The Augusta

We will pay you even more respect than we do already, JR - although that would be hard to do - we think the world of you without any additions!

Our Boris is one of us? That is really good news, Wot! I adore that man (ETA: And at last I've been able to post in this blessed thread! But I am on the daughter's laptop....)

Although I agree with you, JR, that Nero was a bit of a swine, when I think of a 'bad' emperor I would have to ask how much did that particular emperor destabilise the empire. In the case of Nero, how much was it his mismanagement that caused the crisis of 68/69? As far as the actual personalities of the emperors go, I can't think this is a valid reason for thinking them bad or good. I mean, who's to say what Augustus was like as a person behind closed doors? I would agree also that Gaius (Caligula) should not come into the 'worst emperor' category for precisely this reason - he did not destabilise the empire to any great degree. As for 'good emperors' I think there is a general consensus on such men as Augustus, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, etc. for a variety of reasons - the 'bad emperors' are much more interesting when we come to assess their malignant effect on the constitution. Having shifted these goalposts a little - who then do we think were the emperors whose rule directly contributed to the fall of the empire - if any? Or, if not the fall, which emperors placed the constitution in crisis? Clearly Nero was one of them, but the empire recovered. Did Domitian have a lasting negative effect? Commodus? Elagabalus? I find this a fascinating topic that I am only just coming to terms with myself, so I would welcome a lively debate.

Hey, husband - whisky is fine! I have ear-marked some money for this weekend, so I won't stint anyone. And after all, I am the Augusta! Plus, I'm one of those lasses who believes in paying her way. As for our Gaius Paulinus - before we castigate his missus too much, let us all remember that she took him away to Rome for his 30th. She sounds like an OK gal to me - so we can allow her a little soiree at the shops! Just don't spend too much of his money, Mrs. Gaius! I am really looking forward to this weekend myself. It should be great fun and informative into the bargain. And bear in mind, I am forgoing the FA Cup semi final versus Blackburn!

Well, I'm willing to stand a few rounds, Augustus!

And now you have reminded me, Nephele, that while I am suffering these interminable problems with posting (no fault of the Forum, we have now discovered) I shall take some time out to write my own snippets for the group. Perhaps the Fates are giving me a much-needed nudge! So, I'll go off and put the time to good use.

This sounds good stuff, Nephele. Do you know the age group she writes for? My son is about to take Ancient History as an A-level at college and he would love something vivid like this. It sounds like a great corrective to all those horrendous Enid Blyton novels with their 'lashings of ginger beer'. Also, well done on contacting the author - let us hope she does drop in from time to time.

This is one of those tantalising 'articles' that don't really tell us what we want to know. Any updates yet on just exactly what date the tomb is? 'Between 146BC and 330AD' is a huge expanse of time. Also, although the tomb has been dated to the period of Roman influence, it doesn't sound particularly Roman to me. Or perhaps others have more knowledge of this? Was it customary during this period for Romans to be buried in huge tombs with their wordly goods? Any thoughts?

Ah - this would account for the prevalence of dark-haired, dark-eyed, olive-complexioned and sallow-skinned Scots today then! On a serious note, however, I suppose there could have been some settlers from North Africa. Let's face it, with the growth of the empire there would have been such a mix of ethnicities. And after 2000 years of breeding with the locals I suppose some original traits may have disappeared.

I'm adding a new peeve: Daughters who have laptops donated to them by their hard-working parents, and then moan and groan when said parent wants to use laptop to post on favourite forum because said parent's own PC is shot! This is something I shall remedy with a whip and the threat of starvation...

Tiniest update here, folks. For all those of you whose tongues are hanging out awaiting the second season, I have just seen an announcement that the first season is to be reshown on UK Drama (one of Sky's channels) starting next week. Now, in my experience, this usually heralds a new seaon starting at the end of that run - so look out for a late May/early June screening on the BBC. Hope this is helpful.

Moon - I have just come on to my daughter's laptop - also using the Yahoo browser and have posted in the Senate without a problem. Therefore, I think that the problems I am having are to do with my own particular machine - so, please, do not tear your hair out anymore. It is clearly my own problem and I will solve it. Thanks again for all your help. BTW: I did check that I was using the 'standard editor' in My Controls. The other Forum I told you about was changed from an Invision board - if that's any help.

