ASCLEPIADES

Salve! At least for me, war is not sad. It's tragic. So far, presumably never so much people died in so little time as during Little Boy's detonation. So far; it's probably only a matter of time and improved mass destruction weapons. Little Boy clearly contributed a lot to Japan's surrender; I'm not so sure about Fat Man. At the less, Terror is an extremely powerful persuasive method. The degree of that contribution will always be disputed. BTW, both A-bombs also contributed significantly to Russian and communist advance in China and Korea. The A-bombs were intended primarily for the Germans; they simply surrendered too soon. Given the cost of the Manhattan Project, it would have been interesting if the Japans had done the same. I have no doubt that Roosevelt or any other American leader would have taken the decision to use such expensive and powerful weapons given Truman's circumstances... or, BTW, Prince Suzuki, Hiro Hito, Hitler, Stalin, Churchill, Caesar, Hannibal or Scipio. I think the main ethic problem is the magnitude of life destruction and not its velocity. Apparently, there were more deaths by conventional bombing either in Japan or Germany (and probably also in Vietnam) than those attributed to Little Boy and Fat Man, not to talk about Caesar at Gaul or Timur in India. Mutual Assured Destruction strategy appears to be still operational at the post-Cold War era; the obvious question is for how long.

Salve, C! I think this last post contradicts your opening one and Josephus' sapient words. I don't consider a permanent war state a requirement for a well trained Army. In fact, it could have (and frequently has) an opposite effect, as in war your soldiers have the understandable tendency to die, and not in a Darwinian way. For example: during WWII, Barbarossa was not a good training camp for the Wehrmacht; what the Allies faced the D-day was almost garbage.

Salve! As far as I know, these three chapters might be the only survivors of the Lex Iulia Agraria: "53. In respect to whatever colony is founded by this law or whatever town, prefecture, market, or meeting place is established, whatever land is within their borders, whatever boundary stones are set in that land: in whatever place a boundary stone is not standing, in that place the owner of that land shall provide that the boundary stone shall be replaced in a proper manner and the magistrate who has jurisdiction in that colony, town, prefecture, market, or meeting place shall provide that this shall be done. 54. In respect to whatever boundary lines and boundary roads are marked by this law and whatever boundary ditches are in this land, which land is granted and assigned by this law, no one shall have these boundary lines and boundary roads blocked nor anything built in them, nor anything set as an obstruction there, nor shall he plow them, nor shall he block nor obstruct the ditches, whereby water cannot run and flow by its proper course. If anyone does anything against these regulations, for every several such act, as often as he does it, he shall be condemned to pay to those colonists and townsmen, in whose land this is done, 4,000 sesterces; and by this law a suit for this money shall be proper for anyone who wishes. 55. In respect to a person who founds a colony by this law or establishes a town, a prefecture, a market, or a meet-ing place, in that land, which land is within the borders of this colony, town, market, meeting place, or prefecture, or shall provide that boundary lines and boundary roads shall be made and that boundary stones shall be set: and what borders he sets thus, these shall be their borders, so long as he does not extend the borders beyond the colonial land or district. And whatever boundary stones are set by this law, no one shall overthrow or move any of them from its place with malice aforethought. If anyone does anything contrary to these regulations, for every several boundary stone which he overthrows or moves from its place with malice aforethought, he shall be condemned to pay 5,000 sesterces to the public treasury of those persons within whose borders this land is; and concerning this matter the curator who is in office under this law shall grant the right of action and the appointment and assignment of recuperators. When there is not a curator under this law, then whatever magistrate in this colony, town, prefecture, market or meeting place has jurisdiction, this magistrate shall have the right to grant an action concerning this matter and to appoint and to assign a judex; and in respect to this matter the person who grants a court trial under this law, as appears best in accordance with the public interest and with his own good faith, shall allow the opportunity to summon officially at least ten witnesses for every several action. And if the defendant is convicted, he shall exact this money from the defendant or from his property at the earliest day possible; and in respect to whatever of this money is received he shall pay a half part to the person through whose especial individual effort the defendant is convicted and he shall pay a half part into the public treasury. If anyone wishes to restore a boundary stone to that place from which the boundary stone is removed, it shall be lawful to do so without risk to him nor shall he be condemned by this law to pay anything to anyone because of this." I haven't been able so far to find in any source (primary or secondary) evidence of a distinct law for the settlement in Campania. Can anyone provide us some references about the lex Iulia agraria Campania? Thanks in advance.

