Gaius Paulinus Maximus

We've got our work cut out tonight! We're away at Croatia

From Johnston's Private Life of the Romans....... Styles of wearing hair and beard varied with the years of the persons concerned and with the period. The hair of children, boys and girls alike, was allowed to grow long and hang around the neck and shoulders. When the boy assumed the toga of manhood, the long locks were cut off, sometimes with a good deal of formality, and under the Empire they were often made an offering to some deity. In the classical period young men seem to have worn close-clipped beards; at least Cicero jeers at those who followed Catiline for wearing full beards, and on the other hand declares that their companions who could show no signs of beard on their faces were worse than effeminate. Mature men wore the hair cut short and the face shaved clean. Most of the portraits that have come down to us show beardless men until well into the second century of our era, but after the time of Hadrian the full beard became fashionable. HERE'S an interesting article from Smith's Dictionary.

Here's another couple of links to go along with the one supplied by Nephele. The first is an interesting article from Smith's Dictionary - http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roma...IGRA*/Viae.html The second is from good old Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_road

We beat the mighty Andorra 2-0! England were really rubbish, we should be putting 5 or 6 goals past teams like this, they're just part time footballers with other jobs like school teachers, builders etc. Our players earn more in a week than some of them do in six years. If we carry on playing like this we'll struggle to qualify What a great result that was for Austria, I'm no fan of French football so I was really glad you beat them, but it dosen't come as too much of a shock, I was really impressed with the Austrian team in the Euro's, although they didn't qualify I thought they played some nice football.

Quality as always Neph!!! I've never heard the surname Ahala / Axilla before, it doesn't really sound Roman if that makes any sense?? It sounds slightly barbarian to me, maybe gaulish or germanic? How many of the Servilii gens actually carried this surname? BTW, it's a great idea of PP's to combine all of your surnames into one easily accessable file somewhere. When it's finished obviously!!!

My time spent on the forum for the past few months has been seriously limited due to work commitments but I always like to welcome new members as often as I can so here goes..... WELCOME!!! Chris08, PM!, SainthoodDenied, Scipio Africanus Major, Ti.Modius.Q and Melisende. Enjoy UNRV eveyone

Two Roman stone sarcophagi have been uncovered at a dig on the site of a former chapel and office buildings. The discovery of the 1,800-year-old sandstone coffins in Newcastle city centre are the first such find - and arguably the most impressive - in the area for more than 100 years. They are thought to have been used to bury members of a rich and powerful family from the adjacent, walled fort of Pons Aelius, whose West Gate would have been sited just yards away. Hadrian's Wall would have run to the north of the fort. The lid of one sarcophagus will be lifted by Durham University experts tomorrow morning to discover what it holds inside. http://www.24dash.com/news/Communities/200...tle-city-centre

Great review Chris. I think after reading your review I'm going to splash out and order the game, although my daughter's only six, she's already pretty clued up on Rome, so although she will more than likely struggle early on, because you say it's so educational then it can only help to improve her knowledge, right? And because it only lasts about 40 mins then at least she wont start getting board (no pun intended )

Coming from a fellow beer loving Yorkshireman Grrrrrrrrrrr! I wish Spittle the happiest of birthdays!!! Have a good one mate!! P.s. I second The Augusta, Bring back the beer emoticon!!!!!!!!!

I think Hildinger's treatment of the Metellus - Marius relationship goes a long way to showing just what kind of a man Marius really was, he was ambitious and ruthless and cared nothing for the Metelli who'd been the patrons of his family for some time. The Meteli played a big part in Marius being elected tribune, and once he'd assumed his role of tribune he proved he wasn't going to play the ever faithful client role expected of him, he proposed bills that were clearly directed to hinder the wealthy. When challenged about his proposals he then threatened to jail the consuls, one of which was non other than Lucius Caecilius Metellus. His disregard for his patrons didn't end there, 10 years later during the Jugurthine war, Marius was 2nd in command to the general Quintus Caecilius Metellus. The disagreements of the past seemed to have been forgotten and for a while the two worked well together but when Metellus refused Marius the chance to go to Rome and stand for the consulship he immediately turned on his patron and set out to undermine the Metellus and ruin his generalship of the Jugurthine War. Eventually Metellus had enough of Marius's conniving and under hand tactics and gave in and let Marius leave for Rome, but he left it until the very last minute thinking that Marius couldn't possibly reach Rome in time to stand for the consulship but Marius being the head strong and determined character that he was made it just in time and achieved the consulship. He then proceeded to have Metellus stripped of command and himself placed in command of the Jugurthine War. Basically Marius showed utter single mindedness and belief in himself and absolutely no respect or gratitude to his patrons. Although he was merely the client of one of the richest and most powerful families in Rome, his confidence in his own ability and in his destiny far out-weighed the unwritten rule of ultimate loyalty to his patron.

I've seen this board game around before, I've been tempted but never bought it. Let us know how it goes, Chris.

