Favonius Cornelius

Just want to clearify that my post was more joke than serious.

Even attempting to name Cicero a greatest general completely destroys any sense of credibility, despite the political motivations. Heh heh. But Primus, he suppressed the Cataline conspiracy in his armor and saved the Republic!

Well...tax farming legislation ebbed and flowed through the history of the Republic. I think they probably did indeed carry notable political clout, but I agree I don't see how they could have affected slavery.

I can tell you that there is difficulty translating 'vampire' to Latin seeing as how it is an invention long after the Romans.

Zeke, indeed look at that link Viggen provided, because your question has such complexity and depth that it cannot be answered with a single post. If you have any more specific questions after that I would love to answer them, I have a particular interest in the workings of the Roman Republic.

THAT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM! Naa just kiddin

And by the same token, simply because it is in a museum does not mean it will properly cared for, displayed and/or respected. I suppose that is true, I can think of a few instances when it has been true. It is a whole matter of accountability with me. The individual is not accountable but an organization who's duty is an item's protection is accountable. What good does an artifact serve in some rich snob's study when only his family see's it, better to be in a museum where the student can learn from it and use that knowledge towards the science as a whole. That belongs in a museum!

If you are following Roman or Greek pagan religion and are one of these reconstructionists, I don't see how you can say animal sacrifice is not necessary. Yes, you certainly don't need to sacrifice a chicken every morning, but there are major holidays that must be attended to with animal sacrifice. I completely disagree with the idea that the gods do not care about what you sacrifice to them (for Roman and Greek). It was a vital part of the religion that if you did not follow the protocol exactly as specified, which includes appropriate sacrifices, you risk their anger. Though the gods could indeed be petty, I don't think that is the whole reason behind the desire to perform the complicated rites exactly. I think it had more to do with the idea of a secret formula that delves into the nature of the universe, than the petty whims of a god.

Not exactly, there are still a few of us who actively practise the religio romana. I know of some individuals who are avid reconstructionists (i term them as neo-classical reconstructionists) they try to practice the Roman religion in the old ways, using the old techniques. Most of their knowledge of how to do this comes from written sources from the time. So...these people you know, they practice animal sacrifice?

Though uncomfortable about it, I feel that private ownership is ok as long as it's registered and it's whereabouts completely transparent. Just because someone has a lot of money does not mean they have the knowledge, maturity or right to own it. A crazy religious zealot rich person could buy up relics of a hated religion and destroy them just because he can.

Sickening. There should be no unknowns, there should be no private ownership of humanity's history, that vase belongs in a museum!

Pantagathus I can always count on facinating bits from you. This is an interesting theme, picting out specific areas and tribes for discussion, I hope you have more things to talk about. For myself I don't know much about the Ligurians other than they are your first target in Rome Total War.

Can someone prove to me that plate armor was actually in total heavier than the scale of a cataphract? I'm not convinced, I think a cataphract was heavier because he had quite a lot of material there whereas the plates of a knight could be lighter due to advancements of reinforcement and angular technology. I'm not sure, I am not an armor expert, but I suspect this is a misconception.

Professor, I would like to know your general views on the foundation of Rome from the beginnings. In terms of religion, culture and society was Rome really that influenced by Etruscan and Greek culture? How much can we say is purely 'Roman?' Was the domination by Eturia a reality or a confusion of the history of the times? Many thanks! Jason

If you watched the last episode of Rome, I do believe that Arval Brethren are featured. Note the guy walking around the plot with his chime and garland, I believe he is performing a lustratio.

That last episode tore my heart out in so many ways.

Bread and pork.

This is a good discussion for a gladiatorial thread in Imperium Romanum, but there seems to be agreement with your idea Pertinax from historians that fatter gladiators were preferred because they could more easily recover from wounds. From all that fat padding, hehe.

Very interesting. Roman medicine is an area I am weak in for sure. I'm curious, did the book mention the use of volcanic sulfur on wound bandages as an antiseptic?

Heh, is it a coincidence, or is it really named after the man? Pardon, I don't know much about the fish.

Probably the Sibylline Books are consulted through the college of twelve for additional rites of fertility.

One of the more unknown priestly colleges were the Arval Brethren, a college of twelve who's duty it was to perform the sacred rites required to ensure bountiful fertility of the fields. This priesthood is as old as Rome, yet an obscure one because it faded from use not long into the foundation of the Republic, but was later revitalized by the exacting Agustus who let no aspect of Rome's religion falter. It may have in fact lasted until the end of the Pagan religions in Rome at the end of the empire, and the Emperor himself was always counted as a member of the college. What is known of their duties generally lay with the celebration of festivals to gods responsible for agricultural bounty. One example includes the significant three day festival to Dea Dia (Ceres) held in May which was announced from the Temple of Concord. Also later in the empire sacrificial rites called the Ambarvalia were performed on the traditional borders of Roman territory, a few miles out of the city walls, and also lustratio rites carried out for individuals and their appeals to the gods for bounty. The Arval brothers kept their position in the priestly college for life and wore a corn or grain shaped garland fastened with a white ribbon around their heads to signify their important roles. There remains with us today one of their original chants to call upon the favor of Mars (in old Roman times also associated with agriculture), and is the oldest record of a Roman incantation: Help us Lares! Help us Lares! Help us Lares! Marmar, let not plague or ruin assail more folk. Marmar, let not plague or ruin assail more folk. Marmar, let not plague or ruin assail more folk. Be full satisfied, fierce Mars. Leap the threshold. Halt. Beat the ground. Be full satisfied, fierce Mars. Leap the threshold. Halt. Beat the ground. Be full satisfied, fierce Mars. Leap the threshold. Halt. Beat the ground. By turns call on all the gods of Sowing. By turns call on all the gods of Sowing. By turns call on all the gods of Sowing. Help us, Marmor! Help us, Marmor! Help us, Marmor! Bound, bound and bound again, bound and bound again! Sources: LacusCurtius, and 'Roman Religion' by Valerie M. Warrior

I think I even see some new authors in there possibly. Bravo Furius!

I'm on it. It'll take a little while; I can only manage a few a day, but it'll get there.

I'm afraid not. The decision making behind their verdicts is completly lost to history, all we know is that they believed there was some precedent within the books for such a thing to occur. I think that the college often reccomended things they felt would calm the people rather than actually consulted the books.