Primus Pilus

A formal postal service doesn't seem to have been developed until the Imperial era. In the time period your suggesting, message delivery and communication was a matter of private facilitation. As Ingsoc suggests, slaves, or 3rd party paid couriers could have been employed for such a task.

Perhaps the Scipiones and their military relationship with Africa could be considered here.

Patricians weren't the only class that were levied for military service. Early legionary had to be a land-owner (except for special extenuating circumstances such as the Punic Wars), but class was not in itself the only issue. Class determined organization by century and position, etc., but there were definately Plebes in the Roman legions from the regal period on. In the mid Republic and the time period you suggest, the Polybian legion was still the general rule of thumb. Here are some basics... Organization, Gear.

I've only watched once each. I would probably be much more enjoyable to go back and just watch a second time without trying to analyze everything.

I just received sad news regarding former forum regular "Gaius Octavius". I'm not aware of specifics or details at this point but was informed that he has passed after a long battle with various physical ailments. I'm also not aware of any way to currently send condolences for those of you who may wish to do so, but more information may be forthcoming. Despite what may be deemed as the occasional personality quirk and a sometimes tenuous relationship with the administrative "staff" of the forum, I know that "GO" loved unrv and many of the people here. He considered it partly an extension of his own family, and for a very, very long time, he was also a part of ours. He is missed. I know there are many who would want to know, so again, if more details become available I will definately pass them along.

All that the polls indicate is that she's popular with white women. It doesn't mean that she's a good choice to run the country in the event that McCain gets elected and can't finish his term of office. I'm a woman and I'll be damned if I jump on any candidate's bandwagon simply because he's chosen a woman for his running mate. -- Nephele Wen i read this i knew, she sucks, and Matt Damon said it best, refering her nomination to as a "bad Disney movie... 'I'm just a hockey mom from Alaska here to take on the White House'. It's absurd... The best of those four is most defenitely (imo) Joe Biden, ... I'm just glad they don't let Austrians vote here (unless you're Conan). Envisioning uber liberal Biden as president scares the hell out of me. Then again, our liberals probably seem fairly conservative compared to your political environment across the pond.

Thanks for the input. I agree with your assessment. What do you think of 107 BC as a starting point for the first book. The Marian Reforms, the Jugurthine War, growing political strife; I think it would be a good starting point. Here is what I like about it: A great leader, Marius, who somewhat defies the status quo (changes the army and runs for consul 6 times over a period of 8 years, technically against the law), the birth and early career of better known Romans like Cicero, Pompey, Crassus, and Julius Ceasar, The Social War... Damn, I think I've got it. It would cover another period than the usual 50BC-200CE so often used in novels and movies but it is close enough to it so that the reader won't be too disoriented. What do you think? It's a quite well known era among Romanophiles... essentially your target audience... but no as overwhelmingly as the the later era you mention. You're walking a middle ground here, able to appeal with an in intriguing and moderately known era, while remaining obscure enough (at least to the layman) to allow creativity.

Any period could technically provide the political/military/environmental background necessary to make your novel work, but you are most likely to appeal to a larger audience by sticking to those periods that carry the most common awareness. The problem there is that the more commonly known something is, the less artistic license you have to work with as far as major ancillary characters. You have to weigh out what's important and intriguing to you as the writer. Common appeal, or greater flexibility. I'm not saying that an era such as the Late Republic/Early Empire doesn't allow for artistry and flexibility, just that you would have less pressure to fill historical figures into more commonly defined roles than a more obscure era of the earlier Republic or middle Empire.

It is also necessary to note the contributions of Lucullus in the east prior to Pompey's political appointment via the Lex Gabinia. While Lucullus may not have been successful in an expedient finish to the campaign, his several years (74 to 66) definitively softened the resistance in Asia Minor and the surrounding future provinces. Pompey should be given credit though for both finishing the threat of Mithridatesa and by eliminating the pirate havens in the eastern Mediterranean. Additionally, it was the virtually the dignitas of Pompey (along with his army) that can be credited for incorporating the entire east into the fledgling empire.

It may have also been a per legion, per cohort, per legatus rule rather than left up to individual preferences. As we know there were various differences in equipment and armament throughout the empire, what was good for a legion in Britannia may not have been apt for one in Syria.

