ASCLEPIADES

Dealing with military figures on ancient sources, we have the eternal bias of Propaganda; your own army (the heroic one) is almost always outnumbered by its evil enemy, both at victory and at defeat. You have simply to check Caesar or Herodotus. In fact, the unusual figures at Carrhae (the victorious Parthian Surena outnumbered by the Legions of Crassus and Cassius in pro-Roman sources) might very well be considered as negative propaganda against the defeated Roman commanders.

S.W.A.G.: "Salamis" When we get done you need to tell me what this picture is of. Haven't found anything remotely resembling it. Nope . Hint: as many other Roman cities, this one honoured Caesar (or at least, a Caesar) .

As we commonly support our thesis in what the Romans told us via the primary sources, I think any thesis given for the explanation of this and related terms (Imperium, Imperator, Imperare) has to deal with the use that such sources did of such terms during Republican times; virtually all of them.

Phil, I've argued over your opnions at times but this time I agree completely. Its all a case of perspective isn't it? But perhaps the original post wasn't concerned with scientific appraisal as not everyone approaches history from that viewpoint. However, I put forward Alfred the Great of Wessex. He restored his kingdom, united England, settled peace with the Vikings (after whipping their backsides!), and encouraged learning at the end of the 'dark age'. At least he was a positive leader unlike Hitler or Stalin. Salve, Amici. I also completely agree with Phil. And I also think your solution may be right for him too; the selection of a character that is actually out of the list and the explanation of your criteria. My previous selection (Constantine I) was based on the given list. In a totally open way, I would have selected Paul of Tarsus, for mostly the same reasons. Actually, I think the peoples are much more influential in wider historical terms than their leaders

Not for me! Ankara? Nope . Hint: we are talking about Cilicia .

By that standard, most Roman politicians, especially those from the Civil War period, acted much like modern dictators or gangsters, and most who didn't simply hadn't the chance to express themselves. With the exception of Caesar and a couple more, they had no tolerance for opposition (and for Caesar at least, that tolerance was no good business). Even the annexation of Cyprus by Cato Minor, depicted by MPC in a recent thread, was an Anschluss-like manoeuvre. If Octavius is remembered today, it's because his reign contained many fine things, not only a public image, statues or a beautiful city (impressive by themselves and not very usual for me); Lady A had just enumerated some of them. Once again, Augustus was no Maximinus Thrax.

Hint: This was a Celt city.

To quote Ocatavian though "GIVE ME BACK MY LEGIONS!" (It's Varus ) Salve, GM ! Of course you're right ! Congratulations! Your turn ...

No to Sextus . Hint: His wife was from a powerful plebeian family .

Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus Nope . Hint: He was a Patrician .

Salve, PP. This would be a typical example of the problems and questions raised by "sensational" negative discoveries.

Brutus the assassain, uh ... I mean "liberator" Nope . Hint: His family was indeed aligned with the Liberatores party .

Salve, Amici. First of all, I think that generally speaking, the transcendence of leaders has been highly overrated (and conversely, that of the peoples severely underrated). Secondly, based on the five aforementioned criteria, I consider religious leadership has had far more long lasting consequences than the pure political one. Thirdly, if we apply the fifth criterion up to date, Christian religion has had the biggest impact (for better or for worse). And finally, I concluded that Constantine I is the most significant isolated historical figure responsible for the present state of the Christian religion (for better or for worse).

Salve, F. This is the famous mural portrait of the baker (pistor) and eventually mayor of Pompeii, Publius Paquius Proculus, and his wife. At least for me, this beautiful image would be the perfect illustration for serene love.

Salve, K. And at JSTOR, I found Cicero Imperator. Studies in Cicero's Correspondence 51-47 B.C. by Magnus Wistrand . Valete.

Salve, Amici. Hint: this coin was minted in Africa.

It was a good hint.

Methinks there were the Mesoamerican people (Aztecs, Mayas and so on) and not the Incas who took the hearts out of kids and prisoners.

She is Salome, the stepdaughter of Herod Antipas.

Salve et Gratiam Habeo, L. Interesting article indeed; and as the webpages are intrinsically ephemeral, and this particular article is open for sharing, I will take the liberty of uploading it: The Battle of Hadrianople July 11, 2007 | Peter Heather. (teacher at Worchester College, University of Oxford and author of The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians). On August 9th 376, Valens, Emperor of the Roman east, gave battle to a mixed force dominated by Goths on a plain some 8 hours march north of the city of Hadrianople: modern Edirne in European Turkey. The result was catastrophe. By nightfall the emperor and two-thirds of his army, the pick of the eastern army, lay dead on the battlefield. Valens

Salve, K. From amazon.com, Diocletian and the Tetrarchy and The Edict of Diocletian. From JSTOR, Graser, E.R. (1940), "A text and translation of the Edict of Diocletian", quoted at the review of An Economic Survey of Ancient Rome, Vol. V: Rome and Italy of the Empire by Tenney Frank . The edict is textually transcribed at "The Roman World: A Sourcebook" By David Cherry, partially accessible at Google Books. Anyway, it appears doubtful that it was ever completely enforced. Valete.

Gratiam habeo for your kind information. Anyway, I had no chance to profit from it.

Salve, Amici. I offer an apology to both of you. Commonly, we wait a little to give hints, until it becomes clear that they are required.

Well, within the same context, and judging by those figures, it seems that it had the opposite effect on Hadrian.