guy

Great Ancient Roman find in Israel: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1339051/The-sea-gave-Wonder-Israel-ancient-Roman-statue-buried-thousands-years-uncovered-storm.html guy also known as gaius

Coins have frequently provided portraits of Ancient figures otherwise unseen by modern eyes. For example, much of our knowledge of the poorly documented "Crisis of the Third Century" in Ancient Rome comes from the study of numismatics. I found this possible image of Hannibal Barca, Rome's infamous enemy who achieved notoriety with his relentless attack of the Roman Republic and with his use of elephants as a weapon of mass destruction. I found this interesting coin from Heritage Auction Galleries catalog. (One must be signed in to see the images.): Here's the background information associated with the coin: http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=3012&Lot_No=24416 (Interestingly, this coin eventually sold at auction in January 2011 for $46,000.) For comparison, here is a marble bust thought possibly to be Hannibal: guy also known as gaius

How 'bout a map of the late Roman Empire (AD 460 or later) that could show the Visigoths, Vandals, a defeated Hunnic Empire, Ostrogoths, Lombards, etc? Just some ideas: http://www.tesorillo.com/aes/_map/map.htm guy

Thank you for at least considering my idea that the number of early adherants to Christianity may be greater than commonly accepted since estimates don't take into account the number of females, slaves, and poor who would be attracted to a Jesus movement that preached salvation and afterlife blessings for (especially) the poor and the powerless. I think this quote by Pliny in his letter describing Christians to Trajan is very supportive of this idea: Note that these church deacons were both female and slaves. guy also known as gaius

Don't get me wrong. I highly recommend the movie. I thought it was very thought provoking. At least one of the actors (the actor who played Ammonius is a devout Palestinian Christian) insisted that the director of the movie moderate the potential anti-Christian tone of the film. The movie shows most of new Christian converts to be women, slaves, or the poor. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." This depiction of the weaker segments of society being attracted to the Jesus movement supports my belief about the underestimated size of the early Jesus movement. I think the estimate that less than 10% of the Roman Empire was Christian at the time of Constantine's "conversion" is a gross underestimation of the number of people who, at least partially, embraced Christian theology. First, we have little recorded history of the weak and powerless in Ancient society (most women, slaves, and the poor). Second, it is probable that many Romans (including possibly Severus Alexander) included Christ in their personal pantheon of worshiped deities. Although they weren't technically Christians, they accepted some of the teachings of the Jesus movement. One day I will write on this further. Once again, I recommend the movie to anyone who enjoys Roman history, especially late antiquity. guy also known as gaius

Although I liked the movie (and my wife more than I did), I think it is interesting to watch the director's commentary on the bonus section of the DVD. I enjoyed some of his historical perspectives. I didn't enjoy some of his modern historical analogies, however. I can accept that he is a former Christian who has become cynical of religion. I may even agree with him to some degree. I am slightly defensive, however, when he equates the Parabalani (the Christian brotherhood portrayed in the movie as intolerant and fanatical) with us Americans. He assures viewers that with the election of President Obama, however, we Americans will become more tolerant and rational thinking. Good to know. guy also known as gaius

No one has asked...but my avatar is Antonius Musa, Augustus' personal physician. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonius_Musa I was wondering the significance of other members' avatar. guy also known as gaius

This is one of the best books about the Late Roman Empire. Here is my review from several months back: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=9493 Enjoy. guy also known as gaius

Here at UNRV, most of us aren't coin collectors. I think most of us can agree, however, that an appreciation and understanding of ancient numismatics can enrich our appreciation of the culture and history of Ancient Rome. Since I don't collect coins and I don't have any Roman Republic coins, my knowledge of the numismatics of this period is very limited. Here is a link to an informative article by David Vagi on the subject of coins from the Roman Republic. He is a well respected author, scholar, teacher, and expert on Ancient numismatics. He is also the director of NGC's Ancient division. Enjoy. http://www.ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?NewsletterNewsArticleID=965 guy also known as gaius

I highly recommend the third lecture by Victor Davis Hanson (11/10/10): "Life of a Soldier: Persian and Greek." (Go to the link in the first post.) The lecture focuses on the Greek hoplite warrior. Aside from a brief technical glitch in the middle, the podcast is a very good quality. Hanson, of course, gives a great lecture. He also briefly mentions the possible future movie about the Greek naval victory at Salamis patterned after the very successful movie 300. guy also known as gaius

Funny video on the accuracy of a Balearic slinger: Interesting quote by Vegetius of the Late Roman Empire about the sling as a weapon from De Re Militari: THE SLING Recruits are to be taught the art of throwing stones both with the hand and sling. The inhabitants of the Balearic Islands are said to have been the inventors of slings, and to have managed them with surprising dexterity, owing to the manner of bringing up their children. The children were not allowed to have their food by their mothers till they had first struck it with their sling. Soldiers, notwithstanding their defensive armor, are often more annoyed by the round stones from the sling than by all the arrows of the enemy. Stones kill without mangling the body, and the contusion is mortal without loss of blood. It is universally known the ancients employed slingers in all their engagements. There is the greater reason for instructing all troops, without exception, in this exercise, as the sling cannot be reckoned any incumbrance, and often is of the greatest service, especially when they are obliged to engage in stony places, to defend a mountain or an eminence, or to repulse an enemy at the attack of a castle or city. http://www.digitalattic.org/home/war/vegetius/index.php#b114

Below is the link to the Marathon 2500 project. It represents a year long series of lectures commemorating the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon. http://www.marathon2500.org/ Right now, the site seems clunky and full of technical glitches. Hopefully, since this will be a year long series of lectures, they will improve the site and its audio quality as time goes on. guy also known as gaius Dr. Thom: Thanks for the information and good luck with the lecture.