Maybe the simpler explanation was simply not so simple; I think the legionaries that stayed under the law were also loyal comrades and disciplined soldiers (vg, T. Labienus and his men). The real question would be why loyal and disciplined legionaries would deliberately risk their properties, freedom and life by following their general into illegality (not to talk about their families).

Salve, LQS! The same motivation as any other soldier of any Roman general during the Civil Wars of the Late Republic: ambition (for wealth) and fear (of the consequences of other generals

Salve, AC. I guess it was Herod.

Salve, SF! If you are talking about domestic slaves (and if they were lucky), we (and maybe their owners) may considere them as pets. But as it seems that Cato was talking about rustical slaves, then you're right indeed; they weren't pets. They were cattle.

Salve, Lady CO! Your quotation is a conversation between Nero (he began) and Agrippina Minor when they found his manuscript next to his death (?) body, at the beginning of the XIIIth and last episode, "Old King Log". Cheers & have fun!

Salve! This sound interesting; we know far more of the life of the common citizen (and non-citizens) in Roman Egypt than elsewhere in the Roman (and non-Roman) World during Classical Antiquity, mainly because of the fairly good preservation of their administrative papyri records. Regretfully, the offer of Amazon.com to share some excerpts of this book has been actually not fulfilled, at least for today.

Salve, LQS! Cato Majorius was advising you to promote a Roman-way garage sale to make some profit. I don't think most of the Classical World would have considered that hyperbolic. Think about it the next time you sell or buy pets, especially dogs.

This is the famous Seizo Yamada Pic taken from aprox. seven kms. ENE to ground zero some 15 minutes after Little Boy detonation at 08:15 local time VIII Ides Sextilis MCMXLV (UTC 23:15 Nones Sextilis), 62 years ago. ...More than a thousand words.

Salve, Lady A! It took me more than two minutes, so I failed. I guess it was "Thallus". Cheers & have fun!

Salve, D! This comes from the Online Etimology Dictionary (D. Harper, 2001) "CORN: "grain," Old English corn, from Proto-Germanic. *kurnam "small seed," from Proto-Indo-European base *ger- "wear away" (Old Slavish zruno "grain," Sanskrit jr- "to wear down," Latin granum). The sense of the Old English word was "grain with the seed still in" rather than a particular plant. Locally understood to denote the leading crop of a district. Restricted to corn on the cob in America (originally Indian corn, but the adjective was dropped), usually wheat in England, oats in Scotland and Ireland, while korn means "rye" in parts of Germany. Introduced to China by 1550, it thrived where rice did not grow well and was a significant factor in the 18th century population boom there. Cornflakes first recorded 1907. Corned beef so called for the "corns" or grains of salt with which it is preserved. Cornrows as a hair style is first recorded 1971. Corny "old-fashioned" is American English (1932); originally, "something appealing to country folk."" I hope this may be useful.

