guy

I defer to our many military experts, but from what I remember, the strongest elements of an Ancient Greek army were usually on the right. Epaminondas, the Theban general who was very familiar with Spatan tactics, placed his best troops fifty men deep on his left, contrary to the military tradition of the day. The remainder of his troops were placed in shallower columns on his center and right that progressively fell behind the column to their left, forming a "diagonal". Once the Theban left crushed the Spartan right, the remaining Spartan allies fled the field since the Spartan right was considered the stongest, most experienced fighters. guy also known as gaius

Agree, but I was commenting on Maty's unique humor: "...raped the cattle and rustled the women..." guy also known as gaius

Those randy Ancient Brits. LOL. Was it something in the beer? guy also known as gaius

In the US, we have this program: http://www.spike.com/show/31082 guy also known as gaius

Are you saying there were only 300 troops among the Greeks? Respectfully, I don't think so. There were also 700 Thespians and 400 Thebens...and probably a lot more as well as a couple thousand helots in support at the final battle. Before that final day, there were several thousand other Greek allies who retreated only when it appeared hopeless. A late Empire army means less discipline, less training, and even less loyalty. It also spells a more likely defeat of the Romans. On the other hand, let's consider Persian wicker shields vs. a well-disciplined Roman killing machine of a Julius Caesar. Throw in a few hundred auxiliary Roman archers and Balearic slingers. More interesting. The Battle at Thermopylae (at least initially) was a frontal encounter in a limited area. This would play to the legion's strength. guy also known as gaius

Nice pictures. Thank you. guy also known as gaius

Were you able to go to Carthage? Was there much to see there? I would love to go there, as well as see Palmyra (in Syria) along with the Parthian and Sassanian ruins in Iran and Iraq as soon as thing are less insane in that region. (That should be just around the time my unicorn ranch is up and running.) guy also known as gaius

Here's information about the coin at auction in case we loose the above link (edit mine): The Roman Republic M. Iunius Brutus with L. Plaetorius Caestianus. No.: 282 Estimate: CHF 60000 [sold for $92,865 on 12.05.2004] d=22 mm Aureus [gold], mint moving with Brutus in Northern Greece circa 43-42, AV 7.84 g. BRVT IMP

Nice coin. Too much for my pocket book. It looks like it sold for more than $92,000 in 2004. Here's what the coin looked like at auction and the associated information: http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?searc...p;view_mode=1#1 guy also known as gaius (Please consider having this thread moved to the Numismatica subforum.)

Interesting video:

Yep, a belated Saint Patrick's Day to all. My inner-Italian, however, prefers to celebrate the day with these memories of a Gallic past: guy also known as gaius

Thank you for sharing. I am usually a big fan of Ms. Hughes. She is a wonderful and insightful expert on Ancient Greece. I really liked her series "Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princess, Whore." She has a unique enthusiasm for ancient Greek history. Once she gets away from Ancient Greece, however, I find her less useful. Her series on the Moors was just unadulterated propaganda. Let's not mention the Roman Visigothic people and their rich Latinized culture that the Moors destroyed. Instead, let's focus on those nasty Catholic Christians who stole Spain from the Moors. (Special attention around 2:25 of the video.) http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x31l8t_wh...n-europe_school

This post is part of a continuing series about Roman coins for us novice or non-coin collectors. As I learn from the great teachers and experts, I will continue to add to this series. This post and the attached links deal with the reverse (back) of Roman coins and their historical contexts. Many people are fascinated by coins from the Roman Empire because of the great diversity of images on the reverse of the coins. Since Roman coins were used as a means of spreading Imperial propaganda throughout the Empire, the reverse of the coins were a perfect vehicle to spread this message to a diverse and largely illiterate population. This message could range from the hope or celebration of military success to depictions of architectural feats or the Imperial family. They reverse of the coins would frequently have either an image of a deity (god and goddess) or of a personification. A personification was an image of an idea, concept, or geographic location; e.g., good fortune, fruitfulness and fertility, chastity and modesty, Rome, etc. In the formally Christianized Empire, gods and goddesses were no longer customary, of course, but the use of personifications continued. For example, the image of the goddess Victory was common on the reverse of coins throughout the history of the Roman Empire. During the Christianized era, however, Victory lost her divine status and was relegated to a mere personification, more compatible with a Christian Empire. The links below mostly deal with the images of deities or personifications. This is a link to an article by Beast Coins, both a teacher and dealer of Ancient coins: http://www.beastcoins.com/Topical/Deities/AncientDeities.htm This is a link to Doug Smith's excellent articles. His knowledge about Ancient coins is very extensive, but I admire most his enthusiasm about the coins' historical background. Personifications: http://dougsmith.ancients.info/pers.html Deities: http://dougsmith.ancients.info/gods.html This article is from Bill Welch's site, which has been recognized as one of the best by his expert peers in the field: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/coin_language.html guy also known as gaius

