ASCLEPIADES

Salve, LS. As in any other work about the "fall" of Rome, your first problem is your operative definition; what was it and when did it happen. It is not clear to me what exactly made those Emperors "foreign" to Rome. From your brief explanation, I don't get the causal relationship between the foreign condition of both Emperors and the defensive problems of the Empire.

Salve, GO You're probably talking about the Mongolian (not Hunnish) spot (everywhere, not only in Switzerland): Alternative Names: Mongolian blue spot, child fleck, sacral fleck, newborn blue fleck, newborn sacral blue fleck, Semitic mark, Semitic stain, congenital dermal melanocytosis, dermal melanocytosis Mongolische Flecken (G), tache mongolique (F), mancha mongolica (S), Moukohan (J) Forms: Mongolian spots are blue, bluish-gray, bluish-green or blue-black flat skin markings that appear at birth or shortly thereafter during the infantile age. The edges are usually indistinct and the shapes are irregular. The sizes and the numbers are various. Distribution: Mongolian spots are mostly located at the base of the spine, on the lower back and buttocks. They can also appear on the shoulders, upper back, arms, wrists, legs, ankles, lateral abdomen and elsewhere. Palms, soles, face and head are usually spared. Variants: 1) Persistent Mongolian spots are larger and have sharper borders. They may persist for many years. 2) Deep blue Mongolian spots are deeper colored and have sharper borders. They may persist as long as persistent Mongolian spots. 3) Ectopic Mongolian spots or aberrant Mongolian spots involve unusual areas such as the face or extremities. Incidence: The prevalence of Mongolian spots varies among different ethnic groups according to the overall depth of pigmentation. Mongolian spots are common among Asian, East Indian, and African races, but rare among Caucasian and other races. Reported incidences in representative ethnic infants are as follows: Asian: 95-100%, East African: 90-95%, Native American: 85-90%, Hispanic: 50-70%, Caucasian: 1-10% Causes: Mongolian spots are caused by entrapment of melanocytes in the dermis during their migration from the neural crest into the epidermis in fetal development. Microscopically dermal melanocytoses are seen in all newborn babies irrespective of race. Differences in the number of dermal melanocytes may cause the racial variation. Prognosis: The bluish discolorations usually fade after a few years and almost disappear between age 7 to 13 years. Therefore, no treatment is required in most cases. Differentials: Blue nevi, nevi of Ota, and bruises should be differentiated. Occasionally, Mongolian spots are mistaken for bruises caused by child abuse. Careful observation by a specialist will easily allow differentiation. It is important to recognize that Mongolian spots are birthmarks, NOT bruises. Here's a good link with some nice pics by Hironao Numabe (Tokyo)

And what about the Carthaginian army during the Punic Wars?

Salve iterum. This is presumably one of the first documented references to Roman auxilia on the aftermath of the Roman defeat at Trasimene (DXXXVII AUC / 217 BC) (T. Livius, Ab Urbe Condita, Liber XXII, Ch. XXXVII): "The king (Hiero of Syracuse) is quite aware that Rome does not employ any legionary soldiers or cavalry except Romans and those belonging to the Latin nation, but he has seen foreigners serving as light infantry in the Roman camp. He has, accordingly, sent 1000 archers and slingers, capable of acting against the Balearics and Moors and other tribes who fight with missile weapons

I think this topic should probably go to the "Archaeological News: Rome" Forum.

Salve, Amici. Water and Wastewater Systems in Imperial Rome

I view permanent garrison/assignment rather than temporary levy to deal with a threat (regardless of payment method) as the definition of professional. By that standard, would Attila's Hunnish warriors have been considered professional or not?

Salve, Amici. Nero's recruitment of the Legio I Italica at DCCCXX AUC (67 AD) had a quite peculiar requirement: (C. Suetonius T., De Vita XII Caesarum, Nero, Ch. XIX, sec. III): "Parabat et ad Caspias portas expeditionem conscripta ex Italicis senum pedum tironibus nova legione, quam Magni Alexandri phalanga appellabat. He also prepared for an expedition to the Caspian Gates, after enrolling a new legion of raw recruits of Italian birth, each six feet tall, which he called the "phalanx of Alexander the Great"." Bill Thayer identifies them with the "augusteans" mentioned by Cassius Dio (Roman History, Liber LXI, Ch. XX): "Nero himself made his appearance in the theatre... Nero had got ready a special corps of about five thousand soldiers, called Augustans; these would lead the applause, and all the rest, however loath, were obliged to shout with them."

