guy

I think this was a very insightful reply. Any society, such as Rome during the "third century crisis," is less likely to make advances in the fields of science, architecture, art, and medicine. Rome was being pressured by such forces as insurrection, devastating disease, economic collapse, hostile foreign invasion, population contraction, etc. It is unlikely that any society would be able to undergo a "golden age" faced with this pressures. The Islamic "golden age" was as much a reflection of a stable society as anything. I think this criticism of that period of time is a little harsh: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/789555/posts Every society produces great geniuses and brilliant thinkers. Unfortunately, without political and social stability along with intellectual freedom and tolerance, these great minds never fulfill their potential. Ending the many conflicts and bringing stability to the region, the Islamic control of this region allowed the indigenous peoples to explore that potential. Remember, Rhazes and Avicenna thought of themselves as Persians, tracing their intellectual heritage to the previous Sassanian and Persian Empires. (Unfortunately, we in the West have too long stereotyped these great Empires as "barbarians.") The idea that Islam preserved and transmitted Ancient Greco-Roman culture is as perverse a notion as the idea that white European settlers have somehow preserved and transmitted Native North American Indian culture. Destroying a culture, but keeping a few shreds of history is hardly "preserving" that culture. guy also known as gaius

I was thinking the same idea, too. That said (and here comes my ignorance), it was the invading armies of Islam that destroyed most the remnants of the Roman world in Spain in the form of the Visigoth Empire and the great bastion of Christian scholarship found in Northern Africa. And I'm not so sure that was a good thing. We are told (perhaps by historians with a politically correct bias) that the destruction of the Visigoth peoples and the suppression of Christian intellectuals in Africa was followed by a more tolerant and intellectually free Islamic presence. This may be true. It seems to me, however, that the threats posed by Islam resulted in a backlash in the Christianized Western world to suppress intellectual pursuits and scientific discovery. That could not have been good, of course. Remember, it was only after the suppression of the Islamic threat in Spain did the King and Queen of Spain feel secure enough to give their financial support to the adventures of Mr. Columbus. It was also this backlash that created the permanent fissure between the intellectual freedom and scientific curiosity of Ancient Rome and the more repressive, insecure, and inward looking medieval Western world. I have to think more about about this topic, later. Hopefully, I will have time in 2010 to delve more deeply into the transformation of the late Classical Age into Renaissance Europe. guy also known as gaius

Agree! I agree with Adrian Goldsworthy when he asserts that it was Rome's frequent and bloody civil wars that sapped the Empire's strength and led to its downfall. A stable Rome could have easily defeated any of its traditional enemies or, at least, defended itself against the many invasions. Imagine, if you will, the amount of trained manpower and resources lost during conflicts between competing Roman emperors and the potential usurpers. A properly led and united Rome would have presented an unbeatable force against any of its enemies. However, there is one great forgotten and underestimated enemy to the Roman empire: disease. It was disease that destabilized the empire as much as anything else. Disease disrupted trade routes, depleted populations needed for agricultural production and distribution, and forced Rome to seek replacements from "barbarian" soldiers for its military weakened by disease and civil wars. Social instability caused by disease and the incessant civil wars along with poor leadership weakened Rome to the point where an attacking force; e.g., the Goths or the Vandals, could easily sack Rome and permanently disupt the Empire. guy also known as gaius

That said, there are infrequent examples of Constantine I with a radiate crown: http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?searc...p;view_mode=1#6 And always one to hedge his bets, Constantine did have the image of the sun-god Sol regularly on the reverse of his coins. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=135075

Great observation . I don't know much about coins of any type, but I do know that a Christianized Roman Emperor would not be typically portrayed with a radiate ("spiky") crown that is closely associated with the sun-god Sol. Here are some images of the coins from the emperor Constans: http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?searc...p;view_mode=1#0 The coin image depicted (the radiate crown and the beard) is more typical of a military Emperor from the third century, a century before Constans. Perhaps this coin was carried by someone from the fourth century, but depicted an Emperor from the century before. Coins in Ancient Rome were known to circulate for many years after they were initially produced. guy also known as gaius

Interesting article. http://www.finds.org.uk/wordpress/?p=722 I want to thank Brian from cointalk.com for the article. guy also known as gaius

I reprint this post (with permission from the author) on different approaches toward collecting Roman Coins. Very informative article: http://dougsmith.ancients.info/acmshow.html guy also known as gaius

I recently submitted five coins to NGC-Ancients for authentication. (I had five free submissions to NGC with my membership. Usually, one would not send off inexpensive coins of any type for authentication. There is even an arguement by many that no Ancient coin should ever be "slabbed." As a non-coin collector who bought these coins from someone of unknown quality, however, I wanted to see whether these coins were authentic. And since I had five free submissions with my membership....) None of these coins were expensive: All were under $100; several under $50. Although none of these coins are worth too much, the history behind the rulers portrayed on the coins is priceless. http://www.ngccoin.com/ancients/index.aspx Here are the preliminary results that NGC-Ancients E-mailed me. (The coins have not returned to my house, yet.). 001 Vologases III AD 105-147 PARTHIAN KINGDOM AR Drachm GRAFFITO 002 Vologases IV AD 147-191 PARTHIAN KINGDOM AR Drachm 003 Phraates IV 38-2 BC PARTHIAN KINGDOM AR Drachm AUTHENTICITY UNVERIFIABLE I guess I can't be too disappointed, since these coins are around 2000 years old. A lot can happen to a coin in a couple thousand years. I hope they survive the return trip to my house. I will try to post pictures when these babies arrive. guy also known as gaius

