lothia

Thank you very much. Appreciate the reference.

Ave Civitas, During the period, AD 390 - 410, how were members of the Senate selected, inducted, and given a seat in the senate? Is there a source, text?, that would be available to a pauper like me that could enlighten me on the process? Again, thank you in advance.

Sir, I tried to find a copy of that month's issue and cannot. Any ideas where to look?

That is true, Rome rotted away. Take a week or so and read "Corruption and the Decline of Rome" by MacMullen. You will see some parallels.

I have just published my first Historical Fiction - Bandit King - Volume I: Promotus - AD 391. [ISBN 9 781979 789295] I first want to extend my warmest thanks for all the help I received here at UNRV in the research of my book and its time period. It is the first in a series following the life / career of Alaric the Goth (AD 391 - 410). The book is free (kindle edition only, I think) from 6 - 10 January, 2020. I would appreciate your comments and opinions. It is, of course fiction, but I tried to keep the setting as historically accurate as I could. The only failing I had was trying to create the Goth's culture since so much as disappeared in the last 16 centuries. Thank you for taking the time to read it. Lothia

When you write senate, you are not referring to the duoviri, right? Every city had their own government, or do I misunderstand?

Thank you for your reply. Perhaps pomerium was not the right word and it belongs only to the city of Rome. But it seems reasonable that the others cities would have (or want to have) some administrative or pecuniary control or influence on the areas surrounding a city. Again, thanks for your response.

Ave Civitas,I understand that some cities had a Pomerium and it extended beyond the original city walls.I believe that Rome was not the only city with a pomerium.I am imagining the ciy limits and the pomerium limits to be similar to the German Stadtkreis and Landkreis.My question is:If some cities had the pomerium, was there a restriction on which cities had them?How far beyond the city proper would the pomeriuim extend?I assume that there were unincorporated lands between one city's pomerium and another city's pomerium?Then I know there were imperial lands controlled by bureaus in the capitols. but what about the unincorporated lands that did not fall under the city or the emperor. They must have fallen under someone's jurisdiction. Would that be the provincial governor's authority that encompassed the unincorporated lands or were there smaller governmental offices within the province?Thank you all in advanceTom

Ave Civitas,I have a question about gifting.Now-a-days is it proper for a guest to bring a gift to a host when invited (to dinner, perhaps).Was it proper during the Later Roman Empire (4th-5th century) for the guest to bring a gift to a host when invited, or for the host to present a gift when a guest arrived?And what if the guest is a client of the host? Would that change protocol?Again, thank you in advance.

Ave Civitas,Doing research for my novel, I ran across an interesting and informative article on Accute pain management in the Roman army.[ http://www.apicareonline.com/acute-pain-...oman-army/ ]ABSTRACT Ancient warfare involved hostilities between, among or within city-states, clans, tribes, chieftaincies, ethnic groups, empires, or with other organized collectives, by means of armed force. Periodic warfare is universal in time and place. Its causes are many and complex, but unquestionably involve microcosmic and macrocosmic factors. Organized violence causes pain, suffering and death among combatants. The Romans forged a medical system that surpassed the medical systems of most of the enemies that the Romans fought. The Roman military staff employed rapid medical treatment of wounds on the battlefield and at field hospitals, including analgesics to increase the speed of recovery. This treatment acted as a force multiplier to give an advantage in war. The alleviation of pain through the use of analgesics was a major factor in allowing minimally and moderately wounded soldiers to return to the battlefield as soon as possible. Key words: analgesic, immediate medical care, combat medicine.Editor, “APICARE”60-A, Nazim-u-Din Road, F-8/4Islamabad,44000, PakistanTom

I am looking for information on Seleucia Pierea for a novel I am writing, circa AD 390. I am seeking descriptions of the city and area surrounding it. I would appreciate maps. I once found one years ago that showed the run of the city's walls and major buildings, but I cannot find it again. Link: http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/draw/?zoom=8&center=36.123889,35.921944&marker=Seleucia Pieria Is the area, according to Google, but, if you zoom in, the harbor there does not seem to be in the area of the original harbor. The original Roman harbor has silted shut. The harbor I find on map searches does not appear to be near a river, so I am wondering if the original harbor was south of the present one. The closest river is the Orontes, but it is six miles south. There is a channel, that looks man-made, about 1 1/2 miles south. Perhaps that was the original course of the Orontes. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

I am writing a novel that features the emperor Eugenius. I am looking at an image of the solidus struck in Mediolanum and trying to understand the words along its edge. DN EVGENI-VS P F AVG I assume the EVGENIVS is his name. I also assume the AVG is "Augustus" The "P" I think is Pius. The "DN" is Dominus Noster and the "F" is filius. but filius, being -son- is not followed by a father's name or should it be considered to mean "the rightful successor? Anyone know what name should have followed the "F"?

