Virgil61

I thought something was up with how the Italians in charge were running the place if only because they seem to be trying to prevent or slow down any potential discoveries of books from the Villa Papyri. The possibility of finding more volumes of Livy as well as lost writings of other ancients (in carbon cinder rolls) seems like the quest of the century to me.

There's a difference between claims that many principals of warfare are universal [Clausewitz for example], sticking someone with something sharp and the technological differences in warfare [arrows vs Stingers]. I addressed the first not the last two. Principals of warfare like concentration of forces, objectives, economy of force (Augustus would understand this one), unity of command, surprise, etc. can be applied and used for analysis on Roman military undertakings. It's one thing to overdo it, it's another to say you can never use them profitably, it's quite another to confuse it with technological progress. I think you'd be better served to understand what combined arms consists of before arguing against it. Functional independence has little to do with the argument against combined arms. Once you've utilized cavalry, archers/slings/onagri, skirmishers and infantry on the same battlefield you've conducted combined arms tactics. Archer Jones who taught at the US Army Command and General Staff College once compiled a matrix of the relationship between cav/armor, missile throwing weaponry and infantry from the Greeks to WWII. Used within reason and understanding the limitations it's a constructive insight into military history. No, I'm not. Are you sure your aren't thinking 30kg not 30 lbs? Soldiers never carry all their gear into combat. That just doesn't happen. Only the necessary equipment for the fight (unless ambushed). When encounters are expected they leave their issue consolidated at base camp, with the log train or wherever. I seriously doubt you'll find any army any time in history that carried it's full compliment of non-essential gear into battle on any regular basis. Let's assume the worst case of legions having to march with what's on their backs. When 'on the march' you're claiming that a pick-ax, helmet, a shield, armor w/greaves etc, a sword, say a pilium, cooking equipment, three days of food, a cloak, etc and all come in under 35 lbs. That's just not wrong but incredibly so. It's one to make the sort of 'intellectual analogies' you're arguing against. It's another thing not to use common sense to see that 35 lbs for a full load isn't always a realistic appraisal. Do a simple experiment. Get a pack (or a bag) and a scale. Fill it up with 35 lbs of gear (not fluffy blankets but serious metal, foodstuffs, etc) akin to the list above. That's why I'd agree if you'd only called for caution. I have no idea what

Principals of warfare

We have some serious disagreements on the nature of the Roman army, military organizations and combat I think. Then again it would be boring and ultimately not very challenging if we all agreed on everything I suppose. There's a difference between

thanks Ursus. I have added that book to my wish list. Another thank you Ursus. I have it but haven't read it yet.

Let me present a slightly different POV. As far as I'm concerned the Romans won their battles before they took the battlefield more often than not because of the time spent on the training field. That isn't exactly a great revelation to be sure but I'm a big believer in the power of training. Conducting disciplined battle field drills successfully during the heat of battle has been done by several armies in history even when artillery/rifles/muskets became a staple of combat (Swiss pikemen, their derivatives, the Grand Armee comes to mind). Well at least the good armies and the Romans I think we all agree would make everyone's top ten list. One of the benefits of the cohort system over phalanxes or masses of men was it's flexibility. To utilize that flexibility takes training--learning and responding to commands (drums, whistles, flags or verbal)--and a dependable cadre of junior leaders (centurions) to know when to make those commands. I don't think it's too difficult--again, if it's part of one's constant training--to conduct such a maneuver at the cohort/century level as shown in the video.

I'd make this speculation: The capture of Rome would have--if not shattered--then probably fatally weakened the remaining allied allegiances. I can't imagine Hannibal lacking the vision to not take the city if it were doable. He'd then be the owner of one of the greatest victories--Cannae--and one of the most strategic blunders in military history. I'm of the opinion his reasons for not moving on Rome had validity probably due to the lack of probability for success [in Hannibal's eyes]. Is it possible he made an error? Sure, but in spite of Maharbah's reported statement, I take it on faith that Hannibal knew his strengths and weaknesses, what his army was capable of and what the enemy was capable of.

I think Gary Forsythe's Critical History of Early Rome calls into question quite a bit of early Roman mythology linking a large portion of it to corresponding myths shared by--or more often--predated by other cultures. His footnotes contain a lot of decent sources on this if I remember correctly [and try to blow the cobwebs out of the Roman history portion of my cranium.]

double post. *hiccup*

If you want something more than just getting a degree for personal gratification then online degrees aren't what you want (I think that goes without saying). If you're looking forward to doing grad work or getting in the door with a job interview then reputation, reputation, reputation plays a big role I think. I completely agree with docoflove1974. A degree from more than just the Ivies will get you some respect, but remember the admissions office is the real target if you want a grad school. How's the public university where you live? UCLA, Berkeley, Texas, Michigan and N Carolina are some publics held in high regard. You can find a professors at hundreds of colleges and universities who got at least one of their degrees from them. Smaller liberal arts colleges are great, especially if you want to position yourself for grad schools. Just remember they come with debt, debt, debt. [i think Ursus has a degree from a very well-regarded liberal arts college.] I hate them but look at the USNews college listings. Everyone downplays them but everyone looks at them. Besides high-school teachers and PhDs remember that a lot of students with history degrees end up in law school & as military officers. More true in the past than it is now I think, but there's still quite a few.