Anyway, there is some epigraphical evidence from Etruscan necropolis and monuments which suggests that the social and political background of at least some of them might have been analogous to Monarchical and Early Republican Rome: An excerpt from en.wikipedia: "The population described by the inscriptions owned the tombs in which their relatives interred them and were interred in turn. These were the work of craftmen who must have gone to considerable expense, for which they must have been paid... The society of the tombs therefore was that of the aristocrats. While alive they occupied magistracies recorded in the inscriptions. The inscriptional evidence shows that families were interred there over long periods, marking the growth of the aristocratic family as a fixed institution, parallel to the gens at Rome and perhaps even its model...Etruscan naming conventions are complex and appear to reveal different stages in the development of names. The stages apply only to aristocratic names, attested in the inscriptions... Everyone at all times had a praenomen... individual males were further distinguished by a patronymic... Recorded names are minimally binomial: Vethur Hathisna, Avile Repesuna, Fasti Aneina. Patronyms and other further specifications are added after it: Arnth Velimna Aules, "Arnth Velimna son of Aule." In those contexts double patronymics can be used, naming the father and grandfather: Arnth Velimna Aules clan Larthalisla, "Arnth Velimna son of Aule son of Larth." Etruscan society therefore was patrilineal and probably egalitarian. The historical Etruscans had achieved a state system of society, with remnants of the chiefdom and tribal forms... The Etruscan state government was essentially a theocracy... The political unit of Etruscan society was the city-state, which was probably the referent of methlum,

The only evidence I was able to find was for a century later, specifically at CCCLI AUC (403 BC); Here comes Titus Livius, Ab Urbe Condita, Liber V, Ch. I): "... Romani Veiique .. Comitia utriusque populi longe diuersa ratione facta sunt... Veientes contra taedio annuae ambitionis quae interdum discordiarum causa erat, regem creauere. Offendit ea res populorum Etruriae animos, non maiore odio regni quam ipsius regis... cum ob iram repulsae, quod suffragio duodecim populorum alius sacerdos ei praelatus esset... auxilium Veientibus negandum donec sub rege essent decreuit; . . ... Rome and Veii ... Each elected their magistrates, but on totally different principles... The Veientines, on the other hand, tired of the annual canvassing for office, elected a king. This gave great offence to the Etruscan cantons, owing to their hatred of monarchy and their personal aversion to the one who was elected... His candidature for the priesthood had been unsuccessful, another being preferred by the vote of the twelve cantons... and they decided, in consequence, that no assistance should be given to the Veientines as long as they were under a king. . ."

Salve, Amici!

If we restrict ourselves to Genetics, nowadays North-African populations (moroccans, algerians, tunisians) show a distinct Y chromosome-related markers distribution (ie, high frequency of Eg3b2) from both "Phoenician" (ie, high J2) and "Viking-Slave" profiles (ie, high R1a1). Here's a nice original article from the American Journal of Human Genetics. Anyway, "Indo-European" is a Linguistic term, not ethnic, even less genetic. There is not even consensus about the possible identity of the hypothetical ancestral population of "Proto-Indo-European" speakers (if such a language ever existed at all). I think we should be extremely careful to ascribe any cultural trait (as political structure) to specific ethnic and/or genetic groups

We are simply acknowledging Civis GM his right for provocatio.

Nope, Lady A. Clue: as far as I know, Elagabalus and this guy were no relatives; but they might have shared something more than the name "imperator". Keep on searching and good luck!

"Central Nervous System injury". Plain English? Brain damage.

No. Hint: a big colony of former auxilia was established here.

Salve, O conscript fathers. Magistratus GO has convoked us to this Contio. Your desire is my command. But before you take you wise decision concerning Senator GM and the Res Publica as a whole we should consider; what will then it follow for the rest of us?