I always look for cause and effect. Although Alaric was an effective general and commander, once he was in Italy his efforts stagnated. He couldn't storm the walls of Rome, I don't think he wanted to. He couldn't get the emperor to pay his troops. I think maybe his army was losing confidence in him. Then, when someone opens the gates to the city he limits the looting to secular buildings reducing the loot the army could have gotten. Next, Alaric decides he is moving to Africa. Down south he marches his army, gathers a fleet and then the fleet gets destroyed in a storm. Instead of giving up on Africa, he starts gathering more ships. Then, boom! He is dead. I smells pretty suspicious of assassination.

Ave, Just ran across an on-line article from "Academia.edu Weekly Digest" that might be interesting to some readers. Tom

Thank you. Very informative and helpful response. Tom

Ave civitas, I am writing a series of books that follow Alaric the Goth. I have a fictional scenario where where an official accompanying the Roman army who is responsible for distribution of livestock for slaughter to the accompanying foederati units. He has been selling rather than doling out the animals and keeping the earnings. I would assume that this would be seen more as embezzlement than theft, but I am not sure. and if he were equestrian in rank, how would the commander (the official is a civilian) handle this case? Would he hold jurisdiction since it is army livestock, or would he turn the case over the civil authorities since the official is not a soldier?

Pompieus, Thanks for your reply. Yes, that is the way I see it too, but was wondering if perhaps Africae was managed a bit differently. Comes Bonifatius took sides in a power struggle (don't want to call it a civil war, but perhaps it was. That must mean that Bonifatius had the support of the praetorian praefect and the vicar. Again, thanks.

Ave Civitas,Still working on my novel, The Bandit King (All about Alaric). I am a little confused about Gildo and the reaches of his command.He was count of Africa. Was that a military district? The title count suggests it was.If so, how far did the military district extend?Did it include Africa Procunsularis, Mauretania Caesariensis, Mauretania Sitifensis, Numidia Militiana, Numidia Cirtensis and Tripolitania?If it did, and if he wanted to mobilize the whole army (When Stilicho declared war against him) would he need to enlist the Vicarius of Africa? The counsuls and praefects of Africa? Surely the Praetorian Praefect of Italy would tell the Vicar of Africa, "No." How could he supply his troops?It seems like such a daunting task, getting everyone on the same side of the line.Any information and sources (in English, I am handicapped that way) are appreciated.Again, thanks in advance.Tom

Absolutely what I was looking for. Thank you very much.

I am writing a novel that takes place in the closing years of the fourth century (AD 394). I cannot find where the Dux Raetia had its headquarters at that time. The ND does not help. I also looked through [ The_General_Civil_and_Military_Administration of Raetia and Noricum ] and found nothing about the Dux. Any place else I might look, or does anyone have an answer?

Caldrail, Thanks for the information about prisons. That is interesting about the "public face" . One of the characters in my novel will be Rufinus, the MoA. I am sure he used that tactic against his enemies and I assume his enemies would have used it against him. But now I wonder, how does someone defend against that? I will think on this for a while and then, if I can't find an answer somewhere, post it here to get opinions. By the way, you guys are great. Thanks.

Thank you, Viggen. Excellent article. Very helpful. After reading it I do recall Galen, as an injury surgeon, made the connection between the brain and functions we now associate with the brain (thought, memory, actions, speech, etc.)

If the Romans thought that the brain was a cooling organ, where did they think thoughts originated?

Sonic, Yes, me neither. That was one of the reasons I posted the question. Thank you very much for your response. Viggen, Very helpful article on Arbogast. I am not so sure about Arbogast the Younger being the Elder's son. There is a lot of years between the two. Perhaps his grandson?

Thanks. Stilicho is also in the novel I am working on as well as Aetius's father. I just downloaded the file and will take a look at it after my morning coffee. Tom