Primus Pilus

We are actually working on building a database of ancient history books. The idea is to have many sortable/searchable categories where books on various subjects can be easily grouped and searched. Moonlapse is rather bogged down in the whole programming/coding process for the time being, but we are hoping that this will be a very useful addition to the site.

I'm not sure, but if we can somehow get rid of Neptune, Uranus will be most appropriately positioned as the back end of our solar system.

I'm not sure this would qualify in your interests on real social behavior, but its a fascinating insight into "frontier" culture. Forty Years a Fur Trader on the Upper Missouri: The Personal Narrative of Charles Larpenteur, 1833-1872

A couple of choice samples in my opinion... On the Revolutionary Period 1776 by David McCullough Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution by A.J. Langguth On the Civil War The Civil War by Shelby Foote This is perhaps the best narrative history on any subject I have ever read. Its a rather large 3 volume set: Vol 1 - Fort Sumter to Perryville Vol 2 - Fredericksburg to Meridian Vol 3 - Red River to Appomattox

Just to clarify... my post about the walls was meant to be a bit facetious.

I loved the first two books. The series turns into a bit of a Caesar love affair as it continues on, but still is a fairly believable account of how some things may have shaken out once you look past some of that potential bias. But since it is historical fiction, one doesn't need to necessarily make such efforts and can try to enjoy it on its own merits. I felt that each book in the series was progressively of lesser quality, almost as if she was growing tired of writing it as time went on. Perhaps I was simply more irritated by her treatment of the "man god Caesar who could do no wrong" rather than being disturbed by lower writing quality, but that's just how I remember it. More than any other historical fiction I've read though, she was careful to report known historical events as they happened, when and with the proper key players. She may have twisted some details to fit her own vision of these events (ie giving Marius a stroke to explain his abrupt change in behavior), but if it happened in reality, it was in the book. This example may help the reader feel sorry for Marius despite the murders of his final consulship, but while she may be giving him a built in excuse, she didn't entirely remove the proscriptions of Marius and Cinna in order to preserve his character. Her several footnotes (author's notes I suppose) illustrate why she chose to write some controversial events in certain ways. Clearly this was not necessary in a fictional account, but I give her immense credit for being diligent in her research.

Allow me this rather useless observation... They both built a wall. However, while on the surface the "Great Wall" seems infinitely more impressive, its only because the modern visible structure was built mostly in the 2nd millenium AD (14th and 15th centuries if I'm not mistaken). The earlier base structures were likely not nearly as visibly impressive (though they clearly served the purpose). Hadrian's rather miniscule structure in comparison was of earth, wood and stone and is largely still clearly identifiable, where the comparable Chinese wall was mainly pushed earth. The original 'Great Wall' structure is, for the most part, no longer visible (the current wall built by the Ming Dynasty was built in a completely different location).

Yes, related to the Gallic sack of Rome. Livy explains that it was a single sentry who took the blame rather than the dogs though.

Unless you count Caesar quelling the mutiny of the 10th. The nature of it depends on which source we use though. Otherwise... I don't recall Appian mentioning it. Dio Cassius says that Antonius used it in the Parthian campaign. He also claims that Octavian and Agrippa used it after the Illyrian campaigns. Suetonius confirms that Augustus ordered decimations during his tenure, but does not go into detail. Despite that, I tend to agree that Crassus was the last true republican general to use it.

:tomato: Well, where words may fail, emoticons prevail!

did you perhaps stray to this link? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1770 No, not at all. Just relating how similar the appearance of ancient artifacts below the ground can appear like crop circles. (Not the intricate designs in the article your provided, but less complex versions).

Finally... cropped circles explained!

Since we are on the subject (sort of), Viggen mentioned the other day that he would like to develop a personalized UNRV browser toolbar. I thought it was a good idea, but am generally quite clueless on the technical aspects of such things. Clearly not everyone uses toolbars, but if we could make something specifically targetted to people like us, would anyone consider using it? With that in mind, if we were to develop one, what sort of features would make it desirable?

