guy

Many of my relatives and their neighbors were anti-fascists, so my opinion of Mussolini is not impartial. Their region of Italy was one of the last to fall to his rule (Parma-Reggio Emilia). He was an opportunist. I think this quote attributed to him is very telling: "It is not impossible to govern Italians. It is merely useless." Sadly, many of the statists and collectivists in this country were enamored of him: "There seems to be no question that [Mussolini] is really interested in what we are doing and I am much interested and deeply impressed by what he has accomplished and by his evidenced honest purpose of restoring Italy. " (Franklin D. Roosevelt to US Ambassador to Italy Breckinridge Long, Schivelbusch, Wolfgang. ''Three New Deals : Reflections on Roosevelt's America, Mussolini's Italy, and Hitler's Germany, 1933-1939. Macmillan.) Reagan, I think, got it right: "Fascism was really the basis for the New Deal. It was Mussolini's success in Italy, with his government-directed economy, that led the early New Dealers to say "But Mussolini keeps the trains running on time.'" (Ronald Reagan. Time in 1976. Reagan adviser Jude Wanniski has indicated that, in 1933, New Dealers as well as much of the world admired Mussolini

Ben: Thank you for the very moving tribute to the man. Now being a middle-aged man, I have witnessed the passing of many people I knew and loved. Sadly, only after the painful experiences of life's lessions, do we learn how fragile a gift life truly is. Through no fault of his own, he has been cruelly taken from those who knew him and loved him the most, his wife and children. May the man who became Spartacus live long in our thoughts and may comforting memories forever be with his family and loved ones, guy also known as gaius

There is no archaeological or other literary evidence of civilian hospitals till late antiquity with the advent of those pesky Christians other than below: There is this curious quote from Celsus (25 BCE - AD 50) from On Medicine Prooemium 66: http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Celsus/Prooemium*.html Here is an early hint of the later public charity hospitals from the somewhat bigoted Christian Justin Martyr (AD 150-155) First Apology 67: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0126.htm guy also known as gaius

Respectfully, I disagree with what you wrote on many levels. The following thread might answer one of your points: http://www.unrv.com/forum/topic/11738-vindolanda-tablets-glimpse-of-legionary-health/ guy also known as gaius

I agree that these are some great courses. (I have already bought too many...but I plan on buying more ) I also agree that one should buy these courses ONLY when they come on sale. With the recession, however, these courses seem to be on sale all the time. I recommend these course highly! guy also known as gaius

I think you are a little harsh. We like to think of ourselves as "modern," with a great concern about asceptic technique. It is only most recently (the latter part of the 19th century) that such concepts as sterility and infection control have become better understood. Here are two paintings from the late 1800s by the American artist Thomas Eakins done only fourteen years apart. Note how they show how quickly concepts such as hygiene and sterile surgical fields evolved. Note in the above picure "The Gross Clinic" done in 1875, the medical team is wearing the equivalent of "street clothes" while in the midst of an invasive surgery (the treatment of osteomyelitis of the thigh). This second picture "The Agnew Clinic" was done in 1889, portraying surgery for breast cancer. The medical staff is now wearing surgical gowns in a cleaner and brighter surgical theater. I think it is sometimes all too easy for us today to criticize the Ancient Romans for their sometimes ludicrous and primative concepts of health care while we now live in clean, modern environments with a hand sanitizer at every turn and a private bathroom with indoor plumbing in every building. Remember, it wasn't too long ago that we "moderns" were still using leeches and purges on our sick patients. In fact, George Washington suffered bloodletting on his deathbed in 1799. guy also known as gaius

Valetudinarium (Military Hospital) First priority was sanitation. Emphasis on sewage and waste removal, running water, and good ventilation. Buildings were a double row of rooms separated by a corridor and arranged around a courtyard. Battlefield injuries required the knowledge of tourniquets, arterial clamps, and ligatures to stem blood flow. Amputation to prevent gangrene. Prevent battlefield epidemics by placing forts away from insect infested swamps and installed drains to transport sewage away from the camp. Marcus Varro Roman scholar and writer (116-27 BCE) Military Medical Corps 27 BCE Formed by Emperor Augustus. First permanent and professional corps of physicians and surgeons, hygiene officers, and bandagers or medics (capsarii). Physicians given land grants, dignified titles, special retirement gifts such as exempt from certain taxes and civil duties. Medical personal trained and qualified by military schools. guy also known as gaius

Interesting article. These bones were excavated in my ancestral home of Reggio Emilia. These bones were thought to be from the late AD 200s (my favorite period of Roman history). http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/110415-saints-murdered-chrysanthus-daria-science-rome-roman-christians/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints_Chrysanthus_and_Daria guy also known as gaius

Documenting ancient history is dependent on many sources, including literary, epigraphic, and numismatic evidence. This is the final post of this series and will examine the sources available. The literary references to the poorly documented usurper Carausius (ruled AD 286-293) are sparse. http://www.kenelks.co.uk/coins/carausius/carausius.htm Here is a nice summary of the literary sources: http://www.carausius.net/background.php

