Nephele

EP Healy, you originally came to Rome as a slave from Alexandria. Your Roman master was named Aelius and, when he set you free, you took his nomen as your Roman praenomen. ("Aelius" being a rare but actual praenomen, in addition to being a nomen gentilicium). Your praenomen of Aelius is abbreviated as "Ael." You kept your original, Graeco-Persian name of "Dareios" as your nomen (you were named after the 6th century BCE Persian king), but altered it to a Roman spelling: "Darius". Your cognomen of "Pyrrhus" is a Roman spelling of your Greek nickname, "Pyrros", meaning "flame-colored", as you are fond of the color red and wear it all the time. Your full Roman name is: Ael. Darius Pyrrhus = eerwaadrdlherypy -eewdy +iusus Welcome to UNRV! -- Nephele

The point is that the film isn't based on history. The differences I'm noting here between the film and the novel are a response to Ursus' question as to whether author Howard Fast also "ignored and embellished several things." I'm still reading the novel (it's slow going as this is my commuter train reading), but so far I'd say that Howard Fast had done his research and was familiar with the historical Spartacus before writing his novel, and didn't fail to acknowledge the historical accounts while including his "embellishments". I don't think that anyone denies that the film is a "cracking good" one. (Personally, I think the novel is better.) HBO's Rome series was also "cracking good" -- but certainly not for its historical accuracy. Wait till Ursus' Spartacus movie review is published on this site. -- Nephele

Good point. Digressing for a moment into the fictional world, I remember that Flavia Gemina in one of her Roman Mysteries stories included a bit about a Roman boy's dislike of his teacher, and how unpleasant schooling was for him due to the strictness of the teacher and the punishments leveled out. I've no doubt that FG carefully researched this bit. On the other hand, FG also has a Greek teacher (Aristo) as a continuing character in her books who's quite well-liked by his charges. But he's the exception -- proving that he's an exceptional character. -- Nephele

Here's another difference between the movie and novel, which I've come across for you, Ursus. While both the movie and the novel depict Spartacus as having been taken from the mines as a slave to be trained as a gladiator, in the novel (which tells Spartacus' story in a series of flashbacks) author Howard Fast has Cicero pointing out the conflicting stories as to Spartacus' origins: So, Fast does acknowledge the "official records" regarding Spartacus having been a disgraced soldier rather than a slave, which is more than the movie did. And, of course, as I pointed out previously, in Fast's novel Spartacus isn't crucified at all, but is instead killed on the battlefield (as opposed to the movie version which shows Spartacus crucified). And, another difference between the movie and the novel, which you may have noted in that quote from the novel I included above: Lentulus Batiatus doesn't survive the slave revolt, and has had his throat cut by his slave bookkeeper. -- Nephele

A good question, Caldrail, but I don't think Roman fathers left their sons too much to the influence of their pedagogues. Sons were under the constant influence and guidance of their fathers, and those of senatorial rank were expected to accompany their fathers to the Senate in order to have the "Roman way" impressed upon them early on. Quoting from my favorite old book on ancient Roman life and society, A Day in Old Rome by William Stearns Davis: -- Nephele

The surname "Rossi" actually developed from the Latin cognomen "Russus" or "Russeus", meaning "red-haired". The surname "Cristina", generally taken to mean "Christian", may seem an unlikely offshoot of any old Roman name. But Kajanto has noted the appearance of the Roman cognomen "Cristinus" in Volume VI of the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum -- this being the name of a soldier, and his name possibly being a corruption of "Chrestinus". This Cristinus (or Crestinus; Chrestinus) had nothing to do with Christianity -- instead his name meant "a cock's comb", and was most likely a reference to the name-bearer's hair, that probably stood upright on his head in a tuft resembling the comb (or crest) of a rooster. "Crista" was another known cognomen, also meaning "crest". Most Roman cognomina started out as nicknames describing the physical attributes of their bearers. The surname "Gerino", on the other hand, probably does owe its origins to Germanic culture, as you suggested. -- Nephele P.S. Just want to tell you that I enjoyed your query on Roman names. Nomenclature is my "thing". And... Welcome to UNRV, VeniVidiVici!

