Pertinax

the time approaches for my "cross cultural" review of this work .I think the review will be better handled if its specialised parts are dismembered between UNRV at blog level-for the sections on "analysis of ancient cultures from a modern perspective" and "fermented medicines/cultural ceremonial of celtic /european societies" in relation to Roman medicines, and foodstuffs. The review of the "hardcore" historical analysis for non-european societies and detailed recipe critique ,including the historical analysis of European herbalism will I think live more happily on Pantagathus' "The Nectar of Gods! " site. The book is massive and full of detail so I think that, combined with the outage we are experiencing , the review will be in episodes . After this I must return to my central materia medica in Rome and comment on Galen who keeps getting shoved aside !

The Celts and Picts liked to "arrive in style" by horseback /chariot but despite the PR of a splendidly built chariot ( the sophistication of Pictish chariots with use of multiple woods for specialised part function is attested by retrieved scottish remains) , they still sought to fight on foot as a direct expression of skill and bravery.This is not to say they had no combat capability when mounted but like the Saxons later -it wasnt their chosen way. The Brigantian plains are excellent for breeding tough cobby ponies, wide grassland, plenty of water , sparse locals (hence the siting of Bremetenem Veterenorium) -likewise the Cumbrian plain. However the observation regarding cost by CL is accurate-hence the status symbol usage versus "true" assault use.

I have to go with the "disunity" vote-that being the prerequisite for the actual egress of inward migrations. The constant theme in Britain's relationship to the centre of empire and its "romanness" is the desire of the Romanised to stay "onside " as best as possible whilst rival Imperial candidates slug it out for the top job.In some ways Brittannia was spared by its relative remoteness , but was a useful strategic base for anyone wishing to be a "gallic" usurper.It was of course "lost" in the Gallic Imperium for quite a while.The waste of good troops fighting each other is the key.

Just glad to see you all back-however I was able to get on with my book review notes .Its quite unnerving to find "domain may have expired" posted! Good luck with getting a new host.

have any re-enactors worked through this technique? The very first episode of HBOs "Rome" showed the very fluid interchanging of the first line with an excellent overhead shot.

anyone read or reviewed this work please? Its a 2002 title and appears to be in general circulation.

mm-too much modern Europe this time-but still a worthwhile, intelligent commentary-if you are American or Australasian this will give you a good idea of how non-engaged with Europe many people are.Nothing foolish about Rome though-I liked the Gauls processed to become Roman by removal of body hair at the baths idea very much.

I particularly enjoyed this article, the idea of the sanctity of the Paterfamilias in physical proximity to the spirits of the Ancestors is noteworthy in the extreme, the notion of the appropriate dignity that this gives to "the place" is far more wholesome than a straightforward "right to privacy and property" . The omnipresence of spiritual considerations is a good antidote to the notion of the Romans as hard and bloody people.A person who contemplates the dignity of his or her ancestors has a strong moral anchor within the material world. Thank you-the article took me back to Pompeii in my head!

HERBAL DIRECTORY Items: Here is a revised and alpha numero list to go with the

I will be reviewing Bruhner's "Sacred Herbal and Healing Beers " in my blog-as it is not strictly relevant directly to Rome -but has a lot of useful ideas on how to look at the idea of "cultures" and how we try to percieve them from a constant "modern" perspective.The work is also very close to my own specialisation. Bruhner suggests quite simply that bread making and "beer" making were utterly intertwined , literaly feeding off each other for living yeasts, and both products had high deliverable calorific contents for ancient peoples. This isnt the place to open the review further-but there are some great recipes and startling additives ! ps: if what im taking notes of at present is correct ( use of Achillea Millefolium in a heather (Ericiae) Mead ) then if I was on Hadrian's Wall with the Bataviian Cohort id want to try a few shots on a gloomy night.

I saw the "gold dragged into wound" comment -but armour pushed into a wound (of any type or magnificence) is exactly the combat medicine skill these people had as an intelligible response to (and acceptable as a modern deep fleshwound treatment-ive just been perusing some clinicals on unrefined/unhomogenised wild honey with propolis and bee venom as a deep dressing for burn/trauma/plastic manipulation wounds-the stuff suffocates bacterians and sterilises very nicely). nb: just as an aside the Ancient Chinese used powdered gold as a wound dressing.

How very odd-the one thing the Egyptian's were adept at was the use of wound dressings-usually a paste of verdigris and honey- perhaps sepsis and trauma overwhelmed the victim.

I am with Ursus and Pantagathus.