Faustus

I am reminded of the skull in the opening credits of HBO's ROME. I'm not sure in which order I had seen that skull; first I think in Tom Holland's Rubicon. But it can be found there (plate-38). described thus: "a mosaic found in Pompeii. A skull is balanced precariously on a butterfly and a wheel: death haunts life, and fortune is endlessly mutable. (Museo Nazionale, Naples/Scala, Florence) " Oddly enough that skull seems to be hanging from what I perceive as being a roof truss (set of rafters).

This all sounds like a Laurel and Hardy Moment to me. Stan Laurel and Olliver Hardy were a famous comedy pair who made the transition from silent films to the

Salve MPC I agree with all you said. But the whole realm of 294 images, almost all from classical artists makes it fascinating, beyond its "clunkyness." It might be something to keep available, and to leave and return to when fatigue overwhelms. A scroll through it might be informative, especially for art buffs.

THE COUNTRYSIDE (From: Roman Britain- ch. three) The conversion of a corridor house into a courtyard house is dictated by size of household and estate rather than by other cultural or aesthetic considerations. The courtyard house always gives an impression of great size, and it is possible nowadays to exaggerate this, when so much that would now be arranged in storeys was in Roman Britain spread out upon the ground floor. Nevertheless, the biggest of these villas, as at Bignor (Pyrrha's Roman Pages), were large indeed, for the reason that in a society based upon slavery or small tenants, even moderately wealthy folk tended to accumulate large households. Britain has not furnished such scenes of daily life as grace the funeral monuments of the Moselle valley in lively variety. But there is no reason to think that the life of the wealthy in the provinces differed in its essentials. So the kitchen scenes of Gallia Belgica, with their cooks and scullions, the hunting scenes with grooms and estate lads, or the boudoir scenes with mistress and maids, might be applied to the world of the large Romano-British villas almost without observing the change of locality. What must be emphasized, however, as a social fact, upon which stress has already been laid, is that villas so large as Woodchester, where much remains unexplored, or Bignor, also with two courts, comprise both residential and workaday quarters. The inner garden court with its vast house, enormous central dining-room, and imported marble sculptures, is reached through an outer courtyard flanked by a pair of barn-dwellings of the type associated with farm-workers and farm-stock. The direct connection of this richest of houses with the development of an estate is thus demonstrated by the plan. Woodchester was uncovered and published in an age when evidence for the growth or evolution of villas was not sought. To perceive such a phenomenon it is necessary to go to a later excavation at Northleigh (Oxfordshire). This great house in its final form comprised a vast courtyard house of many rooms, with servants

Searchable Databases of the Ancient World Ancient Historian DataBase & Images of the Ancient World DataBase: Created to provide a searchable resource for students and history educators seeking to illustrate their reports, presentations and research with appropriate images.

This is something I've considered also. Why would a Roman, or anyone of the ancient world, accept death so willingly, but, maybe not? I think it comes down to honor. A Roman found it unnacceptable to live without honor, such that it was better to accept the alternative of death, and whatever "after life" would be availed to one dying honorably. Seeing so much of death may have dulled the fear of it to some degree also. A residual Stoicism as it related to death (He may be sentenced to death, but he can die nobly ) may have been a part of it. Faustus ------------------- I sent my Soul through the Invisible, some letter of that After-life to spell: And by and by my Soul return'd to me, and answer'd "I Myself am Heav'n and Hell" Heav'n but the Vision of fulfill'd Desire, and Hell the Shadow of a Soul on fire, Cast on the Darkness into which Ourselves, so late emerg'd from, shall so soon expire. Rubaiyat/Fitzgerald

Salve Sp. EtaL I took two years of High School Latin, and it was among my favorite classes. I took it first of as an attempt to advance my English language skills and English vocabulary, and because of its oblique connection with astronomy. Over the years, I worked alone much of the time in construction, where verbal (bull.....) in communications should be kept to a minimum, as it creates a situation where mistakes occur. Enjoying that environment, I would try to put some of my thoughts into short Latin phrases, or use it as a sort of short hand or encryption device as a secret code, partly so as to keep my vocabulary from too much attrition, and too, just to have some private fun with it. I never really learned to

