Lanista

Just because I've got new trainers don't mean I'm a riotin' chav, innit.

Sure, but we're not talking about warfare: "everyone is saying that one-on-one, a Roman would lose to a Spartan, Samurai, Celtic Warrior, etc. so easily and he would need to be in a group formation to even have a chance to defeat other warriors one-on-one." I agree that gladiators would be not much good in pitched battle - there's even evidence to support it. (begs the question though - army of gladiators vs army of rampaging barbarians? Hmmm...there's a book in there somewhere...) I do think they'd hold their own against the above in a 1-2-1 match. In the Spartan/Celtic example they were even trained to do so as I pointed out in the earlier fighting style example. Against a samurai - I don't know, it'd be interesting: the katana is a pretty tasty weapon after all, but the gladiator has his shield. Lierelou will know more about this than me, but I'm not sure if the ancient/medieval Japanese warriors used or had any experience of fighting against individuals (or indeed formations) that used shields. If this IS the case, then I'd say - in our "Ultimate Warrior" test, the Murmillo (given that he's one of our legionary clones) wins. Isn't there some sort of loony UFC-style sword tournament that takes place where you get all sorts of styles facing off - there maybe an example of an equivalent match there. I saw a documentary about it on the history channel, but I can't remember much more about it. It was a two-parter called "The Sword." But, the original point/question has been answered. Most Roman soldiers couldn't stack up to a trained warrior in a 1-2-1 stand off. They weren't trained for it... or really equipped for it - the gladiatorial shields in MOST cases were smaller (I forget the one that actually used the scutum - provocator I think) and lighter. If you've lugged around a scutum for any length of time, they get very unwieldy and heavy for our 21st century muscles. Indeed, our gladiatorial expert Medusa points out that a good tactic for the gladiator carrying the big shield was to rest it on your greave to give your forearm and shoulder a break). We're kind of preaching to the converted - we know that Roman tactics were to stay in formation, barbarian tactics to break that formation - if the machine breaks down... we break down and all that. Getting in amongst the Romans was the best way to defeat them because in that scenario, the barbarians held the advantage.

As I say, I'm no expert on that, thanks for the clarification.

I'm not sure - the Centurion would have the same training as his men. They were promoted to the centurionate after serving as an optio (think corporal to sergeant, though the apprenticeship would have been much longer than in a modern day army) and had to have a decent length of service and have shown competence in battle, leadership and so forth. I guess if you were going for archetype, it would be "grizzled veteran." But I don't think that they'd be marked out because they were stunning individual warriors (I think that this sort of mano-a-mano stuff was frowned on by centurions in fact). As I said - we're really comparing cultural differences. The Romans didn't place value on that sort of combat and didn't think it was cowardly to fight in such a manner. Similarly, these same Romans thought the Parthians were cowards because they wouldn't stand and fight, but would rather shoot arrows at them and ride off quickly. The "barbarians" thought the Romans were cowards because they ganged up and wouldn't fight "properly" and (I'm no expert) I think the Samurai thought the same of the Monguls when they invaded. The Samurai warrior would ride out to face a champion and get butchered by laughing Koreans. I don't think we can generalise here: as I say, I'm sure some Romans were pretty tasty with a sword, others not so. But they just didn't have the same ethos as the cultures you mention here.

I loved it - though I wish Jamie Bell had a more impressive 80's metal barnet rather than his usual hairstyle. I always think of the Brigantes with epic Adrian Vandenberg blond locks. Neat touch making all the Romans American (or American sounding) a la "Alexander" Irish/English: Macedonian/Greek too. I can't agree that Tatum was wooden - his scene with Sutherland was clearly indicative of the first crack in his super-soldier veneer - which I guess is being read as him being wooden. I'd say he was conveying that his character a personification of the Roman military machine. He's a stickler for rules, regulations - he wants to make amends for his father's "sins" so he's this more-Roman-than-Roman super soldier as I say. As the film progresses, that attitude changes. Sure its a buddy movie, but its got heart and is a lot better than its been given credit for. Brilliant music too.

The original question was why do people always say the legionary was crap in a mano-a-mano - so I'm not sure that the military effectiveness of gladiators is an issue? Sorry if I wasn't clear - what I'm, saying is that if you're stacking up a gladiator against an individual warrior culture representative then I think he'd do ok - because he was trained to fight one on one. As a martial artist who's done gladiatorial re-enactment, I'd probably take issue with the kung fu movie analogy. Gladiators were trying to hurt each other, actors clearly aren't. Experimental archaeology shows us that gladiatorial fights weren't like they were in the movies either - to a modern audience, they'd probably look a bit shit to be honest, as expectations would be let down. There's only so much theatricality involved in a fight with sharp weapons, and I think this "fact" is probably a bit of a red herring. Maybe their sword arm movements were bigger than they had to be to make it easier to see the moves from the seats, but I think that would be more than compensated for by the shield - even if it was the case they used bigger movements. But we can't see how they fought, only rely on ancient testimony, which, in the case of gladiators, was often hyperbolic or overly derogatory. It'd be interesting to see one of those hard core nutters who run the gladiator school in eastern europe against a kendo expert - that might make a fair approximation. But at the end of the day - it ain't the style, its the fighter.

