Pertinax

Dont forget the Romans were keen to adopt additional Gods on the very practical basis that they didnt wish to offend any that existed elsewhere and might be powerful. This didnt mean pushing any existing deities out ,especially traditional Roman ones or even identifying a foreign god with a native one (though that did occur if the properties and attributes were very similar).Bacchus and Liberwere worshipped as distinct deities the former being far more dangerously potent the latter more homely and jolly but worthy of reverence. So Pullo might have been hedging his bets .

this is excellent stuff- thank you

Perhaps not quite that colourful! I might return to the topic of Mithras next, I did a lot of work in that area in the past but my memory does not serve me well on the main texts. I might however post "recipes for special events" from time to time-and I feel that the Barbarians probably need a lot more tips on how to behave in civilised company, they are so backward they probably think there is something wrong with wiping your greasy hands on a slaves hair. Thank you for your appreciation.

I have finished "Around the Roman Table"-excellent as a desk reference for detailed authenticity for set design or some interesting recipes that re-enactors could easily undertake "in the field" or have ready prepared a s field rations or a civilian picnic. Quite good on manners and interesting tidbits on everyday items and fashions-beer is for the proles , kebabs are available on the street corner, beer, kebabs and girls can be bought in the same place along with straw for your horse or donkey. I dont think it could be read through by anyone other than a chef or a herbalist-this is not a criticism, it just isnt a "good read"in terms of a story. as Primus Flavius Pertinax :- I wish to share with you my tips for how best to present Sow's Nipples to your esteemed guests: "remove unwanted fat from the udder,sprinkle with coarse sea salt and pepper.Leave overnight.Sow's udder is long so it can be rolled like a roulade ,with the nipple's outward.Boil slowly for a few hours making sure they retain their shape (note) . Cut the roulade into single or double breasts and barbecue them. Make a sauce with a little rice flour,olive oil and dry white wine flavour with garum,pepper and lovage. and a couple of tips to visiting Barbarians:remember you are not in Gaul now-do not urinate or belch whilst reclining on the triclinium though vomiting with the aid of a feather may be permissible if you need to eat more ( a slave will tickle your throat with the feather). If you are offered snow to eat dont show your provincial backwardness, it may be nicely flavoured with wine and be a fantastically expensive luxury brought to Rome by special fast sled. And finally,ivy leaves cool the head when drinking dont get it wrong and wear vine leaves you will get totally smashed (as we say in Brittannia)-if the person next to you refuses any wreaths they probably belong to the proscribed sect known as Christians

actually my continued reading of "at the Roman Table " leads me to suggest that the worst punishment might be a grand dinner including a main course of "barren pigs womb".

Ive dug out an interesting punishment from early republican Rome,if the matron of a house drank wine ( which at that time was totally forbidden to women) the Paterfamilias could then order that she be starved to death in .

pre season trailer was screened here last night and first episode to be screened next week , certainly looks good from the selected scenes I saw .

I did though like Jungs evocation of the initiation ceremony and how very real and uncomfortable such a thing was.

You beat me to the draw Pantagathus, and the Phonecians are quite mysterious in their own way being considered by some to be a "trading clan" rather than of a definitive ethnicity ( the Jomsvikings might be perhaps be considerd a similar if rather more "hands on" non-blood related "pragmmatic " group of persons, though etnically much less diverse).

so rumors that he would have to fight against a selection of wild beasts from Numidia were unfounded?

I think that many celebrated Roman cooks liked the idea of "disguise" as a way of impressing a rich hosts dinner guests ,there are certainly a number of illustrations of that in this particular book-one guest is horrified thinking that he has some living creature in a pastry before him only to have been outguessed by a cook who has produced a dormouse confit. The thing that comes across is the desire to produce outrageously sophisticated meals with "multi media" experiences eg; your toe nails are being cut by a couple of singing slaves whilst wine is being served by another (singing) the meal has a considerable number of courses ,three pairs of gladiators perform!(not everyone though this at all clever -it smacked of being a parvenu). I am half way through the book and it is clearly a specialist read-its ideal for myself covering materia medica and culinary herbs ,Id say it is a useful desk reference for detailed snippets of authenticity ,but its no entertainment for tough Legionnaires or wolfish Barbarians.By the way,dont eat with both hands if you want Roman friends to think you are capable of becoming a Citizen, right hand only please: also do not gnaw bones to get at the meat your hosts slaves will carve it for you first. More guidance on Etiquette later.

I have to agree totally, there are some nice chunks of historical info in Jung but I wouldnt (as usual) go with a "modern" approach to a once living religious cult.

Ive sat in the Forum at Pompeii on quite a few ocassions and this imagining of it is so vital that I couldnt resist it, every time you visit this is the scene that is trying to come to your minds eye-"what did the everyday life look and smell like?" what wouldnt you give to go into a tavern and have a drink and bite to eat and hear some ordinary chat -did they grumble just like we do ? were the Proles as irritating? was the food stronger tasting? I hope there are more of these images - Housesteads always puts me in a reverie-what did the soldiers think looking across to Caledonia? Thinking of hearth and the Lares in Umbria? and how wet Brittannia was (and still is)?

