Primus Pilus

Exactly my point; we agree. Not having real ascendance over the Imperial soldiers, Domitianus' Senate wouldn't have been able to select and preserve Nerva if the last Flavian Emperor had not given them enough power and influence in the first place. Here, I disagree. The Senate attempted to select/promote candidates several times and they always maintained at least a minimal status as a pool of administrators, governors, influencers, generals, etc. even if the combined body carried no weight or authority. Ultimately it was the legions (or Praetorians) who really closed the deal. Nerva was no different really. Without the adoption of Trajan, it's quite possible (probable) that someone would've marched to Rome. The Senate's influence after Domitian was not greater than it had been before, and Nerva didn't stick simply because the Senate carried an air of greater influence and/or authority, but rather because of the adoption. The senate was relatively unified in their selection of Nerva, which clearly would've helped to ward off resistance from outside sources, but on this occasion, it seems to truly have been a right guy, right time, right circumstance and right decision making moment.

LOL You can do anything that you want to do But don't you step on my brown leather caligae Doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

The psuedo-republicanism was also a survival tactic... Agreed. While the public perception of Domitian's traditional office holding policy may have been to establish the Senate as a partner in the imperial administration, his actions were the opposite. He was among the most anti-Senatorial/Republican princeps of the early imperial era and his usurpation of the titles and offices is an indication of his open contempt. I understand completely what ASC is suggesting on the perception aspect, though. The indirect and unintended consequence is an interesting angle. Additionally, the man who followed Domitian, Nerva, may have truly been the most "republican" of all the princeps. The methodology of his accession (presuming he was not a leading participant in the plot against Domitian) seems to have been at least a partial deliberative/electoral process within the forum. Of course, he needed to adopt Trajan to appease the legions, but his reign (while short-lived and bereft of continuing evidence over time) was perhaps the friendliest towards the Senate as an institution.

The search for the identity of the ancient Thrakiotes (Thracians) lies within the question of just who was a Hellene in the ancient world. Whether through ancient mythology, history or modern archeology and anthropology the search for just who were the ancient Hellenes lead us on a difficult journey with today

It's most likely to have been natural causes. Perhaps Piso really did poison him, but the evidence is scant. Implication of Tiberius lacks any real credibility. I once when into a rather lengthy counter to the Tiberius killed Germanicus theory, and there's really nothing to it.

Indeed, but it did ultimately lead to the destruction of the Republic. While not exactly the physical destruction predicted by Cicero, some have equated it's demise in a similar fashion. Cicero probably would've thought so anyway... especially when relating his personal fate. A discussion for a completely different thread I suppose.

The monopolization of power as an objective, especially via the measures espoused by the Catilinarians, should not (in my opinion) really be discounted as a lesser form of harm than what we may label as destruction. One can never know for sure what the ramifications of either possibility might be. In any case, I don't think there's any question that the affair was exaggerated to some degree, but Catiline did show a certain tenacity in continuing his pursuit of political status despite several successive electoral defeats. It seems that the clash between Catiline and the "State" is one of those almost inevitable moments of history. Even had he legally won the consulship at some point, what seems to have been a lust for demagoguery may not have been abated anyway.

A collection of links... it's been there a while so I hope they still work. Roman Clothing and Armament Guides

Yes, I play it now and then. I enjoy the ancient period and get bored quickly as time advances... go figure

By the by, the "pants" were called Bracae or Feminalia. There seems to be some confusion over the distinction, one seems to have been knee length and the other full length trousers. In any case, the name feminalia is not endearing to a soldier's masculinity. they were not highly regarded They are depicted on legionaries in several places including Trajan's column, Constantine's Arch and monuments of Marcus Aurelius and Antoninus Pius.

It must also be interjected that his attempt at price controls and economic reforms were a complete failure. However, the attempt alone can't be blamed for the spiral that was the economy in the later empire. He should at least be given credit for recognizing the problem and trying to face it, rather than ignore it completely.

I mean, I've read many times that Rome pretty much went down hill after the end of the republic. I've seen it many places (but for the life of me couldn't give you a list), including on these forums. Salve, Amici. I think the end of the Roman Republic (a change of political system) and the Fall of Rome (the collapse of a culture) are two quite different phenomena that we should not confuse. Agreed, while the death of Republicanism is, for many of us, a tragic event in the history of mankind, it's fall does not bear anything near singular responsibility for the eventual collapse of the empire. I would agree that in the "downhill" slide in political circumstances and electoral freedom since the demagoguery of the Gracchi and Marius, the brutality of Sulla and the rise of the Caesars, but Roman culture, influence and power continued for several centuries.

In the imperial period, Nero focused some considerable attention on Greece, though it was less of a cultural influence than what appears to have been his own preference. Hadrian in particular though was responsible for an extensive building program throughout Achaea. I suppose we could classify it as a sort of restoration of former classical architectural glory. He also instituted the Panhellion, an attempt to re-unify the various political factions of the province, but it doesn't seem to have ever amounted to much and likely didn't survive Hadrian.

