Germanicus

Give me some examples then. To quote Adrian Goldsworthy in "The Complete Roman Army" :- "The defences of most Roman forts would have posed few problems for an army with some knowledge of siegecraft. However, for much of the Principate only the Romans possessed this technology." Can anyone provide some examples to contradict this view ?

Yes, it's difficult to choose one, Professionalism is an expression of them all, working together, that was the thing about the reforms, they created a professional Army.

I'd say the Pax Romana lasted until well after Trajan, covering the period including the five good emperors. War with Dacia didn't negatively effect the vast majority of the Roman world.

Come on Roman wargamer I know you know better than that :- 1st Punic war = 264-241 BC 2nd Punic War = 218-202 BC Battle of Zama = 202BC Marius born = 157 BC Marius reforms the legions = 107BC - ish But back to the poll !

I'm talking post Marian reforms Roman Wargamer, but thanks for voting

Hi Honorius, I know we have some species of small gropers, don't know what they are but I didn't see any.

What defines a human sacrifice ? Quoting Cato:- I would have thought human sacrifice always included an execution. I think if accoring to Strabo Druids are reading the death throws of the sacrificed for the purposes of divining in a manner consistant with their religeon, is this not human sacrifice ? I do think Celtic peoples would have sacrificed enemies or criminals as opposed to free members of their own tribes, in the way that Vikings sacrificed prisoners to Odin by hanging them from trees - I believe Odin is a God with a Celtic origin. Like Caesar says:- "It is judged that the punishment of those who participated in theft or brigandage or other crimes are more pleasing to the immortal gods" The below is from www.digitalmedievalist.com:-

If you had to choose one, which element in the poll above would you choose as the most important element in the success of the Roman Army, post Marian reforms ?

For a large period spanning before, and most of the Pricipate, the Roman army was the only army of the ancient world to possess siege technology. Where as once the advantage would always be with a defending army, the Romans changed the situation, and expanded accordingly. At what point do you think the advantage over other states, or groups began to wane, and was the competing siegecraft learned from the Romans ?

I went down to the beach where my parents live this weekend, and had a really good afternoon on Saturday snokelling. It was a dead low tide, and very calm. I saw lots of parrot fish, wrasse, sweep, darts and whiting. The water was really warm for Victoria (the state I live in) and some of the pools I swam in were beautiful. The rocks were absolutely covered in life, all kinds of colorfull seaweed and lichen and growth. My parents retired to Barwon Heads, on the Bellarine peninsular, about an hour and a bit from Melbourne. The actual headland itself is a marine sanctuary, and it's rare that I'm there when the tide is just right and it's a hot, calm day. Anyway, just had a really good day.

Happy birthday Lost Warrior ! 18 hey ? Ahhh, I remember 18, enjoy !

I think it's unlikely, but I see what you mean. In a sense the guy is just a historian with an opinion that everyone else thinks is wrong.

As someone from a country other than the US, its comforting to know you think this way Ludovicus. Tflex - you don't make me feel quite as good though....

I think the hard core of the legions was Italian in origin through at least the first half of the 1st century AD. Could you advise what books you are talking about Fretensis ?

Hello Dr Heather, great to have you here. My question relates to Slavery after the sack of Rome and the fall of the West. I am curious to know what the attitude of Italys new masters was concerning people classified as slaves under the Empire. Were germanic slaves freed, or did Odaecer want to appear almost Roman/Emperor like in his attitudes as I have read ? Has any research been done into the evolution of Slavery in the area post Odaecer? Thankyou very much, Germanicus

Primarily yes, but I think he was easier to hate also because he was a new man. I don't think he would have been such a problem for the senatorial elitists had his name been Metellus for example. But then, I guess a Meteluss or a Lucinii would not have agitated through the popular assembley nearly as much as Marius, I suppose it depends on what one thinks Marius motivations were. Assuming you mean M. Aemilius Lepidus ? I think Catulus was definately opposed to the restoration, the below also from Keaveney of 79BC :- "Catulus and Mam. Lepidus stood as consular candidates, only to be oppposed by M. Aemilius Lepidus who declared his intention of repealing Sulla's laws, if elected. Somehow or other, this Lepidus gained the support of Pompey, and the prestige which the young warrior enjoyed with the voters, as a reult of his recent campaigns, made it virtually certain that his favoured candidate would be successful. Sulla at once hurried to to Rome to meet the challenge by canvassing on behalf of his friends." I don't think Sulla would've hurried anywhere to support a Catulus if he'd been interested in repealing his laws, which would no doubt have included the restoration. Lucullus ? I can't find a concrete reference to opposition to the restoration, but also note that I haven't read a single reference to him ever doing anything other than support Sulla in life, and in death, and do his bidding. It would seem so, quite the sicko too. Another thing about Lucullus that I just realised, was that he was the only officer under Sulla not to desert him for his march on Rome in 88BC, earning the Dictators everlasting thanks.

