guy

First, thank you very much for reading and commenting on my post. I agree that Vagi's book is a great resource on Roman coinage, but it is pricey (more than $100.) I also agree that the study of coins is a valuable source of information and insight into Roman society. In fact, the study of coinage is essential for understanding the poorly documented third century. (I wonder whether a separate subsection dedicated to coins would be appropriate?) I just use this thread to post some small bits of trivia that I find interesting but aren't developed enough to create a new topic. guy also known as gaius

I am neither an expert in Roman coinage nor am I a coin collector. I find it interesting, however, to study the role coins play in everyday lives. Of course, they are used in commerce. They are also used as a form of propaganda. They can reflect the underlying political and economic climate. Most people are unaware of the profound effects that coins have in shaping our perception of the society around us. Some more useless facts: David Vagi, in his book Coinage and History of the Roman Empire, states: "It is well documented both by literary and archaeological evidence that ancient coins circulated for centuries. An excellent example is the countermarking of older, worn coins in the east by the emperor Vespasian in the early AD 70s. The majority of these denarii were at least a century old at the time they were countermarked." He adds, "The issuance of Imperial cistophori by the emperor Hadrian (117-138) is similarly convincing. Most (if not all) of the planchets used were older cistophori issued some 100 to 150 years earlier. We have no reason to doubt that these "host" coins (the coins that were overstruck) had been in circulation up until the time they were withdrawn for re-coining." A possible analogy would be the modern use of Indian Head pennies in the US or Queen Victoria pennies in Great Britain[?]. I imagine that with the debasement of Roman silver coinage in the mid-200's, hoarding became more common. (When was the last time someone found a real silver coin in circulation; e.g., a Mercury Head dime or even a pre-1964 silver quarter?) Interestingly, Vagi asserts that the gold coinage typically did not suffer the same debasement as the silver coinage, but maintained their purity, even in the late Roman Empire. Gold coins, however, did suffer a reduction in size. guy also known as gaius

This is my first entry in what I hope is a continuing thread: Everyone knows about Seneca, the famous Roman Stoic philosopher and ill-fated advisor to Nero. I didn't realize, however, that his older brother, Gallio, is mentioned in the Christian Bible (Luke 18). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallio Most serious students of the Bible and Roman history already know this...but I didn't. Why is this fact important? It gives a documented time reference to the works of Paul, the famous apostle of the Jesus movement. Scholars are not certain of the year of either Jesus's birth or death. There is, however, a more concrete acceptance of the time for Paul's interaction with Gallio (somewhere between the years AD 51-53), only two decades after Jesus's death. guy also known as gaius

I found the passage from Adrian Goldsworthy's How Rome Fell, helpful to my previous post: "Julia Mamaea [septimus Severus's niece] had summoned the famous Christian thinker Origen to Antioch so that she could listen to his ideas. Her son, Alexander Severus, is even supposed to have had a statue of Jesus along with those of other gods and great men he prayed to and kept in his personal chambers. It is easy to forget that the polytheistic mindset made it easy to accept new deities, even if Christians themselves insisited that worshipping Christ must mean a denial of other gods" guy also known as gaius

Although I enjoy Ancient history, I

I think most all of us who read and contribute to this site are Romanophiles. Despite its many faults, we agree that Ancient Rome contributed in a positive way to modern society. Today, however, many academicians have re-assessed this positive view of Ancient Rome, as well as of others once admired in the Western tradition. Here in the United States, for example, Christopher Columbus is no longer uniformly seen as a brave explorer who