I hope this is not a duplicate of someone else's post. I enjoy this site as I study Ancient coins. (It even lists Parthian coins, my current interest.) http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?searc...g=1&fac=1#7 Other nice resources: http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/ http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/index.html guy also known as gaius

Oh, the memories: guy also known as gaius

First, I want to thank Chris for creating this new subforum. I think it will create interest for this site. Second, I know nearly nothing about coins. And I do not collect coins. (I have two young teenagers wanting to go to college. So, I must save my money.) However, I enjoy the field of numismatics (coins, tokens, medals, etc.). I'm amazed by the idea I can actually touch and own a piece of history, giving me a connection with the Ancient world. I enjoy the study of sculpture, too, but I could never afford a piece of Ancient sculpture. Any of us, however, can afford a coin from the Roman Empire for just a few dollars. As I learn more about Ancient coins, I will share this information with others on this site. Here's a list of helpful information someone compiled and that I found useful. http://rg.ancients.info/guide/ancients.html One of the sites listed has a nice scroll of introductory information dealing with Ancient coins (wait till it loads up): http://www.ancientcash.info/ Well, thank you, again, Chris. guy also known as gaius

That's just Berlusconi being Berlusconi. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle6724839.ece I think his center left opponent, Dario Franceschini, is a very honorable man. He is very articulate, very thoughtful, and a true intellect. He is a published author. If I were a politician, I would model my speaking style after him. I personally admire him greatly. Unfortunately, Dario Francheschini is too idealistic. (Think Jimmy Carter meets Barack Obama.) Plus, Italians tend to be a lot more forgiving of their politicians' sexual foibles. (Perhaps they take pride in a 72 year old man's exploits and stamina.) Until the center left presents a better argument, I will be surprised if Berlusconi and / or the center right coalition is forced to relinquish power anytime soon. This is, I believe, his third opportunity as prime minister. He is a survivor. And if we are to believe the reports, he is in very good health. Ciao a tutti, guy also known as gaius

Here is an interesting article on some coins, genuine and forgeries, of the Emperor Julian (the Apostate). http://rg.ancients.info/constantine/Julian_II_other.html There are forgeries in the world of Ancient antiquities. That said, one can buy from a reputable source a nice authenticated and guaranteed Julian for under $100. What is your price range? guy also known as gaius

Although I don't collect coins, I do enjoy the study of numismatics, including coins. As previously answered, Ancient Roman coin values can range from just a few dollars to thousands. I recommend one learns about coins before spending too much money. There are way too many forgeries and counterfeits. The old adage in coin collecting is "buy the book before the coin." That means, learn about coins before investing (wasting) any money. Remember, only buy coins from reputable dealers (most with guarantees) if you are going to spend any serious money until you learn a lot more about coins. I like this site for my Ancient coin research and needs: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ Also, remember that collecting Ancient coins can be addicting and bad for your wallet and marriage. To the higher ups on UNRV: Please consider creating a separate heading for Ancient Roman Numismatics (possibly under the heading of Romana Humanitas). I think this new section would create a greater interest in Ancient Roman culture. guy also known as gaius

Gaius Paulinus: Thank you for the excellent link. I don't have a deep understanding of MMA and I certainly don't have any understanding of the politics. (My only personal involvement with the martial arts is when I served as the throwing dummy for my University's Judo club. I was never any good, but I did learn how to fall without breaking my wrists.) The following is a video of Fedor in Japan fighting the Korean Hong Man Choi, a giant of a man (literally). Fedor is 6'0", 230 lbs. Hong is 7'2", 330-360 lbs. This video makes me think of the spectacles in the colosseum. The contests must have been bizarre, bloody, brutal, but fascinating. How little things have changed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14EAb7TZGH8 Note Hong's face at 1:50 of the clip. One can see the sheer terror. The Japanese announcer is a real freak. The crowd's excitement is frightening. guy also known as gaius P.S.: I think it should be mandatory for the fighters to wear head protectors.

Although I

I'm sure we all have large defects in our knowledge and understanding of Ancient Rome. My most obvious defect is my lack of knowledge of Latin, for example. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will never learn Latin, however. The reasons are simple: not enough time and not enough room in my simple brain. I speak Spanish daily at work and I need to know Italian to communicate with my cousins in Italy. I just cannot absorb enough of another language and hope to do it justice. Another glaring deficiency is my inability to grasp the Greco-Roman moralists, as much as I may try. For me, trying to read about these important figures in the philosophical world of Ancient Rome is a guaranteed soporific. I'm trying, nevertheless, to learn to appreciate Dio Crysostom, Musonius Rufus, Epictetus, Lucian of Samosata, etc. http://www.radicalacademy.com/adiphilethical2.htm Because I'm a dullard, this has not been easy. (This could also explain my inability to grasp the philosophical rants of the more famous Ancient Greek philosophers, also.) I was wondering whether anyone else has the problem. Or was there another area in the study of Ancient Rome that failed to inspire others but was still recognized as being important? guy also known as gaius

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