While it may not be definitive, depending of course on Dionysius' source(s), it clearly suggests a direct relationship with the Greek rather than Carthaginian system. Dionysius, also being Greek, may have had his own suggestive interpretation here as well. Well, from this specific quotation I would understand that Dionysius was not suggesting a Greek origin for the consular office, but discussing on the translation of the Latin word "consul" to Greek. Agreed, I meant only to show the underlying possibility.

While in search of something else I found this relevant passage in Dionysius... Book 4.76... While it may not be definitive, depending of course on Dionysius' source(s), it clearly suggests a direct relationship with the Greek rather than Carthaginian system. Dionysius, also being Greek, may have had his own suggestive interpretation here as well.

Indeed, the Marian reform did not introduce the cohort, but he seems to have been the first to adopt it as a uniform matter of course. However, the pre-Marian cohort still would've been roughly two Polybian maniples put together. They still would've been made up of Hastati, Principes and Triarii and used in the same manner tactically, as opposed to the methodology of the Marian uniform heavy infantry. For all practical purposes then Marius did, if not invent, truly implement the cohort system as we now associate it.

But it doesn

Oddly enough, several centuries of border security, at least after Mithridates.

Salve, I Excellent question, it has been implied previouly here at UNRV. The expected answer from a lot of Romanophiles would be obvious. From where I am, there's just not enough evidence to determine which was the first one. On one hand, Aristotle at the IV century BC had a thorough knoeledege of the carthaginian constitution, while he said not a wordabout Rome. On the other, we have virtually zero first hand information of any kind about Carthage, thanks to the Genocide of DCVIII AUC / 146 bc. Melvadius expertise would be urgently required. There is an anecdotal story that I recall of Servius Tullius (roughly c. 550 BC) suggesting that he intended to establish the consular tradition at the end of his reign, but to be quite fair there is little if any source information above the legends. Of course, since the consul was originally the office of praetor, it's difficult to determine exactly how long that dual praetors may have already been established in regal Rome. While this position may have lacked the governing authority of Republican consuls, the office of dual praetors was probably in existence long before and was evolved into a larger role upon the removal of the monarchy. In any case, attempting to tie the Roman source material, largely based on legends, with the Carthaginian system is indeterminable. However, to answer the original question... Yes, the influence is a possibility, whether direct or via 3rd party, etc.

Interestingly enough, most of the summer tourist season the island has traditionally been serviced largely by foreign hospitality workers. Folks from all over the world come to work in the various hotels and restaurants, handling the horses, etc. I believe most are housed in some rather non-descript barrack looking buildings rather than the more spectacular homes and hotels we took pictures of. Some of these people have been working the summer season for decades, but unfortunately, recent immigration reforms are going to make the practice more difficult in the future. What's worse, local unemployed either don't want to spend the summer on the island, would rather stay on the government dole than accept low wage hospitality work, or perhaps don't want to risk losing a more lucrative opportunity after making the move to Mackinac. Whatever the reason, places like Mackinac Island are scrambling to find people who are willing to work. For the most part, it seems that they are exchanging seasonal workers with establishments in places like Arizona who have a tourist season that is heavier in the cooler non summer months. It seems to be doing the trick for staffing, but the restaurateurs and hoteliers are complaining that they have lost established staff that knew their jobs and were known to their clientele while giving the entire place a sense of the exotic.

Bicycles are actually the primary mode of transportation... well, that and good old fashioned walking. The hills can be a bit rough for those not inclined to physical activity though. The kids were fairly worn out after walking several miles of trails (much of it splitting time on dad's shoulders). What I enjoy most about the island is that there are plenty of people in the downtown strip, but the park areas are great for solitude and a sense of adventure. Aww shucks

Yeah, it's definately not dial-up friendly.

Our family trip to Mackinac Island, Michigan (and surrounding area) though the pictures selected are only of the island. Comments by my wife. Just a small sampling of photos, but she didn't want to crash her site. http://www.bellarepaints.com/Mackinac.htm

Maybe if you can be a little more specific. In the early principate, there were few, excepting the civil war of AD 69. It would seem that imperial oppression following the chaos of the later Republic at least held it's provincial governors somewhat in check for a time, at least militarily. There are plenty of cases of charges and trials against men in authority by the princeps throughout the early empire, but whether these had merit or were cases of imperial paranoia are of course difficult to determine. However, a major difference under the principate, and one of it's advantages, was the professionalizing and centralizing of provincial government. Governors and bureaucrats were no longer rotated on an annual basis with complete autonomy and with a massive transition in personal staff with each one of these changes. Of course, Augustus' reforms including the establishment of direct provincial taxation and the elimination of independent tax farming certainly helped with the reduction in large scale financial corruption.

I think it does. The French does. Sulla is called something really silly there, Zilla or Zylla -ish. I keep forgetting it. We normally keep the names in Sweden. As an example of this outside of English, I'm aware that in the Deutsch speaking world that Marcus Aurelius, for example, is commonly referred to as Marc Aurel (same in French). It's not a "Germanization" of the Latin so to speak, but still a manipulation of the true form.