I'm doing that now, Moon - thanks for the tip. As for others experiencing the problem - I did have a PM from GPN stating that on his return it took quite a while before he was able to post. But I am hopeful - as GPN is now sorted out, let's hope I will be too. Thanks for all your tireless efforts in this, Moon. Fortunately, his was fairly simple to solve since it had to do with his ISP's use of dynamic IP addresses. What concerns me about your problem is that its crashing your browser, which means theres not only problem with the forum software, but also your browser software. Yes, I'm wondering if there is some incompatability somewhere along the line. I have been posting freely on another forum today - ran by LDM (if that means anything to you). This forum has also recently been updated but all seems to be well so far. What I find hard to understand with my problem is that I can go into certain threads and not others. I've done the updates, BTW. I will be back at work on Tuesday and will see if the same thing happens there. If not, then obviously I have a problem with Yahoo and Invision together as a unit. I am sorry to be such a pain, Moonlaspe - I really am.

I think this has been a really useful thread, Ilian. But if you can all bear with me - I am deliberately adding a comment just to test the waters regarding the posting problems I have been having. So, forgive me, Ilian, for using your thread as a guinea pig - and Mods, please feel free to send this post to Tartarus - it is just an experiment. As soon as things are sorted out, Ilian, I intend to return here with a more useful comment. I particularly appreciate your series of letters in the Cicero versus Antony collection.

Hey - the Baths are somewhere I can post.... (there's got to be a reason for this..) Well, Easter Sunday is here, and I am applying the appropriate religious verve in trying to get my PC sorted out! After this, I shall mow my two lawns! Aren't you all just a little bit jealous... (But I can make you jealous by saying it is a glorious sunny, warm day here in Mamucium Maius.

I'm doing that now, Moon - thanks for the tip. As for others experiencing the problem - I did have a PM from GPN stating that on his return it took quite a while before he was able to post. But I am hopeful - as GPN is now sorted out, let's hope I will be too. Thanks for all your tireless efforts in this, Moon.

Yes, it does. I am using BT Yahoo. I did send the 'error report' off to Microsoft, but just got the usual stuff about downloading latest add-ins etc. I may do that in any case, but the browser is fine on other forums and everywhere else on the Internet. As I am tearing my hair out now and can barely post in any thread at all, I am going to take a break for 24 hours to see if that helps things this end. See you all very soon. Just editing to add: I have just signed in using IE7 instead of the Yahoo, Moon, and I encountered the same problems in the very thread I wanted to post in. So, I will leave things for a day, just to see if things settle.

Yes, me too. Best thing to do with it, really....

My frustration continues. I now find that I cannot post in the 'Roman Revolution' thread without being thrown out and my browser closing!

Our Virgil is celebrating today. May I suggest we all join in? Have a great day, Virgil.

I'm on the verge of swearing aloud now, Moon (LOL). I have cleared out my Cookies and Temp files but now find that I cannot post a reply in the 'Principate' thread started by Ursus - a thread I badly want to contribute to. I have got around it for the moment by sending Ursus a PM. I can read the thread, but every time I try to post, I get that same error message with the browser. I have posted in other threads today and it hasn't happened there. Help!!!

Manchester has had a strange week. We have had glorious days of sunshine with a warm breeze, interspersed with biting cold days. But at all times the skies have been clear and the sun has shone - which always keep the depression away, I find. (I think I'm one of those SADS sufferers.) We always have to keep our fingers crossed in England when we mention Spring - but it does seem to be here at last.

OK - certain threads seem to be jinxed for me. Tonight I have tried to reply to WotWotius' post in the 'Famous and infamous' people thread no fewer than 7 times. I have tried using the 'quote' and I have tried just using the 'Add Reply'. Every time, I am slung out, and an error message appears - the usual 'send this report to Microsoft' stuff. Other threads are fine. This happened the other night when I was trying to post in the Senate. So - I need to know if it is my own PC, or the Forum. Any suggestions?

Hey, Ilian - I am not offended in any way. In fact, it is almost impossible to offend me I was just interested to know what your thoughts were on the 'white folk acting as if they are suffering some sort of reverse racism'.

I don't mean to start a fight, but my pet peeve is white folk acting as if they are suffering from some sort of reverse racism. At the risk of sending us to Tartarus or the Arena, Ilian - could you explain what you mean by this. I am genuinely interested in this.