Pertinax
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Ive zoomed in quite close to give an idea of the texture-its a dried resinous gum that feels slightly pliable and leaves a soft white dust everywhere. It is one of the basic ingredients for churh insence-the odour is quite striking, heavy with a deep but not sickly sweetness , quite subtle and then you realise it is pervading the whole room with its heaviness. -
Thats exactly the information in the "Auxiliary Cavalryman " book -the finds being from the Antonine and Hadrianic Wall fortlets.A lot of Roe Deer as well around Vindolanda, bacon is mentioned as a ration standard.Its worth repeating that the nutritional quality of the grains used was much higher than contemporary grainstuffs. Hunting was considered the ideal "leisure" training for the Auxiliae and must have provided a considerable amount of useful meat-the Vindolanda bone analysis (and sewage analysis from the Antonine sites) shows a basic high quality mixed veg and grain diet (with imported "exotics" ) admixed with a wide range of flesh .
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Germanicus does this book make any reference to the use of dried pollen cakes as a marching food?
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Wound salve of the Caledonii -used also for inflamed gums and peptic ulcers. Associated with Robin Goodfellow a medieval English household sprite (and also inhabitant of woodland glades) hence it is also Herb Robin.Its reputation as a healing plant is mostly confined to modern Scotland. -
Andrew Dalby will surely be the man to tell us ! I was interested to see that in the Osprey title I recently mentioned in the "colosseum" section, "Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman" (Nic Fields) runs through the alternatives for use of field rations (the quote relates to Caracalla via Herodian) "eating whatever bread was available locally.With his own hand he would grind his personal ration of grain ..." alternativley the ground meal could be boiled with water to make porridge ( gruel I suggest) or turned into pasta. what is the book with the Pompeii reference please? Is it the "Natural History?" by Jashemski?
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More useful and well illustrated notes , Nic Fields (text) Adam Hook (illustrations). Some excellent useful detail as one would expect. Some very interesting info on the daily feed requirements of men and horses-the prevalence of high quality grain foods for both with plenty of evidence for animal flesh as a reasonably commonplace adjunct. The useful point is made about the superior nutritive qualities of ancient grains versus the modern heavily de-natured crops. Some good detailing on my old chums the Batavians and their flexibility as mounted/amphibious auxiliae. I was particularly pleased to see a section on the grading of combat medics/medical orderlies and dedicated surgeons/doctors. The Gallic propensity to go head-hunting and display trophies as appropriate to ancient iron age religious practice is mentioned. Choice of tough, wiry and quite small (11-14 hands) mounts once again points the way to a dislike of large "fleshy" but "weak" (in terms of endurance and wound healing) mounts.Larger horses are mentioned but in the context of specialised Cataphract ( and to some degree Clibanarius) usage. More a choice and high quality pamphlet than a book but for afficionados of frontier warfare/policing this is an excellent read.Fresh off the press! Full marks to Nic Fields again for his unfalttering specialised knowledge and teamed with a top notch illustrator again.
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Oh you want a serious reply? two totally unrelated BScs ( what was I thinking of? who knows) and a postgrad Professional qualification .
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Your right MPC, and I even recognise that passage as well!
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yes indeed, the Romans always considered it a digestive/urinary tonic (primarily) but it seems that a use for wounds was not unknown. It is also very good for severe spine pain (in relation to severe nerve pain) though not for other limbs. Time magazine ran an article on Hypericum many years ago showing its clinical performance versus prozac/ritalin, I regret to say someone "borrowed" my copy-if anyone finds it please tell me the date! I suspect that article to be perhaps 10 yeras old. nb:Pantagathus -Madame Pertinax says a definite nix to being a succulent. -
thats only a tiny amount! I have 1Lb of it here in a sealed container.A herb and spice merchant sent it to me-though I have had to wait quite a while for someone to find any. I intend to burn small quantities to cleanse the house in spring-what one should do is, briefly set fire to the gum, then extinguish the flames and let the smouldering fumes of the resin waft around . It should only be done late at night-if using a reasonable amount-as the smoke is very soporific.It is excellent for very bad colds or sinus infections -freeing the sinuses and cleaning the airways. leading American natural herb companies sell Boswellia extract capsules as treatment for arthritis and severe stomach problems.
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asphyxia yes, but with dire pain from penetrating the plantar ligaments. http://www.joezias.com/CrucifixionAntiquity.html try this ,grizzly but informative
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just arrived on my desk -some gloriously perfumed gum olibanum (grains of Frankinscence). I paraphrase Andrew Dalby (apologies if you are reading this) but this is the essence of a Roman luxury good-of limited range, limited growth and harvested in hostile conditions-what could be better for an excellent perfume? It also happens to be excellent for infected sinuses if inhaled as a smoke.
© Pertinax © 2003-2006
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Oddly I mentioned Fraser's "Golden Bough" in passing when commenting on a blog entry. Although considered to be an anachronism in contemporary terms I think it might repay at least a cursory perusal. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3623
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I thought it was an unusual marshland succulent-but with a "transplanted " flower which I recognised-in this form ,(for which I am struggling to give much additional data ). it is confined to bogs and coastal marshes on acid soil, only in a few locations in the west of England .Phillips (1977-Wild Flowers of Britain ) says that it is not a succulent I will watch hypericin development with interest to see if the "stigmata" show on this much heavier leafed plant.Madame Pertinax will issue an edict and all will be resolved, her Linnaean knowledge is excellent. I thought it was some sort of Stonecrop (Sedum) and introduced non-native.We also have H humifusum the trailing woodland variant. I suspect that some hypericum wil be home brew bound this year. Hypericum is a particular favourite of the Norse brewers, today favoured mostly in Norway.
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Marsh St Johns Wort. This is my second Hypericum entry, this is the very rare coastal elodes variant .The name hypericum is from yper (upper ) and eikon (image-icon as we would say) meaning an heavenly spirit watching over mankind.Euryphon is the first recorded source (288 BC) .The tendency of the leaves to bleed the red "stigmata" of hypericin gives a clue to the Christian take on its name. Little known is its excellent ability to heal severe burns-most know of its marked anti-depressant qualities.
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Cybele (on Pertinax's Request)
Pertinax commented on Lost_Warrior's blog entry in Lost_Warrior's Blog
Time to re-read Fraser's "Golden Bough" I think.. -
Cybele (on Pertinax's Request)
Pertinax commented on Lost_Warrior's blog entry in Lost_Warrior's Blog
Thank you-always good to gather as much knowledge as possible about The Lady. The bees I had forgotten about-how very interesting in the context of the beneficial nature of the products of the hive..and my own great love for remote places. -
Britain Is Likely To Lose Magnificent Roman Tombstone
Pertinax replied to Viggen's topic in Archaeological News: Rome
Also I suspect this wil be a transported find from Calvacam (casterton -as there is no fort/fortlet recorded in the Lancaster area) ..but I will be going over to take a look. http://www.pheasantinn.co.uk/photo.htm--nice spot (Pantagathus pay attention to this link!! ) -
A crate of whatever Ursus is drinking at present please.
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drunk people in ridiculous european pattern camo. -
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axlotal?
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two words -liberal relatavism.
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Ah, so they have similar merits to oysters do they! I'm really looking forward to some fresh pina coladas as well! Yes indeed the meritorious regime of Vitamin D ( fish oils and sunlight) the B vitamins (B12 in particular, from a robust fillet steak ) and Zinc and Selenium (from shellfish and wholesome grains), will be significant in the most taxing of amatory situations.
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The conch fritters will be a suitable antidote to excessive hop ingestion.