Nephele

This is something I've considered also. Why would a Roman, or anyone of the ancient world, accept death so willingly, but, maybe not? I think it comes down to honor. A Roman found it unnacceptable to live without honor, such that it was better to accept the alternative of death, and whatever "after life" would be availed to one dying honorably. Seeing so much of death may have dulled the fear of it to some degree also. A residual Stoicism as it related to death (He may be sentenced to death, but he can die nobly ) may have been a part of it. By the end of the Republic, disfavored noblemen were obliged to commit suicide not merely to avoid humiliation, but also to preserve their childrens' inheritances. But I believe those Romans who followed the Stoic philosophy viewed the taking of one's own life as a commendable means of controlling one's own destiny. Seneca wrote in praise of a German barbarian who, when selected for fighting wild beasts in gladiatorial games, chose instead to end his own life by the only means he had available to him -- which was a latrine sponge which he used to choke himself to death by stuffing down his throat. (From Seneca's Epistle 70: "On the Proper Time to Slip the Cable") It was an unpleasant death, but nevertheless praiseworthy because it was the barbarian's own choice -- rather than a choice made for him by his masters. Btw, condolences to you, Caldrail, on your personal loss. -- Nephele

LW, you're always fun and interesting and I can't imagine you pissing awf many people, much less any gods. In your belief-system, is it possible that maybe one of your gods might have affectionately thought it "funny" to make you fall on your ass and take a bath in grape juice? -- Nephele

Nu...? How did last night's wine tasting party go? You owe us a new blog entry! -- Nephele

Birthday hails and the best of days to you, o esteemed herbalist! -- Nephele

Perhaps you're thinking of the signet ring that many Romans used to sign documents as their personal seal of identification? I've been through Sherwin-White's The Roman Citizenship and can't find any mention of a special "citizen's ring" for use as proof of citizenship. -- Nephele Alternatively you may be thinking of the gold ring worn to signify 'equestrian' status. Melvadius Aha! By George, I think I've got it -- if not actual evidence of the Roman practice, then at least a fictional source from whence you might have read something about a "citizen's ring", and perhaps this might be what you're recalling? MPC, have you ever read any of Steven Saylor's stories? I had the serendipitous experience today of reading a short story of Saylor's -- "A Gladiator Dies Only Once" -- and came upon the following passage: When we reached the outskirts of Ravenna, I asked a man on the road for directions to the gladiator camp of the lanista Ahala. The man eyed the two of us curiously for a moment, then saw the iron citizen's ring on my finger. I'd be especially interested to know from where Saylor may have gotten this bit about iron citizens' rings. Hmmm... I wonder whether we can prevail upon our gracious Flavia Gemina (who I believe happens to be a friend of Saylor's) to ask him about it for us, and help settle the question? Oh, and I should mention that this short story can be found in a highly entertaining anthology I'm currently reading: The Mammoth Book of Roman Whodunnits. But wait, there's more! Our own Flavia Gemina has contributed one of her own Roman whodunnits ("Bread and Circuses") to this same anthology. -- Nephele

Found a portable home spa from Home Depot for just under $800 (with interest-free payments of $22 per month). You can get the same portable spa for $652 and free shipping through Amazon.com. Scroll down on that page for customers' reviews. And here's another customer's review for the same product found on a different site. Seriously, nothing beats hydrotherapy for back and muscle aches. We've got a Morgan spa in our back garden (we have it enclosed in a shoji) and there's not a day that goes by that we don't feel it was well worth the investment. -- Nephele

Well actually, there have been a few moments of, shall we say discomfort, because of rather compromising activity... Not to mention her spurs and riding crop... -- Nephele

Self-medicating with alcohol can eventually bring on other troubles. Have you ever considered investing in a hot tub? Seriously, I speak from experience, as I have had back problems from adolescence. But a nightly plunge in the back garden hot tub (with or without one's alcoholic beverage of choice), has efficacious effects which last through the night and into the next day. (Unlike too much alcohol imbibing, which will leave you feeling like crap the next day.) Before making the investment, you might want to check into a hotel first and make use of their hot tub there, to see how you like it. Exercise in the form of dance, helps me, too, but I don't know if that would help in your case. But if you really need to relax those muscles (as you say) then it sounds to me as though a nightly hot tub session would do the trick. -- Nephele

Eight spokes on the chariot = the eight major festivals of the Celtic "wheel" of the year? I'm missing the same symbolism in the Celtic cross, though. That one seems more like the use of a circle to encompass the symbol of Christianity, as Christianity encompasses the world. -- Nephele