Salve SP, EtaL - I've never seen the film, but from reading these comments, a report on McDowell I heard many years ago, becomes clear. It appears he had something besides a British accent to qualify him for the roll. But also, when I finally watched I CLAVDIUS (after having it on the shelf for 12 years), of all the segments the one I turned away from was ZEUS, BY JOVE on Caligula. And when loaning "I.C." out to friends, I suggest passing over that part, as it reinforces an already popular stereotypical and extreme image of Rome. The expected popularity expressed in the making of the film Caligula in 1979, seems to say more about "us" at the time than it does about Rome. It appears Caligula, following I Claudius having been made in 1976, was an attempt to cash in on the "seamy" (hypersexual) side of the classic, by taking that one gruesome "chapter" and capitalizing on it. But what else is new? Valete

Now Comes Veteran's Day ~ Sunday November 11, 2007 With those Happy Birthday wishes for the USMC (Uncle Sam

Salve Amici - Today, November 10, 2007 is the Birthday of the United States Marine Corps ~ Tunn Tavern, Philadelphia, November 10, 1775 ~ On November 10, 1775 the United States Marine Corps was officially formed by a vote of the Continental Congress. Captain Samuel Nicholas was named the first Commandant of the Marine Corps. Robert Mullan was appointed to raise two companies of Marines. Mullan was also the proprietor of Tun Tavern which had a long reputation for having the best beer in Philadelphia. So it was that the very first Continental Marines were recruited in Tun Tavern, and it became the birthplace of the U.S. Marine Corps. Since that date, many thousands of men (and women) have borne the name Marine. In memory of them, it is fitting that we who are marines or former Marines should commemorate the Birthday of our Corps by calling to mind the glories of its long and illustrious history. On every birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, a birthday ball is held at the Marine Barracks at Eighth and "Eye" in Washington. D.C. at which privates and corporals, sergeants and lieutenants rub shoulders with three and four star generals, including the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Valete - Faustus -------------------------------------- Semper Fidelis ~ Fratres Aeterni

This, as America

INTRODUCTION FIRST; HERE is a link to Caldrail

And LIBOR . . . Ain't that The London Interbank Overnight Rate or something like that? I think I've seen that on some of my loan docs, and A'm thinking that's what my commercial loan rate is pegged to. . . . Sequitur Asclepiades, Thanks! But, it proves I didn't look it up on the internet. . . Just painfully aware of it I knew someone would help me out with that

Then some smaller hillbilly bank in north carolina took them over. They now have fees for their customers' having false teeth. One more. A hillbilly state in the upper mid-west (idaho?, iowa?) rid themselves of 'usury' rates. Merrill-Lynch soon opened a 'bank' there. ( After paying the politicos off.) Credit card companies soon followed. Sorry, one more. How many people in the world know what 'LIBOR' is? What does a rate now, have to do with a 'fixed' rate in the future? HIBOR is next! Hey! G.O.! We ain't all Hill Billies out here! Some of us are Hill Williams. And LIBOR . . . Ain't that The London Interbank Overnight Rate or something like that? I think I've seen that on some of my loan docs, and A'm thinking that's what my commercial loan rate is pegged to. . . . BTW Cecil, when do I get my next humor fix? Valete - Faustus ~~~~~~~~~~~ I YAM WHAT I YAM ! Popey The Sailor Man

I missed that particular comment. May the Imperial gods pay particular attention to it. Thanks for the history lesson. I wouldn't have missed all of that for the world, and almost did. It's nice to get caught up a little bit now and then!

October 30, 2007

When I go to Amish country, I'm too infatuated with their horses to notice personal hygiene. I always thought that was the coolest thing about being Amish. You know, riding around in a horse and buggy. Amish Paradise "At 4:30 in the morning I'm milking cows. Jebadiah feeds the chickens and Jacob plows. Fool... But if I finish all of my chores and you finish thine, then tonight we're gonna party like it's 1699." -- Nephele Salve - Very interesting piece by Wierd Al. I suspect the Amish would enjoy it too. Here in Southern Indiana we have a large Amish Community. Visiting relatives west and south of BloomingTion, Indianensis usually means an encounter with a horse drawn carriage. Sometimes it is very cold and icy out, and you just know the family is inside finding some way to keep warm, all bundled up together. I have actually seen an Amish man back up a horse like shown in Wierd Al's Video, though they will unhook auxiliary wagons in-tow when they pull into a business place to avoid the need to back both of them up. That is because that will create a snarl or a "jack-knife". I have only seen one car/carriage crash in 45 years of driving through there, as they stay on the shoulders as much as possible while on the main highways. When waiting for the "driver" to return to the carriage or sometimes an open wagon oftentimes the horses will show their impatience, by stamping the ground regularly, and heavy breathing through the mouth flapping their lips a lot, and snorting up a storm. The Phone booth in the video? It actually gets a lot of use, and I'm sure the bill gets paid, since they don't have phones in their homes. If they expect a call, they'll wait near the phone booth or have a youngster wait for the call. (I remember a joke long ago with some credibility that old "Willis" had to climb a telephone pole to use the phone) Often times they will find a "front" man to handle things which would seem "untoward" like: driving a crew truck to get to the construction site, handle business affairs But more and more they are being forced to do as the "Romans" do: use electric tools, drive trucks, carry cell phones, etc, etc. They are increasingly in business operating small stores selling "natural" foods, cheeses, hams, free range eggs, "notions", etc. The redolence comment by Ursus is true for those with "sensitive" noses.

