DecimusCaesar

Propaganda was also prevalent in the amphitheatre. The Romans would sometimes stage fights between Gladiators that was directed against a certain real enemy, such as a Roman Gladiator that defeats a stereotyped German etc. After all they really did have Gladiator types called the Samnites, who were based on past enemies. The Colosseum must have been a fairly large advertising board for the Emperors, as it would draw in the crowds where various demonstrations of the Emperor's might would have been made. A re-enactment of a famous battle perhaps? Or maybe the prisoners from the Emperor's own campaigns might have been displayed before being slaughtered. I wonder how much of the fights that took place in the amphitheatre's had a political reason behind them. Perhaps to cause fear and revulsion of one of the enemies of the Empire?

Buddug has it's origins in Old Welsh (which was a language that was descended from Brittonic or Brythoneg). It is true that Buddug also means victory. The modern Welsh word for Victory or conquest is Buddugoliaeth, according to the Welsh lexicon: Welsh Lexicon

I believe that Boudica might have been 'Buddug'. Which is pronounced as 'bith-eeg'. The Caradoc or Caradog mentioned by PP is also correct. Both Buddug and Caradoc are as about as close as we'll ever get to the real names of Boudica and Caractacus.

SCENE 125- Hannibal is surrounded by Roman soldiers, they all close in on him like dogs setting on a rabbit. Hannibal pulls out his sword - Rock music starts to play. Hannibal spins, swirls and flies through the air cutting through the Romans in slow motion (with some whooshing sounds) - blood splatters on the screen. One Roman knocks Hannibal from behind, his sword drops; leaving him unarmed. The Roman is about to kill Hannibal. Hannibal grabs the hastatus from the Roman's hand and sticks it through his neck- blood squirts all over the place...in super slow motion. Hannibal: Hastatus la Vista, baby! Hannibal suddenly drops in agony. Behind him we see the evil Captain Marcus Barcus, General of the Felix Legions. Hannibal has been brought down by a electrical stun gun in the general's hand. Marcus: Casear (seize) him! Take him down to Emperor Pompey's palace at once, for tomorrow the lions shall feast on him in the Colosseum! 2 Soldiers grab Hannibal and shakle him. Soldier 1: Our general's barcus is worse than his biteus. A sound is heard. A figure steps out of the shadows. General Marcus and the soldiers turn to face this figure. It is none other than Spartacus, leader of the Slave Revolt and defeater of the Assyrians. Spartacus: Why don't you boys do yourself a favour and let him go. Marcus: Why? What will you do, SLAVE? We are many, and you are but one pugnacious, ploppy pleb. Spartacus: One...two...three...it doesn't matter how many of you will fight me...as long as you know this, I'm about to get Classical world on yo' ass! Marcus smirks. Spartacus: You'll be smirking on the other side of Anno Domini, Roman! Spartacus pulls out a wooden machine that shoots flaming arrows at the Roman soldiers. They fall to the floor in flames...in super slow motion. Marcus drops to his knees and begs for mercy, while Spartacus swaggers towrds him. Marcus: Please, let me live...I'll give you anything...my villa...my chariot...my rolex...Anything! Spartacus punches him in the face, knocking him unconcious. Spartacus lights a cigar in victory while sitting on top of Marcus' body. Spartacus: Romanize that! CUT

An excellent picture JPV on a little known subject. It's very well done!

I agree with WW. Suetonius' The Twelve Caesars was one of the first primary sources I read, and it remains one of my favourite works; although Tacitus is very interesting in his own right. I enjoyed his Agricola and Germania.

Looks similiar to neo-classical statues from the 18th-19th century. Has any expert given their opinion on it yet?

An excellent reconstruction JP! The Heddernheim style helmet and the armour of the horse is very well done, as well as being contempory with the 3rd Century. The armour is also well made, similar to that displayed on wall paintings in Dura Europus in Iraq. Here is a reconstruction photograph from the Fectio Late Roman re-enactment group.

Happy New Year to everyone here at UNRV! I hope you have a great birthday too Doc!

I personally think it might not have been worth it for most parts of the isle. Very little areas in Britain (other than some parts of southern England) were Romanised. Yet these areas, which didn't yeild much resources need much protection, especially during the later period. Consider parts of northern England or north Wales. These areas never recieved much benefits of Roman civilisation (bathouses, amphitheatres etc) yet a lot of resources went to defend these areas, either from Picts in the north or the Irish in Wales. New forts were constructed in these places during the fourth century AD to defend from attackers, yet neither area was weilding any substantial resources. Neither were they heavily populated. Most of the population in these places were scattered rural homes, not large towns. So the amount of military strength placed there must have been wasted. It would have been much better to have those soldiers guarding the Danube.

Thanks Spittle. I saw a copy of this in Waterstones a few days ago. Unfortunately it had been sealed up in some plastic sheeting, so I couldn't inspect its contents. I might get it for my birthday if I have enough money. It sounds like a good biography on its own.

