guy

http://www.prosciuttodiparma.com/en_UK/prosciutto http://www.academiabarilla.com/the-italian-food-academy/meats-charcuterie/prosciutto-parma-1.aspx My relatives are from Reggio Emilia, near Parma. They love that prosciutto. Not me, however. Despite what many say, pigs are among the smartest and most gentle animals on the planet. guy also known as gaius

I'm enjoying this thread as it is making me examine more closely a source whose validity I never considered. That said, there are several things about the link that are either translated incorrectly or just factually wrong. http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Post/1021862 guy also known as gaius

Just a thought: Could Malalas, writing more than two centuries after the fact, confused Numerian with Valerian? I believe here's what he wrote about Valerian: No mention of Valerian's capture and later display? As mentioned by Heather, it was reported that Valerian was captured by Shapur, the Persian King. It is alleged that he was later skinned, his skin was stuffed, and he was used as a trophy. Writing two centuries later (without the benefit of Google), Malalas could easily have gotten his emperors confused. guy also known as gaius

Heather's source is Dodgeon's Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars, and Dodgeon appears to be quoting Malalas: Interestingly enough, I was reading about Numerian this week as I was studying some of the numismatic material from this period. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/numerian/t.html Thank you for bringing the anecdote and the source to my attention. I was not familiar with Malalas, but I offer these caveats: There exists little reliable history about the third century and so we can never be sure about these or other anecdotes. Malalas wrote more than two centuries later (during the reign of Justinian) about the events involving Numerian. Malalas seems to have a Christian agenda. This possibly distorts any history about a pre-Christian emperor written by a Christian writer. Thank you, again, for bringing this source and anecdote to my attention. guy also known as gaius

Landslide Smashes Into Wall at Italy's Historic Pompeii Site http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/landslide-smashes-wall-italys-historic-pompeii-site-28718190 guy also known as gaius

Interesting article. I think historians have underestimated the role of both climate and disease on Ancient societies. guy also known as gaius

Honestly, this coin is of such poor quality, I wonder why it was used in this otherwise fine course. I am sure that they have nicer coins in their collection. The inscription was not legible and the images are so poor that it is difficult to interpret anything from the coin. I think the authors' conclusions about the coin's significance are a bit of a stretch. guy also known as gaius

It really does sound exciting: I wonder why more of that kind of research wasn't done earlier. Perhaps Italy's financial crisis prevented further study. http://news.yahoo.com/ancient-scrolls-scorched-vesuvius-may-read-again-162718464.html;_ylt=AwrSyCTCjr5UIUoAWsPQtDMD guy also known as gaius

Was this the question? guy also known as gaius

I've been to New Orleans a few times. Great food. Fun music. Interesting night life. Just don't wonder off alone too much in the seedier parts of town late at night. The problem for me is that I have only so many vacation days. New Orleans is not on the top of my list of places to go. An interesting scene of New Orleans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRLucEmfNCQ Honestly, New Orleans and the state of Louisiana have more of a Caribbean feel than anything. guy also known as gaius

Interesting meeting. (I really wouldn't want to go to New Orleans in January, however.) I've seen a copy of the magazine "Amphora," which I believe the organization sponsors. It appeared to be a fine enough magazine. http://apaclassics.org/sites/default/files/ckfinderfiles/Amphora_Spring2014.pdf That said, if they held conferences in Las Vegas.... guy also known as gaius

Let's all have a Happy and Healthy 2015. guy also known as gaius

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2877855/Cemetery-one-MILLION-mummies-unearthed-Egypt-1-500-year-old-desert-necropolis-largest-found.html Could be interesting since these mummies seem to be from the Roman era. guy also known as gaius

Here's my favorite song with Farrell. For whatever reason, it takes me back to my happiest (or, at least, my most carefree) days on this planet while in Miami in the early 80's. Wow: guy also known as gaius

Although I'm not usually a big fan of electronic dance music, this song is catchy as one drives 80+ mph through the desert. Give the song a few seconds, then, be transported to Ancient Rome: guy also known as gaius

Here's an interesting article (posted by Valentinian from cointalk): http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/19182/20141121/aerial-laser-uncovers-ancient-roman-goldmines-spain.htm guy also known as gaius