Quoting myself in the announcement forum. Additionally... entry into the drawing will close on Friday September 1, 2006. The drawing will be completed over the weekend immediately following and winners posted the next week.

We are happy to announce a September "Back to School" Book Give Away Bonanza in association with E-Consultancy. We will reward 8 active participants of the UNRV forum with pre-selected Roman History Books in a random draw. Participation is very simple. Members of the forum who wish to be included in the random draw simply need to post in the "September Book Bonanza" thread. Comments about the books (perhaps what you'd prefer if you win) or the drawing itself, a simple "I'd like to participate", or whatever comes to mind will qualify as your entry. Only one entry per person will be allowed, and multiple posts by a single participant will be deleted for clarity. Everyone is eligible (location not an issue), except for the triumviri of course. (Despite my personal objections to Viggen ) This program was made possible thanks to the generosity of E-consultancy, a leading participant in online marketing and e-commerce, who has graciously provided the funds to purchase the books. The 8 books that will be available are: The Punic Wars: Rome, Carthage, and the Struggle for the Mediterranean by Nigel Bagnall Nero's Killing Machine: The True Story of Rome's Remarkable 14th Legion by Stephen Dando-Collins A Critical History of Early Rome: From Prehistory to the First Punic War by Gary Forsythe An Introduction to Roman Religion by John Scheid The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough The Roman Revolution Ronald Syme The Emperor Domitian Brian W. Jones Caesar by Adrian Goldsworthy We've tried to select a variety of choices that we hope will reflect a wide range of interest. Once winners are determined we will attempt to match the books appropriately. Cheers from UNRV!

I've also read somewhere that its supposedly the hill that directly overlooks the Piazza della Consolazione. I'm clueless on the accuracy of it though.

Spent a year there one day. I'm hoping by your continued presence that you survived the trip and are not in fact an ethereal entity posting from the beyond?

It was mainly reserved for traitors as already suggested but additionally, from the Twelve Tables: Table VIII 23. A person who had been found guilty of giving false witness shall be hurled down from the Tarpeian Rock. The rock takes its name from a legendary early (perhaps... explained below) Vestal Tarpeia who supposedly let the Sabines in the gates of Rome for jewelry. She was buried atop the rock and not hurled off however. Whether this is true or not is anyone's guess, including Livy's. From Livy: Varro says that Tarpeia was a Vestal, but Plutarch in the Life of Numa explains that a woman named Tarpeia was one of the first four Vestals. He does not relate whether or not this is the same Tarpeia, but he doesn't say it wasn't either. (Clearly he would have no way to know this anyway). The rock itself was a part of the Capitoline Hill most likely on the southwest corner. Here it overlooks the forum which according to Dionysius of Halicarnassus is where the executions took place. Book VII Chapter XXXV And Book VIII Chapter LXXVIII

Thee truly thinkist thus? The Society of Holey Immaculate Telereverendos has issued a FISA warrant for thy arrest and detention. Flee at once unto Cuba or Venezuela! I believe the quote is actually a fake. It has been attributed to several sources over the years.

People never kill eachother in Detroit. It's the safest most beautiful city on earth. There is no crime, there is no urban blight, and it smells nice.

I use Firefox simply for security since hackers typically target the much larger IE.

The motive was to restore the Republic. There may have been jealousy and other emotional responses involved, but it was clear that the reason for the assassination was because they believed Caesar was a tyrant.

I suppose to: 1) motivate the supporters/and fence sitters by deflecting as much direct responsibility/criticism as possible 2) mollify the quiet opposition 3) indicate to all who exactly was running the state Despite the tyrranical nature of the proclamation I can understand why it was done. (by the by, I admire it as a document of immense propaganda, but stand with Cato in not admiring its message.)

"...Viggen, who writes in English, which is his second or perhaps his third language." I know that you will find this hard to believe, but even I muck things up on occasion. If, I wasn't a dead man earlier, send flowers now. :sniper: If only I had had (yes 2 hads) the foresight to install several new emotes recently... Ahhh, what luck. :giljotiini: This place is screwy.

Keep in mind that it is historical fiction.