Primus Pilus

"A news item caught my eye a few months ago that made me smile in wonder. The Library of Congress had discovered unseen photos of President Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration. They'd been housed at the library for years, hidden by an error in labeling. As one of the producers of The Civil War series with Ken Burns, I have a personal interest in these photos."... NPR

Thanks for posting the article - it brings back a few happy memories:) It's definately a fun article... mixing the interpretation of ancient performance art with archaeology... really well done.

P. Clodius Pulcher, tribunus plebis 58 BC. While patricians were likely adopted by plebs on occasion throughout Roman history, this is the only time it actually led to a patrician serving as tribune (and was actually done for that purpose).

He was Plebeian via his paternal name, Sempronius... the lineage that determined social affiliation. His maternal side was patrician via the Cornelius gens, but it didn't matter.

I just admire the sound of it (and the importance of the rank of course). No personal reasoning or attachments beyond that.

Ahh, your trial period of HBO must have run out? My wife made me keep ours. She's evil.

A new exhibition gives the public a first glimpse of centuries-old Vatican documents about the Inquisition, including a 400-year-old order detailing how to crack down on heresy. The curiosities allow fascinating insights into how the Vatican once systematically tried to gain control over many aspects of life that had nothing to do with faith. If you are inquisitive about the Inquisition, however, the show at Rome's Central Risorgimento Museum will leave leave you wanting more, since there are no heresy trial transcripts or descriptions of torture methods on display... International Herald Tribune

"Roll up! Roll up! Roll Up! There will be a magnificent spectacle at the amphitheatre today, and you mustn't miss it! Magerius is giving it. Of course, you all know Magerius who has just finished his term of office as mayor. He's a pompous old ass but he thinks the world of himself and he's going to lay on a big spectacle and he is paying through the nose for it, and he wants everyone to know how generous he has been." "He is bringing in the Telegenii. You've heard of the Telegenii - they are the best theatrical producers in North Africa. They have all the best beasts and all the best hunters too. Today they have for your delight four leopards, all home grown and well trained. They are called Crispinus, Luxurius, Victor - who of course is going to be conquered - and then, Ho! Hum! there's Romanus, 'The Roman' who is going to bite the dust at the hands of a hunter. And then he's got four of his best hunters, Hilarinus, Bullarius, Spittara, who always hunts on stilts, and finally the champion, Mamertinus. It's going to be a great spectacle, so hurry along to the amphitheatre. Who's going to win - the beasts or the hunters?... Current Archaeology

David McCullough's captivating biography of American founding father John Adams has been turned into an HBO film. If it's even half as good as McCullough's writing, I'll be quite pleased. Thought I'd point this out for you early American history buffs out there. Coming March 16 http://www.hbo.com/films/johnadams/

Archaeologists in eastern India have found remains pointing to the existence of a highly developed urban settlement, the BBC reported on Monday. On the basis of recently completed excavations, the research team believes the city had approximately 25,000 inhabitants in the fifth century B.C. How do archaeologists estimate ancient populations?... Slate

Some are definately better than others and most are Americentric. The top 10 intrepid explorers actually shocked me. Some of the usual suspects are on the list, but the number 1 is simply flabbergasting. A self funded passenger of an existing space program (RSA) on a space flight to the international space station (that has been done countless times before) doesn't impress me in the slightest. I don't even understand why it would be in the top 10, let alone first.

Additionally, if she heard Paul (Saul) of Tarsus speak directly (provided he existed in the commonly understood sense), then (in my opinion) the story we are familiar with now would've been considerably different. It would've been far more ideological and transcendental than the physical Jesus story we are so familiar with today. I'm not sure how you arrive at that, Pilus. What Paul writes in Romans, Ephesians, Philemon, Corinthians, etc., is pretty down to earth. He speaks clearly of the physical death, actual burial and amazing resurrection of Jesus Christ--not making it sound ideological or mythical at all. He gives sound advice concerning marriage, divorce, foods sacrificed to idols, obedience to God, et al., all of which are foundational to Biblical Christianity. I think he wrote about 2/3 of the New Testament, also known as the Greek portion of the Bible. Essentially because I doubt the authenticity of Paul's non Gnostic attributions, but forgive me for taking this off-topic. I'll split should anyone wish to discuss.