Can't help you with the picture, but the book sounds interesting. Let us know when it's out and more details about the book. guy also known as gaius

Update: The coin sold for $546,250 on September 7, 2011 at the 2011 September Long Beach Signature World & Ancient Coins Auction #3015 There were four bidders: guy also known as gaius

As mentioned in Part I, Carausius (AD 286-293) was one of the many usurpers who threatened the stability of the Roman Empire during the turbulent third century. In AD 286, Carausius was a fleet commander under the Caesar of the West, Maximian. He had been put in charge of clearing the Saxon and Frankish raiders who threatened Roman rule, commerce, and property in the English Channel and North Sea. Maximian, however, came to believe that Carausius was stealing bounty for himself. It seems that Maximian believed Carausius attacked the raiders only after the raiders had completed their raids, allowing Carausius to more easily enrich himself on the plunder without returning the stolen goods. Maximian condemned Carausius to death. Having been forewarned of his death sentence, Carausius decided to form a breakaway republic of Britain and Northern Gaul. After Maximian's initial failures by against Carausius, the legitimate rulers Diocletian and Maximian were forced to ignore Carausius as they struggled to stabilize other borders throughout the empire. Carausius made a gesture of his loyalty with this coin. CARAUSIUS, DIOCLETIAN and MAXIMIANUS. 287-293 AD. Antoninianus (4.16 gm). Camulodunum mint, struck circa 292-293 AD. CARAVSIVS ET FRATRES SVI, jugate radiate and cuirassed busts of Maximianus, Diocletian and Carausius left / PAX AVGGG, Pax standing left, holding olive-branch and vertical sceptre. Note the inscription "CARAVSIVS ET FRATES SVI" meaning "Carausius and his brothers (Diocletian and Maximian)." As numismatic expert and writer Doug Smith reminds me, some of Carausius's coins have no obvious mention of Carausius at all. Instead, they bear the name of either Diocletion or Maximian. On the reverse, however, the inscriptions end in AVGGG. The triple "GGG" signifies Carausius's hope for recognition as one of the three Augusti (Maximian, Diocletian, and Carausius) http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=197549 By AD 293, however, Diocletian had formed the tetrarchy. He had earlier made Maximian his co-Augustus. Each Augustus then took on a Caesar who served as his adoptive son and heir. Constantius was assigned to the Western Roman Empire as Maximian's Caesar and was instructed to regain the territory lost to Carausius. As Constantius relentlessly regained control of the breakaway territories for the Roman Empire, Carausius was assassinated by his own minister, Allectus. Allectus survived for only three years till AD 296, when he was killed by the forces of Constantius. This is how the reign of Carausius ended along with his short-lived independent empire. Numismatics give insight into the futile attempts of the usurper Carausius to curry favor from the legitimate powers of Rome. They also shed light on poorly documented chapters of Roman history. guy also known as gaius

I recently have been given the privilege of reviewing the book, The Frome Hoard. This giant hoard of 52,503 coins (coins collected weighed 160 kg or 350 lbs) was found in April 2010 near Frome in Somerset, England. (Source: Wikipedia) This coin hoard was notable for the many high quality coins of the usurper Carausius who ruled an independent Britain and Northern Gaul in AD 286. Carausius was only one of the many usurpers who threatened the stability of Rome during the third century of crisis. Before reviewing the book, I wanted to learn more about this poorly documented usurper and the numismatic evidence surrounding his reign. In AD 286, Caesar Maximian under the Augustus Diocletian, was placed in charge of stabilizing and securing the western frontiers of the Roman Empire. Carausius, a man of humble origins, had distinguished himself fighting for Maximian against the Bagaudae rebels in Northern Gaul. (The Bagaudae rebels have been described as

I'm sorry that I don't know the coin dealer. He does have a presence on Vcoins, a very reputable site for buying coins, however. A good site to discuss basics of coin buying is cointalk.com I really don't buy coins, but I like this site to purchase coins: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ It is a great site with well-attributed and authenticated coins. It has many great coins ranging from $10 to $10,000. I recommend that site highly. As I mentioned above, a site with many dealers who are held to ethical standards is: http://www.vcoins.com/ I hope I was of some help. guy also known as gaius Warning: Collecting Ancient coins can be an enjoyable, but also an expensive and addicting pastime.

Maty: As I wait with great anticipation Ian Hughes's book Aetius, I see there might be another book on my "must read" list. Tell us more. guy also known as gaius

This is the only coin minted in Rome to bear the true year date. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=1032 -. Aureus (Gold, 7.33 g 6), Rome, April, 121. IMP CAES HADRIANVS AVG COS III Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right. Rev. ANN.DCCC.LXXIIII NAT VRB.P.CIR CON. The Genius of the Circus reclining left, nude to the waist and with his head turned back to right, holding chariot wheel on his right knee with his right hand and with his left arm wrapped around three obelisks on a low base (the Spina of the Circus Maximus guy also known as gaius

Emperor Phillip the Arab faced several usurpers. There is numismatic evidence of three unsuccessful usurpers, one possible fictional usurper, and one triumphant usurper who became Emperor. As we have discussed before, the third century of the Roman Empire is poorly documented. The century