Salve, C. X-cellent post. This might be the quote you were talking about; here comes "Titus Flavius" Josephus, the notorious Jewish-Roman version of Benedict Arnold: (Jewish war, book 5, Ch VII, sec 4-5) : "After this these Jews, without keeping any decorum, grew insolent upon their good fortune, and jested upon the Romans for being deluded by the trick they bad put upon them, and making a noise with beating their shields, leaped for gladness, and made joyful exclamations; while these soldiers were received with threatenings by their officers, and with indignation by Caesar himself, [who spake to them thus]: These Jews, who are only conducted by their madness, do every thing with care and circumspection; they contrive stratagems, and lay ambushes, and fortune gives success to their stratagems, because they are obedient, and preserve their goodwill and fidelity to one another; while the Romans, to whom fortune uses to be ever subservient, by reason of their good order, and ready submission to their commanders, have now had ill success by their contrary behavior, and by not being able to restrain their hands from action, they have been caught; and that which is the most to their reproach, they have gone on without their commanders, in the very presence of Caesar. "Truly," says Titus, "the laws of war cannot but groan heavily, as will my father also himself, when he shall be informed of this wound that hath been given us, since he who is grown old in wars did never make so great a mistake. Our laws of war do also ever inflict capital punishment on those that in the least break into good order, while at this time they have seen an entire army run into disorder. However, those that have been so insolent shall be made immediately sensible, that even they who conquer among the Romans without orders for fighting are to be under disgrace." When Titus had enlarged upon this matter before the commanders, it appeared evident that he would execute the law against all those that were concerned; so these soldiers' minds sunk down in despair, as expecting to be put to death, and that justly and quickly. However, the other legions came round about Titus, and entreated his favor to these their fellow soldiers, and made supplication to him, that he would pardon the rashness of a few, on account of the better obedience of all the rest; and promised for them that they should make amends for their present fault, by their more virtuous behavior for the time to come. So Caesar complied with their desires, and with what prudence dictated to him also; for he esteemed it fit to punish single persons by real executions, but that the punishment of great multitudes should proceed no further than reproofs; so he was reconciled to the soldiers, but gave them a special charge to act more wisely for the future; and he considered with himself how he might be even with the Jews for their stratagem." "TF" Josephus was for Titus what V Paterculus was for Tiberius. Main difference would had been that the former was a far better writer.

Ha, that's easy. That would be John Castle in the role of Postumus Agrippa. Hehe - Grrh - damn you, Neph! OK - name the character, scene and actor: "I am sorry to have been the cause of that unpleasantness" Salve, guys and Ladies. It would be Mr. Christopher Biggins as Nero in the XIIIth and last episode "Old King log", where he is giving a fake apology for being the "involuntary" cause of the abusive Claudius' reprehension of Britannicus for addressing Nero as "Lucius Domitius", therefore ignoring his recent adoption by the Emperor. Cheers!

Salve! Livia and Augustus are talking in their Palace's garden (she began). He is pruning a plant while she sits.

Salve. III Nones Sextilis CCCLXVII AUC, two weeks after the Allia River defeat from the Gauls of Brennus, it's when the Legend states that the geese did what the dogs couldn't. Here comes Livy, Ab Urbe Conditia, Book V, Ch. XXXVII: "nocte sublustri cum primo inermem qui temptaret uiam praemisissent, tradentes inde arma ubi quid iniqui esset, alterni innixi subleuantesque in uicem et trahentes alii alios, prout postularet locus, [3] tanto silentio in summum euasere ut non custodes solum fallerent, sed ne canes quidem, sollicitum animal ad nocturnos strepitus, excitarent. [4] anseres non fefellere quibus sacris Iunonis in summa inopia cibi tamen abstinebatur. quae res saluti fuit; namque clangore eorum alarumque crepitu excitus M. Manlius qui triennio ante consul fuerat, uir bello egregius," "Choosing a night when there was a faint glimmer of light, they sent an unarmed man in advance to try the road; then handing one another their arms where the path was difficult, and supporting each other or dragging each other up as the ground required, they finally reached the summit. So silent had their movements been that not only were they unnoticed by the sentinels, but they did not even wake the dogs, an animal peculiarly sensitive to nocturnal sounds. But they did not escape the notice of the geese, which were sacred to Juno and had been left untouched in spite of the extremely scanty supply of food. This proved the safety of the garrison, for their clamour and the noise of their wings aroused M. Manlius, the distinguished soldier, who had been consul three years before." I have read in an unsourced website that every year on August 3, the Romans crucified a dog and paraded the sacred geese in honor. Is something of this true? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Salve! BTW, there must had been quite a risky exposition to lead and other heavy metals during the metalwork of this baby. Anyway, imported Roman wines would probably have been even riskier. Good luck!