Spectacle in the Roman World also looks like a pretty interesting read, I've got a couple of books by the author (Hazel Dodge) already, her books are usually very informative and well researched. I'll have to look into this one!

Now that is a very strange game!!!

I've just watched the first two episodes 'The Trials of Flavia Gemina' with my two girls. As you know Caroline, my eldest is already a dedicated Flavia fan, she's got the books and the first series DVD box set. I think they've done a good job with the TV series and kept it as close to the book as possible and also kept it entertaining too, even my 3yr old managed to keep still through the two episodes ( that in itself is an achievement!!) She particularly enjoyed the 'scary' bits with the lion. But given the choice between Fifi and the Flower tots, Peppa Pig or the Roman Mysteries, I think Flavia and Co would be disappointed. What do you think about the TV series, Caroline? Are you happy with the way they've transferred it from the pages on to the screen?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INGSOC!!! Have a good one mate!

Welcome to UNRV Nina ! The Domus Aurea is something I'd like to see too. I've been to Rome a couple of times but never managed to see it. But I will do one day!!! I believe the Domus Aurea has been re opened to the public from the 26th June - 12th September 2008. http://www.romeguide.it/domus_aureaeng/domus_aurea.htm

I can see where this is going Caldrail............ You go down the pub, have a few beers, get a little bit tipsy and then on your way home who do you bump into but non other than DS wandering aimlessly around Rushy Platt, feeling a little bit sorry for her because she has that lost puppy look about her, you decide to perform your good deed for the day and invite her back to yours to watch the latest zombie flick. Obviously once the movie gets going and starts getting scary, she cuddles up to you and buries her frightened little head into your manly chest and before you know it you're returning the favour and have your head buried in her ample chest!!!!! And then one thing leads to another...............

Welcome to UNRV Zanatos, Lucius Julius Venustinius and Ze Knust, I think you could well be our first Brazilian member!! Enjoy!

Here's a sight to get archaeologists all shook up - a 1,900 year old Roman bust that bears a striking resemblance to Elvis. The quiffed up stone head is thought to have graced a tomb in about 100 AD. It is set to fetch up to

The letter from Lentulas Sura was hardly hard incriminating evidence, the only parts of the letter that are quoted by Cicero are a part where he urges Catiline to "stand firm" and another part "to enlist the aid of all, even the lower class". This could be taken many ways, it could come across as a letter of support to a friend , telling him to stand firm against the adversity he's facing and to seek support from where ever he can, but it could also been taken from a sinister point of view too. But in my opinion it hardly counts as stalwart evidence. Where the Allobroges were concerned the chances are they were looking after No 1 and doing what would favour them in the long run. Either they co operated on the promise of a substantial reward or they would make themselves some unwanted enemies in Rome. I'm dubious of the signed documents, I mean were the conspirators so thick that they would put their own personal seals on such incriminating evidence.... I don't think so.

Welcome back big guy, good to have you back!

To save going over old ground HERE'S a discussion we had last year about that dastardly character Lucius Sergius Catilina.

Yes, Cicero accused Catiline and his accomplices of trying start fires all across Rome to signal the start of the rebellion but according to Cicero these arson attacks were stopped by his guards and the rebellion was thwarted. This is just nonsense. Everyone knows that like every ancient city, Rome was like a tinderbox, if anyone with half a brain wanted to ignite Rome they could have done it quite easily and in a city the size of Rome it would have been almost impossible for Cicero and his guards to stop it. According to Cicero, "Catiline's accomplices were composed of debtors, gamblers, layabouts, parricides, assassins, debauchers, effeminate degenerates and louche characters of every sort." Against Catiline II.4,22. Doesn't sound much like the eventual accused does it? It makes you think that Cicero really didn't have a clue who Catiline was supposedly in league with. And if these were the sort of no good wasters that Catiline was supposed to taker over Rome with then they don't sound like much of a serious threat do they?

This is true. However, like I said before, all of the emperors were absolute rulers. People might not have physically bowed to previous emperors, but they were expected to more or less do exactly what the ruler wanted. It's all well and good doing exactly what the ruler wanted that's to be expected, but to actually make fellow 'Romans' prostrate themselves was just wrong I suppose you could say that it's un-Roman?

I recently watched a documentary about Hadrian's Wall presented by the Scottish archaeologist Neil Oliver. In one section of the programme he discussed the Auxilliaries on the wall with another prominent archaeologist who found the writing tablets at Vindolanda. He discussed the matter of sandals and the other expert said something along the lines of "Don't be daft, the soldiers here wore socks and boots. They were far too clever than to walk around with sandals in this country." (Not the exact words mind you). That said, there was a sandal type boot like the one you described Caldrail in the museum display behind them. I also see reconstructions of soldiers on Hadrian's wall wearing sandals as well, but reconstructions isn't hard evidence. THIS SITE shows a few different types of footwear similar to the ones described by Caldrail an DC.