Antiochus of Seleucia

I know Lorica Segmenta was a great piece of armor. Flexible and strong, I've seen it deflect a scorpion bolt. One thing I haven't seen, however, is its ability to take a hit from a spear/gladius/falx ect. Basically I just want to know how well it can take a hit.

It was a show on the history channel about the Roman Legions. They were following a man named Maximus through the Dacian Wars. I believe it was called: Life and Death in Rome: Legions.

That's it?!? Hehe. Cicero said it... I thought I heard that phrase from somewhere! Thanks.

You too? I remember sitting in 6th grade history class watching one of those token educational films on ancient history. But whereas the rest of the class seemed bored out of their skulls, I was quite enamored with the wooden actors dressed in their costumes as Consuls, displaying suitably somber expressions for Republican magistrates. It was my first taste (such as it was) to Rome's imperial grandeur, and I was hooked. Of course, even before then I was hooked on Greco-Roman mythology.... Lucky, I don't even think we had that... all I remember was pictures of ruins with dissolve transitions between them. It was boring because it really wasn't well made. The next day we had a substitute and watched it again... reading the textbook was actually more enjoyable and I loved the maps in them. O and sorry PVarro, I misinterpreted your post... hehe.

Wow, human translation! If you don't mind, how do you say: "To each his own." in latin? The online translator thing said "Ut sulum ipsemet ultroneus" but those things are never right. Just saying beforehand that an answer is very much appreciated... thanks!

As for a stomach wound, if they laid in the field long enough they'd die from the hydrochloric acid leaking out and eating away their insides. I read here earlier that they used silver staples to close flesh wounds. I saw a show on the history channel, and it showed a guy during the Dacian campaign getting stitches with needle and thread? And lastly, the Romans, or any ancient society for that matter, didn't have a germ theory, but I think they knew well enough if they didn't apply an alcohol that it would become infected and cause great pain. I think that over the years they found that alcohol stopped this eventual suffering and and would apply it. Kinda like experimentation or accidental find. This is interesting stuff... I must learn more for I know basically nothing about ancient medicine!

Woot, I'm top 40!

This is all amazing stuff, after Rome eroded away, almost all, if not all, this medical practice was lost. I really don't know much about this aspect of Roman warfare but reading it sure is interesting. Their methods were crude but effective. I would like to note that medical treatment during the civil wars must have been dreadful because the gladius mades gaping, jarring wounds.

It started in 6th grade when we watched a long boring video. I really didn't care. Over the years tidbits supplemented my super-basic knowledge about the empire. Last year, however, I did my National History Day project on the might of the Roman Legions, and finally came to appreciate the society. After watching documentaries and reading many a book, I am to the point that I will appreciate this knowledge for the rest of my life and will continue reading about the Roman Empire. God, I'm only 16... PVarro, "You know, I feel slightly embarrassed now that I know a lot about Roman history" That is not necessary, knowledge is a great thing. The thing that fascinates me is how Rome went from a small city to rule the world because of its laws, technology, and ingenuity when it came to war.

Wow thanks Viggen, I read the review. I got sucked into the free preview and read all the readable pages! I'm buying this book.

Oh I want to read that book! Is it like a story, or is it factual/textbooky?

I can see how that would work. It's really hard to explain, but all you really have to do is grab the handle, thumb toward you, and pull the gladius out. Flicking the wrist will point the gladius foreward. It does look pretty quick.

I saw that too. Generally, a Roman battlefield skill was 'Under & Up' , Knocking an enemie with his shield, thrusting the gladius under the enemies' shield and stabbing up into his chest. It kinda makes sense in the arena too with the thumb and all. Wow, one of Rome's biggest mysteries... thumb direction.

Elvis is still alive though, he lives on the moon with JFK and Osama Bin Laden, and they have motorcycles with doors up there.

Was the TNT version a two-part film? I saw it on the History channel and cried at how bad it was. It was a big love story with super human slaves flipping legionairs around in the air, lol, the Romans looked like pansies. It was a bad film...

O noes! Aliens in Tennesee! Wow, talk about them Bosnians... this is a crazy story.

Thanks, I'll look into it.

Qui desiderat pacem praeparet bellum- Let him who desires peace prepare for war- Vegetius

Anyone have a clue where I can find uncommon primary sources for the seige of Massada? I'm thankful for any replies.

Lol next thing you know, you've messed up the space-time continuum and come back to an altered future! I would bring 1) A camera with a fresh roll of film 2) A compass, and 3) a loaded gun, just in case I land in the wilderness. Hopefully I appear near a town so I can buy a nice tunic

I am looking for primary sources for my History Day project. If anyone could point in a direction toward roman maps, texts, pictures... ect, it would be very much appreciated... I have read the easily accessible stuff of Livy, Polybius, and Tacitus. The sources should be focused on Pyrrhus of Epirus, Rome Vs. Carthage, Marius Reforms, and Dacian Wars. Any help is highly appreciated. Thank you.

Adrian Goldsworthy also wrote "In the Name of Rome" which I read, and thought was excellent. It tells the stories of the greatest commanders that shaped Rome... many of which none of you ever heard of before! (At least I haven't!)