Favonius Cornelius

Tis a rough land. You have to know how to fight, and how to make Rome from mud and sticks.

Just think of what value the movie would gain if just one of us could advise Vin Diesel. Hell I'd work for free.

No....I'm Sparticus.

Caesar's commentaries are all I need as proof to validate my point. The simple fact that he wrote them is a clear sign he wanted to perform deeds and have them known in Rome. So having his latest war commentary even mention 'Oh by the way I launched an invasion of the mythical island of Britannia. They fought well and we could not affect a lasting solution, but it was an interesting experience' is like a future American president writing a book about the Mars mission he took part in. There are some deeds a man can perform that will inspire such awe in people.

When you think of empire and economy, you might as well think of one thing: agriculture. Everything depended on it, and any trade in rares, spices, vases and whatever else was dwarfed by this form of income. I think that agricultural goods offset taxation in many forms, many of which probably were deals between landowner and tax collector, tax collector and governor, governor and the top ministers. I'd say plain food was a more common 'currency' than the fancy coins themselves. For a good read on the realities on Roman economics I suggest The Roman Empire by Peter Garnsey and Richard Saller. Reminds me to do a review on that one.

Very cool map there Viggin. Nice to see Southern Cali reprezentin! Also a little relieved to see hits from places like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and China.

If I were a gambling man, I would say that there are multiple universes and a continuum of largeness and smallness. By that I mean you will never find the smallest particle, and there is no limit of the number of universes nor their possible interactions into a greater whole. A tiny look into 'the meaning of life.' We are the speck on the elephant's ass. No, I cannot prove any of this.

If you look closely, I do believe that ole Max used a spatha for the begining of his cavalry charge, the one which got lodged into the tree.

What creates loyalty? Sure greed is a factor, but greed in itself is the tool of a desperate commander, and a double edged weapon at best. What makes loyalty more so in my mind is the situation of any soldier. Soldiers in any time must count on each other to survive. When one man proves himself to his mates in times of battle, that creates a firm bond, a thing that goes beyond any other sort of human relation. Even more powerful is the respect given to a commander who has earned it. To serve under incompetence is the greatest woe, but to really know that your commander has what it takes to secure victory, to believe that your commander is blessed by the gods, ever victorious and fair to all, that sort of loyalty makes men fight in battles simply to be able to say they fought for ___ at the battle of ____.

I guess I don't agree with Le'Emperor then on his Briton invasion. I wonder if he could have had a full assessment of the Britons before going there himself, and was embarking in waters and in lands they knew nothing about to make a profound political point. If that was the case then bringing only just enough soldiers to beat around the bush for a bit was then actually the more sound tactical move with a barely conquered Gaul behind him.

Quite true. I see plenty of that going on right now.

I've heard tell some folk seem to think that Celts were a wondrous society of great art, material successes, with rich religious and cultural accomplishments. I've heard tell some think that these same Celts were the innocent victims of a totally corrupt society bent on torture and death. I would never try to claim that the Celts did not have great accomplishments, but their downfall by the hands of the victorious Roman legions had more to do with the Celtic drive for warfare and conflict (aka 'honor'); which in turn militarized the Iberian peoples, the Romans, and the Macedonians into training themselves to be better soldiers to protect themselves. Iberians went on to be the most intractable people in their Roman provinces for a full century and were renowned mercenaries, the Macedonian Alexander the Great went on to conquer the Persian empire, and the Roman's founded the greatest of empires. The Celts created their own downfall and failed to adapt in time as did those who were invaded by the Celts...and I'll have words with anyone who says otherwise...

HELSINKI: Sniffy classicists, who have always looked down at the European Union as a pale imitation of their beloved Roman Empire, will be delighted. Having pinched the Roman idea of a single currency, the EU has now decided to embrace Latin. Finland, which is running the EU for the next six months, is to publish weekly news bulletins in Latin on an EU website. Leaders of the Unio Europaea, who have had a wretched year grappling with the Constitutio Europaea, will be reaching for their dictionaries at their next shindig in Bruxellae. Sydney Morning Herald

University of Chicago!

And if the philosophers did, so too did the mathematicians. They were one and the same back in those days, and even if a predominantly mathematician disagreed with a predominantly philosopher, they were still well aware of each other's concepts.

(BBC News) "The earliest known pieces of jewellery made by modern humans have been identified by scientists. The three shell beads are between 90,000 and 100,000 years old, according to an international research team. Two of the ancient beads come from Skhul Cave on the slopes of Mount Carmel in Israel. The other comes from the site of Oued Djebbana in Algeria." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5099104.stm

I lost faith with game systems a long time ago. I stick to PC games for my gaming experience, because they are the only ones anymore these days which put out worthy games. Console systems all seem to have nothing but eye candy crap, lots of explosions and fancy effects, little real content.

For some reason, I've noticed that people interested in history who come to post here have a heavy fascination and interest in ethnic/racial breeding stock and lineage. Kind of like looking for some uncovered 'dirty truth' about a culture or people.

I think what was flooding into Rome was new ideas, money and power, that made the change. You can't expect a civilization of any kind to have as drastic a change as the Roman's had and not be different. People flooded in too, but the above mentioned have a more potent effect on changing people's lives.

Good news in dark times, I have a feeling it will be fleeting and matched with more ugliness as with the capture of Saddam unfortunately. There is a Roman parallel in all this you know.

Excellent thanks Primus. Do those volume collections contain info on Republican coins?

Could people please point me towards the best books out there for learning the in's and out's of collecting and caring for Roman coins. Particularly interested in avoiding scams, avoiding grave robbers, and building a knowledge of accurate appraisal. Thanks!

Interesting topic. Anyone recall when the last official Roman games were?

Early to middle Republic, when men were men, and dignitas meant something.

This is interesting. Ursus can you give me some specific dates around about this position would be operating in Britannia?