pompeius magnus

I would not sway that easily, I am stubborn once I find a view. Although, as is very common in Rome, a certain object that Caesar had a lot of might fog my views. Today its looked down upon, but in Roman days bribing was just a part of the government, can you say corruption.

The old fashioned way is more fun, I need to get me one of those Tarpian Cliffs.

Ursus I agree with your statement about the republic not equipped to handle the changes that were needed. Try a different angle, place yourself in the senate of Republican Rome, take a stance either with or against Caesar. There are two sides. I would stand on the Boni sides, being a conservative man and not want change, even though it is necessary as change is as welcome a guest as death is. I would have labeled Caesar trying to gain power, not as hell bent on bringing him down as the Boni, but instead wanted to talk some sense into him. Pompey could have been influence either way, but with Caesar away the Boni had his ear. Dignitus like you guys are talking about was very important, but at the cost of Rome, I think not, even though it is a true statement that some romans thought of it that way.

Just take what the context of the question is, for example was he justified in making his march, or was he unjustified, meaning that he wanted to have supreme power, as Sulla wanted and Marius, whether it be dictator, king.

Every house needs a torture chamber in the basement, I will have one when I get older with manacles, mace, not the spray, and maybe a rope, for those robbers whom I catch, poor bastards.

I believe in the good old christian belief in heaven, going to live in the clouds, while worms tear through my skin under the ground, no wait, I am going to be cremated so no worms. Its interesting to study the components of the Greek Hades, where mortal heros have snuck into, herakles and Odysseus, as well as the different levels of Hades. There supposvily was a heaven type of place underground, not in the sky, that was Zeus' realm.

This idea spawned from an idea in the conversation between me and Germanicus about Pompey. Was Caesar justified in his march on Rome, or like the generals before him, was he just going after supreme power?

It is all about perspective, as much of history is, I feel Pompey was just confused by the two different ways he could go and was in Caesar's villa, not literally, until the death of Caesars daughter Jullia. lets not forget that Caesar marched on Rome, whether it was for the right reason or not, and Pompey was defending him. Colleen views Caesar as a sort of liberator in my eyes, where the Boni were corrupt and being difficult, whereas someone else might view Caesar as a demigog and just bent on conquering Rome and being the rex or imperator.

Thanks I try hard. I would do many more reviews, but unfortunatly I am studying livy right now and that needs no review.

my knowledge isn't vast, but if you want to get a feeling for republican generals read Colleen McCullough's historical fiction series the first man in rome through october horse. Even though it is fiction it is very accurate, as far as non fiction reading on him, I have not began my in depth study of the last republic as of yet as I am reading through Livy and his war with Hannibal. Any suggestions anyone one who to read from the end of Livy(post Greek conquest) to the days of Marius, Sulla, Pompey, and Caesar.

I personally like the siege of Syracuse by Marcellus in 215 or so. Led by the brillant Alchamdies, spelling off, the syracusians held off and also a carthaginian garision helped. The inability to fight off Rome by carthage, as well as internal problems, nobles got in contact with Marcellus who promised them old property if they caused dissention, and the turning of Garrision commander, a Spanish officer, that completed the siege. Marcellus was brutal when he entered and had his lots switched to ITaly when he won conculship because the Sicilians complained of how he would be brutal and merciless if he stayed.

Since I consider this a direct call out to myself I must answer. Pompeius was not an underrated general, but was cast into the shadow of the brillant Caesar. The main reason why Pompey was beaten by Sertorius at first was arrogance. After his early victories with his fathers army, he thought he could not be beaten. Sertorius was a brillant, often overlooked, general as a pupil of Marius. Pompey was shocked at being beaten by this general. He turned things around with organization. Pompey was brillant at organizing as Caesar was just a born general, if there ever was one. Sertorius couldn't compete with the organizational skills of Pompey and some internal dissention led to his assassination. Pompey executed brillantly against the pirates, whiping them out of the mediterranean. Pompey finished off Lucullus' campaign, which he could not finish due to disputed and family problems in Rome, asside from being hated by Caesar, whom was a young officer in his legions. In the end, Pompey allowed himself to be influenced by the Boni and was reluctant to go to war with Caesar. In the end Pompey was defeated in a reluctant battle, then fled to Egypt and was shamefully killed by the Egyptian ruler.

