Primus Pilus

Just from general study of ancient history, we can see the connection between most of the ancient festivals and those major holidays that still exist today. As Halloween is soon to arrive and is among the few ancient rituals that was not truly taken over by Christianity, would anyone care to discuss its ancient origin and how it transformed into the current state?

I suppose its safe to say that UNRV.com officially endorses our very own map Roman Empire Wallmap

It was a long time to wait for a portion of noodles. Scientists have uncovered the world's oldest known noodles, dating back 4,000 years, at an archaeological site, Lajia, along the upper reaches of the Yellow river in north-west China. They were preserved in an upturned bowl among the debris of a gigantic earthquake. Until now, the earliest evidence for noodles has been a Chinese written description of noodle preparation dating back 1,900 years... Full article @ The Guardian

An ancient coin dealer marketplace with over 100 dealers represented worldwide... essentially an online coin show. Though I can't vouch for every dealer in the group, they do maintain a Code of Ethics and I have personally bought from several. VCOINS.com

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Egads, Professor, are we being tested? At any rate, I'll start the ball rolling. I'm taking an initial angle of opportunity here rather than one of challenge... The fall of imperial rule allowed a unique opportunity to continue the spread of the church not only as a religious authority but also as replacement governing authority. Much like the emperors of days gone by the 'successor kingdoms' needed to prove their own legitimacy not only through military force and capability but through connection to previous authority. Uniting the pre-existing structured establishment that the church provided with that of the successor nobility allowed the church to continue providing a single stabilizing and nostalgic effect on the populace. The nobility were also provided with the connection that they needed in the shape of a pervasive institution to help mold the citizenry. OK, you caught me... I'm a bit jaded

Well, we can guarantee everyone here is equally addicted in some form or another... so no worries on that front

An excellent list Spartan.. I was worried that this would turn into another Caesar vs. Alexander type thread, but I'm pleased that it hasn't. I suppose the next step would be compiling a list of battles that all these various generals participated in. I personally think it would be a good project to add to the unrv.com military section in some sort of interconnected table format. Has me thinking anyway....

Sorry Germanicus... I missed this thread. Romans did not generally want children at 'adult' events. I don't believe this was as much a case of morality as it was simply because children weren't men and room had to be made for the more important adult members of society. Considering that women were generally not welcomed at such events, the absence of children also makes sense. Since the average Roman went about their daily lives without a great deal of first hand knowledge regarding every day world events... unlike our own modern lives, I doubt they would've had a greater propensity for violence. The Roman culture may have been one which did promote some violent public displays, this wasn't the overwhelming daily spectacle that later propogandists would like to have us believe. Even if it was so we too are largely inundated with scenes of violence, etc. via the various forms of media, but the population of criminals as a percentage of the population still remains relatively low. Certainly environment must play a part, but I'd be willing to bet that 'criminal behavior' as an element of the population would remain a fairly consistent percentage throughout 'civilized' history. Were there people in ancient times that today we might classify as 'serial killers' or 'sociopaths', etc? Considering the nature of humanity, I'd say without a doubt, but I do doubt that it was caused any more by the nature of Roman society as a whole vs. the individual environment and conditions of the individual. I do agree the conditions which people like Caligula were subjected to very likely had an effect on his mental stability. Couple that with the corruptive and influential effect of absolute power given to a very young man and we can see the huge potential for disaster. While this may have had an effect on various prominent families, the average family was largely untouched by these political machinations.

These two certainly need to be mentioned among the worst generals: Mallius Maximus and Quintus Servilius Caepio at the battle of Aurasio in 105 BC. Worst politician: When one truly thinks about it, wouldn't the worst politician truly be the one that absolutely nobody has ever heard of. The very nature of the politician is to use ones popularity as a tool. However, I'll throw the ineffective optimate, Bibulus, out there as a man whose every political move was thwarted by the genius of Caesar. Romans remembered years according to who the elected consuls were and because of the bumbling of Bibulus as Caesar's co-consul in 59 BC, that year was jokingly referred to as the year

The article says AD 271.

I assume your talking about me, but no, I'm afraid I don't know, hence my hesitation to post earlier. Of course, we know that each fractional division of the Roman army from contubernium, centuria, cohort and through to the entire legion used identifying markers and symbols in banners, etc. to differentiate units, but I have never done research into uniform medallions, etc. Centurions could be marked by plumage and such decorative rank distinction but I personally don't believe the discs worn to have been significant in this way, but as I have said, I admit that I don't know. If anyone can give you a quick answer, I'm sure the guys at Roman Army Talk can. And Favonius... to my knowledge there are no surviving banners direct from antiquity.