A wonderfully written review Ursus!

Thanks for the information Pantagathus. I thought there was something suspicious about this claim as it was not backed up with referances, like other information in the text. Thanks for the links FVC and Pantagathus, there are good photographs there. You're right about the Atia scene, that was Magna Mater not Cybele. Does anyone remember which scene contained the worship of Cybele?

The Etruscans did dominate Northern Italy for a few centuries, and would have occupied Rome for a period. There were Etruscan monarchs who ruled Rome the last being the King Tarquinius Superbus. After he was expelled and the Republic founded, the Etruscan control of Rome came to an end.

I was given a book about the Hunic warriors this Christmas. Don't know if that counts or not. It's the newest one published by Osprey...unless you count the Saxon Shore Forts which came out yesterday...I think.

Caligula's face looks similar to the young Octavian in that photograph.

I was reading through Sumerian King lists recently when I came across an interesting anecdote; which I wonder might be true or not. According to the list, one of the queen's of Sumeria was a woman called Kubaba of Caracemish. She might have been a historical personage; a woman who was a tavern owner who later became queen of a city-state. Then again she might equally be a mythical figure, a goddess, as the tablets records that she reigned for a hundred years. She was the third ruler of the dynasty of Kish (Early Dynastic III period). During the later Hurrian/early Hittite era she became associated with the city of Caracemish, becoming its patron goddess. Later on, after the fall of the Hittite Empire she became a prominent goddess in Anatolia- until she was adopted by the Phrygians, becoming known as Kebele. It was in the periods afterwards, that her cult came to Rome after the Sibylline prophecy demanded it in 204 BC. It remained a restricted cult, as the Romans were never fond of the rites, which included castration and self-flaggellation. The cult was shown in the first episode of Rome, where Atia visited the shrine in order to bring luck to Octavian before he set off to Gaul. Could the cult of Cybele have its origins in an ancient Sumerian tavern owner? Or is this all just speculation? It would be strange to believe that the Romans built a shrine in London (and all over Europe) to a woman who lived several millennia before their time.

Sorry, my mistake. I thought it was meant to represent a legionary of the latter half of the second century BC. It is an excellent picture. I will be looking forward to seeing the the Late Roman soldiers. Brilliant work JP!!

That's a very good picture Jp, keep up the goodwork. I am not sure that a legionary of Marius' time would have worn a cingulim (belt) of the type you have shown. The leather strips hanging from the belt would not have been present at the time. I believe they first appeared during the second half of the first century BC. The sword handle is also from another period. The one shown in your picture seems to be a 'Pompeii' type gladius from the first century AD. The one during Marius' time would be a gladius hispaniensis of a shorter type. Here is an illustration of how the sword and the pugio might have looked like: The sword handle looks different to later gladius types.

Interesting ideas. I can certainly see some similarities between some of the Pagan religions and Christianity. There are even some similarities between Jupiter and God, especially the God of the old testament.

Brought the book this Christmas. Looks interesting, I will begin reading it soon.

Thanks for that Spittle. This book has being sitting on my Amazon wishlist for sometime now (even before it was released I think) I considered getting it for Christmas, so that I could use it as a referance book while reading Plutarch, Suetonius or Tacitus. I then considered that it might be too similar to 'Chronicle of the Roman Emperors' so I didn't purchase it. After reading your short review I might reconsider getting it as it sounds very good. Have you read the 'Chronicles' books (Roman Republic & Emperors) are they both similar? Or is this a good biographical study on its own?

Merry Christmas/Seasons Greetings/Hanukah/Saturnalia etc to everyone here at UNRV. I hope you all enjoy your day!

I can see their point a little bit, but over all I can't see Alexander as making direct parallels with the war in Iraq. I think another director would have made less subtle referances, but Stone admits that he's a huge fan of Alexander, and he therefore wanted to concentrate more on the character of Alexander and less on modern day politics. Which is very odd considering his other films. Maybe if he had made blatant referances to modern events, many viewers would have enjoyed the film, seeing as they could connect with the events shown. As for Hannibal, we might get a hint towards the war in Iraq; but considering that this was a war between two superpowers for control of the mediterranean, it will be much harder to make the comparison. Unless Vin Diesel attempts to approach the story by having the Romans declare war on Carthage first, and portaying the Carthaginians as noble peaceful people...which he might do.

I have read his work on the Late Roman Army. The book was written in assistance with Karen R. Dixon; so I'm not sure how much of the work is his or how much of it is hers. The book is both scholarly, yet it's probably one of the most accessible titles on this subject. The outlines of events and list of Emperors can be slightly confusing (jumping from Roman to Byzantine Emperors without refereance). On the whole his book is very good although it does have a tendency to be rather dry sometimes. Here is a review for the book from the Bryn Mawr Classical review: Pat Southern: Late Roman Army Unfortunately I haven't purchased any of his other books, including the Mark Antony one.