Lets see, outside of being hit hard by college work and my job, my hobbies become less frequent but here they are: Basketball, football, baseball- real sports reading history even though that is what my college work contains- working on Livy's war with hannibal running- all that beer has to be taken out somehow Latin- study it so much it is like a hobby and I enjoy it sleep is always a good hobby bitching about bush and his theories of being an idiot movies- zoolander is my fav. video games- rome total war, play station 2, and game cube dicking around on my pc oh and of course drinking and having a good social life.

Even though the tribes each had a senate member, the true power in the senate was in the hands of the important or powerful families, such as the julii, brutii, claudian, etc. as the lower members when commented would for the most part be ignored and the most influence on the concels, and the councels themselves, would have been leading families, and also plebian members occassionally were concils. Another question is was there still a good amount of annomoisity between the plebians and patricians in the last days of the repbulic and how did it effect the senate in the end of the republic.

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Then Im sure your camera will overheat and the lens will shatter if your beauty is sooooo great.

Different cultures find different things humorous. I personally think that the idea was creative and Im sure he did not mean to insult or offend anyone. Even some of my jokes backfire and lead to punishment because of a lack of understanding of my humor, but in the end I turn away from using those jokes in front of people who are offended by it. Thats my 3 cents, I don't have a dime because I am broke so I put in my 3 cents.

Everyone has something to hide, it was just a small pic. If you want I can did up a speedo pic to show you what I am hiding

Since we all talk a lot here, I think it would be nice if we could get a visual image of who we are talking to. If necessary post a pic as your profile pic. Hope we get a lot of returns. Heres one of me with my white sox hat on

A vatican senior official just reported that there is no pope. As a protestan I can say that the importance of the pope goes far beyond the catholic religion as even Zeke a polythestic i am sure will pray for the pope. Pope John Paul II was more than a religious leader, he was a political leader and a humanitarian. Since I am going to sleep soon and the pope will likely fall into his eternal sleep before I wake up. Rest in peace John Paul and thanks for everything you have done, I can only dream to accomplish a quarter of the amount of things he has.

The Beginnings Of Rome The founding of Rome is shrouded in mystery. There are many stories from the likes of Livy and Vergil which have many falacies as can be expected from a source such as them writing fully believing in the stories of Rome's founding. What really happened we can not know, but a great theory based on archaeology is given by British author and Oxford professor TJ Cornell whom furthers the dominance of the British in the study of Rome. His book begins with an introduction describing the evidence including recent excavations that begin to bring us closer to understanding the mystery that is early Roma as well as going over the variety of sources that come from Rome herself as well as Greek people and gives a brief description of many of them... ...read the full review of Beginnings of Rome by T.J. Cornell

What do you mean second rate. he was not as good as Caesar, but nobody was, he could have held his own against the likes of Sulla, maybe Marius, and several other great generals.

thats where eastern illinois university is if I am not mistaken

I think this was a topic back a ways, but thought I would reintroduce it. Where is everyone here from/ where were you born if you want to make it public which some people I know don't. If you can be specific, saying USA is including 10 different regions or so, instead if you can say Chicago, Illinois/ Iowa City. There those are mine.

On the flip side alexander went up an empire that was near its end after being defeated twice by Greek armies and they also used chariots which were simply outdated. Alexander focused the majority of his attack with the excellent cavalry of Greece but the Phalanx were a big part too. The Romans would have had an advantage in infantry mobility, but the Greeks would have held a far superior advantage in cavalry. It would be an interesting debate. However, the Romans had more numerous brillant generals than macedon/greece such as Caesar, Pompey, Sulla, Marius, Scipio, Fabius, Marcellus, Agrippa etc. whereas the Greek generals would have a tough time adapting to the different form of fighting. In the end, the Roman experience against Hannibal, as well as the manoverability of the legionairres as well as their supperior weaponry would allow them the attack the flanks and surround the phalanx, maybe adopting the cresent formation of Hannibal at Cannae, however it was done the Greeks would be unable to defeat the Romans without their infantry being able to fight both in phanlax formation and the legionaiire style.