I am not a coin collector. Nevertheless, I enjoy the history I can learn from coins. Part of the success and relative stability that Ancient Rome achieved over a vast and diverse empire could be attributed to the Empire's willingness to tolerate and even foster local traditions and beliefs (provided one showed proper deference and respect to the Empire and Emperor, of course). This is an interesting coin with the image of Mount Argaeus on the reverse that reflects that concept. This is a coin of the Emperor Commodus made in Cappadocia (Central Turkey). On the reverse of the coin is an image of Mount Argaeus, which was held in special esteem and mythology by the local population. (Similarly, coins of provincial Egypt could show an image of Serapis, a god unique to Ancient Egypt.) Mount Argaeus (modern day Ericyes. Source: Wikipedia): Here is the coin description: Caesarea Cappadocia, Commodus 177-192, Didrachm Laureled head of Commodus right "AYT M AYP KOMO ANTWNI" "YPi ATOC D Pi AT Pi A" Mt Argaeus surmounted by a star Note that the coin inscriptions are in Greek, not the usual Latin. This would be in deference to the local population. Here is another image (Top and bottom images from Wildwinds.com.) Here is a previous discussion on the mythology surrounding Mount Argaeus. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=11544&pid=106951&st=0entry106951 guy also known as gaius

I've been a harsh critic of Ms. Hughes before: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10863 Please be sure to view on my post the embedded program by Hughes about those peaceful Moors in Spain and their horrible predecessors (the Visigoths) and their hateful successors (the Spanish and their Inquisition). Take note of which site hosts the video. I will say no more. I think I look better with an attached head. guy also known as gaius

I used to really respect Bettany Hughes work. It seems her work has become increasingly politically motivated, however. So help me with this one. These nasty "imperialists" (the Romans) are the blood ancestors of many in Britain. Why are the Romans vilified, while those "peace-loving" Ancient Celts are admired and respected? The Ancient Romans were not the invading Spanish Armada, Napoleonic French, or the evil German Nazis. They were not even the later and more destructive Angles, Saxons, Jutes, or Frisians. (And how did the invasion of these Germanic barbarians turn out for everyone? I guess there's nothing like a few centuries of darkness and brutality.) So enough of this Roman bashing. We should all embrace our Greco-Roman heritage and stop this historical revisionism. I frequently ask my daughter which would she prefer: Visiting her father's Ancient Roman ancestors, relaxing in their heated baths, and enjoying sumptuous meals...or visiting her mother's ancient ancestors who slept in mud huts, made human sacrifices, and put rancid butter in their hair. guy also known as gaius

I am always left speechless by this quote. (I finally found the original Latin.) Tacitus AD 98 Germania Book 1.33: http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/tac/g01030.htm 33. After the Tencteri came, in former days, the Bructeri; but the general account now is, that the Chamavi and Angrivarii entered their settlements, drove them out and utterly exterminated them with the common help of the neighbouring tribes, either from hatred of their tyranny, or from the attractions of plunder, or from heaven's favourable regard for us. It did not even grudge us the spectacle of the conflict. More than sixty thousand fell, not beneath the Roman arms and weapons, but, grander far, before our delighted eyes. May the tribes, I pray, ever retain if not love for us, at least hatred for each other; for while the destinies of empire hurry us on, fortune can give no greater boon than discord among our foes. 33. Juxta Tencteros Bructeri olim occurrebant: nunc Chamavos et Angrivarios immigrasse narratur, pulsis Bructeris ac penitus excisis vicinarum consensu nationum, seu superbiae odio, seu praedae dulcedine, seu favore quodam erga nos deorum: nam ne spectaculo quidem proelii invidere: super sexaginta millia, non armis telisque Romanis, sed, quod magnificentius est, oblectationi oculisque ceciderunt. Maneat, quaeso, duretque gentibus, si non amor nostri, at certe odium sui: quando, urgentibus imperii fatis, nihil jam praestare fortuna majus potest, quam hostium discordiam guy also known as gaius

Sorry. I have recently been reading too much on the late Roman Empire and the many "barbarian" invasions. The group Lacuna Coil is from Milan. For some reason, this group (and especially this song) evokes my fascination and terror of the invading Gothic peoples: The singer Christina Scabbia's gothic dress and Gothic-Italian features are unforgettable. guy also known as gaius

Thanks, but I'm still looking for something on the mythology of the mountain on Earth. Here's some information I found: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=25089.30;wap2 guy also known as gaius

I was hoping to start a post in Numismatica revolving around the subject of Mt. Argaeus. This mountain is found in Cappadocia, appeared on coins, and may have influenced the Emperor Julian. (Stay tuned: more on this later.) My question: What was its role in Ancient mythology? What was the myth surrounding this mountain? Thanks ahead of time. guy also known as gaius

You be the judge: http://www.deadline.com/2010/10/james-cameron-flirting-with-cleopatra/ guy also known as gaius