Favonius Cornelius

Hey could you guys get more Roman related smiley faces? Heh, I feel kind of goofy asking for some reason. A smiley saluting would be cool.

Hail Pertinax!

If the homeland can take care of it, then I support a return, but in many cases as you say it is indeed an act of preservation. Some places have so much human history localized in their country (Greece, Rome) that they could use the help in taking care of these priceless objects. Seems to make sense to spread such things around.

Forza et honorum.

I always have a real hard time believing in any archaeology going on in the Judea area, even if it's reasonable and professional. It seems almost impossible to separate the fanatic religious drive for verification from scholarly conjecture.

Certain high ranking magistrates could also use the all ivory curule chair, which was basically an ivory stool and was just as much a symbol of their power. If I am not mistaken curule aediles, praetors, consuls and censors all could use them.

All things considered, Caligula was either actually unhinged, or incredibly uncaring, either way he can not be considered to have been 100%.

This is very cool, one of our own now must write on what we have gabbed endlessly about. Please do come forward with questions, maybe each of us could add a little flavor to your report and it could almost be a community effort.

Marcus Aurelius spoke of many aspects of life, but they were not necessairly military related and were never taken as a code of a soldier. I think the kids in the show are just misinformed, which is what I would expect from some punk street gang... I would agree that the Huns, the mongols or others that came from the steppes would follow your suggestions as well Ursus I was mistaken when I spoke, I was meaning to say the Cimmerians: Mongol General: "What is best in life?" Conan the Cimmerian: "To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women." (Suppose to be a quote from Ghengis Khan).

"pigs blood and fat with barley" Just thinking about that makes me ill, but to eat it? Barbarian!

Hah. You're thinking of the Sarmatians Ursus.

Heh you know you are right Pertinax, I did not think of that before. Now our rigid, scowl faced father of gods looks even more ridiculous reclined on a bench.

Which rules, guidelines, and definitions do you speak of, which would help in choosing the right person? The east probably could have done more to help, but at the same time they always had the Persian terror from the east to worry about, and the Goths accross the Danubus.

I had a Eureka moment today at work, one of those once-or-twice-in-a-year breakthroughs in an experiment that remind you why you put up with the endless drudgery, thankless sacrifice and at times mind numbing boredom. I'd like to thank Apollo, Mercury, Angita, Felicitas, Aescapulus and mom without whom none of this would have been possible.

Happy birthday!

It's pretty hilarious in my minds eye as well... Perhaps they were way ahead of their time with statues with adjustable arms and legs, rotating hips and Kung-Fu grip.

I agree with you, and thus far I have had no issues with the roles and actions they are giving the various women in the movie until now. It is just too clear for me that they are portraying Caesar's assassination on the scorn of one overly bitter woman, when in reality I seriously doubt in this instance the Republican movement could have been so focused by it. Even the pamphlets spread around Rome in Brutus' name was her doing. It's as if Servilia herself was the mastermind of it all. That is a bit much for me. Yes women had their influence, but still this was a heavily male dominated society, particularly in the Republic.

So...are they going to try to say that Phoenician, Greek, or Roman explorers made a base here? I don't think I need to mention how huge that would be heh.

So it is becoming obvious now that Brutus is going from not liking his situation to being galvanized into action by his mom Servilia. In the end, we can then say that Caesar was assassinated due to the scorned love of a woman, for you can also say that perhaps the conspirators would not have had the balls to do what they did without someone like Brutus' support. So my question for folks: is the play-up of women's influence through the series going too far with this ultimate play of intrigue?

Ah that I did not know. Would explain then why they are depicted as they are and why they are flexibly resilient like a leather whip...but just meaner. :fish:

I believe he refers to the stick which the centurion uses to beat soldiers out of line.

The question of succession in my opinion was the single most difficult and dangerous problem of the empire. I suppose it is such for any empire, but it seems as if it was especially so for the Romans. The Tetrarchy was one of those nice ideas that looks good on paper, but upon implementation ancient human nature just could not come to terms with it. Eventually (particularly if there is not even a family connection), every Caesar will fancy himself an Augustus, and every Augustus an Augustus Caesar of the entire empire. 'For centuries before they had been slugging it out for the ultimate prize' they thought, 'so why should we abandon it now, I am best and I will take it.' Also there was an imbalance in the resources of the districts. Some had better men, others better money, the truth was the entire empire needed the entire empire to run effectively. Britannia needed the money of Syria, and Syria needed the manpower of Hispania. I think perhaps the system could have worked if it were instituted during Pax Romana perhaps. It would have to have a long running precedence before people would take it for a good idea and a natural order of things.

"the statue of Jupiter was laid in a reclining posture on a couch" You know I have always wondered how exactly they pull that one off without it looking ridiculous. I mean, a statue is a statue, so if it was sculpted in a standing stance, then it will look like a standing stature laid down on a couch...

I cannot recall myself any particular object the Emperors used to identify themselves with. How they choose to showboat it about depended largely on the time and the Emperor I think. I bet some were remarkably tame and could be mistaken for just another nobleman like Antonius Pius. Or a man like Caligula could have standard bearers, trumpets, priests and whatever mad trinket he fancied to be symbolic of his godhood! There always was this underlying theme of the Republic and the emperor chosen by the people, so he was more of the people than the kind of godlike rulers of Aegyptus who might have undying symbols of their power.

Jimbow is certainly right, and I like Tobias' point on professionalism a lot, I'd say that was the primary driving force. I think from a philosophical creed point of view one can say that the ideas of Stoicism trickled their way down to the common soldier as well. They might not have been philosophers or well informed on the precepts of Stoicism, but such things have a way of spreading their ideas around, particularly to those who would need to believe in such things and have such attitudes. Stoicism feeds well into the professionalism of the Roman soldier.