Primus Pilus

Indeed, while Vespasian may have been secretly plotting with Syrian Governor Caius Licinius Mucianus and Egyptian Prefect Tiberius Julius Alexander, he maintained outward loyalty and/or neutrality. Despite being aware of Vespasian's considerable influence with the Danubian legions and that of his eastern command, Vitellius was too pre-occupied with his own political nightmare in Rome to focus much energy on the possibility for far-off provincial rivalry.

It is a theory that gives indigestion to mainstream archaeologists. Namely, that some of the immense blocks of the Great Pyramids of Egypt might have been cast from synthetic material - the world's first concrete - not just carved whole from quarries and lugged into place by armies of toilers. Such an innovation would have saved millions of man-hours of grunting and heaving in construction of the enigmatic edifices on the Giza Plateau. "It could be they used less sweat and more smarts," said Linn Hobbs, professor of materials science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Int. Herald Tribune

Archaeologists have revealed plans to uncover the 2000 year-old tomb of ancient Egypt's most famous lovers, Cleopatra and the Roman general Mark Antony later this year. Zahi Hawass, prominent archaeologist and director of Egypt's superior council for antiquities announced a proposal to test the theory that the couple were buried together. He discussed the project in Cairo at a media conference about the ancient pharaohs. Hawass said that the remains of the legendary Egyptian queen and her Roman lover, Mark Antony, were inside a temple called Tabusiris Magna, 30 kilometres from the port city of Alexandria in northern Egypt... AKI

An ancient Greek tomb thought to have held the body of Alexander the Great's father is actually that of Alexander's half brother, researchers say. This may mean that some of the artifacts found in the tomb

Bah... Rome's founding... then why imperial legions with segmentata? Ok, ok, too technical

Quaestors did not necessarily have command functions despite their place in the hierarchy. Their position was much more administrative in nature. Additionally, the reasoning seems to be suggesting that in a time of war there was always a dictator and that consuls only assumed command in peace time. This is definitively not the case.

I hope you're right, but I do think this could rekindle a great rivalry that had pretty much died out.

An Ancient Roman staircase which appears to have led into a previously unknown major building has been found during excavations for a new subway station. Archaeologists immediately dubbed the white-marble staircase, the latest in a trove of finds at the site, ''the imperial steps''. Only a part of the staircase - five steps measuring some ten metres - has so far been uncovered. It is inset into pink granite and the Romans' favourite monumental building stone, travertine... Ansa.IT

Who better than the man himself? His own book is as readable now as it was in the 4th century! Click the link to see. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Later-Roman-Empire...7205&sr=8-1 And it's available online at Tertullian.org

I can't say that I've ever read a modern biography of Marius. However, while obviously focused on the Sullan perspective Keaveney's Sulla: The Last Republican is an excellent read. I also stumbled across this while getting the Keaveney link: The Gracchi, Marius and Sulla. I hadn't even heard of it before, but I may pick it up myself.

Agreed, it definately has a derogatory connotation, but there seems to be a lacking practical alternative. I'm completely open to using a more definitive term: perhaps mythos specific or a more all-encapsulating term like "Polytheist". Then again, considering that Constantine was so closely aligned with Sol Invictus, my use of the term Pagan (as it is commonly applied) is misused anyway. At least on the surface, he appears to have been more closely aligned to monotheism throughout his life regardless of which particular cult he was associated with. I suppose in the strictest terms, he was never really a pagan at all (but that would also depend on how it is defined and who one asks).

No, while Constantine's true religious sentiments are often debated, that debate is typically centered on whether he was a Pagan or a Christian. There is much emphasis placed on the adoption of the Christian symbol prior to the battle of Milvian Bridge, his obvious recognition of Christianity via the edict of Milan, his participation in standardizing Christian doctrine via the Nicene Creed and his death bed baptism; but Constantine also maintained an affiliation with Sol Invictus (also identified with Apollo and Mithras) throughout his life. Were these affiliations simple political tools for Constantine? Perhaps in part and it's very likely that he manipulated religion for his political benefit, but there is no way we can know definitively what all of his motivations were. What we are left with is plenty of evidence that he participated in religious customs and ceremony while greatly influencing the growth of Christianity; even if we can't be entirely sure what god or gods he held the most affinity for. Despite the ongoing debate about whether he was a true Christian or not, there really is no evidence to suggest that Constantine was an atheist.