At last, the scriptwriters and producers of HBO's Rome explain the questioned scene of the breast-feeding of Caesar's corpse. It's in the commentary subtitles, when you select the "All Roads Lead to Rome" feature on the second season DVD set. Here's what the subtitles state throughout this scene: "The breast-feeding of a corpse symbolized the cycle of life and death. The dead body received the nourishment it had received as a baby when it first arrived on earth. It was a ritual with Etruscan origins." Not certain how acceptable an explanation the above may be, but at least we now know what the writers/producers were thinking when they included that scene. -- Nephele

Ohhh, the Elgin Marbles! Of everything to see in London, I'm impressed that you mentioned these first, MPC! When I first viewed them, I was certain I was seeing them through the same eyes of Isadora Duncan, herself. I could barely restrain myself there in the British Museum (and I don't think I did a good job of restraining myself, either). What dancer wouldn't be similarly inspired -- and moved -- as was Isadora? The second "mustn't miss" thing (for me) that you may miss if you're in London after September 8th, is the annual Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. For me, that was the next best thing in London (after experiencing the Elgin Marbles). I shamefacedly admit that I've always had a seat at the Proms, and have never been among the true die-hards who stand in the Arena throughout a performance. Have a wonderful trip, MPC! Please take pictures of the Elgin Marbles to post in the Gallery! (I've never taken pictures of my own! I've always been too "dancey" to think of it!) -- Nephele

Just for anyone interested in the quality of this wine stopper... I picked up mine this morning. It's a hefty piece of metal (gold in color) on top, with genuine cork for the stopper. The word "ROME" is in raised lettering on both sides. Quite a nice collectible! Which I intend to put to good use with a nice bottle of wine tonight. -- Nephele

sullafelix, you are distantly related to that notable Pompeiian named Loreius Tiburtinus. In fact, Loreius Tiburtinus named you his heir in his will. Unfortunately, the property of Loreius Tiburtinus perished along with him when Pompeii was destroyed in that terrible disaster. (The gods are so unfair!) Your cognomen of "Ahenobarbus", meaning "bronze-beard", indicates that your ancestors may have had the same brush with the gods Castor and Pollux as did the ancestors of the Emperor Domitianus (when the gods touched the checks of that early Domitian, his beard turned the color of bronze). Your praenomen is "Numerius", abbreviated as "N." Your full Roman name is: N. Loreius Ahenobarbus = lhwrsaswreuinoabeon -ww +ub -- Nephele

Ah, thanks for those references, Sullafelix! I just checked WorldCat and I see I can get Brunt's Italian Manpower at a local university library. Will check it out! -- Nephele

Ha, that's easy. That would be John Castle in the role of Postumus Agrippa. This is the scene where Augustus comes to visit the exiled Postumus, to apologize and let Postumus know that Augustus is now aware of what had been going down and that things are about to change. John Castle isn't too poofy, as British actors go, although he does cry like a girl, a bit, in that scene. -- Nephele

Hey, send in an ancient Roman-style Jack Bauer to save Pompeii in just 24 hours, and we Yanks will blow your poofy British actors out of the water. "You probably don't think that I can force this toga down your throat. But trust me, I can. All the way." -- Jaccus Bauerus -- Nephele

Well, Spelta, since I haven't heard back from you about shortening your scramble, I gave your original scramble another go. You belong to the gens Ennia, making you related to Ennia Thrasylla, who was the mistress of Caligula. Your cognomen is "Constans," meaning "steadfast." You are the elder of two sisters, so you have the additional cognomen of "Maior." Your full Roman name is: Ennia Constans Maior = ananssoonemhcantir -h +i -- Nephele

