Pertinax

I've told the producer about freedman's caps and she like the idea of 'Santa's hat without the fur trim, and in lots of jolly colours...' (my description) They needed something to toss in the baddies' faces to distract them; that's why they introduced coloured flour. I suggested they hurl pistachio nuts or hot spiced wine instead. Any other suggestions welcome! Flavia How about otter's nose's or wolf's nipple chips! Pah! Rich Imperialist tidbits. Personally I would avoid being hit by hot garum sauce.

What if you were Titus Pullo, you could call it "Pilum Loco"?

Returning to "dove weed" (mullein. Verbascum thapsus assume as the commenest variety in Europe), as I suggested this is presently noted as a demulcent ( slime out of your throat and lungs) emollient (soothing to same) and vulnerary (wound healer) ...so Flavia and Nubia are certainly gathering the correct plant for smoke inhalation cases. Jashemski notes that the modern Pompeiian workmen use the herb for all complaints of the liver (and this would apply to any pectoral damage including blood in the urine) , the herb is very complex chemically containing many flavinoids , iridoid glycosides and catalpol. I sampled a little of the fluid extract today and it is richly aromatic (like a keen molasses) and tastes wonderful. Gerard advises use of the steeped flowers mixed with dung as a poultice for piles..I think Ill stick to cauterisation.

I think she's a judge or ex judge who has a show on tv a bit along the lines of Jerry Springer, Rikki Lake etc...... Taken from Wikipedia....... What do you reckon Pertinax...... Is this the sort of thing you watch??? Television? I enumerate my viewing : Inspector Morse, Two Fat Ladies and Rome.Thats it for the last 20 years.That might be elitist rather than parochial.

I dont wish to be parochial, but "Judge Judy" ? Who is this person? Similar to Judge Dredd in any way?

Cilantro (coriander) is a N African and Asian native, Tamarind is an East African native..perhaps AD can tell us the "how" (and whyfor)of their journey?

I was surprised myself, I thought I would be twinned with Ursus and Moon. Perhaps I was too facetious in answering.Mercurius as conforming...ha ha

"You are most like Hermes" Yeeha! "You have a very keen intellect, are interested in the facts and the truth, but you don't have the antiauthoritarian streak of The Oracle or Prometheus. You are most like Hermes. You are dependable to a fault, and you can develop feirce institutional loyalties. You can seem outwardly cold, and very calculating, and any display of emotion is extremely taxing for you. You are, above all else, dutiful, punctual, and reliable. More rebellious types will see you as a toadie and a stiff, but they're unreliable iconoclasts anyway. You are very pragmatic, and you aren't easily distracted from the task at hand. You can be counted on to do your job without being hampered by personal interests. You are extremely traditional, and are most likely to use "We've always done it this way" and "Those are the rules" as justifications for hanging on to the status quo. Most of the other personality types will have a difficult time relating to you, but will work something out. Prometheus and The Oracle freaking hate your uncritical position regarding established rules and procedures, and they'll let you know it. You'll get along well with Atlas and Apollo if they're your boss. You'll probably get along with Icarus, too. Famous people like you: Judge Judy, Andrew Johnson, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan Stay clear of: The Oracle, Prometheus, Dionysus, Pan, Orpheus, Aphrodite Similar Personality Types: Atlas, Icarus, Apollo, Nemesis" I like those people? My scores were zero, 13, 44 , 33....not very extrovert then.

Ah yes of course the hypericum ( perforatum variety) "bleeds" , what an excellent name for the plant, .An excellent remedy for depression ( as it is mostly known today) of course, but a useful urinary astringent , as a poultice for bed wetting (in children) and as a medicine for spine pain. Here is the very rare coastal variety: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...=si&img=545 and heres my front garden! http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...=si&img=149 I see in Jashemski a reference to use on burns which is almost forgotten. I also see the reference to Dioscorides where he says "man's blood" but blood blossom is far more lyrical is it not?

I haven't visited my poor old thread for a long while...however Flavia Gemina was kind enough to send me a copy of "Pirates of Pompeii" and I was straightway interested to see some of the plants mentioned in th early part of the book. Flavia and Nubia are scouring the hillside above Stabia just after the eruption of Vesuvius , Cyclamen is the first sought plant (usually used as a homeopathic strength tincture as it can be a violent purge if used in too high a dose, but excellent for dire gastric upsets ) , relatively rare in the wild but widely cultivated as a decorative plant. Red Valerian is mentioned (painkiller/sedative/digestive), dove-weed (which is Mullein -excellent in the context of the eruption if one were treating seared lungs or non-fatal fume inhalation) but blood blossom I find excitingly mysterious ..perhaps FG can help with the common name?

20? You old dog. Many to come !

Indeed look at this sophisticated dwelling: http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/grand-.../C/cumbria.html Look at the Woodsman's house as well!

Im going to order the series 2 set when its available, im suspicious that a lot of cuts have been made as well.

As I have been so exasperated by Rome 2 , im re-watching Rome 1 and on further reflection I think the gravitas of the leads is an important factor in the superiority of this series. The "everyday" storyline is a little naff but works for continuity.

Thank you, you incite me to post a few more Fair Lady.

