DecimusCaesar

Hemlock...Socrates must be spinning. An interesting list of toxins. Livia (the one in I, Claudius at least...not the historical figure) must be very well read when it comes to these toxins.

I've seen some people claim to trace their families back even further. I saw one person on the internet claiming to be a descendant of King Xerxes of Persia. best take that with a pinch of salt. I can trace my family back to the 19th century, Yet our family did have a more extensive tree. Unfortunately it went missing many years ago. A shame really.

Those boots might not have been well used considering that owards the last few years of his life he was obese and suffered from ulcers on the legs. I wonder who got them in the end? His Son Edward perhaps?

It sounds to me as if the reporter is trying to appeal to modern minds with the use of phrases such as 'ancient anti-golbalization town' 'Holocaust' etc. I suppose its harmless, in the same way that some people would use the term "Weapons of mass destruction of the Bronze age" to describe chariots.

Perhaps they will have some sort of modern influence in it (otherwise many modern audiences won't see any relevance in the story). But I hardly think it will become a sort of anti-American film. I have no doubt that a lot of the brutality of the ancient world will be removed (along with other unsuitable subjects: Temple prostitution and child sacrifice) but over all, I think we can expect a rather dumb-down action flick.

Nice link Cato...Thanks. I might do a short biography of Galla Placidia, if I can get more information about her. I can't seem to find any sort of books about her at all.

I would be a Equestrian . Perhaps not a very important figure but a wealthy one with a Villa in the countryside and a modest domus. Either that, or I would be a merchant during the High Empire. Plenty of money to go round then.

I agree, it would be worth seeing the items found there. The man sounds very important and the site might become rather important, archaeologically.

An interesting document. It is invaluable to find out information about the Late Roman State. The only problem is that it's often hard to follow. Even many scholars are at a lost to describe the function of some of the units mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum.

I checked on IMDB. The films status hasn't been updated since June 2006. They were suppose to start filming in November, but I think that Vin Diesel is busy acting in another film. The fact that they were suppose to have started filming on this one last month and that they haven't even found filming locations doesn't bode well for this film. Its been going on now since 2001 and they still haven't even assembled much of the cast.

Maybe you could buy some copies of Plutarch's work. Although not contempory to the eras he often described, he certainly provides very interesting descriptions of some of the most famous figures from Greek and Roman history.

It's a shame that so much antique pieces are stolen. Great links Divi Filius.

Very strange. I believe I saw a map that once showed where evidence of Neanderthal occupation had been found in Europe. There were at least one or two dots on the British mainland. Now they say this might be the first evidence of Neanderthals in Britain. Either way, a very interesting discovery.

If he wants to make the movie authentic perhaps it's best that he concentrates less on getting his actors to speak latin etc, and more on getting the events and characters correct. He claims to be channeling Hannibal...but he's not sure if he has conquered Britain or not.

Congratulations!

An excellent idea Augusta! There should be a biography on Galla Placidia, one of the most fascinating women in Roman times, and one that would have an important impact on the fate of the Empire. Here is a short page on her from Wikipedia (not the most reliable of sources.) Galla Placidia I used to have a favourited link to pages about Roman women. Unfortunately the site has since disappeared; which is a shame as there were many primary sources to be had on it, as well as evaluation of women by historians.

a mini statuette of the God Pallas, that Constantine had with him. I would do the same as well. I even hear that they sell fifteenth century/sixteenth century helmets and other pieces of armour.

No sign of Rudolph in that animation....

I'm a bit late to this discussion, but I still like to add that I think Sulla is amongst the most interesting of the Romans. I don't hate him like many do, but I don't like him either. It is my own personal opinion that he was one of the key figures responsible for the fall of the Republic. Sulla, I believe, came to realise that towards the end of his life, that his descision to march on Rome had caused the Republic to become even more unstable. He had broken one of Rome's greatest taboos, to bring armed men within the walls; and that now there was no turning back. He probably knew afterwards, that after he had taken that descision, that others would attempt the same thing. So, he renounced his powers and returned to public life, probably because he believed that he had done everything he needed to do. Maybe he also thought that if he wanted to be seen as the saviour of the Republic he needed to renounce his powers, just as Cinncinatus had done in the past.

I always considered it odd that the Romans, (especially of the first century AD) threw their pilum while holding the large and often heavy scutum. Then again, if the enemy were firing arrows or other missiles it was probably best to have it at hand. I watched a documentary where Roman weaponry were tested by modern day soldiers, police officers and firemen. The re-enactors, who were kitted out in Roman clothing, armour and weapons; found it very difficult to hit targets with the pilum, even at rather close ranges. Many of them said that carrying the scutum was no help. I wonder how restrictive the armour and shield was to throwing the pila accurately. Then again the Romans must have been drilled to over come these obstacles.

Victor Davis Hanson has written extensively on the Western Way of War. He claims that 'Western Warfare' originates with the traditional Hoplite Warfare in Greece some time before and during the Persian wars. These Hoplite tactics depended on direct confrontation on an open plain, where the two forces would clash face to face. He says that it differs from the Eastern style of warfare practised at the same time; in that Easterners would depend on lighting quick attacks and shooting of arrows, (sometimes on horseback) as Caldrail mentioned. The Easterns were also more willing to adapt to different styles of warfare including ambushes and the attacking of enemy camps at night. It was only a matter of time before these tactics found their way into 'Western' warfare, yet there are still other traits that are still defined as Western style war to this day.

No doubt that this sarcophagus will become a beacon to pilgrims. I suppose it will end up like the Byzantine drawing of Jesus and that thousands will flock to the Vatican to see it. It's a very interesting discovery, even if it isn't the tomb of Paul.

I am looking forward to seeing this film. I probably won't be able to catch it in the cinema but I will probably see it on DVD. I notice that Eva Green starred in Kingdom of Heaven as the Queen of Jerusalem. I don't remember much of that movie.

Thanks for posting the list Viggen. I will almost certainly be buying the Saxon Shore Forts book. There are other books that look very interesting as well. I only wish I had the money to buy them.