Gladius Hispaniensis

Thanks for the info PP. Is there evidence that the later MPC followed in the footsteps of his predecessor in his attitude to Greek language and culture?

Ave I think most of us are familiar with the antagonism between Philhellenes like the Scipios and people like Marcus Porcius Cato (the earlier one) who were more Latin-oriented in their intellectual outlook. Indeed the Scipio party's active promotion of Hellenic language and culture seemed to provoke MPC's ire more than anything else they did IIRC. My question is - is there any evidence the Cato party actually took active steps to discourage the study of Greek language and culture among youth or is it that they just tolerated Greek while giving preference to Latin?

As a reformed smoker, I can clarify part of that . The Marlboro pack has "Veni, Vidi, Vici" on the front.

Currently reading "The Mughal Throne" by Abraham Eraly. One of the more readable and less biased books I've read on the subject of Mughal history.

Speaking of the Kirk Douglas movie - I remember the last crucifixion scene struck me as rather odd when I first saw it because I don't remember reading anywhere that Spartacus himself was crucified. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Late Punic Wars till the reign of Augustus. I get a strangely nostalgic feeling when reading about the Julius Caesar era, maybe because I read the Commentaries at the age of 12.

Now that sure is news to me. You have any sources for that? You may find the uniquely Johannine scene of the session at Annas' house ( 18:12-24) also that Jesus was struck very hard for speaking to Annas sharply, ( v 22 ) and Jesus is brought to Annas' house ( v 12 ) Fact is the Annas house provided the many animals for sacrifices and Jesus' demands that this stop would have caused a large loss in sales to the sheeple. The Temple was the bank in those days and Jesus tried to halt the banks trading and sales. Result--- execution! Yes, I'm aware of the passages quoted above. The session at Annas' house was held because the rules of the Sanhedrin forbade that august gathering to meet in the evening, meet on the eve of the Passover, meet in secret, and meet anywhere other than the Chamber of Hewn Stone. Hence the informal gathering at the High Priest's house which was essentially a pretrial session. I'm not sure that would qualify it as a temple though.

Now that sure is news to me. You have any sources for that?

I suppose this is where Afrocentric fanatics in the U.S and elsewhere get some of their bizarre theories about Egypt being ruled by black people from. I've had some vehement arguments with some fellows about this. These gents seem to have a hard time understanding that only the 25th Dynasty consisted of Nubians proper. Seventy five years, in a relative time frame, is hardly anything to speak of. I've even had people arguing that Cleopatra was black! These wiseacres seem to be blissfully unaware of the fact that the Macedonian Ptolemies took over the country at some point in its history. All this would be charmingly potty if it weren't for the fact that there seems to be a whole big pseudo-intellectual movement behind it, complete with websites, books, self-styled experts, etc. and replete with frothing fanatics that (it seems to me) wouldn't shrink from causing bodily harm to get their point of view across. I realize that this is slightly OT but has anyone else encountered these endearing folk?

I am currently reading Edgar Allan Poe's "Tales of Mystery and Imagination". Excellent writer of short stories.

I agree with Northern Neill and Caldrail. I don't think there is anything wrong with authors making money selling their ideas if they sincerely believe in them but making a buck by means of intellectual dishonesty is another ball game altogether. Another person of the same ilk as Hancock is Jim Marrs, who is a firm believer in alien colonisation of earth by inhabitants from Mars. What amazes me is that people like Hancock, Berlitz, von Daniken etc don't exactly strike me as men with a low IQ. I sometimes wonder if these fellows actually believe half the things they themselves say.

Bertie Wooster? Was he based on a real character? I must be missing something here.

Just finished "The Jesus Puzzle" by Earl Doherty. Fascinating but controversial book.

Woodhouse is awesome.

Excellent choice my dear Bryaxis! Although I am a Sherlock Holmes fan myself, my late father told me Conan Doyle's non-detective novels are also very good. I will take the time to read them some day.

Salve I think Dahl's poem should be taught to every kid that attends every school in every corner of the world and should be read out at every single PTA meeting anywhere in the globe. Brilliant. Thanks for the tidbit GPM.

Ave Liking or disliking poetry has nothing to do with manliness and masculinity. That is one of the silly images the popular media has been trying to convey recently. The ancient Samurai warriors were renowned for their haiku (I hope I'm spelling it right) and the ancient Arab warriors always recited qasidas (poems) before engaging in single combat. I'm sure you'll agree that the Samurai and the Arab warriors were far braver and more masculine than any of these fellows with their low slung baggies and Tupac Shakur t-shirts hanging around street corners scaring old ladies.