Ronnie James Dio dies at 67 from stomach cancer. RIP Dio. Baltimore Sun Link Ronnie James Dio, whose soaring vocals, poetic lyrics and mythic tales of a never-ending struggle between good and evil broke new ground in heavy metal, died Sunday, according to a statement from his wife and manager. He was 67. Dio revealed last summer that he was suffering from stomach cancer shortly after wrapping up a tour in Atlantic City, N.J. with the latest incarnation of Black Sabbath, under the name Heaven And Hell. "Today my heart is broken,

Hadrian Horace Claudius Julius Caesar Paulus (which one?) I was really pulling for being one of the Gracchi.

I think Wikipedia has improved immensely in the last few years. The 'overwatch' of articles and constant review of changes from the long-time admins/editors has improved the quality quite a bit. I now find it my 'go to' source for quick info. I agree, it is especially good on pop culture and not too shabby on history if you need a quick refresher on a subject.

Long overdue Birthday wishes from an old UNRV member. One of my 'things to do' is to make more time for UNRV, a very special place on the web that I miss. Virgil

I think the argument is in reality really reversed--as those above have stated--Octavian's friendship made Agrippa. Not doubt Augustus benefited from his loyalty and competence. In most of Agrippa's successes it's probable his legions contained a large number of veterans--or those led by veterans--who had served under Julius Caesar; being his 'son' was cachet Agrippa didn't have.

I'd like to find something along the lines of Augustus or Cicero by Anthony Everitt or Ceasar by Goldsworthy. They seem to be oddly scarce. I found Trajan: Optimus Princeps by Julian Bennett. I'll pass on the used paperback copies going for $137 to $250 (!) on Amazon.

My favorite fear-mongering are the local news 'teases'. Real news teases; "Could constant hiccups be a sign of cancer? Watch news8 at 10." "Are you normal. Find out Tuesday at 11." "How a twist on the Predator Law could shut down religion." "Could your house be making you fat? Tomorrow CBSNews2 at 5."

I am suddenly seized with a renewed interest in the field of archeology. Exerpt: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/16/ap/strange/main5664596.shtml?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+CbsNewsApStrange+(CBS+News:+AP:+Strange) This Scotch Was On The Rocks For 100 Years: Antarctic Team To Drill For Lost Cache Of Liquor Font size Print E-mail Share (AP) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A beverage company has asked a team to drill through Antarctica's ice for a lost cache of some vintage Scotch whiskey that has been on the rocks since a century ago. The drillers will be trying to reach two crates of McKinlay and Co. whiskey that were shipped to the Antarctic by British polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as part of his abandoned 1909 expedition. Whyte & Mackay, the drinks group that now owns McKinlay and Co., has asked for a sample of the 100-year-old scotch for a series of tests that could decide whether to relaunch the now-defunct Scotch. Workers from New Zealand's Antarctic Heritage Trust will use special drills to reach the crates, frozen in Antarctic ice under the Nimrod Expedition hut near Cape Royds. Al Fastier, who will lead the expedition in January, said restoration workers found the crates of whiskey under the hut's floorboards in 2006. At the time, the crates and bottles were too deeply embedded in ice to be dislodged. The New Zealanders have agreed to try to retrieve some bottles, although the rest must stay under conservation guidelines agreed by 12 Antarctic Treaty nations. Fastier said he did not want to sample the contents. "It's better to imagine it than to taste it," he said. "That way it keeps its mystery." Richard Paterson, Whyte & Mackay's master blender, said the Shackleton expedition's whiskey could still be drinkable and taste exactly as it did 100 years ago.

I'm in isolated eastern Oregon (again). Miss having the time to read up on Roman history and arguing on UNRV.

That's been around a while but I still laugh every time I see it.

LOL.

It's adjacent to the palace, meaning a few hundred feet as the photo shows, so anything buried in that area is now covered up with several tons of new earth.

I'm dubious. I lived right next to the site for several months in 03/04 and it was off limits to U.S. personnel except through the guidance of the local Iraqi archeologists. I'm greatly puzzled as to why the UN didn't talk about Saddam's drastic and dramatic re-digging of the site fifteen years ago in which he ordered--ordered--archeologists and architects to rebuild a facsimile of Babylon using debris from the digs. Here's a pic: The picture above was probably taken from the far left corner of this mansion (arrow no. 1 in the pic) below built by Saddam. I'm very familiar with this place as I lived in that far left corner (arrow no. 2) and shaved on no. 1 overlooking Babylon every morning for months. The massive hill it sits on is an artificial one so his building could oversee Babylon. Talk about the destruction of a site. The pic below is the area looking down. The no. 1 arrow is pointed towards the no. 1 corner above--same location. No. 3 is the excavation site still remaining and off limits to troops. No. 4 is the facsimile of Babylon re-built by Saddam. Again, it's highly doubtful anyone did anything even slightly approaching the damage done during the Saddam years to that site. The artificial hill and the re-building of the palace probably created more upheaval in five years than in the 35 centuries years that passed combined.

A quick google shows it's available free online at Gutenberg. Cool. The Gracchi, Marius and Sulla