P.Clodius

Indeed this is true and is where we get the english phrase "Parthian Shot" from. I have tons of lectures in MP3 format and in one of these the lecturer talks of the Parthian cavalry. He describes the heavy cavalry as a "Proto-Knight" (heavily armoured) and Crassus' legions were held in check by a threatened charge by these while the mounted archers would try to draw out the legions for these proto-knights to charge. Kind of a rock and a hard place scenario. Having said that, Corbulo kicked major Parthian butt. Effective millitary leadership made the difference between defeat and victory.

My edit happend after Flavius posed his question

The Byzantines refered to themselves as "Romaoi" (sp), i.e. Romans. Edit Coversation with greek friend [12:03] Me: how would you say romans in greek, romaoi? [12:03] Friend: sure... note that "oi" = "ee", long-e sound [12:04] Me: so our "oy" sound is completely bogus? [12:05] Friend: that wouldn't be right [12:06] Me: Perioikoi would be perieekee [12:07] Friend: yeah, if you want the pronunciation to match the greek word

Ever hear of the saying "There is no "I" in team"? It was that simple. The romans placed emphasis on unit cohesion, the rest on individual glory. Except the greeks and carthaginians. With the carthaginians it was their propensity to hire mercenaries, against the roman system of allies and citizen millitia that caused them to fail. The greeks were already in their downward spiral when they seriously went against the romans. What we call "The Greeks" would have been unknown to them, as they considered themselves citizens of Athens, etc... Also, what was considered as a major engagement by the greeks ex. Himera, would have been considered a skirmish by the romans. The gauls and the germans fought as individuals mostly from what I gather.

Democracy? We can't be talking of ancient Rome then can we...!

Read everything you can get your hands on, I try to whether or not it is recommended Here's another, this one is good http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081541147...glance&n=283155

I think it was Corinth, but could be wrong. Its in that Cicero book, good book you'll enjoy.

Didn't he (Brutus) end up laying seige to the town to get his money during the civil war?

I don't think its far fetched at all. Stories and concepts have travelled, been adopted by disparate cultures throughout history. Look at the Epic of Gilgamesh where it talks of a Great Flood, where'd you hear that before? And Moses, lived in Egypt and exported monotheism, first HISTORICALY introduced in Egypt by Ahkenaton. It makes perfect sense to me for those who're looking to gain influence in a dominant culture to learn, adapt and adopt its stories, superstitions, etc and make it part of their own or create something new. Remember, back in those days most day to day information was via word of mouth, ever play Chinese Whispers?

Having said that, I think the "price" to attain dignitas did change. More elaborate games etc...This inpart came about I think from the evolution of the political system, its inclusiveness. ex. The opening up of the consulship to the plebians. Competition for posts became very tough.

I'm not altogether sure whether the concept of Dignitas changed from the beginning of the republic to the end. The same desires were there from the original Brutus, Cinncinatus, down to Caesar. It was the means to achieve via Mos Maiorum that changed. In Brutus' time there were no tribunes, no Concilium Plebis , etc. In Caesar's time there was. Just different means to achieve the same end.

I think this is Ursus' domain

Highly unlikely.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/037575895...glance&n=283155

Pro Milone...Pro means what?

Got mine today, thx guys. I love NC and go down there atleast once a month. My son lives in Wilmington, and am anxious to move there. Trouble is finding a job, the place is one heck of an economic desert!

I couldn't get to work for 3 days despite living in the same city I work in. Chaos! I am sympathetic to the strikers desires but I also hear the side of the MTA too. How can corporations afford the rising costs of healthcare and other benefits?

As usual your post is inline with what the primary sources would have you believe. Try to see beyond what they wanted you to see instead of linear like the narrow minded moron whose user name you took!

Wow, I love beer but the passions ignited here are awesome. I'm still waiting for the outcome so I can determine if Arthur Guinness was spanish or roman!

Lets keep things in perspective, the timespan between Caesar's war in Gaul and the eventual sacking of Rome by the Goths is half a millenia.

Cicero was in the roman eyes a mediocre politician, he tended to flip flop on issues where the romans valued resoluteness. Reading about Cicero you will fully understand the roman concept of Dignitas and why it was so important to the politician, he was always blowing his own trumpet. He achieved greatness after his death, especially from the enlightenment onwards because his letters provided an "eyewitness" account of the tailend of the Roman Revolution. He had a fantastic sense of humor, one which often landed him in trouble as he tended to crack a joke at someones expense when it was not expedient to do so. He was a middle of the road politician, advocating compromise between the orders while touting the supremacy of the Senate in all things political. He was the model govenor (Cilicia), and scolded M.J. Brutus for money lending during his Brutus' govenorship of Corinth. Brutus lending money at extortionate rates when it was "forbidden" for a member of the senate to conduct any business. Most of his "speeches" weren't speeches at all but writen from memory after the fact and were therefore embelished. Some speeches were never spoken but written as manifestos, such as the majority of the Phillipics. He was intimidated under preassure and had a tendency to be somewhat meek while delivering critical speeches but in the end met his death braver than most after being proscribed by M. Antony.

He had 0% chance. Even had he managed to leave Italy the romans would have HAD to make an example of him and would have pursued him to the ends of the earth with their usual efficiency.

Nope, the Samnites were trounced by the romans. Not before the samnites inflicted a serious defeat or 2 on the romans. On one occasion they compelled a roman army surrender and to pass under a yoke (used by oxen to pull carts) as a symbolic gesture of ridicule and servitude. The samnites did rise up during the Bellum Socium . The famous massacre outside the Colline Gate by Sulla was of Samnite prisoners. But after the social war all was quiet.

I think you may be getting mixed up with Cato Major of Carthago Delenda Est fame, the persecutor of Scipio A. He wrote a book about aggriculture and was vocal about morals, etc...