Gaius Paulinus Maximus

I don't think my kids would want to celebrate Christmas if we had the Krampus roaming the streets of the UK, that is seriously scary stuff, I don't think they would sleep at night!! On the other hand if they were that scared of Christmas and didn't want to celebrate it, I would be a hell of a lot richer that's for sure!! Mmmmmm I wonder where I can get my hands on one of those Krampus masks???

Please excuse my ignorance guys but what exactly is Thanksgiving? I've always known about it but have never really known the reason for it. What's the history behind this day of celebration and why is such a big thing in the states? Cheers?

Last month, part of a major wall came tumbling down in Pompeii, the ancient Roman city frozen in time by a first-century eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It was only the latest in a spate of collapses at the site, which experts say is in critical condition. Though the site is said to be safe for tourists, the disintegration is alarming enough to have spurred the European Union to pledge 105 million euros (145 million dollars) for preservation. Troubles at the World Heritage site, near modern Naples in southern Italy, began in earnest last year. In November 2010 Pompeii's Schola Armaturarum, a large building once used by gladiators for training, crumbled overnight due to water infiltration. Just a few weeks later, a 12-meter-long (13-yard) wall protecting a structure known as the House of the Moralist had fallen down in heavy rain. Now that poor weather has returned, more trouble has followed......... Read the full article HERE

Thanks Ghost, not quite sure what happened there?? That's the link I was supposed to put up All's well that end's well!!

Spill the beans Vig! Which lady of UNRV has stolen your heart???

Ahhh the unforeseen possibilities of ancient history, don't you just love em? I'm a big fan of what if's? Although in the grand scheme of things speculation get's us absolutely no where and get's you no closer to the answers that we so desperately long to know, it's great fun doing it though isn't it

Broughton's Magistrates of the Roman Republic is an excellent resource for this sort of enquiry but it is also an extremely hard and expensive book to get hold of theses days. As far as I am aware the Metelli were of Plebeian stock, although very wealthy an active through out the Republic and stood toe to toe with the patricians through out that time, they were infact merely lowly plebeians!

Let's not forget that Crassus backed Caesar to the hilt, financially anyway, so he must have some liking and confidence in the man, so what's to say that Crassus would have turned his back on the senate and chosen to support Caesar instead? Now there's a thought???? Btw welcome to the forum Marcvs Licinivs Crassvs. .

That's good to hear. The museum in paticular has like Goc say's has been for quite a while in need of a generous sprinkling of tlc. The visitor facilities are ok at the moment but any upgrade will obviously improve the whole Housesteads experience. Looking forward to visiting the new improved Housteads in 2012.

Take a look at THIS site that I use quite a lot when I'm researching the Legions. Plenty of info here.

So many new members since my last post!! Good stuff! So here goes............... A very warm welcome to Maria, Q Claudius Crispus, Here Wordus, Safiria Caesar, Calgach and Drusilla87. Welcome aboard everyone, hope you enjoy your time at UNRV

A quick search on Wikipedia comes up with this which sounds fairly accurate.......... The modern gesture consists of stiffly extending the right arm frontally and raising it roughly 135 degrees from the body

Scholars think that a Greek inscription in the collections of Rome

Two Roman forts have been uncovered in Camelon, Scotland, along with 60 pairs of leather shoes, pottery, jewelry, coins, bones, and an ax.

Happy birthday Lord Caldrail If I lived closer to Swindon then I'd take you for a birthday pint mate! At least the sun has shown it's face to pay homage to your birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLD BOY!!! The big 5-0, Congratulations on reaching the half century!! I hope I'm not making you feel old by going on about you being FIFTY! ! Hope you have a great day Lord Caldrail! and remember, you are only as old as the girl you feel!!

Is it my dad's???

Welcome to UNRV Reuda. Enjoy!

Go for it Ghost do your worst!! One of these days I'm going to be quick enough to actually play an active part in these trivias!! Who knows I might even get one right!!

I can't believe I've never seen this show?? Or for that matter even heard of it! When was it on? Could well make a nice addition to my Roman collection though!

This is a very interesting discussion people! As the demand for books increased towards the end of the Roman republic, and it became the fashion for the Roman nobles to have a library, the trade of booksellers naturally arose. They were called Librarii (Cic. de Leg. III.20), Bibliopolae (Mart. IV.71, XIII.3). Their shop was called taberna libraria (Cic. Phil. II.9). These shops were chiefly in the Argiletum (Mart. I.4), and in the

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEPH!!! Hope you have a most splendid day!!

I was working in the Shetlands a few years ago and visited the Jarlshof site at Sunburgh Head, it's a great little archaeological site but I'm afraid i didn't see any evidence of a pie and a pint!!

If you haven't already bought the book might I suggest the you get the 2007 Penguin classic version translated by Robert Fagles. In my opinion it's by far the best translation of The Aeneid. Ursus did an excellent review of it a few years back. But which ever translation you end up with I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

The Cynics would not have appealed to the aristocracy at all because they regarded virtue as the only requirement for living a fulfilling life. The Cynics believed that to achieve this state of being that you should shun all wealth, titles, reputation etc. That's most definately not how the aristocracy rolled! Cynicism was basically the early greek equivalent of Roman stoicism.