He is indeed, if you look again at my re-enactment gallery you will see him casually eaten lunch whilst a passing Germanic Legionary points out a particularly gruesome leg fracture... http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1798 John also makes an appearence in my msn photo gallery blog in recent and previous LEG II galleries.

The cavalry unit of the Legion was present at the Bremmetenacvm event. Only four horsemen in all (not the regulation 40) , and even then the logistics of moving , preparing and saddling the animals was by no means easy. One of the animals in particular was a complete newbie to the event and bridling was a rather tense experience. The Commander also had to improvise a mounting block from a nearby stone wall as his mount ws a little nervy. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1791 Anyway everyone made it into the arena without being unhorsed, the immediate thing which struck everyone was the higher seat of the cavalrymen because of the horned saddle (and lack of stirrups). The Cavalry performed a number of drill evolutions which amply illustrated the precise control that can be achieved by a discipline man and mount , the use of seat and leg pressure predominantly being involved in the control of the animals at certain junctures. Shooting a bow from the saddle and using the kontos in an overhead position are near handsfree activities (you khold the reins really so they dont fall away) , and it was also noticeable that carrying a shield and spatha (and wielding them ) needed greater emphasis on lower body control. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1792 The images posted are not as "natural" as the shots one can take at Hadrian's Wall , as Ribchester is a rather smart upmarket densely built village, so bits of the 21st Century keep intruding no matter where you point the camera. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1794 http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1796 We saw drill that illustrated the accuracy of javelin attack from horseback, direct sword attack, kontos attack , use of the bow and harassing of footsoldiers (one man to distract an opponent into raising his shield another to nip in and strike him down with a lance). The animals in full flow looked very good, remembering that these were just the cobby types favoured by Roman Cavalry for working in this province in particular. I suspect we are seeing New Forest blood here mixed with Welsh cob.It was actually very exciting to watch, and even this good natured display made one realise real nerve and discipline would be needed to face the mobile threat of horsemen. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1795 http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1797 As always I picked up one or two interesting asides about commonplace re-enactment experience, the most interesting was the not unsurprising observation that the scutum is the most annoying bit of kit carried by the soldiery, even the Marian "backpacks" though heavy were not as awkward and demanding on the physique.The load by the way compares to a modern bergen -say 40 lbs , with armour and scutum in adition you begin to grasp the wieght being carried . We have chatted on the forums about the grips for shields and swords previously, the upshot of re-creating the kit was that these men had wrists like oak trees carrying the scutum year in year out and some pathological evidence shows moderate elongation of the left arm of soldier's skeletons.Ballistae could not be displayed and operated becaus eof the damp conditions, so always attack the Romans when its raining, so they cant deploy torsion weapons.

Thank you ASC for both of those , especially the Hippocratic fragment. Galen insisted that any Doctor worth his salt should be able to dexterously deal with fistulae as part of his normal work, obviously at this time the rate of infection of such growths would exceed modern day levels because of the lack of antibiotics .What strikes me every time I look at the "workday" writings is the emphasis on eye problems and fistulae of various types.

Excellent work Ursus, most commendable .

Yeeoow indeed. We have no indication of any statistical work on possible fatalities, but given that the instruments are a relative commonplace many Romans must have been sitting on soft cushions.It seems plausible to me that despite the likelihood of "discomfort" , if cauterisation was effected properly and reasonable attention (to the standard of Legionary medicine ) was taken to dress the trauma site then survivability might be very high . I hope that shock was obviated by the use of opiates or hycosine.. If you click on my msn "Triclinium" link picture 12 of the LEG II Bremmetenacum album shows the instruments in greater detail

I have previously blogged and added gallery images regarding Roman surgical instruments . http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...=si&img=920 Today however I felt an especial need to give one set of instruments a special mention, those for the cauterisation and removal of troublesome haemerroids. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1789 My friend John the Medicus is holding all the needful items here. In his right hand we see the actual extractive pliers , but the most needful tools are in his left hand. The large angled pliers are to be heated to as high a temperature as possible , then inserted into the affected area via the short cone of ram's horn (to protect the patients soft tissue and the surgeons hand), once the offending items have been given a smart nip with the heated pliers extraction may proceed. Henbane and opium anyone?

The annual visit of the II Augusta to Ribchester (their furthest North from their south coast HQ) is taking place this weekend . http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1787 http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1790 I was able to get some more useful shots of the proceedings which will appear in the gallery and then also in bulk on my external blog.This year the event was enlivened by the presence of the Legion's sub-unit of horsemen . As always the re-enactors make a good fist of trying to convey the reality of soldierly life to a largely uncomprehending (though friendly) audience . Im always impressed by the amount of effort and determination put in to these things. Alas this was the first return to Ribchester without the late John Davies (Architectus) whose untimely death I mention earlier in this blog. I got a useful shot of John the Medicus with his authentic eqipment for the cauterisation of haemerroids , namely a robust set of iron tongs (to be heated over a brazier) and a rams horn cut-out to prevent damage to the patients seat and the Doctors hands: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1789 I will have more to say on the cavalry in a further blog, and will let everyone know when I have a bulk upload into a dedicated gallery on msn. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1791

Noble Lady, where exactly did you see these signposts please? Prior to moving toward Meta? I would be most interested to know.

That is quite alarmingly similar to a no-dachi ! Nothing very ceremonial about that then.

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