Primus Pilus

Ahh good catch... I only checked Sallust's War with Cataline, and excuse my embarrassment, but I only checked book 1 of Florus... Here it is in book 2.11 as suggested.

Hmm. Maybe it's a knife intended only for the cutting of buoy's. Finding no practical use for such a knife, it's obvious why it was found in an old latrine.

Indeed. I only posted the exact quote for contextual purposes, so a passerby is able to see the detail for themselves. In any case... no there seems to be nothing missing from ancient source texts, but that doesn't necessarily mean there isn't evidence of another sort. However, it would be terribly difficult to prove that statues were smashed in direct response to this particular event without some sort of written evidence (including inscriptions) in collaboration with any potential archaeological evidence.

Welcome Centurio... no you're not butting in at all. Seems the general sentiment of season 2 (on both sides of the Atlantic) is that it simply falls far short of the expectations from season 1. Simply, it's the writing. Generally, I've found the acting to be superb, even if we disagree with the portrayal of particular characters (Octavian and Agrippa in particular, from my perspective).

Ursus has completed yet another review... Architecture is the most visible legacy of any culture, and often survives other elements of the culture that have sunk into oblivion. One could rightfully extol Rome

The accounts of Germanicus' death and the aftermath are quite detailed (Suetonius, Tacitus and Cassius Dio). Tacitus in particular mentions the destruction of Piso's statues... Annals Book 3.14 Cassius Dio and Suetonius also intimate the despair of the people over Germanicus' death but don't mention the destruction of Piso's statues. Tacitus does not suggest the destruction of any statues other than Piso's.

Appian mentions it only briefly in The Civil Wars book 1; 13:107 Cassius Dio ignores it almost entirely. It should be in Book 36 as this mentions Lepidus' consulship, but alas.. no detail. Plutarch discusses it very briefly at the end of Life of Sulla beginning around ch. 34. He provides a bit more in Life of Pompey ch. 15-16. It is also mentioned in the Periochae of Livy, book 90. Sallus, Paterculus and Florus make no mention of it.

A spot where a pair of outhouses stood 130 years ago is proving to be a treasure trove for archaeologists who braved the lingering smell in the dirt to uncover some 19th Century artifacts and a mystery. The one-time site of privies for men and women has been built upon repeatedly. Recently, crews demolished a former school bus barn on the 3.5-acre downtown site in order to build a condominium complex and a parking garage... ABC News (couldn't resist posting this one... )

Actually, MPC originally left him off the list of "Republican Statesman" for what should be rather obvious reasons. However since Octavian was a major player in the final era of the Republican system (though he never truly operated in that system in a traditional sense) I added him in to present a sort of transitional context and ultimate closure.

Just to add to Augusta's concerns about the show... as I recall, Sextus Pompey, an instrumental character in the events at hand, never receives a mention directly or indirectly. I understand that the writers wouldn't want to confuse the viewers by mentioning the involvement of Pompey's son after they had already killed off his fictional son earlier in the series, but Octavian or Antony might have mentioned trouble with pirates even in passing conversation at some point.

M. Furius Camillus. In addition to those state military achievements in MPC's overview, he was instrumental in re-establishing order (both militarily and politically) after the sack of Rome by the Gauls. Had the Plebs had their way, perhaps Veii would've been settled as an alternative to political compromise and the re-establishment of Rome. Though he was a member of the most conservative faction. it was ultimately his concession that allowed passage of the Lex Licinia Sextia (367 BC). This ended the extended period of dictatorships and military tribunates and restored the more "Republican" institution of the consulship along with the notion that 1 consul should be a Pleb.* Then again, he was such a polarizing figure through most of his career, divided by Plebeian and Patrician affiliations, that it would be difficult to give him the highest rating on the chart. Additionally, he hardly fits Cato's criteria for the Hellenization of Rome, and accounts of his life are also most likely laced with elements of heroic fiction (though not nearly as probable as that of Cincinnatus). * the exact details of the law are disputed. It has sometimes been described as having guaranteed that 1 Consul should be Plebeian but this probably did not happen until the Lex Genucia of 342 BC. It has sometimes also been suggested that this law allowed for the first Plebeian Consul but this is probably inaccurate as many earlier Consuls had Plebeian name origins. There is no question that immediately following it's passage, there was a Plebeian Consul and that the office was open to Plebs, the most important concept of this law was not just allowing Consuls to be Plebes but the restoration of the Consular system itself. It also limited the amount of newly acquired land that a single person could own (thereby restricting the power of the Patricians) but whatever the fine details, it was a clearly a step in settling the struggle of the orders.

It seemed to me that the writers were putting together plot lines for a show that was going to extend beyond a 2nd season. Realizing that it wasn't going to happen, I got the impression that they hurriedly closed the story. The Timon storyline in particular stands out, in my opinion. Add the fact that the writers of season 2 simply weren't as strong as those for season 1 and there are some definite head scratching moments.

Just a few examples from the Gallic Wars... Caesar was ambushed by the Belgae along the Sambre River in 57 BC. It was a desperate battle that could've changed the course of European history. He (or parts of his command) were also ambushed on at least a couple of occasions in Britain (though at least one was during a foraging expedition). A part of Caesar's command (a garrison under the command of Sabinus and Lucius Cotta) was also ambushed by the chief of the Eburones (Ambiorix). This garrison of 7,000 men was almost wiped out completely, and though Caesar would pay the Eburones back in kind, the victory likely helped encourage the full scale revolt of Vercingetorix.

