Nephele

I do believe that "Cleopatra" is a name -- not a title -- meaning "father's glory." And, in fact, I know of at least 15 different Cleopatras. Regarding Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator... the fact that there were several Cleopatras in her Ptolemaic line of descent no more makes "Cleopatra" a title than is "Antigonus" for those dynastic kings of Macedonia who bore that name in succession. There was the 4th century BCE Cleopatra who was the niece of one of Philip II's Macedonian generals (Attalos). There was the 1st century CE Cleopatra who was a friend and client of Poppaea Sabina (the same Poppaea who eventually became the emperor Nero's second wife). There was even a freedwoman named Cleopatra, who was a favorite of the emperor Claudius. But, if you have some source you can cite providing information confirming that "Cleopatra" is a title and not a name, then I would be very interested in reading it. -- Nephele

Moonlapse has some great graphics for UNRV logo designs. I'd post one of them here, but I'm not sure if that's okay with Moon. Hey, Moon! Is it okay to post that UNRV business card graphic you came up with? That would make an awesome t-shirt design. -- Nephele

Maybe it's time to revive that game. Where's The Augusta? -- Nephele

Octavia, are you able to get a recorded copy of I, Claudius that includes narrated stage directions for the benefit of the blind? I know of a number of old movies that have been dubbed with this added narration, but I wasn't sure if they've done this for I, Claudius. Do you want me to check into it for you? -- Nephele

In English idiom, donkey comparisons usually pertain to stubbornness -- which can be given a positive spin when describing a person with a strong will. Which is why the Democratic political party in the U.S. isn't bothered by having a donkey as their representative symbol. On the other hand, calling a person a "jackass" here in the U.S. definitely has a pejorative meaning. UNRV member Maty brought up the ancient Roman use of the donkey metaphor in a discussion on how Scipio Asina acquired his cognomen. click here for story. I've since incorporated Maty's comments in my Surnames of the Cornelii, and cited him among my references at the end of the article. -- Nephele

I'm another one who'll be waiting for the DVD release, as I haven't had HBO since their Rome series. Thanks for the reviews. -- Nephele

UNRV member Pertinax has posted in his UNRV Gallery pictures of re-created furnished Roman rooms. You can access his album via this link: Pertinax's re-enactment pictures Just click on the pictures to enlarge them. Also, awhile back when I visited Philadelphia's Penn Museum, I took pictures of the model Roman house that they have on display there. If you click on this link it will bring you to one of these pictures, which shows the peristylium of the model house. The furnished tablinum can be seen on the left. We have a UNRV member, Northern Neil, who constructs amazing miniatures of ancient Roman buildings. You may want to check out his photo albums in the Roman Gallery, too. UNRV.com gives a lot of information, too. Have fun! -- Nephele

The father of Augustus (Gaius Octavius) had a daughter (Octavia Maior) by his first wife (Ancharia). His second wife (Atia) was the mother of both Augustus and Octavia Minor. (Suetonius, The Life of Augustus, Chapters 3 and 4.) -- Nephele

Ursus, you're a natural interviewer, as well as reviewer. I'd planned eventually on getting around to reading Professor Clarke's Looking at Laughter, but your interview especially has put me in the mood to delve into this book right away. Where you mentioned to Professor Clarke about "the lamp with the liberated women swinging weights while she sexually dominates the passive male from above" -- I presume this is one of the "delightful feast of illustrations and colored plates" that you wrote of in your book review? I don't know about putting that picture up in the weight room of every woman's gym (your funny suggestion for "girl power" inspiration!), but I do know that I want to use it as wallpaper for my computer screen! Since I previously had the pleasure of a private discussion with you regarding your book review, I'll just repeat here something I'd noticed that others might also take interest in. It pertains to the "Boy Toys" topic we'd had awhile back, in which UNRV member Lost Warrior had asked whether the Romans were in the habit of keeping attractive slaves for no other purpose than to show them off. Ursus had written in his book review: "Amazingly, some slave owners made a point to own and showcase deformed slaves; as the author phrases it, such slaves were 'lightening rods' to attract humor, thus dispelling demons away from the slave owner!" The irony being that, rather than showing off pretty slaves (as had been the supposition that inspired the"boy toys" topic), it was the deformed and grotesque slaves who got showed off! Thanks, Ursus, for the review and interview. And, thank you, Professor Clarke for participating! I do hope you've taken Ursus up on his invitation to join us here at UNRV -- what a treat that would be for all here! -- Nephele