Here are my dissenting views: The average size of Ancient men based on skeletal studies compared to the size of men in modern Naples: Ancient Heraculum 169 cm (5' 6.5") Ancient Pompeii 166 cm (5' 5.4") Modern Naples 164 cm (5' 4.6") None of these people are giants...which leads me to my next point: It is unlikely that Maximinus Thrax was over 7 feet tall (or over the purported eight feet). The source for this is the Historia Augusta, hardly a reliable source. His size could have been exaggerated to emphasize his barbarian background. Maximinus lived to 65, highly unlikely for someone having gigantism or acromegaly in the Ancient world. (Think about the premature death of Andre the Giant in the wrestling world.) Maximinus was the first emperor never to set foot in Rome, so it would be easier to create a mythology about his height. I plan on writing about this further some day. guy also known as gaius

Only a 5.8? Pleeeeease. Living in Southern California, we routinely have those for lunch. Now, a hurricane...that would be different. guy also known as gaius

I preferred the Germanic Tribes, too. guy also known as gaius

As much as I'm looking forward to the upcoming HBO remake of the series I, Claudius, I doubt they will show the same reserve and tactful constraint with this scene from the original series of Messalina's notorious competition: guy also known as gaius

Is there anyway to have a short movie clip as our avatar? I know of a few sites that do. It is really cool. guy also known as gaius

Wow, The "Crosby Garrett Calvary Helmet." Made me do a Wikipedia search: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crosby_Garrett_Helmet I love the Griffin on top of the hat, but for some reason, it just doesn't seem macho enough for a Roman calvary officer. guy also known as gaius

The Immortal Ides of March Denarius Here's the listing in the upcoming Heritage auction: Marcus Junius Brutus, Assassin of Caesar and Imperator (44-42 BC). AR denarius (3.72 gm). Mint moving with Brutus in northern Greece, L. Plaetorius Cestianus, magistrate, late summer-autumn 42 BC. BRVT IMP L. PLAET. CEST., bare head of Brutus right, wearing slight beard / EID MAR, pileus (cap of liberty) between two daggers. Crawford 508/3. Cahn 10b (this coin cited, four pieces known from this die pairing). CRI 216. RSC 15. RCV 1439 (this coin illustrated). Struck in exceptionally sound metal and beautifully toned. Superb portrait of the famed tyrannicide and among the finest specimens known. Nearly extremely fine / Extremely fine. From the Rubicon Collection. Ex NAC 29 (11 May 2005). Ex Peter Weller Collection (Antiqua Fixed Price List VIII, Summer 2000). Ex Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection Part I (Sotheby's, June 1990), acquired by private treaty from the Sy Weintraub Collection. Ex Hall Park McCollough Collection (Stack's November 1967). Ex Woodward Collection (Naville-Ars Classica XV, 1930). The EID MAR denarius, undoubtedly the most historically important of all ancient coins, is the only Roman coin to mention a specific date, the only Roman coin to openly celebrate an act of murder, and one of the very few specific coins mentioned by a classical author. In his account of the Roman civil wars of 49-31 BC, the Roman historian Dio Cassius writes: "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." Although the EID MAR type is justifiably famous (it was selected in a 2008 vote by top numismatists as Number 1 of the "100 Greatest Ancient Coins"), the EID MAR offered here has perhaps the most distinguished pedigree of all among the 75 or so surviving specimens, with auction records dating back to 1930. It has resided in the collections of Hall Park McCollough, Sy Weintraub, Nelson Bunker Hunt and actor-turned-history-professor Peter Weller. Numerous books, articles and TV productions have used this specimen to illustrate the type, including the most widely used handbook of Roman coins, David R. Sear's "Roman Coins and Their Values Vol. I" (no. 1439). Also, of all the known EID MAR denarii, this example inarguably has the best metal quality-important since most EID MARs were apparently struck in slightly base silver and survive in a highly porous state that is subject to further deterioration, cracking and / or delamination. The event so celebrated, of course, is the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March (March 15), 44 BC. The man depicted on the obverse, Marcus Junius Brutus, was one of the ringleaders of the assassination plot, despite being the son of Caesar's longtime mistress, Servilia. In the centuries since, he has been both hailed as a champion of liberty and damned as the vilest of traitors. Brutus was born in about 85 BC, the product of two of Rome's most distinguished families, the Junii, represented by his father M. Junius Brutus the elder, and the Servili, exemplified by his mother Servilia. The themes of Republican liberty and the defeat of tyrants ran strong in Brutus' bloodlines. One of his distant ancestors, L. Junius Brutus, expelled the last Tarquin king of Rome and went on to become the Republic's first chief magistrate, or Consul; another ancestor, Servius Ahala, murdered the tyrant Spurius Maelius, who had threatened to overthrow the Republic and install himself as king. His father had resisted the tyranny of the Dictator Sulla and was murdered on the orders of his henchman, Pompey the Great, during the bloody Proscriptions of 78-77 BC. After entering public life in 58 BC, Brutus became a prot