GhostOfClayton

You'll have to do better than that! Do our American friends blush at the sound of 'Lust' within a word? Do we Brits find 'Conspire' a tad too edgy? By the way. I've had the Audiobook of Lustrum buried under rubbish in my in-tray since it was released. Ebayers won't touch it, so if anyone wants it for the price of postage, they can have it.

We should rate all our books in Dead Gladiators: Conspirata/Lustrum by Robert Harris

I always considered that aqueducts seemed to be a good litmus test of the Pax Romana. Living in a colonia, or similar settlement you were very dependant on your water supply, which was extremely vulnerbale, snaking as it did for miles over unguarded territory. You would have had to have a pretty strong faith in the Pax Romana to rely on it. When the aqueducts stop being maintained, the reason may be the gradual loss of faith in the Pax Romana, and something as subjective and conceptual ceases to exist when the people lose faith in it.

I'm doing office work at the moment, but should soon have time to visit the library and museum, and find out some more information.

I wonder why it was Lustrum in the UK and Conspirata in the US?

I just added a slinky link to the Maty's webpage for that book from Wikipedia. Hope it helps sales.

Have we reported this one?

It was a long shot. Maybe no-one knows. If you Do find the answer, don't forget to update the relevant entry on WP.

Maybe this list could be a place to start your research. Hope so.

Wikipedia agrees.

A treat for my 50th Brithday, maybe?

Both the flora and the stonework remind me of sites I've seen in southern France.

I've probably kept this one to myself for long enough, waiting to find out more details. I haven't got round to doing that yet, but don't want to deprive you of this one any longer. If ever you find yourself in northern Lincolnshire, be sure to seek out what I consider to be the best mosaic floor (well, tessellated pavement in this case) I've seen, and in a location you wouldn't expect to find it. Firstly, let me describe the item itself. It is one continuous mosaic pavement, consisting of three panels. The centre panel is the more complex, its centrepeice being, I believe, of Ceres holding a torch. The two matching side panels are less complex, consisting of a simple repeating design. Each panel has a broad, simply designed frame. I feel that it is a little unusual, though I'm not expert enough to be reliably believed. Preservation-wise, the central area remains in its original, almost unblemished, state. But due to damage by deep ploughing and ditching, a "certain amount" of restoration work has been done. You can't tell where, so it must've been done well. Sadly, there're little in the way of photographs, and what the above doesn't show well, is the size of the thing. It is (at a guess) 3m high (being currently mounted on a wall) by 10m long. The history of the floor is that it was part of the floor of a Romano-British villa uncovered near Winterton, close to this arrow. The site itself is just under 3km from the nearest part of Ermine Street. The mosaic dates from 360 AD and was removed from the site of the Roman Villa in 1959. So, is it in the local museum? No. It was presented by the family of the Landowner to the local council. They currently have it mounted on the back wall of the large reception area of their main council offices (Pittwood House). It looks good! Any visitor to the those offices cannot help but be impressed. One of my other roles in life take me to the council offices from time to time, and the next time will be next Wednesday or Thursday. I will take my camera and hope they aren't feeling too officious.

I'm intrigued by 'banned participants'. . . and I'm also fairly certain that Melvadius shouldn't withdraw simply because he knows the answer. That is being too much of a gentleman. It's like that Jamaican sprinter withdrawing from the 100m because he's faster than everyone else.

There was, of course, the one we never did get! Remember that?

Yes . . it sort of is. I'm going to rule out Britannia, or I would have seen it, so I'll say France.

Welcome on board Lyedecker.

I lost SO many hours of my life playing Duke Nukem 3D. In fact, I dread to think how many man-years went into various computer games, starting with Space Invaders. When I was at 6th Form College, I needed to get two buses home. I worked out it was just possible to get off the 1st bus, run down to 'Lucky Las Vegas', get 9990 on the Space Invaders, and run back just in time to catch the 2nd bus. I did this most days. How sad!

Ah . . The 80's . . . my favourite dacade! I had the standard 80's hairdo (in fact it was 2 hairdos in one - the back said "business", but the top said "party"!) 'Obsession' is never off my iPod. I don't know why, but I always think of Scarlet Fantastic when I'm reminded of Animotion. They're not that similar, but it's a nostalgia thing, I'm sure!

Yikes - tough one! Some intersting relief work on that arch, and some text, but not distinct enough to make out. The road signs suggest Europe, but not the UK, so I'll guess mainland Italy as a start.

Simon Baker's 'Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire' has a reasonably detailed section. Also, the BBC DVD of the same name has an episode dedicated to the Gracchi.

Antioch on the Maeander?

Next one to contend with is Hurricaine Irene. Anyone in any danger from that? Hope not!

Yes, I noticed it on IMDB not long after reading it. It's the sort of novel that would make for an excellent film. Shame the plans faded out.

Hmmm . . thanks for the excellent research, Melvadius. I've discovered an iPod/iPad/iPhone app on iTunes called 'Latrunculi'. I shall be buying the thing and reporting back on the rules chosen. Two players CAN play the game, though they have to share the same wifi network, so sadly, I won't be taking any of you guys to school!