, but it gets the point over. Had 'divisions', as such, existed a few hundred years ago, division/general might have been used to compare legion/legate. A consul's two legions might have been referred to as a 'corps'. How legions were used tactically, suited their times. By 1453AD, I believe that a legion was composed of about one thousand foot. Didn't change the use of the term, (at least by 'moderns').

1 5/17 barrels of oil?

They do have olive oil. But, if you have any Italian speaking friends make enquiry for a translation of 'Go to Naples'.

Mubarack Saddam Hussein Osama it's a strange name for a US presidential candidate especialy one that was raised in a muslim country and has a crazy priest that hates US His name makes me remember a scene from the movie Crash when the governor was looking for a black hero and they only got an arab fireman named Hussein. It's hard to believe that he could get elected in an european country, a clear sign of the different way in which europeans and americans define themselves as nations. It

What are you drinking? Don't be selfish.

We ain't all bigots and knee jerk reactionaries over here sonny. What, in particular, is bigoted about that statement?

If that is the way you think, don't forget fiscal policy. The tax code is a perfect example of treating the better people better. It doesn't amaze me to any end the number of items stuck in the convoluted tax code that benefit only one non-taxpayer. Forbes reports that the average grand theft of todays CEO's is 433 times the earnings of the inflation producing peon. It used to be 40 times in the 1980's. In the late 60's it was about 10 times (This is from my memory.). I wonder what the modal statistics are. As a conspiracy theorist, .... I'll leave it there - for now. As to what role the Fed is playing, I think that St. Bennie is keeping it under his beard. Bailing out criminals would be a good guess while throwing America a CENSORED .

A Hungarian, after being turned down by Constantine sold the cannon to the Turks. Did the Arabs get the idea, if not the exact form, of their numeric ciphers from India? There is not one place on the face of the Earth, where Moslems are so much as a plurality, from a tiny island in the Caribbean to the Philippines, that they must not be top dog. Others may not celebrate their religions nor their irreligion. It is just fine to murder a Syrian and Chaldean Christian bishop. It is fine to distort a Popes message.

Would Bewcastle, Netherby, and Birrens have been better choices?

Amen, N.N.

Just as a point of information, weren't Chesters and Housesteads north of Hadrian's wall?