Here's a nice follow-up article. The attached video is interesting. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11247135/Colosseum-to-come-alive-again-2000-years-after-the-gladiators.html guy also known as gaius

I don't know whether this story is a hoax or not. It seems more than a little bit unbelievable: https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/colosseum-ancient-ruin-modern-venue-150644620--finance.html guy also known as gaius

I, too, finished the sixth (and final) week of the course. I thought it was a fine review about the scholarship and research involving Hadrian's Wall. The final week initially dealt with Hadrian's Wall during the late fourth and fifth century. A video showed the commanding officer's residence in a fort along the Wall having been converted to a church during this period. The course then followed the fate of the Wall after the fall of the Roman Empire. It also described the research involved in the Wall's excavation and scholarship. Overall, it was a light, usually entertaining review of Hadrian's Wall. guy also known as gaius

I completed week five "Conflict, consolidation and renaissance: life on the Wall in the 3rd and 4th centuries." This week was a little disjointed. Then again, any study of the turbulent and unstable third and fourth century would be a little confusing. Topics ranged from the Romano-Gallic Empire of Postumus to the Britannic Empire of Caruasius. To add to the diversity of topics, there was an interesting 4th century banquet and a section on numismatics. There was also a section on the presence of Septimius Severus at the wall. There was a mention of this famous anecdote: This lack of focus may have created some confusion. Nevertheless, this has been an interesting course. The last week will soon be available to be reviewed. In answer to the above question, it seems most these courses are offered again. I recommend this course (and others) as a quick and inexpensive (free) review of Roman history. guy also known as gaius

The fourth week of this six week course is now underway. This week's subject was "Ritual, Religion and the Roman Wall." Of course, the presentation has to be somewhat superficial given the time restraints. That said, there was an interesting presentation about the alters to the cult of Mithras found at Hadrian's Wall. I presented this video and link for further background: The sacrifice of bulls was also important in the other great Eastern mystery religion of the Roman Empire known as the cult of Magna Mater (Cybele or Great Mother). Here's a powerful depiction from HBO's "Rome" series of the religious rite of Magna Mater called taurobolium, the baptism in the blood of a sacrificed bull : (Click on the link in the video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUdxy836WY4 Here's an interesting summary of these two mystery religions: http://courses.ttu.edu/gforsyth/3302cp/20.htm guy also known as gaius

Discussed in lesson three is the very poignant tombstone of Regina found near Hadrian's Wall: http://www2.cnr.edu/home/araia/regina.html http://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/1065 Regina was a freed slave born into the British tribe of Catuvellauni. She married Barates, her former master from Palmyra. She died young, beloved and mourned by her husband. The majority of the epitaph is in Latin The last line of her epitaph, however, is Barates' final heartbreaking lament in his native Palmyrene and reads: Regina, freedwoman of Barate, alas. Line 1: D(IS) M(ANIBVS) REGINA LIBERTA ET CONIVGE Line 2: BARATES PALMYRENVS NATIONE Line 3: CATVALLAVNA AN(NORVM) XXX Line 4: (Palmyrene script) RGYN’ BT HRY ‘T’ HBL Line 1: To the spirits of the departed (and to) Regina, his freedwoman and wife Line 2: Barates, a Palmyrene (set this up) Line 3: (Regina was) Catuvellaunian by tribe, aged 30 Line 4: Regina, the freedwoman of Barate, alas These two people, separated by birth (Syria and Britannia) and class (a former slave and a wealthy merchant or soldier) were united by love in a very diverse Roman Empire. This touching tombstone to Regina is a lasting monument to their love. guy also known as gaius

The third week of the course is now up and running. Good stuff. This week is a description of everyday life in a frontier community. Someone posted a link to the BCC show Time Team's visit to Hadrian's Wall. It's very interesting. guy also known as gaius

guy also known as gaius

Question: On the course about Hadrian's Wall, the instructor keeps referring to the wall as "Rome's most heavily defended border." I'm a little skeptical. I imagine that there were other sections of the border (perhaps in Germany or the border with the Sassanians) that were at least "more militarized" with less active trade and commerce. I know that Rome's official presence was almost three centuries at Hadrian's Wall so it's hard to generalize throughout its entire existence. Thoughts? guy also known as gaius