A manuscript believed to have been written by a doctor who examined Napoleon Bonaparte's body could put an end to the theory he was murdered. Many historians have claimed the French Emperor was poisoned with arsenic, although the official cause of his death in 1821 was stomach cancer. Now a document found in a Scottish cottage seems to confirm the official theory of his death while in exile. It will be auctioned by Thomson Roddick & Medcalf of Carlisle on Friday. Steve Lee, military auctioneer at the firm, said he was convinced the document is genuine... Full article at the BBC

During the chaos and confusion of the third century A.D., amid widespread disease, famine, and barbarian invasions, a brazen upstart seizes control of a breakaway state within the Roman Empire. He proclaims himself emperor only to disappear days later, his life and story lost, save for only the briefest of remarks in two fragmentary and unreliable sources. Then, an amateur treasure hunter scanning the green fields of Oxfordshire with a metal detector chances upon a small clay pot filled with more than 5,000 ancient Roman coins. A British Museum archaeologist brushing away centuries of corrosion and carefully picking apart bronze and silver pieces, discovers one exceedingly strange coin. Among the thousands of unremarkable ones, this coin carries an unfamiliar bearded face, a perplexing name, Domitianus, and most strikingly, the three letters IMP, short for imperator, or emperor... Full article @ Archaeology.org

I don't have nearly the time for it that I once might have, but I still enjoy a small dose of gaming.

At least its pretty much a consensus opinion on the missing 'Pharsalus'.

The Shining--a family feel good movie

Indeed, we aren't fortunate enough to have detailed first hand accounts of all the pivotal battles. I suppose though, that we should be glad for the limited information that has been preserved.

Well now you're just being silly... everyone knows that Romans should always be played by Brits in the movies

We're not discussing whether Germanicus was poisoned or just got sick - you'll be relieved to know. I'm not interested in discussing that either. I was trying to be comical... seems I failed

Guess what's coming from me... I would've tried to find a good doctor who could at least treat my illness and extend my life while I was still in my prime. Oh hell I'm not getting into that again

Appian Book IV

Allow me to clarify... I was not opposed to the lesbian sex scene as a matter of some sort of personal morality. I just didn't think it went off real well, even though the sexual tension was quite obvious. Vorenus let Pompey go in part just as he described to Caesar, because Pompey was broken, but he left out the secret part about him respecting Pompey and the 'Republican' cause. There was no secret deal. Vorenus simply left Pompey to his own devices with Pollo arguing against it.

I'm still having trouble understanding how people shouldn't discuss the show in a historical context, especially when some things are portrayed in way that is known to be ahistorical. One doesn't have to have lived in the time to have read the words of those who did, and understand the general truth of some situations. For example, we know that Cato was in Africa when Pompey was battling Caesar in Greece. The show puts him with Pompey and we know its wrong, and its ok to point it out, even though I still respect the job HBO has done. (both historically and in terms of entertainment value) I personally prefer that historical gaffs, embellishments and/or edits for the sake of time constraint and entertainment value be pointed out for people who may not know, or wish to learn more. Now back to show... I was disappointed in the latest episode that the battle of Pharsalus was so largely ignored. Perhaps one of the most important battles in western world history could have received a bit more attention, in my opinion. I am also still disappointed in Caesar's apparant lack of motivation or personal will, though I did fully enjoy the scene with Cicero and Brutus 'surrendering'. The acting of Antony's character is still remarkable in my opinion. From everything we know and understand of Antony, this characterization could not be any more dead on, IMO. The 'trist' between Octavia and Servilia seems out of place, not because of the nature of the relationship in Republican times, but it seemed to me that both actresses were quite uncomfortable. Fortunately it was largely an implied scene and not presented in any great detail. As for the death of Pompey: while I was suprised how quickly this chain of events was presented, it was wonderfully done. I think now that the show is moving quickly enough for the first season to definately end with Caesar's assassination. The good thing is... 7 or 8 episodes in (or whatever it is) I am still glued to the TV on Sunday night. Next episode Cleopatra. I missed the 'coming next week' part so I will just assume she will be beautiful. It may be slightly off from what we know of ancient images, but don't we all prefer it that way, both men and women.