Over several centuries, millions of tourists have visited Pompeii to acquaint themselves with the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius that began on Aug. 24, 79 A.D. But while it's the most famous eruption site, the ancient Roman city 15 miles south of Naples isn't the best place to gauge the volcano's awesome destructive power. For that, one should visit lesser-known Herculaneum, which is closer to Vesuvius, or Oplontis and Stabiae, two sites more recently uncovered and still relatively unknown to tourists. In these places, several of which are still being excavated, the eruption's consequences are more visible... Philly.com

Thank you Nephele for another excellent list. You know, once you finish all your compilations, we'll have to publish these in a combined format somewhere.

A private gladiatorial fight. Two beefy barbarians having at it with gladius and dagger. (I couldn't stand to see one of the lovely lasses get "eliminated" ) A senator, with whom you find yourself discussing the merits of Caesar's assassination (Death to the Tyrant!) Cold wine (I'd actually prefer room temp, but I prefer cold drinks to hot) Olives Lots of brightly-colored, anachronistic balloons (some perfumes bother me immensely.. so I wouldn't take the chance on the petals) Taking a dip in her heated, salt-water, indoor pool (Ultimately, I still want to see those scrolls, but this requires less clothing ) Slices of succulent roast boar The finely crafted gladius that the losing gladiator (in that private bout) no longer has any need of

And compounding that truth was the fact that the people of the day had (for the most part) no idea why they were all dropping dead. Explaining such things with elaborate plots, scandals and even gossip run amok helped everyone accept early death; perhaps without needing to fear for their own impending mortality.

N. Herius Cato (thanks to Nephele for that old anagram ) enters on the heels of a warm late summer breeze, amphora in hand and a finely painted "escort" in tow. After a boisterous greeting to the hostess and other guests, he ambles to the nearest lounge clearly looking for a spot to park himself for the evening and indulge in the contents of his amphora. "Claudia (he says to his ahem "escort") be a good lass and pour a round of this fine Baeterrae for the ladies. It's from my own estates in provincia (Narbonensis)" (and adding after realizing he is currently the only male present) "there is plenty... feel free to be gluttonous."

Welcome Tim... we're happy to have all kinds of newcomers, whether recently exposed to ancient history or established scholar. And it doesn't hurt to add to our rather sparse Australian population here

Thanks Ingsoc!

Considering the speculation and inherent errors in his Roman works, I just figured they were all novels. That may not be fair considering I haven't read them personally, but it's just the way I feel about it based on reviews. What does he cite as the source of Seneca's involvement?

Thanks for the quotes Faustus, but please be very careful on the amount of text being reprinted from recently published books (1980 and 2001). Generally speaking a paragraph or two or isn't something to be terribly concerned about provided proper accreditation is given, but a long flow of uninterrupted text would be a violation of copyright law. Just a general informative warning here, to protect this site as well as authors and publishers...

I haven't read Dando-Collins. He suggests Seneca as what? Seneca Minor was never really in a position to be considered as an heir if that's what Collins was getting at? He is a novelist though of course, so he can take some liberties.

It may have turned out in a similar fashion. Provided that Germanicus were still appointed to the eastern empire, Sejanus still would've been able to cultivate his influence in Rome. They very likely would've been at odds much in the same fashion as Sejanus and Tiberius' son Drusus. However, the very existence of Germanicus and the continuation of the imperial line even after the death of Drusus may have tempered the ambition of Sejanus.

This thread has devolved into a butting of the heads. Personal and/or derogatory commentary adds nothing to a discussion, nor is it welcome on the forum. Disagreement over methodology, assessment, opinion and interpretation of fact is perfectly understandable, but we should take care to express these thoughts in a reasonable and amenable manner. We must be able to reach a stage of agreeing to disagree in some discussions simply so as not to permeate the boards with a distasteful aura. Don't let this discussion spill over into other threads. Thanks. In any case, war may be good, it may be bad, but I think we can agree with General William Tecumseh Sherman that "War is Hell".

He's really on top of things...

Archaeologists on an Israeli-German dig south of Jerusalem have uncovered a cache of 15 silver coins dating back 2 000 years and lying in a pot hidden in a pigeon hole. Describing the find as "exciting", Professor Manfred Oeming, co-director of the excavations at Ramat Rahel, said on Monday that "if you are lucky, you can find a treasure like this (only) every 20 years". Professor Oded Lipschits, the head of the dig, believes the pot was hidden in a hurry, around the time the Romans destroyed the Biblical temple in 70 AD and the owner of the coins possibly intended to return for them. Jews commemorated the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple - on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av - on Sunday... IOL

Closed... pleased respond to identical thread in the academia forum if so inclined... http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8882