Obama is a brilliant speaker. A great intellect? We will see. Although I wish him success with his efforts to improve the economy, I will reserve deification till I see some concrete results. Nevertheless, the mention of Strasbourg always makes me think of the powerful passage by Ammianus Marcellinus describing the conflict between the Romans led by the future Emperor Julian and the Alemanni led by their king Chnodomar at the battle of Strasbourg in AD 357: 46. But the Allemanni, still charging forward impetuously, strove more and more vigorously, hoping to bear down all opposition by the violence of their fury. Darts, spears, and javelins never ceased; arrows pointed with iron were shot; while at the same time, in hand-to-hand conflict, sword struck sword, breastplates were cloven, and even the wounded, if not quite exhausted with loss of blood, rose up still to deeds of greater daring. 47. In some sense it may be said that the combatants were equal. The Allemanni were the stronger and the taller men; our soldiers by great practice were the more skilful. The one were fierce and savage, the others composed and wary; the one trusted to their courage, the others to their physical strength. 48. Often, indeed, the Roman soldier was beaten down by the weight of his enemy's arms, but he constantly rose again; and then, on the other hand, the barbarian, finding his knees fail under him with fatigue, would rest his left knee on the ground, and even in that position attack his enemy, an act of extreme obstinacy. 49. Presently there sprang forward with sudden vigour a fiery band of nobles, among whom also were the princes of the petty tribes, and, as the common soldiers followed them in great numbers, they burst through our lines, and forced a path for themselves up to the principal legion of the reserve, which was stationed in the centre, in a position called the praetorian camp; and there the soldiery, being in closer array, and in densely serried ranks, stood firm as so many towers, and renewed the battle with increased spirit. And intent upon parrying the blows of the enemy, and covering themselves with their shields as the Mirmillos do, with their drawn swords wounded their antagonists in the sides, which their too vehement impetuosity left unprotected. 50. And thus the barbarians threw away their lives in their struggles for victory, while toiling to break the compact array of our battalions. But still, in spite of the ceaseless slaughter made among them by the Romans, whose courage rose with their success, fresh barbarians succeeded those who fell; and as the frequent groans of the dying were heard, many became panic-stricken, and lost all strength. 51. At last, exhausted by their losses, and having no strength for anything but flight, they sought to escape with all speed by different roads, like as sailors and traders, when the sea rages in a storm, are glad to flee wherever the wind carries them. But any one then present will confess that escape was a matter rather to be wished than hoped for. 52. And the merciful protection of a favourable deity was present on our side, so that our soldiers, now slashing at the backs of the fugitives, and finding their swords so battered that they were insufficient to wound, used the enemy's own javelins, and so slew them. Nor could any one of the pursuers satiate himself enough with their blood, nor allow his hand to weary with slaughter, nor did any one spare a suppliant out of pity. 53. Numbers, therefore, lay on the ground, mortally wounded, imploring instant death as a relief; others, half dead, with failing breath turned their dying eyes to the last enjoyment of the light. Of some the heads were almost cut off by the huge weapons, and merely hung by small strips to their necks; others, again, who had fallen because the ground had been rendered slippery by the blood of their comrades, without themselves receiving any wound, were killed by being smothered in the mass of those who fell over them. Grisly, but powerful stuff. guy also known as gaius

Berlusconi? Caesar? Mamma mia! Whether one likes him or not, he has been one of Italy's most memorable politicians. Here's an interesting clip of Berlusconi being Berlusconi for those of you who speak basic Italian. (I know some of Italy's political incorrectness might offend, but...mi scusate tutti. That's Italy) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Xt_Z9JLLc guy also known as gaius

Although I wish our new President well, I think some of the praise heaped on him may be a little too much. The poor man has lots of pressure on him already (dealing with the economy, a couple wars, the environment, health care, etc.) without having to deal with unrealistic expectations. Hopefully, Dr. Tom will comment: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/2...#history-byline guy also know as gaius

I strongly recommend AD 381: Heretics, Pagans, and the Dawn of the Monotheistic State by Charles Freeman. This book deals with the major impact that the Emperor Theodosius (reigned AD 378-95) and the Council of Constantinople (AD 381) had on Christianity and the Roman World. According to Freeman, Theodosius was not a fanatical orthodox Christian (although I might disagree with this perspective). He did, however, set the groundwork for the brutal suppression of competing