There is a degree to which one gets the feeling that those aristocrats like Catulus and Lucullus would have sided with anyone who was against a New Man like Marius, particularly if the faction they sided with was in favour of restoring the Senate as the primary power house of the republic. It's also fairly obvious that Catulus (who Sulla refferred to as "the soundest man in the world") and Lucullus (who Sulla made gaurdian of his children in his will) were friends first and formost. Regarding Catulus the younger. Keaveney mentions in his book, that his father was put to death thanks to the actions of Marius Gratidianus during the Cinnan coup at Rome, and when Sulla came to power :- "The latters son now came to take his revenge and asked Sulla to hand him over so that he could deal personally with him. Unwilling to carry out the execution himself he gave the commission to Catiline who dragged his victim to the elder Catulus' tomb and there tore him limb from limb" He appears to be getting this information from Cicero and Plutarch. I think Sullas policies concerning the Senate, and the tribunician power were probably for the most part in line with those of Catulus and Lucullus, and I also think that Sulla was a magnetic person, who made friends easily and kept them, just as he kept his enemies.

Lets see what have I done this week ? The most interesting night by far I will describe for you below:- Caught up with a mate earlier in the week. He came around with his new girlfriend and I made a green curry duck. The duck was excellent, and the conversation was lively. We drank a bottle of wine and after dinner decided to go play some pool (8 ball) at the local. We walked in and I slapped a buck down on the table. In my town, if someones on the table you have to pay for the next game against them...if you win you're on the table. The guy playing said "these people must like dying" loudly, to his chick. My friend and I were both somewhat under the weather and replied loudly, that yes...we loved dying and proceeded to kick his butt at pool. Meanwhile, my friends girlfriend had struck up a conversation with said chick. As it turned out she was a junkie, had four kids already, all in foster care, and a fifth on the way. Her boyfried (who we just played in pool) was a lousy drunk who slapped her around. They swapped phone numbers (what the ?) and the junkie chick said she'd call the next day. My friend was annoyed at his new girlfriend, and we left the pub, went back to mine with a few take away beers, and had a long conversation about how you can't help everyone...and why would you want this person calling you or potentially comming around to your place ? His girlfriend was like "you can't write people off" and we were like "why not....wouldn't you learn after the first illigit, taken off you at birth child ?" I admit it was complex, and I agree to an extent that people deserve a second chance.....but you can't help a person who won't help themselves...believe me, I know. Anyway, I enjoyed the night...I like mixing it up in the pub from time to time, I always meet interesting people, and many I never ever want to see again - LOL

Oh does it ? Thanks I didn't know, silly me. Who knows what they would have done with it. The point was that I'd like to !!!

What you think the invaders didn't shoot the natives ? There weren't battles ? The natives immune systems were so weak because they'd never been exposed to European colds and flu, the more exposure you get, the greater your immunity. Okay, to satisfy you hair splitters, I'll go back in 500AD, expose them to every know disease I can take with me, and give them the gun powder secret, leaving them immunity, and firepower.

I'd go back and give native american peoples the secret of gunpowder.

No, no mention of dried pollen cakes I'm afraid, there are a couple of other things I was suprised by though, namely that the Italians loved pork and bacon, and that as the Italian contingent in the Army dropped, so the finds of bones at fort sites include much more cattle, sheep and goat bones, than the pig bones that used to be predominant.

I should have said..it's "The Complete Roman Army" by Adrian Goldsworthy, page 98. He also says that the hard tack they sometimes received wasn't usually eaten as such, but was ground to make a crude flour and baked into bread. I guess the early pasta mentioned could have been like a dumpling, pasta for-runner? Andrew ? Oh Andrew.......

In a book I'm reading, it mentions Pasta found at Pompei, and suggests that in some instances soldiers would have turned their grain ration into Pasta. Was this when pasta first appears ? Are it's origins Roman ? I confess that for some reason I have for a long time thought it came from China, noodles perhaps.