GhostOfClayton

On my recent visit to Lunt fort, I was interested to see a couple of replica Roman board games, labelled 'Ludus' and 'Latrunculi'. I was surprised to find on Wikipedia a game called 'Ludus latrunculorum', suggesting an amalgam of the two. Yet they seem (from Lunt) to be very different games. Any ideas, anyone? I've attached photos of the games and their (supposed) rules.

I can confirm I shall be there on the Sunday.

They didn't always get fashion right, though. Remember this?

By the way, RTT, I have some homework for you. Go away and pen a similar work on the subject of Roman navigation and mapping. I'll start saving my pennies right now!

The brief description on your website had me straight away; I LOVE stuff like that. However, being a typical Yorkshireman I had a huge wall of cynicism holding me back vis-a-vis how much it might cost me. The link took me to the US Amazon website, where there was the first hint that the wall of cynicism may start to crumble a little - there was only a single digit between the dollar sign and the decimal point. Browsing the UK Amazon store I was delighted to find that, at

I've also now just finished loading my photos into this UNRV gallery.

Well spotted for the location of the barrack block, NN. However, I must admit 'mea culpa' for calling it a barrack block in the first place. I fear the fort is so damn small, the building in question IS actually the Principia. In you can make out the size of the Principia by the roof showing at approx 27 seconds. Also at approx 44 seconds, there's a shot of the gate from the Principia. Incidently, Lunt's granary is entirely wooden - see it in the attached photo which is the same gate viewed from outside, with the granary visible through the gate - who is that ruggedly handsome devil leaning on the palisade? On the subject on palisade, I'd be interested in your views on the movie's pointy version. The clever Lunt people have clearly not got pointy palisade, and the movie people have it. My initial thought is that pointy palisade would be a good thing. Maybe Lunt topped theirs off for Health & Safety reasons, though I doubt it.

Just to repost an event Melvadius drew attention to in a different thread:

Once again, Melvadius, you've proven yourself a man to be reckoned with. On the movie still they are clearly riding out of the fort, as evidenced by the barrack block seen through the gate. yet the fine uniform of the Legionaries in the tower is visible for all to see due to the installation of open cross-bar fencing. Very vulnerable. It isn't obvious on the lunt photo until you open up the big version, but that is clearly shown from inside, and the outer fencing is more defensively complete. QED.

OK - let's take it as read that the maritime trade existed, and stick to the overland trade.

It's the sort of argument that can do nothing other than go on and on. It's too easy to point to bits of each culture and say the US is the modern Rome because they both did such and such, or were arranged thus-wise. Contrarywise, it's too easy to say they aren't alike because Rome did this thing and the US does that thing. There's one thing for absolute certain, though. If modern western civilisation thinks it's immune to a Rome-esque downfall because it has access to Ninendo Wii Consoles and the like, I'm sure it can think again!

The Silk Road wasn't just one road, but a network of trading routes. Ergo, if silk ever reached the west, the Silk Road existed.

I'm VERY disappointed with you guys for not spotting the obvious flaw in the movie reconstruction of the gateway, as opposed to the archaeological reconstruction (as per my photo). Have another look, and try again!

Nice!

A Still from the film:- A photo I took recently at Lunt Fort (the thumbnail below is pretty big):

Agreed. We were already stung with the Crosby Garrett Cavalry Helmet. This is happening too often. When I win the Euromillions lottery, this is the sort of thing I shall be doing with all that excess cash.

Welcome, Joe . . . and yes, go for it!

Did you manage the trip, Auris? How did it go?

I'm quite enjoying all this - would you keep us informed as to how it all goes.

No details of times, dates, episodes, etc are available at the moment, but let's at least get it logged. 'Digging For Britain' Country: UK Channel: BBC2 (& Possibly BBC2 HD) Date: TBA (coming soon) Time: TBA Episodes: 4 Link: BBC2

That reminds me, I must put 'Digging for Britain' on the Coming Up Next thread.

It is indeed Palmyra (setting for the last part of the Marcus Didius Falco novel 'Last Act in Palmyra') - well done, and over to you, Ummidia.

I don't know how to do it either! Serves me right for being lazy - you can find the thread here.

I'm afraid not.

That's a pretty late period hairdo, I'd say. Clue required I think.