Unfortunately, very few people shared Varro's view. Here is Ammianus Marcellinus's view of illness: "But in the city, where the number of the corpses which lay scattered over the streets was too great for any one to perform the funeral rites over them, a pestilence was soon added to the other calamities of the citizens; the carcases becoming full of worms and corruption, from the evaporation caused by the heat, and the various diseases of the people; and here I will briefly explain whence diseases of this kind arise. 2. Both philosophers and skilful physicians agree that excess of cold, or of heat, or of moisture, or of drought, all cause pestilences; on which account those who dwell in marshy or wet districts are subject to coughs and complaints in the eyes, and other similar maladies: on the other hand, those who dwell in hot climates are liable to fevers and inflammations. But since fire is the most powerful of all elements, so drought is the quickest at killing. 5. Others maintain that the air and the water, becoming tainted by the smell of corpses, and similar things, takes away the healthiness of a place, or at all events that the sudden change of temperature brings forth slighter sicknesses. 6. Some again affirm that the air becomes heavier by emanations from the earth, and kills some individuals by checking the perspiration of the body, for which reason we learn from Homer, that, besides men, the other living creatures also died; and we know by many instances, that in such plagues this does occur. 7. Now the first species of pestilence is called pandemic; this causes those who live in dry places to be attacked by frequent heats. The second is called epidemic, which gets gradually more violent, dims the sight of the eyes, and awakens dangerous humours. The third is [plague], which is also temporary, but still often kills with great rapidity. 8. We were attacked by this deadly pestilence from the excessive heat, which our numbers aggravated, though but few died: and at last, on the night after the tenth day from the first attack, the heavy and dense air was softened by a little rain, and the health of the garrison was restored and preserved. guy also known as gaius

Reggio Emilia is a beautiful town between Parma and Modena (formally the ancient city of Mutina where Octavius defeated Marc Antony in 43 BCE before the Second Triumvirate). Reggio Emilia is home the of the famous Parmesan cheese known as Parmigiano-reggiano (after the cities of Parma and Reggio Emilia). My cousins are farmers there. Not much to see there compared to other Italian cities, but great food. guy also known as gaius

I am enjoying the latest book by Charles Freeman, A.D. 381.This book deals with Theodosius' making the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit unquestionable Christian orthodoxy. This ended tolerance toward Pagan beliefs and "heretical" Chrisitan views such as Arianism--the anti-trinitarian view advanced by the Bishop from Alexandria named Arius. I was jarred, however, by the sentence (p. 177): "The Frankish king Clovis converted from Arianism to Catholicism at the end of the fifth century." I was taught that Clovis and the other Francs were the first of the Germanic tribes that converted dirrectly to Roman Catholicism from paganism. The other Germanic tribes were either Pagan or anti-trinitarian Arian Christians. Freeman's statement was made without evidence or explanation. I found this interesting quote from Britannica Online: Over the centuries much has been made of Clovis

Sonic: Your book is definitely on my "to read" queue. I'm definitely looking forward to it. (One of the other books on my queue, AD 381, should be arriving this week.) If you are open to friendly and respectful criticism before your second edition of this book, let us know. Constructive criticism before presenting one's professional papers and lectures can be very helpful. I feel that submitting your work to the scrutiny and review of your peers and critics can be very rewarding and gratifying (although sometimes infuriating and potentially deflating). Much success with this and future books. guy also known as gaius

One of the great losses to our understanding of Ancient History was the first pair of Plutarch

It could be debated whether the Nicene Creed "...would insure a healthy development for the Christian church

http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/publica...hristianity.htm

Well said! I know I

Let me also recommend "Quo Vadis." I've seen both the 1951 version by MGM and the 2001 Polish version. I've been told that the 1951 version is closer to the original novel. I prefer the 2001 version, however, despite the use of subtitles. Nevertheless, I enjoyed both versions. I also found a new role model in the character of Petronius.

I guess Youtube has removed the previous video. Let's try, again: guy also known as gaius P.S.: On the subject of videos. one of my favorite with the "Gladiator" theme:

Cornelius: Thanks for the thoughtful post. I love the hokey line from the movie "Gladiator": "What we do in life echoes in eternity." Despite the inaccurate stirrups, I thought the opening battle scene in Germania was powerful.

Well, 2009 is almost here. Let's all hope for the best. It has been a tough year for many of us financially. Many friends and associates have lost their companies, jobs, retirement savings, or their homes. Hopefully, we still have our good health, family, and friends. Here are two quotes from Ancient Rome that reflect the conflicting views of the future--one optimistic and the other pessimistic. I think they can be applied to our world today. Whenever I feel optimistic, I think about this line from Ammianus Marcellinus:

Thank you for posting this article. This article reminds me of how exciting studying Ancient history can be. In addition, the "Third Century crisis" in Roman history remains for me an enjoyable "great unknown" in Roman history as the primary sources are so thin and the scholarship involving this period is underdeveloped. I am always amazed that the empire avoided total collapse during this period: The Western Empire lasted for two centuries more and the Eastern Empire lasted almost a thousand years beyond that. It is also interesting to learn about the tensions between the growing Christian movement and the dominant Pagan culture during this time. guy also known as gaius