A nice reference on the coins from Rome's perpetual enemy. Note the typical Zoroastrian fire alter on the reverse of Sassanian and other Ancient coins: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/...ltar_coins.html A nice reference to deciphering Sassanian coins: http://www.beastcoins.com/Sasanian/Sasanian.htm

Although most of us aren

Your point may be correct, but I don't think Rome is a good example. In fact, I think many Italians believe that Italy would be a lot better if Rome were to suddenly "disappear." Many feel that Milan is the financial engine of Italy and the politicians of Rome are the parasites. Also, because of Italy's unique and long history (but relatively recent unification), there is less of a nationalistic feeling in Italy than in most other Western countries. guy also known as gaius

Ouch. Celsus's decircumcision operation: http://www.cirp.org/library/restoration/rubin/

Well put. The second episode continues with its gratuitous and graphic fantasy violence. But it also continues with its more adult themes. Despite its faults, the series does emphasize the cultural divides and even animosities among Rome's conquered peoples. This series portrays a Thracian and Gallic rivalry despite their having a common "oppressor" in Rome. I agree with UNRV's Cato that one of Rome's great strategies was the willingness and ability to exploit these differences among their subject peoples. Once again, Cato speaks the truth. guy also known as gaius

Hearing the reports about the death and destruction from the horrible earthquake in Haiti, I can only imagine the great destruction earthquakes (not to mention other natural disasters such as volcanoes, floods, etc.) would have done in the Ancient world. It reminds us that without proper building standards and an efficient organized disaster response, the death toll can be unfathomable. Certainly, the Ancient world was at least as vulnerable as Haiti to an earthquake's potential destructive forces and its tragic aftermath Our thoughts are with the people of Haiti. guy also known as gaius

I guess I'm watching. Anyone else? http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/re...acus22_ST_N.htm http://www.usatoday.com/video/#/Life/He%20...001/62681139001 guy also known as gaius

As a non-coin collector, non-expert, I find this very helpful: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/moonmoth/glossary.html guy also known as gaius

We've discussed this spectacular coin find before. Here's an interesting video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlwae3okhbc...feature=related Here's the video background: One of the UK's largest hauls of Iron Age gold coins has been found in Suffolk. The 824 so-called staters were found, using a metal detector, in a broken pottery jar buried in a field near Wickham Market. Jude Plouviez, of the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, said the coins dated from 40BC to AD15. They are thought to have been minted by predecessors of the Iceni Queen Boudicca. Ms Plouviez said their value when in circulation had been estimated at a modern equivalent of between

Does anyone put credence in the DNA study linking the Etruscans with Asia Minor?: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jun/18/italy.johnhooper The money quote: "The DNA samples from Murlo and Volterra are much more highly correlated to those of the eastern peoples than to those of the other inhabitants of [italy]," said Alberto Piazza of the University of Turin, who presented the research. "One particular genetic variant, found in the samples from Murlo, was shared only with people from Turkey." This year, a similar but less conclusive study that tracked the DNA passed down from mothers to daughters, pointed to a direct genetic input from western Asia. In 2004, a team of researchers from Italy and Spain used samples taken from Etruscan burial chambers to establish that the Etruscans were more genetically akin to each other than to contemporary Italians. guy also known as gaius

Here's the slide show: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thearmaturapr...141128702/show/ guy also known as gaius

Enjoy : Note the typical Zoroastrian fire alter on the back of the Sassanian coins: http://www.anythinganywhere.com/commerce/c...c-sas-879-1.jpg Some other Sassanian coins: http://www.anythinganywhere.com/commerce/c...cs/ancsasan.htm guy also known as gaius (These images are from Bob Reis's site. I can not vouch for the authenticity of the coins he sells...or anyone else's coins, for that matter).