Basemetal

I happen to like the Spartics move/mini-series as much as I liked the quasi-fantasy move "Gladiator". Maybe even more. While not realistic in it's details (no one now living can know what exactly went on in the Spartacus camp) it does weld historic accuracy with a better touch than many other extant movies of the genre.

Google Earth has an excellent view of the birthplace of Septimus Severius. Magnus Lepiti (forgive my spelling) The north African image has an execllent view of the ruins.

Hi! I'm new here but I found the description of Nero fascinating. I collect ancient roman coins. Roman Imperal coins are known for their faithfulness to the living emperor. In fact, given that the coin was oftent the only image of the emperor many Roman subjects would ever see. "This is Nero-accept no substitues" was important. Nero is often seen and remembered as vain, egocentric, self-indulgent and monomanical. Yet his coins show a sloppy Peter Ustinof kind of guy. He didn't seem to mind. What a dicotomy. Here is a would-be poet, a singer, a patron of the arts and all things Greek, and yet, he allows himself to be protrayed as a double-jowled, poltroon. Wonder why? Just because he was emperor? "Say you young Gaius, how does my bust on this brand new sestertius become me?" "Why, you look like the veritable image of Jupiter himself emperor" While privately thinking: "This Tub 'Olard is huge!" How say you all?