Salve, Lady LW. Yes, indeed. Here comes AC Celsus, De Medicina, Liber VIII, Ch. IX: "There is, however, something special to be said of the rib, because it is near the viscera, and that region is exposed to greater danger. A rib then is sometimes split so as not to injured the upper bone, but only the thin structure on its inner side; sometimes it is completely broken across. If the fracture is incomplete, blood is not expectorated, and fever does not follow, nor is there suppuration except very rarely, nor great pain; nevertheless there is some tenderness to touch, bbut it is quite enough to do what has been described above, and to begin the bandaging from the middle of the bandage that it may not displace the skin to either side. Then after twenty-one days, by which time the bone other formed a firm union, a fuller diet is to be administered in order to fatten the body as much as possible, so as to cover the bone better, for the bone there whilst still tender is liable to injury owing to the thinness of the skin. But during the whole course of recovery the patient muting or even straining the voice, noise, anger, violent bodily movements, smoke, dust, and anything that causes a cough or sneeze; it is not even advisable to hold the breath for long. But if a rib has been broken right across the case is more severe; for grave inflammations follow and fever and suppuration and often danger to life: and blood is expectorated. If therefore the strength allows, blood should be let from the arm on the side of the injury; if strength does not allow of this the trouble is, however, to be countered by a clyster that will not irritate, and by a low diet for a long while. Bread is not allowed before the seventh day, but only broth; and locally a cerate is to be applied made of linseed, to which boiled resin is added; or the poultice of Polyarchus, or cloths soaked in wine, rose oil and olive oil; and over that oft undressed wool then two bandages beginning from the middle and loosely bound on. But it is more important to avoid all the things mentioned above, so much so that even breathing should not be hurried. If cough is persistent, a draught of germander or rue or French lavender or of cumin and pepper should be taken. But if more severe pain comes on a plaster of darnel or of barley meal is also to be applied," Congratulations. Your turn.

If they formed a 'Roman' cohort, I would think, yes. But not in a case such as Massinisa's. I have been corrected. I had no intention of correcting you. I am probably wrong. What I was trying to get at was that an ally in combat need not necessarily be an auxila. Salve, GO! Every correction, intended or not, is duly welcomed and acknowledged. I think you're right. I'm simply not sure about the defining criteria.

But the Carthaginians of Atistotle's Politica were semitic.

Salve, Amici. Savant syndrome is a rare, but extraordinary, condition in which persons with serious mental disabilities, including autistic disorder, have some 'island of genius' that stands in marked, incongruous contrast to overall handicap. In fact as many as one in ten autistic persons have such remarkable abilities in varying degrees, although savant syndrome occurs in other developmental disabilities or CNS injury or disease as well. The article summarizes past and present world literature on this topic, describes more recent cases, reviews current research findings, provides intervention strategies to channel such skills, and outlines future directions of inquiry to better explain this extraordinary condition. Recent case reports increasingly implicate left hemisphere dysfunction with right hemisphere compensatory processes as an important causal component in many cases of savant syndrome, including those occurring in persons with autistic disorder. Especially intriguing are reports of newly emerging art, music and other savant-like skills in previously non-disabled persons following CNS injury or disease. By Darold A. Treffert, MD, of the Wiscomsin Medical Society Sequitur

If they formed a 'Roman' cohort, I would think, yes. But not in a case such as Massinisa's. I have been corrected. Anyway, I know that the Numidian cavalry was recorded as an auxilia of the Roman legions around the Empire, as early as the II Macedonian War, a couple of years after Zama. And about Zama, here comes Titus Livius, Ab Urbe Condita, Liber XXX, Chapters XXXIII and XXXV: "Laelius, who had been one of his (Scipio's) staff-officers and was now by special appointment of the senate acting as quaestor, was in command of the Italian cavalry on the left wing, Masinissa and his Numidians being posted on the right." "Laelius and Masinissa, who had followed up the defeated cavalry a considerable distance, now returned from the pursuit at the right moment and attacked the enemy in the rear. This at last decided the action." I don't know if it can be determined what kind of units did the Numidians form at that battle. Besides, the Numidians (Moors) on the other side were actually called "auxilia" by Livius. (Ibid. Ch. XXX): "To make his line look more menacing Hannibal posted his elephants in front... Behind them were the auxiliaries, Ligurians and Gauls, with an admixture of Balearics and Moors."

Salve, amici! "Excavation work at the ancient city of Ephesus in İzmir began 138 years ago and may continue for centuries more, said director of digs at the site and head of the Austrian Archeology Institute Dr. Fritz Krinzinger. Speaking to the Anatolia news agency last week, Krinzinger said that he has leading excavations in the ancient city, whose construction dates back to 6000 B.C. and the Neolithic era, for the past 10 years. The professor noted that part of the excavation works launched in May would be finalized at the end of September and that his team has finished a total of 14 projects so far. Krinzinger, whose term as the head of the excavation work ends this year, said Ephesus is very important and, during the course of his leadership, his team tried to unearth as many buildings as possible, evaluate the results of their excavations, examine those buildings revealed and published the data gathered. He stressed that it would be impossible to uncover the entire ancient city at once, underlining that only 10-15 percent of the site has been unearthed so far. (Also: Electric railway to ease access to Ephesus ) Sequitur

Salve, Amici! A nice article on en.wikipedia about the Diolkos, including a satellite pic.

Salve, Amici.