It's my understanding that it has to do with the phonetics of Latin. The C in Latin could represent both the K and G sounds. The hard C sound was often softened into a G sound when used in names. Thankfully this effect only seems to have taken place with praenomina. Otherwise, instead of Caesar, we'd be saying Gaesar, which simply sounds too much like Geezer. MPC might like that though Clearly my understanding is limited, so as usual, those with a better grasp are invited to expound or correct. You've got it, PP. Not only the praenomen "Gaius" was spelled with the initial letter "c", but "Gnaeus" too, as the early Latin alphabet lacked a letter "g". We know that "Caius" was originally pronounced with a "g" sound, however, because in Greek it was spelled with the initial letter gamma. Later, when the letter "g" was added to the Latin alphabet, it was applied to both the praenomina "Gaius" and "Gnaeus", but traditionally they continued to be abbreviated with a "C" and "CN" respectively. Claudius was always pronounced with a "c" (or "k") sound, and so that's why we don't see any alternate spellings of "Glaudius" for the same name. -- Nephele

LW, is there a specific rune corresponding to each festival in the wheel? -- Nephele

Will the person who correctly identifies the most wines get elected "Corkmaster" and receive a red, white, and blue ribbon, with everyone gathering 'round to sing his praises, like on Frasier? -- Nephele

Personal blogs are more fun -- and your wine tasting party sounds neat-o! My own current favorite is a Riesling from Washington State called Kung Fu Girl. Did you buy plenty of oyster crackers to eat between tastings? Are you going to give each taster a pad and pencil so they can check off their favorites? Don't forget to start with the whites and finish with the reds and desert wines. (I'm remembering all this stuff from the tastings at our Long Island wineries.) Looking forward to your next blog entry, and hearing how the party went! -- Nephele

*falls off chair, laughing* -- Nephele

Perhaps you're thinking of the signet ring that many Romans used to sign documents as their personal seal of identification? I've been through Sherwin-White's The Roman Citizenship and can't find any mention of a special "citizen's ring" for use as proof of citizenship. Marcus Caelius, perhaps it was Paul's name (in addition to required witnesses vouching for the person identifying himself thus) which served as Paul's proof of citizenship, as he would have been registered by that name with whatever governing authorities kept track of Roman citizenship. In another thread I had briefly mentioned Paul when writing of the difference between a cognomen/agnomen and a signum or supernomen. "Sha'ul" was the ethnic, birthname of Paul -- his signum -- no doubt used by his family members. But as a Roman citizen he would have adopted (or inherited from his father, if he too were a citizen) a Roman name: Paulus or Paullus. It would be this Roman name which would indicate the fact that its bearer was a Roman citizen. Hence the importance of many a new citizen acquiring a Roman name and using it, so that others would recognize the status of the so-named individual. For the purpose of traveling abroad, it would seem likely that the prudent citizen might arrange for some sort of documentation to accompany him on his journey, no doubt sealed with the recognizable signet ring of the issuing authority of his city or province. -- Nephele

I'm going to put "XXX Girls Gone Wild XXX" in the title of my blog. Then you'll see who gets the most hits. -- Nephele

If someone doesn't see it in the same results as you, it's possible that they are accessing a different database. The results should be similar though. In any case... witness the power of UNRV at work! I see it now! Woo-hoo! Way to go, G.O! -- Nephele

Joy and love to our Pantagathus and his fair lady! Let us festoon the columns of their peristylium with garlands of ivy and myrtle (symbolizing happieness in marriage), and lift our wine-filled goblets in congratulations! -- Nephele

Maybe I'm Googling wrong, but while I'm seeing a lot of "Diurnal Journals" on the page, they appear to be other people's diurnal journals. Heh, I see that there's also some chick out there working for a literary agency and calling her blog: "Nephele's Blog" -- but that's not me. -- Nephele

Using the Vindolanda tablets as a primary source for answering the question of how Roman soldiers may have been addressed was brilliant, Melvadius. But, unless I'm missing something somewhere (?), I'm not seeing a lot of praenomina on that list, which appears to be composed mostly of cognomina. (And, I also love that episode of Up Pompeii with "Ivy" the legionary. ) -- Nephele

Just to let you know that I read these listings of yours, too. I'm especially planning to tune in to this: So many babies, so little barbecue sauce. -- Nephele

NIIIIICE pic of you, Klingan. I like the new pic of your cat, too (I forgot the cat's name). -- Nephele

Face of King Tut Unshrouded to Public I hope they publish pictures. -- Nephele

Thanks, Viggen! I entered, because I can't resist a freebie. But, honestly, I think I can put together a more historical-themed tour of NYC than these folks did. And for free! (If any of our UNRV members are thinking of coming to NYC and would like a tourguide. ) Later today or tomorrow I'll write in my UNRV blog about the carved carousel animals currently on exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum, on West 53rd Street, which I went to see yesterday. Bet you didn't know that those antique carousel animals from old Coney Island were carved by Jewish immigrants who had learned their skills in the shtetls of Central and Eastern Europe. -- Nephele

I was in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania last year, and couldn't resist snapping this pic of an Amish buggy parked between cars in a strip mall parking lot. I don't take pictures of the Amish people, because I know they don't like it. But I figured the horse wouldn't object. -- Nephele