Artimi

me too

Greek kinds of democracy. I have always had a problem with idea of Greece as the birthplace of democracy, maybe the idea yes. But in Ancient Greece who had the freedom to vote, to actually Do.. not women, not slaves, not people from another city. I am not sure who said this - romans did seem at that time to have equal opportunity intolerance. You are born, live, die and sometimes the manner in which you do these things influence the future. There in lies the basis for many discussions with no resolutions. I will continue admire some of the things of Roman Republic and Empire with the awareness that Ancient Rome was not perfect. But look at other ancient empires, Assyria, Egypt, Carthegians, etc etc. not sure I will leave this post up.

Just watched the entire race on a grainy youtube version.(a link from a blooper's article). I totally forgot to look for the bloopers. Even the grainy version has a majesty, immediacy to it. No CGI and it is so evident. Those horses were magnificent, the power so real. Even the actors are real. But it is the horses that make this scene.

http://www.oldradioworld.com/shows/The_Shadow.php I started with episode from Sept 26 1937. I quite enjoyed it

lol, I love this

A 1992 one has cleaner, less archaic phrasing than the free 1800's transations: http://www.amazon.co...n/dp/0385421311 . The rave customer reviews there should come with a caveat - reading this can make you feel sick about times you fell afoul from those real-world guidelines, thinking it was enough to simply be thoughtful and goodhearted in life. You may wish you read it earlier in life. Added the hardcover to my wish list at Indigo. what is strange is the that the trade paperback is more expensive than the hardcover. at Indigo

Roman Cookery sounds interesting. Can you share some food titles? I'm thinking of checking this book out. Did you buy it on Amazon? E-book or paper? Cinzia I bought this paperback book at Indigo - a Cdn bookstore on line, but I am sure Amazon has it too. I just glanced through last night. I saw some recipes that seemed doable. this is food that would be every day sort of not the Apicius recipes. There is a Beef Casserole recipe that sounded good until the list of ingredients.. what and where would I get spikenard and costmary.and pennyroyal? I like broadbeeans and the is a simple recipe for them. fresh broad beens, vegetable or beef stock, olive oil and sea salt. He seems to use sea salt almost all the time.. which is okay because so do I. and oodles and oodles of olive oil. which is understandable. Cheese bread with honey (savillum) sounds good too and the ingredient list is short. In fact most of the ingredient lists seem short. Now I have to find someone who is game to try what I make

Oops, if I had waited I could have added the interesting angle to "Berlin Diary" where Nazis tour correspondents thru recently occupied benelux and french territories. Interesting to see tension of German troops torn between befriending at least gentile populations vs looting and scaring them from resistance. Only Belgium (and Dunkirk) showed signs of organized defensive battles. And I am guessing bomber Harris read his diary accounts of how early British bombing of Berlin etc shocked the population and cracked morale that had been based on false propaganda. Later I guess they got hardened to it just when the allies turned up the heat. The Emperor's Handbook by Marcus Aurelius http://alumni.eecs.b...s-excerpts.html I don't know if it is my Hicks's translation but I see this as not strictly stoic but kind of wimpy/passive stoic. The perfect guide to letting your son grow up to be a monster emperor, as did happen. Isn't there a tough minded stoicism, like the amazing way Rome fought Hannibal when all appeared lost? Interesting to hear an emperors voice though. The Art of Worldly Wisdom by Balthasar Gracian 1637 http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/aww/ I have much better more recent translation than that link, and it is a great collection of maxims on how to thrive in a world of mischief that tries to grind down the good and the smart. More readable than Machiavelli. Funny, pithy, and timeless. the Art of Worldly wisdom interests me. is there a translation/book you would recommend?

Nope I dont recommend The Archangel Project.

rec'd my book order today.. about 2 weeks ago, I just couldnt restrain myself. looking forward to reading.: Murder in chinatown by Victoria Thompson, about book 5 or 6 or 7 in the series by Thompson. nice easy fast enjoyable reading and the history is excellent. The Body in the Thames. by Susanna Gregory - book 5 (?) in the series. really good murder mystery with good history in the 1660's. Roman Cookery - Ancient Recipes for Modern Kitchens by Mark Grant - going to try to psyche myself to try an easy recipe. The Ghosts of Cannae by Robert L. O'Connell - really looking forward to reading this one. I have always wanted to know more about this battle. Maybe I will hear the trumpets or the clash of steel. But..... I must spread these books over several weeks possibly months..................... (yeah uh huh).

added it to my wish list as a preorder. thanks Guy, it does sound interesting.

Wonderful pictures and information. my computer kept stopping about mid way through the 7 min version, but I saw enough to be envious of all of you. btw would those be poisonous snakes? of just those helpful ones.? I have marked the Aquaduct Hunters site for later reading. Thank you

I agree, very few events in human history have a knife edge finish. Usually a rip and tear and bad patching and tear. but one example of a knife edge might be the defeat of the Assyrians in 612 BC with burning of Nineveh.

that was good:)

Christian persecution of pagans. 335 Constantine sacks many pagan temples in Asia Minor and Palestine and orders the execution by crucifixion of

I seemed to be hooked this series historical snippets with modern music,. I think partly because of the music.