I think the simplest thing to say here is that you're comparing "warriors" to "soldiers." Samurai, Britons, Celts, Germans adhered to a "heroic" ideal, champion vs champion, honour for the victor... all that stuff. The Roman solider wasn't trained to be a duellist: the techniques used in massed, heavy infantry formation combat are totally unsuited to duelling one on one. I'm sure there were some excellent legionary swordsmen - they practised day in and day out after all, but they were practising pretty basic techniques for use with with a shield (and a heavy one at that) and in concert with other men from their unit. Gladiators, on the other hand, would probably hold their own in most circumstances - indeed, some gladiatorial styles were based on the techniques used by Rome's enemies... Samnite, Hoplomachus and Gaul for instance. Of course, I often wonder why no one ever asks the question what would happen if a Spartan Phalanx met an early Roman Legion.... oh no, wait a minute...

Putting it into some sort of socio-political context give it credence than its worth. Thuggery and opportunism, plain and simple - organised on expensive blackberry's, pcs and I-phones, so I doubt its got anything to do with being poor and disaffected. And we're forgetting that rioting is a bit of a laugh. Good fun, smash some stuff up, nick stuff out of Dixons... and not get caught. And stick two fingers up at an impotent police force - clearly, if one of the rioters is hurt or killed, the tactics the police used will be branded "heavy handed" and "inappropriate."

The publishers are doing a promo of Roma Victrix on Kindle for a limited time only: 97p for all the sex and violence you can shake a stick at. Not to mention a character driven story of redemption and all that kissy stuff. But mostly sex and violence. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0050Q4DRU/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=03V4MWPT3YF4T2SSFNQN&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467128533&pf_rd_i=468294

I agree with you, Neil - it probably didn't cause any confusion to the casual reader. Centurion=bloke in charge of a hundred men. Decurion=bloke in charge of ten men - a sergeant equivalent and it keeps it simple, yet differentiated from the army rank. Having marine optios, infantry optios and so forth running around would probably just get confusing for people who just read the books for entertainment. So, I reckon that's its probably a deliberate "mistake" to keep the flow of the narrative in check and not having to write sentences like "I'll go and check" said the marine optio to the legionary optio. (OK, not that, but you get the drift).

Clearly, England are going to win the world cup and not waltz through the group stages looking like world-beaters, only to get to the finals and be utterly crap. Cos that never happens.

Thanks, guys - was good fun to do, Ghost made it easy with the ace questions. Cheers Russ

Don't forget that their food was more organic, less "bad" fats and all that stuff. I read somewhere that "rock hard abs aren't built in the gym... but in the kitchen." (either that or it was on a shopping channel). But I suspect that diet and training were the key to this. The Greeks had developed gym work to an art form (the perfection of the body was something they admired - clearly!)... so not too much of a stretch to see how this was done with the proper training and lack of McD's. Cheers Russ

Epic.

\m/ Rock on, man!

Guilty...

And those were great questions you sent through, Ghost. Thanks so much! Russ

Thanks Ursus and many, many thanks to Jason for taking time out to read the book, I'm truly grateful to you (and indeed all of UNRV) Cheers Russ

I tried to read this as a kid and could never get through it. to the library, batman!

I was watching a programme (or reading a book, can't remember which) that raised the interesting point that, by all known military conventions of the day, Rome should have just put her hands up, said "its a fair cop, you've battered us" and given into terms. That the Romans simply refused to acknowledge that they'd been utterly defeated was pretty much unheard of. For them it was a case of win or die. Not lose and pay some hefty fines, give up some hostages and get on with things. cheers Russ

I liked the review, Ursus, but I'm not that venomous towards this movie. I kind of liked the idea that the gods gained their power from worship - I guess that ties into the end of the 81 movie when Zeus says "in time the gods will fade..." or something like that. You know, Christianity comes along and succeeds the Hellenic gods... I just thought that was a clever thread. I just thought the whole thing was a bit "meh" if I'm honest. I watched it again on DVD having sat through the woeful CGI version at the cinema and it didn't provoke any real reaction. It was just...an OK movie. Action adventure, swords and sandals...but pretty mediocre. But I didn't hate it and will probably watch it again at some stage. My six year old daughter loved it, though! cheers Russ

Well, I feel bad even though its out of my hands - its just disappointing that people have ordered it and had the Amazon "computer says no" message. But I guess without a confirmed date, this is their response. I've had more than a few emails about it, and yeah... it makes you feel just awful! Anyway, Lysandra will be back in action this month, I'm told! Cheers Russ

Hi Decimus - Yes, there's been a hold up in the publishing process, which is really frustrating. I can only apologise - I wish there was something I could do, but these wheels are beyond my power to turn; the publishers say that it will be out before the end of the month - probably in the next two weeks. Thanks for the pre-order, though - really grateful to you and sorry that there's been a hiccup. Cheers Russ

Nice work on the review, man! Cheers Russ

Mel - its amazing how un-glam the whole thing is, even for the important folk. There was just so much sitting around doing nothing then, walk around in circles, cheer, sit around...for days on end *lol*