I don't know about poisoning wine, but I imagine an HBO Rome stoppered bottle would have to go well with cheese. -- Nephele

I remember that quote from I, Claudius, where Drusus is complimenting his brother Tiberius, telling him how the men remembered Tiberius as a military leader: "They say your drills were bloodless battles, and your battles were bloody drills." To which Tiberius replies with some surprise (and pride): "Do they really say that?" Great article, Caldrail. -- Nephele

For anyone living in the U.S. or Canada, if you're planning to purchase the Second Season DVD boxed set of HBO's Rome, get to your local Best Buy store early this Tuesday. Best Buy will be giving away a minimum of 10 Rome wine stoppers at each store. Here's what the freebie wine stopper looks like: I think you can also pre-order your boxed set online from Best Buy, and they say they'll send a Rome wine stopper "while supplies last". But if you've really got to have this wine stopper, I think you may have a better chance by going directly to the store on Tuesday. That's how I got my freebie deck of Deadwood playing cards, when I bought the Deadwood boxed set from Best Buy. Best Buy prices for the Second Season of Rome are $49.99 (in the U.S.) and $69.99 (in Canada). -- Nephele

Hails to you on finishing up that PhD! Hey, do you have the same reoccurring nightmare that I've noticed a lot of college students have? It's this: Your final semester at college has just finished, and you suddenly realize that there was one course you had registered for that you forgot to attend! And, because of that, you now won't be able to graduate. You're kicking yourself for forgetting all about this course -- you just can't believe that an entire course could have slipped your mind like that and that you neglected to attend the classes! I've had this nightmare, and was surprised to discover, upon discussing it with a number of friends, that I wasn't the only one to have it. So I'm curious as to how prevalent this nightmare might be. You now, like the nightmare of going to work and suddenly realizing that you're naked. (Not one that I've ever had, actually, but they say a lot of folks have that one, too.) -- Nephele

Hahahaha! You remembered what your cognomen means! And, I wanna go shopping! Psst...! That's Marcus Laronius Ralla. -- Nephele

Not to worry, m'lord Augustus Caesar, not a whole lot upsets Nephele. Well, except for people who obliviously and loudly yak on cell phones all the time and everywhere. People with cell phones that intrude on one's peace with inescapable musical ring tones that blast mindlessly perky tunes. So that I just want to GRAB a cell phone and SMACK the cell phone user in the head with his own cell phone again and again and again (in time to the music!) until his eyes roll around in their sockets in a comical manner... Uh... oops. Nevermind. It's just a reoccurring nightmare I have about life in the future. Back to my report. I rode all last night, stopping only to change horses. I stole a fresh horse from a lone Gaulish sentry on the battlefield perimeter that I discovered to be asleep at his post. His punishment today from his equally careless commander I'm sure will not be anywhere near as harsh as what he might have received had he been in the Roman army! I checked out the Gauls' northern camp. No one paid any attention to me -- except for one or two soldiers who thought I was a camp follower. But I managed to dissuade their amorous advances by telling them that their leader had sent for me. This was how I managed to find out which leaders were in which camps. ("Oh, that would be Cingetorix you're looking for." "Are you sure? I thought Cingetorix was in the southern camp?" "No, Lugorix commands the southern camp. You definitely want Cingetorix here in the northern camp." "Well, thanks!") I humbly submit this information to you, Augustus Caesar. Now, with your leave, I shall bathe and find something for breakfast. -- Nephele

I think you may be right, LW. According to Le

You assumed correctly, Pertinax. Nostril plucking 'snot the same as armpit plucking. -- Nephele

What a fun website! In the book I'm reading, Working IX to V, there's mention made of an ancient class of bathhouse guild worker whose job description was "armpit plucker". Author Vicki Le

Hi, Spelta. Yep, that's a long one, all right. Would you mind removing your middle name from the scramble for me? Thanks! -- Nephele

I'm resurrecting this thread, as I'm currently reading Vicki Le