Nephele

Birthday hails to you, J! -- Nephele

Congratulations, Russ/Lanista! (All of us here at UNRV can proudly say "We knew him when...") Here's to many more novels! -- Nephele

Ah, I'd missed Melvadius' posting of that LiveScience report last summer. In light of the recent study done (steam cannons vs. mirrors), I wonder whether this new information will be incorporated into this apparent follow-up Mythbusters episode? Also, cheers to you, Viggen, on having gotten Cesare Rossi to supply a response for UNRV! -- Nephele

In addition, today the President happens to be hosting a science fair at the White House, honoring students from across the nation who participated in math and science competitions. Whatever else you may not like about Obama, I'm glad to see a leader of this nation pushing for scientific inquiry instead of religious beliefs. Missed that one. I'll have to hunt it down now! -- Nephele

On December 8th President Obama will be appearing in an episode of the Discovery Channel's Mythbusters. "Obama will challenge hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman to revisit the controversial claim that ancient Greek scientist and mathematician Archimedes set fire to a fleet of invading Roman ships by using mirrors that reflect the sun's rays. "In keeping with the "Mythbusters" format, which uses scientific methods to confirm or refute claims often widely accepted as true, Savage and Hyneman will attempt to replicate Archimedes' reputed attack on the Roman ships." Full story here. -- Nephele

Excellent review, Ursus -- and cheers to you Maty on another outstanding book! I've placed my order for my public library -- we have all your books in the collection, Maty! -- Nephele

"But the real stars of the show are ultimately the scene stealing villians. John Hannah and Lucy Lawless are unforgettable as the scheming lanista and his equally opportunistic wife." Absolutely! Excellent review, Ursus. And, as you already know, I agree 100% with your above statement! -- Nephele

There were amphitheatres in Rome for the purpose of gladiatorial displays, before the Flavian Amphitheatre (Colosseum) was built, although they were all wooden. The first stone amphitheatre in Rome was built in 30 BCE by Statilius Taurus, a former consul. We have had a few discussions in the past dealing with Rome and jails. You might like to check out this link: Police Also, here's a link to an archaeological news item of related interest: Ancient Prison Cells Unearthed in Tiberias Dig -- Nephele

Birthday hails! -- Nephele

Ah, silphium! The Lindsey Davis novel Two for the Lions features her fearless Roman detective Marcus Didius Falco off in search of the legendary plant, along with his brother-in-law Justinus. I'll have to dig out that novel again, as I believe Davis quoted Pliny's description of silphium in it. What fun to see the connection between the fictional work and the numismatic evidence! Many thanks, Guy also known as Gaius! -- Nephele

I started at the beginning of the series and I'm now about halfway through the fourth book -- The Iron Hand of Mars -- in which Falco travels to Germania to deliver a new standard to legio XIV from Vespasian, and winds up embroiled in a murder mystery and legate abduction that appears to combine political intrigue with commercial competition. I can't believe it's taken me so long to discover this series! I'd say someone ought to make a film series adaptation out of these novels, except I'm skeptical of anyone doing it right. Davis' writing is vividly descriptive and evocative of ancient Rome, and her characters are wonderfully memorable. I've got to hunt down a copy of the next novel in the series now, so I'm not left high and dry when I finish this one! -- Nephele

Yehudah, you come from a plebeian family

Thanks, everyone! I had a most excellent day! -- Nephele

Aha -- with Kosmo in a different time zone, he got the jump on everyone! My UNRV birthday is Sept. 14th! Thanks everyone! -- Nephele

Thanks, Fulvia! I had already discovered that book, but I'm still steadily working my way through Davis' Falco novels first. Belated thanks to you, too, Ingsoc, for that information! -- Nephele

Not that this is a "fault" or anything, but the manus standard being held by the Signifer in the painting puts me in mind of the Lindsey Davis novel I'm currently reading, The Iron Hand of Mars, in which Didius Falco has been commissioned by Emperor Vespasian to deliver a new standard

Here you go, Crispina: http://www.lindseydavis.co.uk/publications.htm -- Nephele

I recently finished Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis

I've always loved the opening song from Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The depicted scenes just seem more like "real" ancient Rome, to me. -- Nephele

"Curse your disapproving stares! I KNEW this skirt made me look fat!"

Birthday hails to you, lady! May you have the gladdest of gladiatrix days! -- Nephele

A "Publius Messienus" appears to have been recorded in history as a friend of Cicero -- being a member of the Equestrian rank. Other than that, I couldn't find any examples of this nomen gentilicium in my copy of Broughton's Magistrates. That "-enus" ending looks as though your man's family may have come from Picenum or Umbria. For a similar-sounding nomen, there was a Gaius Messius (not of patrician rank) who served in a few magisterial positions in the '50s BCE. But I think Messienus works just fine, too. As to the chosen cognomen of your character

After seeing the first few episodes online, I wasn't too impressed either, and I didn't really go out of my way to watch the rest until my non-Romanophile friends raved about it and wanted to know more about the historical background. I'm glad I watched the rest -- it was really fun. That said, I can't wait for Crassus to show up! Yep, the series definitely got better as it progressed. For me, it started getting good when Batiatus was introduced, and got even better as we saw more and more of Batiatus. I liked Ilithyia too, because she was just such a loose cannon of a crazy bitch. You never knew what the hell she was going to do next. -- Nephele

Theodora, wife of Justinian? Possibly Antonina, wife of Belisarius? Ah, I'd forgotten Theodora! Many thanks for jogging the old memory. She was another one I'd encountered in fiction many years ago, in the novel Theodora by Jack Oleck (1971). -- Nephele

"After the death of his wife [Vespasian] resumed his relations with Caenis, freedwoman and amanuensis of Antonia, and formerly his mistress; and even after he became emperor he treated her almost as a lawful wife." -- Suetonius, The Life of Vespasian, 3. In Lindsey Davis' novel Two for the Lions, Antonia Caenis is a pivotal character. I have to admit that it was this novel that now has me intrigued with the lady -- a former slave who rose to considerable power (or, at the very least, considerable recognition) through being the long-term mistress of the emperor Vespasian. I would love to know more about Antonia Caenis