Mix it with Red Bull for a tasty, alcoholic "pick-me-up".

"Sebastien Tellier's entry, entitled Divine, combines both English and French lyrics with electro music." Whatever language it's in, it seems to have been recorded in 1982.

It was bad enough when the froo-froo crowd started putting limes in their beer. Now they're throwing oranges in there too? Oh, the humanity! For the record, I don't put anything in my beer. If it doesn't taste good on it's own, then it's not worth drinking.

For Beer: I love Anchor Steam Beer and I've become rather partial to Blue Moon of late. For wine: Tempranillo or Primitivo (Zinfandel in North America) are typically among my favorites. Non-alcohol--generally, simple water is fine by me.

The remains of hundreds of victims, believed to have been killed in a plague that swept Italy 1500 years ago, have been found south of Rome. The bodies of men, women and children were found in Castro dei Volsci, in the region of Lazio, during excavations carried out by Lazio archaeological office. News of the extraordinary discovery was reported in the magazine, "Archeologia Viva". The victims are believed to have been victims of the Justinian Plague, a pandemic that killed as many as 100 million people around the world during a 50 year period in the 6th century A.D.... ADNKronos

Italian police have recovered a rare statue of a Roman emperor who co-ruled alongside Marcus Aurelius and was known for his reluctance to sit for portraits. Police said Friday that the marble head of Lucius Verus was the most spectacular find among more than a dozen looted ancient artifacts hidden in a boat garage near Rome... The State

Archaeologists have discovered two gold coins in the Sinai peninsula dating to the era of Eastern Roman Emperor Valens that are the first of their kind to be found in Egypt, its antiquities council said on Sunday. Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities said excavations at a site west of St. Catherine's monastery in Sinai unearthed two coins containing images of Valens, who ruled the Eastern Roman Empire from 364 to 378 AD. Valens attacked the Visigoths in 378 AD near Adrianople in a battle often viewed as marking the start of the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. The Gothic cavalry routed the Romans, killing over 20,000 people, including Valens. Reuters (entire story posted)

Ok, IF my Sharks don't make it, this is the match-up I'd like to see as an alternative. There is something special about an Original Six match-up, you're right. And it's been a while since the Habs have been that good, right? (I admit, I've only been watching hockey actively for about 6 years...at all for about 10.) Well, I'm clearly partial towards the Red Wings, but the two styles could be fun to watch... Montreal is quite explosive this year and Detroit is actually far grittier than most national commentators give them credit for. The Habs last won the cup in '93 and yes, they've struggled a bit since then. It's nice to see one of the the sports great traditional powerhouses back to a high profile position. (for those don't know the Canadiens are called the Habs because the original settlers of French Canada were referred to as Les Habitants)

Umm ok. Don't most people around the world love a game called football where grown men fall down clutching their shins when a soft breeze blows by? By the by, considering that the NHL is something like 35% Europeans, chances are there are a few men playing the game as well... especially from Russia, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, etc. There's even a few German, Austrian and Swiss players. I'd even suspect that it may be second in popularity to the game we call succer in some places (Sweden and Finland perhaps... maybe Russia?). American football is a game of extreme collisions and corresponding extreme injuries. Pads may protect against some soft tissue bruises and such... rather meaningless really... but do little to prevent breaks, fractures, joint injuries, muscle/tendon tears, etc. Concussions are also a serious issue due to the use of the helmet as a weapon and the false sense of security that it provides some players. Frankly, the two are completely different games with only few surface view similarities.

I have my fingers crossed for an Original Six matchup... preferably Detroit and Montreal.

You're really falling under the basic food group pyramid thing here... Alcohol Pizza Burritos Misc. Meat and meat related products (anything from actual beef to glorious and delicious "Spam") By this criteria Tonic would technically be a snack, but since it's mixed with gin, it becomes a meal. Wait a second here, that was my college food pyramid.

I'm looking forward to the Jerusalem Israel/Palestine Games.

If you're a rabbit! Beer and Nuts: Man Snacks! That's not a snack... it's a basic necessity.