Ingsoc

It's important to remember that when Greek and Roman authors wrote about ancient myths they didn't invent them but use a common version that was known orally while adding to it there own styles and twists. Vergillius didn't invent the story of Aeneas just as Sophocles didn't invent the story of Oedipus.

As I understand it's a collection of Roman authors who wrote in Latin, however Pictor wrote history in Greek.

It's seem that the "blue blood" issue was resolved by his marriage to Julia, this was btw the method which Augustus initially use to show his chosen heir. I also like to add that Augustus and Agrippa grew up together and I suppose there were a genuine friendship between them.

"Brutus now summoned Cassius to Sardis [42 BC], and as he drew near, went to meet him with his friends; and the whole army, in full array, saluted them both as Imperators." (Plutarchus, Life of Brutus, 34)

Enjoy the birthday gift!

It's seem this coin was famous even in ancient times: "In addition to these activities Brutus stamped upon the coins which were being minted his own likeness and a cap and two daggers, indicating by this and by the inscription that he and Cassius had liberated the fatherland." (Cassius Dio, 47.25.3)

Just finished seeing it and it's was excellent! pretty good depiction of late antiquity Alexandria and the religious conflicts that led to Hypatia death.

Happy Birthday!

My first response is that writing in ancient times, even letters, was always intended for an audience of more than a few people. The only writing I can think of that approaches journal writing with references to private topics: moods, culpability, remorse, self-questioning, trivia of daily life, is the Confessions of St. Augustine, on the eve of the medieval period. I'm sure others will have sources for you. "Dear Diary, It's nine o'clock, the children are fast asleep, and I'm going over these latest accounts from Trajan's Market before I hit the sack." Ancient people didn't conceive of their world or of themselves in this way. True, plus in ancient times the writing materials were expensive so it isn't likely to be wasted on writing a diary.

Pliny was convinced (perhaps rightly so) that Roman character was suffering due to slaves doing all the hard agricultural work that the Romans themselves used to do in the time of the Republic. Rome would never see another Cincinnatus. -- Nephele It's seem to be a wide spread notion even in the time of the republic, for example it's motivated the Gracchi and their supporters to propose lands reform.

Happy Birthday, Klingan!

Yes, Dacia delenda est = "Dacia must be destroyed"

Pharsalus, Mutina, Philippi, Actium. in short all the important battles. Why are you asking? arr you planning to make such a game?

I did manage to find this inscription from Hadrianus time: Imp(eratori) / Caisari(!) / Traiano / Hadriano / Aug(usto) Iovi / Olym[p]io / conditori / col(oniae) (AE 1938, 0140) But since it's came from Thracia it's could be simply a spelling mistake rather than return to the conservative spelling form.

The author neglect to mention an important fact and this is that the revolt had a strong element of class struggle. Hellenism penetrated, very slowly, into the Jewish elite which at the time was compose of a small minority of the families which were responsible to the conduct of worship in the temple. when they made Jerusalem a polis they deprive of the urban masses they rights in the city and reduce the rights of village dwellers. As for the Hashmoneans it's more complicated, while they were Jewish nationalists who had no problems running around Israel and destroying the Greek polis cities they also rule as an Hellenic dynasty in an Hellenic style state. You're absolutely right (and thanks for pointing out) that the story of the anti-Jewish religious decree by Antiochus IV is entirely absent from contemporary Hellenic and Latin sources. It's possible that his anti-Jewish actions were fabricated after the fact by anti-Hellenic sympathizers. On the other hand, all accounts of Antiochus report on his activities strictly from the point of view of his enemies -- and his non-Jewish enemies probably wouldn't have cared about Antiochus violating Jewish religious law (which to ancient outsiders--though not later Christians--probably appeared ridiculous anyway) given Antiochus' more important effects on ancient geopolitics. Judea was just a small part in the Seleucid empire and the Jewish revolt was a minor problem to them as they have to handle the Parthian threat in the east (this was part of the reason they couldn't master enough force to crush the revolt). Any author which deal with the Seleucid would take no notice of little Judea and rightly so. However Antiochus IV decrees against the Jews are mentioned when Latin-Greek authors write about the Jewish people or Judea. Tacitus write that "after the Macedonians gained supremacy, King Antiochus endeavoured to abolish Jewish superstition and to introduce Greek civilization" (Histories, 5.8) .

It's widely accepted the when the Roman wrote "Res Publica" they meant a specific type of regime which existed from 509 BC - 49 BC and many of the translation from Latin tend to translated "Res Publica" into "Republic". but is this really true? I shall try to determine this by checking the context which the ancient author use the word "Res Publica". "Urbem Romam a principio reges habuere; libertatem et consulatum L. Brutus instituit." ("Rome at the beginning was ruled by kings. Freedom and the consulship were established by Lucius Brutus." Tacitus, Annales, 1.1) as you might notice when Tacitus talk on the overthrow of T. Superbus by Brutus he describe the new regime as liberty and consulship and not as a "Res Publica". Cicero speaks of "regali re publica" (de re publica, 3.47) - Republic (or more accurently a state) of king.

The original Tribunes had more social than political purpose, to defend the Plebs masses from the strong hand policies of the Patrician elite. After all restrictions on Plebs were abolished the Tribunship lost it's original purpose and was simply use as a tool in the political game - it's was easily used by Optimates as by Populares.

Happy B-Day!!!!!!!!!

Most of the "trouble making" Tribunes operated in the early Republic, since the Plebs achieved equall rights and the formation of the Patrician-Plebic Nobilitas almost all Tribunes didn't steer the public opinion. I think the Gracchi were conservative in their aims, after all their goal was to increase the Roman rural population so the tradition military system could be maintain however their methods, like ignoring the Senate opinion or run to election to two terms in row at the same office, were clearly out of the norm in the politics of their days.

Works fine for me. btw exactly for those kind of problem the Internet Archive exists.

As far as I know in the west the local languages has no alphabet so the only inscription are in Latin. In the east the common language was Greek and so most the inscriptions are in this language, the only exception I know of is Judea where there were tomb inscription in Hebrew and Aramic (like the tomb of Caiaphas).

What always puzzled me about his actions in Actium is why after the defeat in the naval battle he didn't try to make use to his Legions and preferred to fled to Egypt? he seem to just lose faith after Agrippa victory.

Do you mean familial connections? The Porcii Catones were most likely related to the Porcii Laecae and Porcii Licini. M

Anyone know good articles/books about Tacitus views on Augustus and his rule?

Those verses actually referred to the inauguration of the Colosseum; the alluded Caesar was Titus. Typically, that denomination was not a formal proper name, but just an unspecific poetic possessive phrase using a regular genitive declension (-reum); ie. the