Two weeks ago, rearranged some priorites and ordered 3 books on line. One was the cheapest book on my wish list and it showed. First - fiction A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd. Charles Todd is a mother-son writing combination. This the 2nd in the Bess Crawford series. - mysteries. Their other series - Inspector Rutledge is very good as well but I never really liked it. I read 2 books to make sure. This series is much more readable but it is it is in first person. I will continue to read the series because I like Bess and the stories. It takes place during WW1 - Bess is a nurse at front or on hospital ships. I figured out the puzzle long before the end, but it was interesting to see how the players played (????). Good characterizations and nice historical detail. Second - non-fiction The Wall - Rome's Greatest Frontier by Alistair Moffat. Nice historical background detai leading up to the building of the wall. I have not got there yet. Still on chapter 4(I seem to get stuck around chapter 4 of non fiction books) - Dinner on the Stone Road. Some translations of the wood shaving writings found at Vindolnda. He also includes 'inserts' of random details which are complimentary to the chapter. But I find his style of writing disconcerting or maybe because I read this book on the bus on the way to work, I seem to miss the verb in the sentence occassionally or maybe his sentence structure really is different. So far the book is very intersesting, basic knowledge of Britannia before and during Rome and acknowledgement where written and /or archaeological data is sparse or missing for now. Third - fiction The Archangel Project - CS Graham The blurbs sounded very interesting, sort of Rollins style, but not as engaging. I don't really like the 'heroine' , there is the nasty vast American corporation and CEO, nasty and good elements of the CIA and FBI and a lot of real stuff mixed in. - the research by DIA into remote viewing. In the Author's NOtes at the begiining, he does reference material that can be accessed about this. So far it has a thinness about it.

r this was quite interesting and with music really quite sad. I am not if some already posted this.

Henrik Mouritsen, The Freedman in the Roman World. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Pp. vi, 344. ISBN 9780521856133. $99.00. My link <H3>Marina Prusac, From Face to Face: Recarving of Roman Portraits and the Late-antique Portrait Arts. Monumenta Graeca et Romana, 18. Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2011. Pp. xvii, 202; 155 p. of plates. ISBN 9789004182714. $226.00. My link The books (see reviews) seem very interesting, but the price of the books are prohibitive.

I too have read these books. The Vidal book years and years ago and no longer have a copy. It may be time to reread The Last Pagan. another book about Julian - Julian The Apostate by GW Bowersock, which is non - fiction.. I may have to reread that one too. For some reason I have no 'taste' in my mind about that book unlike the The Last Pagan. I haven't read Gods and Legions yet, but it is on my wish list. One of my all time favourite books on Rome - Bryan Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Roman and the End of Civilization.. a small but extremely well written and well researched book. An interesting book, of a past space of time that some consider a transition rather and an end. Another favourite which not about the Empire but about the Republic - The Roman Republic by Michael Crawford. It was nice to see some of the ideas I thought about in print. Right now I am slowly reading Civilization Before Greeece and Rome by HWF Saggs. Which seems to organized on themes in civilizations and with in the themes a chronoloigical discussion. Chapter 4 is Writing.

I read FIRE FROM HEAVEN, THE PERSIAN BOY, and THE KING MUST DIE by Renault. They were all good and I've listed them in order of my preference. Also, anyone considering Steven Saylor might want to start with his first book ROMAN BLOOD. I love his writing and have read a about six of his novels. I've read Scarrow too, but I lean toward Saylor more. For those who like the 5th century like me there's THE SWORD OF ATTILA by Michael Curtis Ford and THE SCOURGE OF GOD by William Dietrich. Cinzia Thanks for your recommendation - I'll look for those other books by Mary Renault The Persian Boy is good - the writng is so evocative and there hasn't been a page of the book where I've felt like skimming over to the next page We picked up a Steven Saylor book in an everything for $5 bookshop before Christmas but I haven't started it yet - Empire I didnt enjoy Mary Renault's books but theSword of Attila looks likes interesting and so does Gods and Legions(Julian is one of my most favourite Romans.) and I must find out where my copy of The Eagle in the Snow is. It is time for a re-read.

Carthage must be Destroyed is currently on my future reading list> I got the book as a gift this Christmas, but I still haven't got round to reading it yet. this book is one my wish list as well.. and this is encouraging the buying of it :)

Well, it's only another 3-4 weeks at the most. Maybe time to 'delay' the final revision?? So what exactly is the novel about? Sonic, in theory it is on sale at either Amazon or another thingie on line.. but.........

Curious question, that popped into my mind after your sentences. Are countries/empires born with the seeds of their ends. I am not sure if this has been asked before, either here or at forums-

thank you,, I will track the book down.