Nephele

Thoroughly enjoying all the reports! And dying of envy that I couldn't have been there with y'all! -- Nephele

Deepest condolences to you and your friends, CyricVT. -- Nephele

Crastinus, you're in NYC? Don't forget to visit the Met on and after April 20th! They're opening a newly re-done Greek & Roman wing! And, welcome! -- Nephele

Nephele suddenly realizes that her scheming has made her remiss in thanking the gracious Pantagathus for his wonderfully imaginative gift of the pair of perfect Bastuli-Phoeni dancers! And versed in the Cordax, no less! Nephele wonders if if the dance of the Cordax is as scandalous as Theophrastus described in his character of "The Reckless Man", and eagerly anticipates the evening

Nephele calmly observes The Augusta gliding across the atrium

Let's just say you had me stymied for a bit. Plus, I was distracted by that beefcake pic of you in the Gallery. I've a weak spot for gladiators. Caldrail, one of your noble relations was Laronius, noted for having been "an officer of Augustus in the Sicilian war with Sext. Pompey." Your cognomen of "Ralla" (usually belonging to the Marcii) means "tunic of fine fabric", indicating that your ancestors were snappy dressers. Your full Roman name is... M. Laronius Ralla (AKLNLADMRAAOLR -kdo +ius) -- Nephele

Yes, attend the Imaginary Party! Heheh, Doc and I were girl-fighting. Wheee! Welcome back! -- Nephele

Thanks, Augusta. I haven't read Dixon's work. And, based on your assessment of it, I won't be inclined to pick it up. -- Nephele

You make a good point, Neil, as countries do differ. Plus, the United States has a long history of private gun ownership, which has been romanticized in our movies and literature of the Old West. As for citizens in Britain... I do recall reading a few years ago about some poor man whose home and property had been repeatedly vandalized by the local thugs

Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves: Women in Classical Antiquity, by Sarah B. Pomeroy, Professor of Classics at Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. (Schocken Books, 1975). Working from the premise that precedence in historical studies is given to the political and military achievements of men, the author has drawn upon and cited numerous primary sources to present a reliable picture of

I'm flattered that you chose to use the Roman name I blanagrammed for you, Serenilla Merula. Welcome! And your icon is a lovely representation of your cognomen! -- Nephele

You missed the point, Ludovicus, which was brought home in 2002 when armed students at the Appalachian Law School in the state of Virginia stopped a gunman cold, in his tracks. Cowards who attack those whom they perceive to be helpless, unarmed victims will be less inclined to do such deeds if there

Actually, that quote originally came from Robert Heinlein, a favorite author of mine and highly entertaining curmudgeon. -- Nephele

Hope nobody minds I brought my friends. -- Nephele

Nephele observes Docoflove from across the atrium in Caesar's Palace. Now that Nephele has changed into a dry stola and has had her hair re-arranged, she's ready to dish it back to the doc. Gaily she glides across the marbled floor, slipping artfully between Doc and her conversation partner, a dour-faced M. Porcius Cato. Nephele smiles, purses her lips to blow a kiss to MPC, winks and tickles him under the chin (MPC is so amusing when he gets that goofy glazed look in his eyes). Then Nephele turns her attention to Doc, narrowing her eyes like a cat. "Carissima, you're not wearing a garland! Here, take mine!" Nephele places a garland of lovely white flowers on Doc's head, then steps back to admire the effect. Doc smiles back nervously, then wonders why the garland seems to be... moving? She reaches a trembling hand upwards and grasps the garland... The flowers... are... furry? Doc quickly pulls the garland off her head and examines it closely. Those aren't white flowers -- those are MICE! Nephele's wicked laughter reverberates through the marbled halls. -- Nephele

Absolutely, Doc. Everything you wrote was spot on, but especially the bit above. In NYC the motto is: "If you see something, SAY something." You hear it announced on the trains in Penn Station, you see it on posters in the subways. But I'd go even further by amending that to: "If you see something, DO something." Just as those students at the Appalachian School of Law did something back in 2002, when a gunman opened fire in their school. Two of them pulled out their OWN guns and disarmed him. Surprised the crap out of the gunman. -- Nephele

Heheh, Nephele innocently trips Doc and watches her splash in Ilian's impluvium. Gotta give The Augusta competition in that wet tunic contest. Cicero has volunteered to judge! -- Nephele

Nephele festoons with garlands the atrium of the house of The noble Ilian, in preparation for his birthday festivities! As a special gift to Theilian, Nephele has conjured up and invited (get ready)... CICERO! Yes, Marcus Tullius Cicero, himself. The other guests are eagerly hoping to hear Cicero speak eloquently on any number of subjects, but Cicero's had a bit of wine already and appears to be enjoying himself a bit too much. "Cicero! Stop chasing The Augusta around the impluvium! Careful, both of you! Somebody's going to slip and fall in-- Oh, dear. Ah well, wet tunic contest, anyone?" -- Nephele

The law says that no one may own a gun, so you feel safer because you know that the bad men obey the gun control laws. Is this a Polish gun control joke? -- Nephele

I

Hah, finally gotcha, Caldrail! Do you have a middle name you can include in your scramble? And... male, correct? -- Nephele

Thanks for the report, Northern Neil! Am looking forward to hearing more from the rest of y'all. Soooo wish I could've joined you! -- Nephele

Julius22, I've come up with another name for you (see previous posting), this time using your entire name in blanagram... Juventia Larenissa (Eljuti Asnadr Anves -d +i) This makes you a member of the Juventia Gens, "an ancient plebeian gens which came from Tusculum and settled in Rome, probably in the course of the fourth century B.C. Your cognomen of Larenissa is a feminine adaptation of the cognomen "Larensis" **************************************************** That's okay, Bryaxis -- I gathered what you meant, I just wasn't familiar with that meaning ("stiff leg") being ascribed to the name Pascal or the Hebrew word pesah. -- Nephele

Ah, you were referring to the Hebrew word, from which we get "Passover". Still, I'm not familiar with the "stiff leg" meaning. -- Nephele