When it comes to refraining from pestering people, I think Jews and the Amish have a lot in common. -- Nephele Amen. . .to that

Salve - A very good question Gaius. I'd like to say that I wondered about the same thing, but I didn't. Another Anomaly I suppose: (a Yah. search=) "To our knowledge, the first reported chariot comes from about 2000 B.C.E. in Mesopotamia. ... The design of the chariot of two wheels and were squeaky and ..." MORE on CHARIOTS) And chariot wheels were very, very, hard wheels. To be honest the concern I always had was the stiffness of the ride on a charioteers feet. . .I really have never seen them as an advantage over riding horseback excepting perhaps for royalty, and they may have stood on sponge pads? Back to topic: Cheops, Khephren and Mykerinos pyramids all preceded the chariot in Egypt, into which it found its way about 2,000 BCE. However it was in Sumerian culture by 3,500 - 3,000 BCE. (ref'd in above search)

Salve - I have long been of the opinion that concrete, and hydraulic concrete also was invented by the Ancient Romans. I didn

Another POUSSIN: ~~~~ Destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem ~~~~ WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID The subject is taken from the History of the Jewish War by Flavius Josephus (AD 37/38-100). Riding on his dapple grey, Titus, the son of the reigning Roman emperor, sees with horror how against his expressed will the Old Testament prophesy of the destruction of the Temple of Solomon comes true. The chaos of the dramatic plot is set by Poussin within a well-ordered framework. In its rigorous form, in the spatial clarity where everything has its proper place, this work is witness to the decisive turn that Poussin made towards strict Classicism, relief-like composition and sober colouring as well as towards a precise definition of the figure within space. The painting was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Barberini, who presented the work to Emperor Ferdinand III on behalf of his uncle, Pope Urban VIII. Was it intended as praise for the victory of Ferdinand over the Protestants at N

Salve - I found that a really good map of present day Rome is helpful; one with a plastic coating, with inner city Rome on one side and Rome and environs on the other. It is great for putting past and present Rome into perspective. Once you've searched out all the valuable links being provided here in answer to your question about first century BCE Rome you might want to get one. It is helpful to see a map like this, as a good one will show in precise scale the location relative to each other of the major ancient structures, walls, gates, etc. and suggests how development has taken place since but also how it took place in ancient times. It was my desire in the first place, to see how the ancient city had melded into the modern one, and how they interface today. Since getting it I

Salve Amici This is an elaboration on Nephele

Salve - Sorry this is not exactly on topic, but I've been waiting for some time to posit this factoid: The Oath of Brutus According to Livy, after the expulsion of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus: "His [brutus'] first act was to make the people, while the state of liberty was still fresh upon their tongues, swear a solemn oath never to allow any man to be king in Rome, hoping by this means to forestall future attempts by persuasion or bribery to restore the monarchy." In T. Livii, Vol I, Lib II, Cap 1, A.J. Valpy, Londini (1828), p. 352 there is the following Latin version of the above: "Omnium primum avidum novae libertatis populum, ne postmodum flecti precibus aut donis regiis posset, jurejurando adegit, neminem Romae passuros regnare. Compulit ad decernendum addito juramento, fore ut non permitterent quenquam in posterum Romae regem esse." The Oath of Brutus, whether factual or legendary, had a profound impact on the ancient Romans. Lucius Junius Brutus is quite prominent in English literature, and he was quite popular among British and American Whigs. A reference to L. J. Brutus is in the following lines from Shakespeare's play *The Tragedie of Julius C