While most "dreadlock" sites seem to attribute the quote to Caesar, after a bit of digging, it would seem that the "hair like snakes" quote is not attributable to any ancient source. Caesar doesn't seem to have said it anyway.

It's Wendell Wilkie (the confusion is with Woodrow Wilson... our president during the later stage of WW I and beyond). Wilkie was anti-war, pro-isolationism/appeasement, but not pro-nazi. There is a marked difference between isolationism and being pro-nazi. There were some personalities of note that may have had nazi sympathies (ie Henry Ford, Charles Lindbergh, John Rockefeller, Joe Kennedy), but the American public was much more concerned about recovering from the Great Depression than sympathizing with Hitler. After Wilkie was defeated in the election of 1940, he actually became a strong supporter of Roosevelt and his policies, including the lend-lease act. Surely there was also anti-British sentiment to some degree (Irish, Italian and German immigrants to be sure), but it's fairly clear where America ended up when the chips were down. As for Roosevelt, his "Arsenal of Democracy" fireside chat is a good indication of where he stood. Mind you this was in December of 1940 after the Nazi's had taken much of western Europe, but he had a history of anti-Nazi sentiment prior to the election. Since he won the election in what might be deemed as a landslide, one might conclude that a majority of the population agreed with him as well. American isolation (also non intervention) policy is one of the key attributes of the early development of the post colonial nation through to WWII.

Allow me just to concur that the information I provided in my article is indeed an attempt to reflect 'imperial highways' connecting the farthest reaches of the empire. While I am not nearly so organized as Maty, I do believe that the number came from Bergier's "Histoire des Grands Chemins de l'Empire", though it may have come indirectly through Gibbon. (I recall that he references Bergier at least a couple of times in "Decline and Fall". There's no question that calculating the distances covered on any number of common local roads would vastly outweigh the 50,000 mile standard. In fact, I'd hazard to guess that common city streets are not even included in the 180,000 suggested in "5 Denarii a Day", so the ultimate number could even be much higher depending on perspective. In any case, I was completely unaware of and would love to read the archaeological survey you referenced Maty. Would you happen to have any more information on it in your notes?

Thanks to MPC, we've completely reworked the Leading Statesman of the Roman Republic page. He clearly put some considerable effort into it, and despite his well known feelings about the "Darling of Venus", he provides a very objective overview. So please take a moment to check it out...

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Was Roman rule in Asia Minor continuous after 133? I thought Romans lost control of it before Sulla and Pompey finally brought back under Roman rule. You are correct... it was not all of Asia Minor, but rather just Pergamum. In fact, most of Pergamum was distributed to various other clients to govern on Rome's behalf shortly after it was willed. Using Asia Minor as the "province" in question is difficult because as a whole it was made up of several smaller kingdoms. As you suggest, it was not completely under Roman control until after Sulla, Lucullus and Pompey, but the date of first influence is still appropriate as 133 BC. I'll add a similar explanation to the 'notes' section in the chart.

Cast in bronze the figure crouches with his elbows and knees drawn together. A rope starting around the neck also binds his wrists and ankles. In the year of the bicentenary of the Parliamentary Act to abolish the Atlantic slave trade a rare Roman figurine that references an earlier trade in slaves has been discovered near Andover in Hampshire. The small bronze decoration came to light during a metal detecting rally organised by the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) in Hampshire in June 2007... 24 Hour Museum

Ancient coins have been found on a beach in the Western Isles giving new clues to the far reaching influence of the Roman Empire. Archaeologists believe the pieces of copper alloy date from the middle of the 4th Century. They were found in a sand dune, but the location in the Uists has been kept secret to protect the site... BBC

I didn't even answer a question before: You are Zeus! There is no need to take the test because you are the omnipotent father of the gods. You have bulging, rippling muscles; lightning bolts strike from your arse and women scream your name (sometimes at the exact same time). Weird. Actually I was labeled as Atlas... 66% Extroversion, 66% Intuition, 0% Emotiveness, 14% Perceptiveness I won't repeat the description since GPM already posted it above.

Rhetoric (or speech, public speaking, media relations, and other derivatives thereof) are already available in various forms and classes at various institutions around the world. It's a specialty today just as it was in the ancient world (not every Roman studied such things, and in fact very few were probably exposed to such an education at all). Rhetoric and oratory were generally considered advanced studies, though they did begin about the time a modern student would be entering "high" or "secondary" school. Considering the lifespan comparison of the average person today, beginning such an education at University (roughly 18 to 20 years) really isn't all that different from a 16 year old Roman beginning an education in rhetoric and oration.

No, the price is in $US. Whether the cost is 10 Euros or 30 Euros we are still being paid the equivalent of $35 ($38 in Europe for the extra shipping cost actually) regardless of the source currency. Strength of the Euro against the Dollar will only make the map less expensive for Europeans and presumably more attractive, while we still record the exact same revenue. As of published rates today (July 12, 07), someone in the UK is paying roughly

By the way, if anyone has any suggested updates or alterations to the list, please do mention it here.