While searching for some archaeological news, I stumbled across this grouping of Top 10 historical/scientific lists. Only some are ancient world related, but I figured folks may like to browse around just the same. Top 10 Archive at Livescience

Some archaeologists say that Bulgaria may be called Rome of the Balkans, The Standart shares. Serdica - an ancient names of Sofia, was a military, economic and culture centre in the Roman Empire. And while local culture tourism is redirected to Perperikon and other spots dispersed all over this country, a mystic town slumbers beneath Sofia downtown, told from Standart... News.BG

Association

A year after the Romans packed up their shields in AD410 and left Britain to the mercy of the Anglo-Saxons, a scribe in Edessa, in what is modern day Turkey, was preparing a list of martyrs who had perished in defence of the relatively new Christian faith in Persia. In a margin he dated the list November 411. Unfortunately for the martyrs, history forgot them. At some point, this page became detached from the book it belonged to. Since 1840, the volume has been one of the treasures of the British Library. It is known only by its catalogue code: ADD 12-150... The Independent

I wouldn't worry too terribly much about this Denia. There were exceptions to every rule. Women overcame social stigma and ran businesses, fought in the arena and were forces of politics even if not in official capacities. Just the same, there were young men who rebelled against authoritative fathers just as there are today. While the repercussions of today may carry less social backlash than it did 2,000 years ago, such things still took place. Painting every citizen of the Roman empire with a single all conforming stroke of the pen would be as equally bad as ignoring social custom and law all together.

I finally got around to downloading this and playing around with it over the weekend. I found it to be much too bulky and slow for my taste. While the detail is impressive, the size of the map and the decision making of the AI seems to be overwhelming for all but top end machines. Simply speaking, I don't like waiting several minutes for the AI to finish each strategic round. Besides, the updated engine and look of Medieval Total War II is more appealing to me. However, I do believe the EB people are transferring this mod to that engine now.

For the most part yes. Most people thought of them as terribly unusual at best and as cannibals and seditionists at worst. Attitudes were likely quite different depending upon what part of the empire people lived in. For most Romans, Christians were simply Jews with some rather odd habits. Additionally, if she heard Paul (Saul) of Tarsus speak directly (provided he existed in the commonly understood sense), then (in my opinion) the story we are familiar with now would've been considerably different. It would've been far more ideological and transcendental than the physical Jesus story we are so familiar with today. However, such things are hotly debated and would run completely afoul of what you are trying to do with your character in the novel.

Dio's account of Domitian's campaign: Cassius Dio 67.6. Chapter 10 briefly (and I do mean briefly) describes the actual encounter at Tapae. Suetonius' account is cursory (Life of Domitian 6) and Tacitus only discusses it in a dismissive sense in Life of Agricola 39 (you'll have to scroll down).

Unfortunately the written ancient source detail is lacking, so there are corresponding holes in the story Cassius Dio's Book 68.13 provides a brief account of the building of the bridge, but the battle is glossed over. In addition to Dio's account being fragmentary, the Historia Augusta begins with Hadrian and doesn't discuss the Dacian wars at all. Trajan's Column certainly provides an in depth pictorial account of Trajan's campaigns but it won't provide the type of "who, what, when" detail you are probably looking for without an accompanying guide. While there are newer versions, Lacus Curtius provides a solid 19th century account: "A Description of the Trajan Column" by John Hungerford Pollen. I referred to it quite a bit while writing my own bio of Trajan. The relevant passages: On the Danube Bridges The Second Dacian War There are biographies of Trajan of course and Bennett's "Trajan: Optimus Princeps" is probably the best, but the lack of source information on the wars is still an issue. Fair warning though: this book is academic and thorough, but hardly written in a style that will draw you in. [bIG EDIT] Oops... you were also asking about Domitian's campaign... posting more shortly.

I think Vespasian had style... From Suetonius Life of Vespasian 23.3 This time the joke was on him, but the impression is that he probably laughed uproariously... Suetonius Life of Vespasian 20...

Yes, a plebeian could be elected to the office of aedilis. I believe that, by the time period in which you've set your story, there were no class restrictions on any of the magisterial offices. But there are others here who perhaps can answer that better than I. -- Nephele Indeed, the office of aedilis plebis was a plebeian one from its inception in 494 BC. The aedilis curilis was established as patrician only in 367 by the Lex Licinia Sextia, but plebes were admitted almost immediately. Your character could be either without issue.