CG Jung has some very interesting commentaries on the cult of Mithras (collected works vol 9 "Aion" if I recall),though these are more from a psychological/spiritual nature in relation to the popularity of Mithras with the Legions.

The" Forum of Pompeii "artwork is now my Desktop-after seeing the excellence of the work I spent a couple of hours going through my edition of "Pompeii past and present" to reminisce over my last visit. I have to say the site is very good indeed.

Well im a little way into the text and must share this with you: "(Elegabalus) regularly ate camels'feet and cockscombs that had been cut from living birds,because this was supposed to leave one immune to the plague. He also served.. ..innards of morays,flamingo brains ,partridge eggs, thrushes' brains , the heads of parrots ,pheasents and peacocks" Ok the pheasant I could manage.

I was pondering the Zulu Nation's impis as a latter day version of legion style fighting-in that we have an emphasis on: stabbing with a larger bladed spear -a larger defensive shield -rigorous (to put it mildly) discipline and concerted regimental cohort action. All these things introduced by Shaka as deadly innovations. Sorry to wander a little way from topic but its interesting that they were so deadly against other tribal armies and shook a machine age army quite badly.

My (long ago) school version was that he was accustomed to draw diagrams in sand -writing materials being rather pricey-and upon asking a Roman soldier to stand aside (not tread on the paperwork) was stabbed.

I have just got hold of a copy of this book (by Patrick Faas) it looks like it wil be a discourse on manners and etiquette as well as actual recipes.I will post a short review when I have read it through.

The whole area has a history as a cavalry mount breeding ground-my previous home in Ightenhill was just that , an area reserved to the King in the Middle Ages for the breeding of horses.There was little else by way of settlement till the early 1830s. There are some ruins in Ribchester and I will make a a photographic sweep of the area to get some fresh images for this site when the weather is a litle better. Likewise I will do the same for Ravenglas (Glanaventta) where I often visit. At both sites the Bath House is the most prominent ruin. Ive promised myself a visit to Housesteads fairly soon and Pompeii in the new year so if you wish I wil post images from all these sites. Housesteads isnt too far away ,perhaps two hours by car (across country) strange to think this was the edge of the civilised world. I have also worked in Scotland and covered an area including Falkirk, so the Antonine Wall has been in my provenence as well .

I certainly dont disagree about "becoming unhinged " in combat- I was trying to make a distinction between the sociopathic /psychotic (who can be military elites in very tightly controlled circumstances-Ulfshander for example) and the generallity of Legionnaires who would need to be less "antisocial" to function as a disciplined unit. The kendo observation was just a way into the idea-ive been in some pretty wild sparring bouts and seen red myself,but stuck to technique as best as possible. On the other hand ive not spent 10 years slogging across Europe with a short sword in bad weather,perhaps id be in a seriously bad frame of mind . The Cremona incident I knew of and am inclined to say that internicine conflict is the bloodiest and deadliest of all.

Only Very Evil Romans are normally played by British actors, well perhaps very Very Cunning and Devious would be better: Peter Ustinov as Nero, Malcolm McDowell as Caligula -the decent types : Marcus Aurelius was Harrris (Irish) Maximus was Crowe (NZ out of Aussie) and the excellent Quintus was Tomas Arana (dual Nationality USA/Italy). Divi Filius is correct the Britishness is to give the appropriate "classical' and mannered weightiness to such films.(Look at the cast of Vikings-our Scandinavian heroes are American and all the other frosty non-heroic or creepy parts(with meaningful lines) are British). Honourable exceptions are Sir Derek Jacobi, he delivered on the nail as dignified Briton/Roman in both Claudius and Gladiator and Oliver Reed who would have made a very good emperor but probably was in his apotheosis as Proximo. There was an excellent comment in the expanded version of Gladiator , a point made about dialouge and costumes , Scott sought straightforward dialouge without rhetorical "Romaness" and that he tried to give the Legions the look and feel of Vietnam veterans because war is grungy and ugly. I say Washington would be good because you can see him thinking, Ralph Fiennes should be someone Roman and Shaloub is an inspired choice because he looks very Carthaginian (Punic roots? lebanese name?). Enjoyable strand!

this is the time in Britain known as the "Celtic Twilight" it coincides with the Arthurian legends or" The Matter of Britain" as it is sometimes called -perhaps our desire for the "Return of the King " is for Julian order? I was chatting about this with my old boss some time ago who pointed out that where he lived -a little further on from Ribchester it was quite probable that in Roman times the fertile valley floor had good sheep farms and comfortable bungalows with central heating and flushing lavatories,something that would not return for a very long time. My own part of the Empire near to Castercliffe would I think be a lot less hospitable,as I write the rain is coming down in buckets as is typical of our climate here. Barter was indeed the way of the economy after the Romans departed which points to the struggles that were experienced in achieving distinct nationhood again.

Nerva was an excellent replacement

Lesvos would involve less fighting. and-back on topic I notice that as you may be fomenting revolt was I correct in suggesting "damnattae Memoria" (sp) as punishment for a failed uprising (on top of any personal punishment)? Legion iii Augusta suffered this did they not, but were later as a disgraced vexillation able to reform the Legion.