Primus Pilus

This is a terribly difficult (and subjective) question to answer. I have to go with Hastings... not because of the battle itself but because of the ramifications from uniform consolidation of the kingdom (rather than various circumstances for Anglo, Saxon, Danish, etc. communities). I'm always led, in such discussions, to try and determine how much different a place maybe without a key event, and without the rule of William I think England may be a very different place today. (of course I could be wrong) As for the Battle of Britain... a key event in the history of modern Europe and the western world... perhaps more key because the staging ground for D-Day and the advance into Germany, kept the soviet army from crossing the Rhine and communism from spreading throughout the entire west. However, as brilliantly as the RAF fought, even defeat wouldn't necessarily have meant British capitulation due to an invasion of Nazi ground forces. Who knows what else may have happened in light of such an event? Just random thoughts I suppose.

By the way Cato, I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of adding a few more choices. And Phil, I'd susepect that "Vettius acted alone" will do just fine as a "no conspiracy" choice.

Suetonious seems to implicate Clodius in the "Life of Lucullus": I certainly wouldn't put it past Caesar to stage something for political gain, but in this case, like Phil, I am leaning more towards no conspiracy at all (at least nothing involving Caesar). 59 BC (presumably before Caesar even left for Gaul) just seems to early because so many critical events had not yet taken place. Quoting Plutarch for comparative purposes... Plutarch clearly leaves much more open to speculation. His timing of events make it seem as if a staged event by Caesar would certainly have helped draw Pompey closer to him (as it appears to be taking place before the formation of the so called triumvirate.) I doubt that an informer was acting of his own volition (this was a risky business and I suspect that these people would certainly rather "inform" based on payment already received rather than volunteer such information with the hope of reward, but I suppose anything is possible). However, Plutarch also ties the event much more closely to Lucullus than to other members of the opposition to the triumviri. Dio Cassius (book 38, 9) is far more exciting however, and explicity blames Cicero and Lucullus: The continuing story is actually quite worth a read http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roma...us_Dio/38*.html. Dio seems quite convinced that Cicero is the main culprit, but as to be expected his evidence is quite circumstancial.

I know the Romans used huge burn piles in every city to ward off disease in times such as described above. What were some other anti-disease measure the Romans took? Bloodletting was terribly common and Galen developed a rather intricate system of how much blood to let from whom, and when (seasons, various portents, etc.), based on what disease, and from what vein/artery, etc. However Galen does offer other exceptional insight on the Antonine Plague and medicine in general.

I read that it was an ancestor of Boudica, but I'm sure all the qualities (including the story of rape and torture) are probably quite similar. A convenient way to bring two historical icons into conflict I suppose. The good thing is, it may get people who read the story to investigate the actual history for themselves.

Egads man, where is the generally vociferous Gaius we have come to appreciate? Did I stifle your routinely robust vocabularly with the unintended harshness in my tone? There can be no excuse for such a development. PS. (semi on, but mostly off topic) Not being a cigar smoker, are Cuban cigars really all that good or does the embargo simply make them more desirable from a status point of view.

Ah!, yes " If you don't love it (in accordance with the 'super patriots', 'good people' and scoundrels), leave it." Yes, yes, I am now a devotee of that example of freedom of speech and liberty. One might just as judiciously hold that those in favor of that line, commence another Bay of Pigs (no pun intended) debacle - with their dumpers on the line and not sit back safely on their feculators. Do not put words in my mouth. I made no such inference. I simply say, if someone loves Castro and the socialist experience, you are free to go there. I don't personally care if you in particular love or hate your country.

Allow me simply to suggest that despite restrictions on leaving Cuba, I don't believe there is any reason for those of you who are so inclined, not to emigrate to Cuba.

Perhaps, but Castro is and/or has been a brutal dictator, regardless of any role any other nation may have played in not helping to subvert his iron fisted rule. Would the "wall' fall with more open trade? Possibly, but he could openly allow free elections along with a host of other basic civil rights of his own volition and has chosen not too. The oppression of his people is because he and his party have oppressed them, nobody else. Who provides the statistics for Cuban literacy and medical health and other bits of the great society propoganda? Castro and the communist party.

I suppose stability has its merits, but oppression should never be commended whatever its veiled benefits. Unfortunately his death will probably not end the oppression of the Cuban people, but at least his particular reign will be over.