It's the next day. Nu? Did you get "friendly"? -- Nephele

Haha, MPC, I remember last year when The Augusta was a bit skeptical of this day being your actual birthday, and you said that your birthday "falls squarely within the Festival of Mars." The Quinquatra? If so, then I guess we're close enough to your birthday now! Birthday hails to you, MPC! Have a cool day. -- Nephele

*Nephele sticks tongue out at Ursus and sends him an inflatable kangaroo to hang out with.* -- Nephele

Sequens, you are a member of the patrician Claudii, and so you bear the nomen gentilicium of "Claudius". Your cognomen of "Moderatus" (meaning "restrained, controlled") emphasizes the no-nonsense Republican virtues of your ancestors. Your praenomen is "Lucius", traditionally abbreviated as "L." Your full Roman name is: L. Claudius Moderatus = Amhtos Reddaw Lyculs -hwy +iuu Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele

Most importantly, who will want to have his or her body transported to Germany for such a burial? Whoever they are, let's ship them off early. I'd even be willing to contribute a buck towards their voluntary early demise and interment in the

Ooo, a date? Do ya want me to 'gram the guy for ya? -- Nephele

mikeal1917, you are descended from that notable Camelius who served as physician to the emperor Augustus, and so you bear his nomen gentilicium as your own. Although your cognomen of Ahala literally means "armpit," it is nevertheless notable as also having belonged to the nobility -- in particular, the Servilia gens. Your praenomen is Publius, traditionally abbreviated as "P." Your full Roman name is: P. Camelius Ahala = Ahlmice Aklakap -kk +us Cheers! -- Nephele

Poor CS. I'll do a report on the performance, just for you. -- Nephele

Think so... "The country you love and the values it represents are being destroyed by a misguided leader. You can continue to live in relative comfort by not involving yourself, or you can take action to save the democracy you love. Set outside of Rome in the villas and hillsides of Tusculum, Richard Nelson continues his revelatory exploration of history with a new play that chronicles those entangled in Julius Caesar

It's too bad they don't reproduce life-size replicas of these statues. In which case I'd buy Canova's "The Three Graces" for the lobby of the club that I dream of opening someday -- a highly lucrative business tastefully catering to the predilections of New York governors and other loaded politicians. -- Nephele

Is today Maladict's b'day, too? Hey, Maladict -- you've been holding out on us in your Profile! Birthday hails to you! -- Nephele

An article by Dr. Leonhard Schmitz (19th century Rector of the High School of Edinburgh) on the lustratio (a purification and blessings petition ritual for many things, from sheep to soldiers) appears in Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. Dr. Schmitz stated that, as regards the Roman armies, the lustratio was "probably always connected with a review of the troops." He also stated that the customary rites employed by the Roman armies aren't mentioned in the available sources, but that they "probably resembled those with which a fleet was lustrated before it set sail." He cites Book V, Chapter 96 of Appian's Civil Wars for a description of these rites. Going directly to Appian via the Lacus Curtius website, here is how Appian described the lustratio for the Roman fleet: "When the fleet was ready, Octavian perform a lustration for it in the following manner. The altars are erected on the margin of the sea, and the multitude ranged around them in a circle of ships, observing the most profound silence. The priests who perform the ceremony offer the sacrifice while standing at the water's edge, and carry the expiatory offerings in skiffs three times round the fleet, the generals sailing with them, beseeching the gods to turn the bad omens against the victims instead of the fleet. Then, dividing the entrails, they cast a part of them into the sea, and put the remainder on the altars and burn them, while the multitude chant in unison. In this way the Romans perform lustrations of the fleet." -- Nephele

Birthday hails to you, Primus Pilus! May your atrium be festooned with the brightest of garlands, and your triclinium's table groan under the weight of the most enticing birthday feast! -- Nephele

Would it be a problem then, if I use it? Well, you did say that this character is Egyptian, and that your story is set in the first century CE. Not only is "Aisha" a name which originated in the Arabian peninsula, but the earliest recorded Aisha (I believe) was from the 7th century CE. That's not to say that the name couldn't have been in use earlier, but it seems unlikely that your Egyptian character of the 1st century CE might bear such a name. Actually, if your Egyptian character should happen to be from the city of Alexandria, it's more likely that she might have a Greek name. Anyway, this is a good opportunity to bring our language scholar, Docoflove, in on this discussion, as she can offer some insight into the difference between the language of the ancient Egyptians and the language of the desert dwellers in the Arabian peninsula, and how this might relate to your choice of name for your character. -- Nephele

Allright, this will mean I have to change the whole story and create two living sisters or I have to give Tertia a completely different name