Formosus Viriustus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QCzK0EVISo...feature=related michael jackson - black or white

Can any parallels be drawn between the arrogant and condescending attitude of the present day Anglo-Saxons towards the rest of the world and the attitude of the Romans towards conquered peoples ? FV

We might learn from the Ancient Greeks to stop smoking and we might learn to go on foot like them instead of driving around in cars killing pedestrians and cyclists by running them over and poisoning them with exhaust fumes. If all anti-tobacco fanatics would do away their cars instead of demonizing people who do no harm to anybody, they might really do something to safeguard other people's health and really do something to stop the complete destruction of the planet. I think we do not need any wise Greek statements for that. But maybe the Ancient Greeks have a wise statement on how to live ecologically in a world that has a population about 35 times that of their time ? And maybe they could teach us not to be Bigotz & Bitchez & Haterz all the time ? If it comes from a Greek instead of from a Jew, people here may take more notice ? FV

Probably then more than now. FV

Maybe the Ancient Greeks can also teach us a thing or two about the dangers of secondary smoking ? FV

The Amazons also occurred to me as a possibility. But then the rider on the left seems to have a beard ? FV

Thanks. Well, it's not a must maybe, Unless you're really into sex & drugs & history. And why buy a book if you can read it for free ? That's always been my philosophy. If the library hasn't got it, befriend an old hippy ; He's bound to have a copy. And he'll be glad to lend it to thee. F rmosus

It's a warrior mounting a chariot. I agree. (Somewhere near Troy perhaps ? ) FV

Thanks for the quote. I'm not sure if we can conclude much from it about left-handedness. I think that the fact that all legionaries had to fight right-handed is in little or no doubt anymore if ever it was. I find Livy's description also a bit counterintuitive : as a right-handed soldier in the middle of a battlefield, I would hold onto my sword at all costs ; use it to chop off heads and carry the heads with my left hand. It sounds to me more like a scene where the battle is already essentially won -- some enemy units still resisting or fighting a rearguard action -- and the victors failing to maximise their victory because of the trophy hunting and plundering. A rather common occurence, I think, at the time. In that case their might have been quite a few guys running around with both their hands holding heads. But Livy is right in concluding that such a method of awarding individual prizes may seriously hamper the efficiency of your soldiers at fighting as a unit, even in the heat of the battle.

Looks like a shield to me. And they are carrying bows. On top, might that be the Horse of Troy with some warriors with shields around it ? FV

They look like Scythians to me. FV

Codex Sinaiticus: text, Bible, book International conference, 6-7 July 2009 at the British Library Codex Sinaiticus Codex Sinaiticus is one of the most important books in the world. Handwritten well over 1600 years ago, the manuscript contains the Christian Bible in Greek, including the oldest complete copy of the New Testament. Its heavily corrected text is of outstanding importance for the history of the Bible and the manuscript

Maybe it is King Tut's body in the St-Paul sarcophagus ? I wouldn't put that beyond the catholics. F rmosus

BBC 1 - June 21th, 2010

Is Saint Paul For Real ? Who Cares ?

Following some links about the recently discovered tomb of St Paul (?) I came on this vatican site which seems to have non-stop gregorian music playing. http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/sa...Tomb/index.html And a nice picture too of the 'San Paolo fuori le Mura' cathedral. As a church I found St Paul's (and St John's in Lateran, for that matter) far more beautiful than St Peter's. Here you get a better view. http://roma.arounder.com/san_paolo_fuori_l...R000002244.html The cloister courtyard adjoining the cathedral also has a great collection of ancient tombstones. FV

The speeches may be fictitious like almost all speeches written down by ancient historians. But it's not the expression of one man's political opinion here, but rather stating an almost universal truth. From the ancient Egyptians to the USA, all major powers -- and most minor ones -- have used monuments and architecture as a means to impress their own citizens, their allies and their enemies. In that order, I would say. If not for that most capital cities would look pretty boring. I think Cassius Dio has an educational rather than a political agenda here : to explain to an audience, less sophisticated than a 21

Can't help you with your question but I would like to hear a bit more about that too. As kids they told us Charlemagne 'invented' schools. We weren't too grateful to him for that. FV

Who says 'Ye Olde Musicke' has to look boring ? Artimi posted this link on the chatroll. Thanks for that. Thought I'd share it here. http://www.mediaevalbaebes.com/ F rmosus http://chatroll.com/roman-empire

... head-banging at nolstalgia rock concerts ... F rmosus

Thanks, Crispina. An excellent station. I listened to it for about an hour or so : non-stop good music. Too bad I haven't any farthings or groats left to help them out. F rmosus

Coming soon :

Surely this was the USA's Finest Hour ? It doesn't hurt to remind people once in a while. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYFl6oOad3E world cup 1950 : usa 1

Don't play stupid Neph, you know what Neil is talking about. F