Salve! Here comes Juvenal Satyres (Book I, Satyre III), another reference to fire risk and building's height: "vivendum est illic ubi nulla incendia, nulli nocte metus. iam poscit aquam, iam frivola transfert. calegon, tabulata tibi iam tertia fumant tu nescis; nam si gradibus trepidatur ab imis, ultimus ardebit quem tegula sola tuetur a pluvia, molles ubi reddunt ova columbae... nil habuit Codrus, quis enim negat? et tamen illud perdidit infelix totum nihil. ultimus autem aerumnae est cumulus, quod nudum et frusta rogantem nemo cibo, nemo hospitio tectoque iuvabit." "No, no, I must live where there are no fires, no nightly alarms. calegon below is already shouting for water and shifting his chattels; smoke is pouring out of your third-floor attic, but you know nothing of it; for if the alarm begins in the ground-floor, the last man to burn will be he who has nothing to shelter him from the rain but the tiles, where the gentle doves lay their eggs...Poor Codrus had nothing, it is true: but he lost that nothing, which was his all; and the last straw in his heap of misery is this, that though he is destitute and begging for a bite, no one will help him with a meal, no one offer him lodging or shelter." Comic or tragic? Or both?

Salve, AC. The aforementioned quote comes from the 13th and last episode of the series, "Old King Log". It was a remark of Claudius during his last speech to the Senate. This prophecy was included by the scriptwriter as a pun on Robert Graves.

Salve, K! As far as I understand, I believe the bottom text says something like: German: "Diese R

Salve, guys & Ladies! THIS is whjat UNVR had to say about this same topic one year ago, in the MMCCXXIst anniversary. Check it out!

Salve, I! Gratiam habeo for your commentary. Paterculus is hyperbolic flattery; Cassius Dio, a poisonous critic. The truth must be somewhere at the middle. Happy Bathinus day to all!

Salve, guys & Ladies! From AFP: "France-Libya arms deal "nothing to do" with Bulgarian medics' release PARIS, Aug 4, 2007 (AFP) - A top French official said Saturday that the possibility of a deal in exchange for Libya's release of Bulgarian medics was "a subject that never came up in our discussions." France confirmed Friday that Libya had reached a major arms deal with the European aerospace giant EADS, the first since a weapons embargo was lifted on Tripoli in 2004 and a potential source of embarrassment for President Nicolas Sarkozy. Negotiations over the arms deal between EADS subsidiary MBDA and the Libyan authorities "had been going on for a long time and we never intervened to speed up their conclusion," presidential aide Claude Gueant said in an interview with the daily Le Figaro. French Defence Minister Herve Morin confirmed Friday that a letter of intent had been signed for the sale of Milan anti-tank missiles and a radio communications system worth, according to a Libyan official, 296 million euros (405 million dollars). News of the contracts sparked an uproar in France, coming a week after Sarkozy and his wife Cecilia helped broker the release of six foreign medics, sentenced to life imprisonment in Libya on charges of infecting hundreds of children with the AIDS virus. The opposition Socialist Party immediately demanded a parliamentary enquiry to decide if France offered the contracts to Libya as a counterpart for the medics' freedom. "If there was no exchange, if there was no bartering, why sign a military agreement with the Kadhafi regime, which has been responsible for terrorist acts, which has been a rogue state?" asked party leader Francois Hollande. Sarkozy, who travelled to Tripoli to sign a nuclear and military cooperation agreement the following day, has denied suggestions of a trade-off, presenting the case as a French and European diplomatic coup. Gueant, secretary-general at the Elysee presidential palace, told Le Figaro: "I learned only after I travelled to Tripoli that an MBDA mission had been staying in the Libyan capital for a month." The speaker of the National Assembly Bernard Accoyer, a member of Sarkozy's ruling UMP party, said he supported calls for an enquiry and was confident it would ease the opposition's concerns. The presidency issued a statement, hours after Sarkozy left for a lakeside summer vacation in New Hampshire, saying he would welcome an "enquiry into recent developments in the relations between France and Libya." Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's son, Saif ul-Islam Kadhafi, has said unblocking the medics' case paved the way for the weapons contracts. But defence minister Morin said the missile accord had been in the pipeline for months, though he acknowledged that "on arms contracts, the finalisation, the last touch, generally comes via a political act, a visit from the president, or prime minister." He said the deal was approved in principle by the government of Sarkozy's predecessor Jacques Chirac in February 2007." ANOTHER SIX NEWS ABOUT THE SAME STORY Ransoming has always been a good business. Does anybody know if Jordanes or someone else have any more to say about the Attila-Leo affaire? Cheers & good luck!

Non est, quod gratias agas, Doc.