Sextus Roscius

I beleive it was the wedge formation that was used to break enemy formations that couldn't be broken by standard means, correct me I'f I'm wrong.

Sorry, I don't have a estimate. I feel sorry for any slave subjected to be a witness, the only way they were allowed to obtain information was through some of these methods.

Point well take, but it depends on what stage of Roman warfare you refer to. Durring the Late-Republic to Early-Imperial Period soildeirs were not very "heavily armoured" in the sense of full body armor with sheild and 100+ pounds of metal (I beleive legionary gear at that time whiegh in at 80kg or so) but if you refer to the troops of the late-imperial age we see much more heavily armoured troops with chain mail and some times plates over that (weighing in significantly higher than the "metal strip" armour of the early-imperial period) then there might be some connection. The idea of the british soldiers using similar tactics to that of their roman counter parts is that even durring the major transition from roman to mideivel many roman things were kept rather than destroyed. Also, some theories suggest that instead of all citizens pulling out of the island along with the soldiers, they stayed and moved into what is modern day whales and southern britian. This would explain the resemblance of british tactics after the western empire's fall and into the hundred years war. Perhaps the British relized that this formation/tactic was put to good use against the greeks and their celtic brothers (by roman definition) and relized that the same tactics could be adopted to defeat the scottish schiltrom formation as well as french formations in the hundred years war. Good connection but I beleive we have strayed off topic.

Note that the Flavian Amphitheater is also the Colisseum, just different names, the Colisseum was adopted becuase of a collosal statue of Nero that stood there becuase the Flavian Amphitheater was built on the remnants of Nero's Golden House. I do agree that the mock naval battles would have been interesting, but they were later removed in order to make the 2 story network of tunnels we see underneath it today. But your choice, not mine.

The chi-rho symbol is the greek sign for Christ which is the first two letters of Christ in Greek. Yes, I do beleive that was the battle constantine saw the Chi-Rho in the sky

well I say, before they get out of slavery, they have to move up the ranks of slavery, maybe even until you made twenty posts you were a freedman! lol, just a thought.

In the back of my mind, I've always thought that perhaps the circus would be more interesting than the gladatorial games, it was the equivelent to nas car racing today. High speed vehicles hurtling down tracks pulled by horses, practacly fliping off at every turn. The countrers slowly turning and the roar of the crowd. A gladatorial arena in its own right, race well, or die trying. I think it must have been more thrilling than the simple gladiator fights. The gladiator on gladiator fights were one on one or multiple on multiple, while interesting at first, it must have gotten dull after a while. But the races never did, never the same or monotone, but thundering wheels and the walls of rome would echo from the noise. There was another part of the circus as well, some times dramatic battle recreations were put on before the building of the flavian amphitheater, there is even evidence that elephants were brought in from africa and used to recreate battle's with hannibal, this must have been very thrilling. Truely the arena was gruesome and jovial at the same time, but was the circus more so? your thoughts.

While a great improvement for the archaeological comunity, I find it a dispointment becuase when I dabble in that field (as I would sort of like to do at one point or another) it won't be the same, classic, childhood fantasy type thing that I had dreamed of doing. Oh well

Going well on your way to freedom Pax? Anyways, I must agree with you, they were clearly a bit of the legions of thigns that caused the empire to collapse. Ironic is it not that "Romulus" was the first Roman to rule rome (by legend) and that "agustus" was the first empereor that the last emperoer would bare the same name as those two. Purpose, or concidence?

personaly, I think the tetrarchy abolished the major sense of unity in the mediteranian, the whole "a huge bunch of people united under one flag" really I beleive helped keep the new foriegn provinces in the east side with the old, traditional west becuase quite simply, they had to get along. But with the tetrarchy they no longer had to and this lead to the seperation of the Ideas. While the west kept its anti-barbarian ideas, the kept fighting and losing becuase they no longer had the support they needed from the eastern provinces. While the eastern provinces didn't think they needed the west any more and let it burn, which in the end was a bad thing for the econemy, not to mention they kept bribing the barbarians off like cowards becuase they didn't want to get involed. All said, I beleive the tetrarchy was a horrible move that helped lead to the empire's downfall.

what about the equestrians viggen?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............ for this one, from the things brought up on my own topic, I have concluded that this was the worst touture/exectution technique. I give the member Trajen full credit to this: The offender's penis would be wound with wire, and he would then have to drink water until he died (presumably from a burst bladder). And I think that would be horribly pain full, not to mention messy.

"I like it too, but some devout Christians might reasonably object to discussing Christianity in a Temple to Jupiter. I guess we'll see."-Ursus In response to this, perhaps the name should be changed to "the college of augurs" or "office of the pontifex maximus" just a though... Also, I think the ethics forum should be "study of roman life" how ever that is said in latin,becuase my latin is mediocere at best, Being in 8th grade has only given me 2 years. P.S. sorry for my unusualy quoting style.