Here's some major sources in no particular order: Plutarch: Life of Cicero Appian the Civil Wars Cicero's Letters Orations More Cicero works Cassius Dio Books 36 through around 47 Sallust Conspiracy of Catiline

Thanks Robin... helps fill in the blanks for anyone who is interested is all

Unfortunately, chances of success while avoiding detection by the UK military is probably a bit slim. However, we will have the advantage of surprise on our side. Of course feel free to forewarn any friends in the Bolton area of our impending arrival (while maintaining the afore mentioned pivotal element of surprise of course). To ease any concern regarding wider implications to the local population, we will probably limit the takeover to the Hanging Heaton area, simply because it is so aptly named for such an expedition. Now if anyone is familiar with cross Atlantic voyages via the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway on small wooden boats, you will be richly rewarded with sheep and metallic icons of some yet to be determined nature.

But I'm a Saxon! Now if I could only figure out which branch sallied forth to the new world I could lay my rightful claim to the family crest, coat of arms and of course hereditary lands. Alas. If all else fails, I could just get a boat, assemble a clan of naturally violent fellows and retake said lands in the historical tradition of my migrating ancestors!

Perhaps trivial, but its so intriguing to see one's surname (or at least the origin of) in existence for a millenium. Heaton in the Domesday Book

And without lies are we cats?

If you tell us to check your profile.. you might want to actually put something into the profile Additionally... using terms such as: always makes me uncomfortable. As Pantagathus suggested, please give some links so we can verify for ourselves. Otherwise, I do wish you well and hope you can give some assistance to aspiring authors.

By the by... seems Suzanne Cross (the author of the website originally provided in the first post by Ursus) moved all of her Roman history sites to a new url. Feminae Romanae

When who was stopped, Rome? Indeed, despite Roman aggression in the 1st Punic War, the battle of Cannae (and the 2nd war) was because of Hannibal's invasion. Whatever may or may not have happened if Hannibal hadn't invaded, Carthage was the aggressor in this case.

If it can be done, its a good idea. Depends on how much effort it would take for Moon to do as well I suppose.

Personally I don't give a rat's ass what nation is leading in what category especially considering the rather subjective nature of the original quote, but arbitary selection of trophy winners wouldn't be on my list of criteria, hehe. Here is my favorite peace prize winner... 1994

Yes, infant mortality is clearly the most important and first criteria that should be reviewed upon determining a nation's influential status. Let's see 6.4 per 1,000 in the USA vs. 5.1 in the EU. Gracious me oh my, the horror of it all!!!

There is also that bit about Caesar sung by his men during his triumph that's come up a few times around here: From Suetonius "Life of Caesar" And in Latin: Interestingly in relation to the preceeding discussion.. Suetonius says this before the first three lines of the song... which translates as: Finally, in his Gallic triumph his soldiers, among the bantering songs which are usually sung by those who follow the chariot, shouted these lines, which became a byword Notice that he uses the words carmina (song), canunt (sung), pronuntiaverunt (announce, proclaim, recite) And then he says this prior to the final two lines: which translates as: That he did not refrain from intrigues in the provinces is shown in particular by this couplet, which was also shouted by the soldiers in his Gallic triumph. Here he used the word iactacto which has been translated as shout. Clearly there are different words to reflect different forms of expression just in these two samples from Tacitus and Suetonius. Imagine how descriptive the various forms of delivery may be if there was a surviving text on Roman entertainment along the lines of Vitruvius' manuals on archtecture and Frontinus' on aqueducts.

Indulge me something referring to singing that I am readily aware of: From Tacitus referring to Nero (Annals Book XV, XXXIII): Latin: The word cecinerat translates as: sing, celebrate, chant; crow; recite; play (music)/sound (horn); foretell; Also from verse XXXIX referring to Nero's attempted alimenta in relieving the plight of Romans after the great fire: In Latin: Here Tacitus uses the same root word only in the different form for the context of the sentence. In this case we really don't know what the word may actually mean. Was he singing with melodic tones, or simply reciting some text (ie singer of songs Tony Curtis in the Spartacus movie) I guess one way to consider this is if there are different words to describe different type of singing/oration. And there are... This terribly long list of Latin words associated with the word sing (some are completely irrelevant). http://catholic.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookdown.pl?sing Various words imply different forms of singing... with a specific musical instrument, as a form of oration, etc. Unfortunately I can't speak for the origin of these words... whether they be ancient or medieval, but judging by the many descriptions of "singing" I suppose it can be reasonably assumed that melodic expression in voice was used. Otherwise, why so many ways to imply the art. {perhaps a jump in logic on my part, but hopefully it inspires more discussion}

I think I prefer Harrison as well, though I don't think any have ever quite captured my opinion of Caesar. I really did like John Gavin as the young, yet politically astute Caesar in Spartacus. Mind you it was a limited role, but I thought he was quite good.