I simply have no words to describe the effect Tennyson's poetry has on me, and has had on me since adolescence. I truly think he was the greatest poet that ever lived. Here is just one of my favourite parts of "Morte d'Arthur" which is one of my favourite Tennyson poems: And slowly answered Arthur from the barge: 'The old order changeth, yielding place to new, And God fulfils Himself in many ways, Lest one good custom should corrupt the world. Comfort thyself: what comfort is in me? I have lived my life, and that which I have done May He within Himself make pure! but thou, If thou shouldst never see my face again, Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice Rise like a fountain for me night and day. For what are men better than sheep and goats That nourish a blind life within the brain, If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer Both for themselves and those who call them friend? For so the whole round earth is every way Bound by gold chains about the feet of God. But now farewell. I am going a long way With these thou seest - if indeed I go - (For all my mind is clouded with a doubt) To the island-valley of Avilion; Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow, Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies Deep-meadow'd, happy, fair with orchard-lawns And bowery hollows crown'd with summer sea, Where I will heal me of my grievous wound.' Don't laugh - but I have cried myself to sleep reading this poem!

I must confess I probably have a chip on my shoulder when it comes to private vs public schools because I attended Church schools (both Catholic and Protestant) all my life but I think Docoflove and others like her are a good example of why we cannot generalize about these things. I really think the root cause of the problem here is not funding or lack of it, but the whole environment that a child is exposed to. Now that is where parents and peers play a very substantial role. People simply have to stop exposing their kids to wrong types of role-models, whether in their day-to-day lives or in larger than life situations (such as through TV and other mass media outlets). People need to inculcate love of learning and culture in their children. One of the striking aspects of families that produce academic high achievers is the fact that in these type of circles childrens' hours in front of the TV are restricted or curtailed. That really is something to ponder about. It really comes down to the home and the neighbourhood.

One problem, from what I've gathered after the many discussions I've had on this subject, is definitely an addiction to the idiot-box, but I don't think that's a peculiarly American phenomenon. Get children hooked on visual stimulation and expect them to perform well academically? Forget it. I once had a dunce of a room-mate who simply couldn't understand how I enjoyed reading books so much. I told him I couldn't understand how he didn't enjoy reading. He replied that whenever he tried to read, his mind simply could not visualize the images the book was offering him. That's when it hit me - an entire generation that grew up having information visually spoon-fed to it is simply not going to take up the challenge of trying to figure out what message the printed page is trying to communicate. Another problem seems to be the anti-learning culture that children are subjected to in schools. How is a child supposed to be academically encouraged if he/she is constantly being called a nerd or a geek? I can't blame anyone except mass entertainment media for this problem. There is just no intellectual ferment in schools any more. Learning and erudition are not honoured any more. Kids are asked to look up to pond-scum like Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg instead of Einstein, Oppenheimer, or Milton or Thackeray. Sad, really sad.

Ave One cannot make oneself clearer without showing a little bluntness here - American public school education sucks. It really does. Try to follow this heart-rending programme here: Although I haven't read any statistics for this, it seems that the dazzlingly brilliant alumni that come out of the U.S consistently every year are generally products of the private education sector. I realize that there is a discrepancy in educational quality between public and private education in Europe, Asia and other places as well, but in the U.S it seems to be much more glaring. What is the reason for this disgraceful state of affairs? Is it really lack of funding as some people claim? And what can be done to correct the problem?

I feel the same way about Fagin awaiting death in his cell.

I remember reading that Titus had a whole harem of catamites with him during the siege of Jerusalem. I can't remember the source though. Also, according to Will Durant, Trajan was indulging in pedophilia when he was proclaimed emperor. Hadrian's bisexuality was certainly not something scandalous in his time.

Ave What about Saul of Tarsus? No single individual was as influential as he was in the dissemination of Pauline Christianity (except Constantine maybe). And we all know how much indebted out present day cultural institutions are to so-called Judaeo-Christianity.

Ave I still think Dickens is incomparable. To me each one of his classics has special memories. I do like Hardy, Bronte, Lawrence and others, but Dickens to me is the standard with which I measure other classic fiction. On the poetry side I like Tennyson and Shakespeare.