Actually, I beleive it was the reverse in Roman society, thumbs down meant to spare the man's life and vice versa. But I do agree that we are a tad too violent, not to mention self contradictory, in america anyways. We say in school, violence is never the answer, then they teach us about the wars that solved all america's problems.

Quite hilarious, :stupid: Anyways, these are all interesting, I'm surprised by how many people this topic has appealed to. But I still want to remain the rich merchant/banker living the high life in Rome without much to do, just time to read and write philosophy, mingle with those lower than me and perhaps take up with a patron at a brotherel, but my views are my own. I find them all fascinating, people's views on life.

I chose Sextus Rocius becuase he was one of the few Romans acused of patricide. It was in his case that the famous Marcus Tullius Cicero made his big day-view as a advocate in a valiant defence that left the prosecution in shambles. It was this that lead to Cicero's increidible success and the saving of a man from a very violent death. As you might tell, I am a great fan of Cicero and greatly admire him. But his name means "chickpea" and that doesn't fit me so I chose Sextus Rocius becuase he marks something great. How much we are like that ugly beast, the MONKEY! -Cicero

I ranked as Trajan You are quite fortunate to rank as the emperor Trajan, possibly the greatest of Roman emperors. You have relentlessly expanded the empire and even humbled the mighty Parthian empire. Loved by all, vastly larger than life, you are the model for all future emperors. It is hard to find a bad thing to say about you. HAIL CAESAR! Trajan 79% Tiberius 71% Marcus Aurelius 68% Antoninus Pius 61% Vespasian 61% Domitian 57% Augustus 54% Nerva 50% Claudius 39% Hadrian 39% Vitellius 32% Nero 21% Caligula 14% Commodus 7%

Agreed, the legionary was entirely prepared to counter a force of hoplites. Considering greek forces where the most obvious enemy becuase they ocupied Italian soil before Rome became the dominate force of Italy. Charthage also used phalanx in some instances and they were another early enemy. Perhaps this is oart of why Roman soldiers later could not as easily counter the formations of germanic and gualic invaders? Also, it is clear that Alexander was a great strategist, and that is the arguement made by many alexanderphiles but it is clear that the Roman's possesed superior anti-phalanx technology (most notably the pilum) and could, even if out meanuveured, destroy a phlanx if they used the tactics correctly.

what about some other non-punic war battles. For example, Caesar's blockade of Pompey at brundisium was rather interesting, it failed, but some very ingenious techniques were used. Also, I voted other, becuase we all know that Teutoburg Forest is with out a doubt the single greatest roman victory of all time! And also, the single great Roman general ever to walk this earth is Varius, who with a brilliant move (in complete shock to the enemy) marched his men right into the trap, and then (as they never suspected and were taken agasp by) retreated effectively loosing thousands of troops needed for the battle in germania. Varius! Give me my legions back!

My state (North Carolina) is all the way tied with Florida, of all places to be tied with, its Florida! OH WELL... I still am fine living in the upper-middle class range and I plan on going to college in england to avoid the impending doom the united states faces...oh well. anyways, ouch, 51 has gotta hurt.

true, but to me the general idea of celtic soceity bears with it the idea of "unclean" its just something about me that makes the buildings they made, the food they ate, and what they did have a "unclean" aspect to it, though not true physicaly, its more so a mental state in which I find a slight hint of repulsiveness.

Patrician You scored 77% on Social Skills! You are one of the ruling elite. Thought your family may not be rich in money, you are rich in power and through that power you can replinish your coffers at will. Caesar doesn't trust you, nor should he. You don't trust Caesar or the Plebians (citizens), as you know just how fickle the two can be. Thus you spend lavish sums to put on games, festivals and theater performances for the masses, in an attempt to show up Caesar. You play a dangerous game with the crocodile, in the hopes that he will eat you last... YAY ME, I always knew a life of luxury was meant for me...

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. Too hot for me where I am, also to humid, italy sounds much nicer... But at least I dont' live in Roman times, or I'd probley be a slave (germanic origins...)

If you are talking about music to listen to when studing, I advise Motzart, its been proven to make people think better (but not my spelling unforuntely) But, the people gave lists before if you just wanna dance to it and I agree with them that from your choice those would be good. Personaly I perfer classical, jazz, rag, and some rock.

perhaps they made a strange adaptation on the testuedo formation with round sheilds, I'm sure you could carry bodies on that, or maybe they refer to a man coming in the door holding his shield, but becuase he is dead, he falls over and topples on it... just a thought. Oh well, its fun to take things litteraly for once.