Klingan

Well, that would be a quite bold theory considering that the area around the left eye of the mask is completely gone, but it is certainly interesting. I hope that some additional information will be published soon.

Well, I've read the passage you speak of and it seems to be pretty straight forward to me: Caesar was besieging the Oppidum and found an oppertunity to attack and was forced to retreat. These were the major events: Prelude: Caesar was about to retreat from his position at Gergovia due to the fear of being cut of from the rest of his troops which he wanted to merge with and thus gain the strength to face Vercingetorixs rebellion. 1: An opportunity appears as Caesar comes to know that an enemy (Gauls) position is especially vulnerable. 2 (midnight): He sends some cavalry and decoy troops to give the enemy the impression that the position is threatened. A legion follows, but hides along the way (presumably to make the enemy (Gauls) even more insecure). 3 (Night/early morning?): The Gauls send all of their troops to the vulnerable position, leaving their camp empty. 4 (still dark? Dusk?): Caesar in a stealthy manner sends (infantry) troops to the now empty Gaulish camp. They were not to be observed. 5: The infantry from point 4 is sent (marching up 1200 roman double steps along the hill) in along with the Aedui to another hill to the right. 6: The Romans from point 4 encounters a wall half way up and quickly overcome it. 7: The three Gaulish camps (from point 3) are captured. Caesar calls a retreat but only the 10th responds. The other legions can't hear the signals. 8: The troops that did not hear the signal to retreat reach the city walls. Some legionaries scale them. 9 (reported to be late into the battle. Turning point): The Gauls from point 3 hear the battle cries and return. The Romans find it difficult to hold against the fresh Gauls and are pushed back from walls and gate. Many Romans are killed. 10: Caesar order several cohorts of the 13th (480 men each) under T. Sextius to advance and take position and thus make sure that the enemy (Gauls) did not pursue the men retreating from the walls too far. 11: Roman at the walls retreat. Caesar moves his own legion a little bit forward to stand ready. 12: Though fighting. 13: The Allied Aedui appear on the right side. The fighting Romans think them to be enemies and are thus terrified. Heroic action at the middle wall (?). 14: Romans in full retreat. The 10th legion (point 7) and the cohorts of the 13th (point 10) under T. Sextius supports their comrades and prevents to a certain extent the pursuing Gauls. 15 (end): The legions reach flat ground and make a stand. 16 (end): Vercingetorix orders the Gauls to retreat and they comply. Caesar also notes that almost 700 men were killed during the action, among them 46 centurions. The next day he gives a speech chastising the troops for their failure to comply with his orders, but he also encourages them (as he is afraid that moral will be lost otherwise). The troops marches to the field for another two days, ready for a battle, but the Gauls stay inside their walls. Caesar therefore retreats to the land of the Allied Aedui.

A very good read! I'm very glad that you posted it. Especially the diary quotes are very interesting and thought provoking.

You could have a look at J. Collis Oppida (1984), 15, 216, but in essence Vercingetorix was named king there and held the oppidum (hillfort town) against Caesars legions. But I'll have to look at the passage when I get home. The modern identification with Plateau de Merdogne is far from secure.

Might very well have been so, but these masks were highly decorative as they were - I cannot really see the need to plug the eyes before hanging the thing on a wall. Then again, it is very difficult to poke around in the heads of people so long lost.

Really cool one! Thanks for sharing!

It certainly sounds symbolic? And I don't even like that kind of explanations. But I think we would need someone who's got a great deal of knowledge about Nordic archaeology to tell us something useful.

That is really really cool! Although it's not the (or a) Colosseum! Only the great Amphitheatre at Rome goes by that name. But damn I'd give a lot to see that game!

This book sounds quite interesting - I have always been of the opinion that Philip should get more credit than he does.

I would suggest Templum Romae - Temple of Rome as I suspect that you want to discuss the religious/superstitious aspects?

I have yet to visit Sicily, but some of the sites should be fairly obvious choices (like the large temples etc). Can we count on a photo album? Southern Italy however. I've been to Metaponto and Taranto and, well, both are nice sites but not really worth the drive compared to Paestum (which is a must if you haven't been there). The Taranto museum is great thou! There are some minor sites that might interest you as well: Vaglio di Basilicata is nice if you happen to pass by (but don't go there for the site) as it is one of few pre-roman non greek sanctuaries in the area - the largest one found in Lucania actually . There is also Rionero in Vultur with a large roman villa, but I don't think that it would be terribly tourist friendly. So just if you pass by. I would probably have kept to Sicily, the Regio-Calabria area and then continued to Paestum, perhaps spend a day at Baia and then fly out from Naples.

I've never heard of it, but you could take a search at Perseus. Might come up with something! But try Lunar or something instead of the moon, as the translations are fairly archaic from time to time.

Very entertaining article. What really caught my attention is the presence of a Bruttius Balbus; he carries the same cognomen (but not nomen) as the much more famous and influential M. Nonius Balbus in Herculaneum. I wonder how many more members of this family that were involved in the political life of the bay. Where is Neph when we need her?

Hello, I find it hard to believe that such an item exists, but a picture of each side might come in handy! Klingan

Nice story! I wish they would have told us when the other 300 bottles were found thou... Sort of curious if it was right away or years later.

Real cool! Gotta love those curses!

Welcome to the Fora Euro! Looking forward to seeing your posts around here

I'm at work so I cannot answer properly, but you should take a look at Vitruvius De Architectura. I'm pretty sure that he discusses the origins of a lot of Roman architectural traditions and how they came from the Etruscans and Greeks.

Really good one! Thanks for posting it Viggen!

The remains of hundreds of warriors have resurfaced from a Danish bog, suggesting that a violent event took place at the site about 2,000 years ago. Discovered in the Alken Enge wetlands near Lake Moss

My computer is going to burn if I even try to get close to this game

Toll! Really cool that the site was never destroyed by later buildings. It must be terribly interesting to people working with early Christianity. Even I, who avoids anything with sheep frescoes and peacock mosaics, sort of want to read more about it!

Interesting enough, it could perhaps have been (at least partly) an official policy of his rather than a belief. This can be shown through his great knowledge of Greek literature, art and culture in general - it's depth suggests an interest rather than an enforced education.

I've been thinking about buying ODC4 (got the 3rd ed.). How was the review? Or do you have a link?

I serious thought this was an internet hoax before I read about it in a serious paper... Mother of...ape?...