Pertinax

I am sorry to have come so late to this erudite thread . I thank GO for his personal initiative. Indeed even today Frankinscence is noted for its ability to render grown men insensate, inhaling the fragrant olibanum gum causes massive nasal decongestion (and consequent effluxion of fluids), one should always inhale dressed in a loose toga so that retirement to the bed chamber is expiditious. sources: A Dalby "Dangerous Liasons" B Marley "A Pompeian/Jamaican Herbal" Galen "Food , Diet and Hot Slave Girls".( A users guide).

Perhaps a few loaves might be handy for an authentic UK Forum meeting repast? Some nourishing gruel likewise. I blogged a little on it... http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...p;showentry=636

A coincidence of two items leads me to post a little about grain conssumption in the ancient world. Northern Neil fortuitously got hold of some spelt (red wheat) bread from a local (to ourselves) supermarket chain, this particular loaf is very different to any off the shelf product in mass usage.I am presently also writing a review of grain supply vis a vis famine in the classical world, and was struck by the frequency of grain shortages (as opposed to outright famine) A couple of slices of spelt loaf are very filling , but do not leave the consumer either bloated or tired ie: complex protein endosperm and slow burn long chain carbs , the grain is impermeable to pests and (nowadays) insecticidal pollution. It struck me that the working man (or slave) who ate this bread along with aioli (garlic/olive oil ) spread would be well set up to avoid any sort of systemic poisoning, especially via amoebic/flagellate/nemotode parasitic incursion (nemotode=worms). This most basic of dietary regimes would be beneficial also for the modern obsession with "fibre" to make the peristaltic action of the gut wall easier , and teeth would be less llikely to be carious. I now also understand why the Army used barley as a punishment ration-it was the fallback staple for the peasant in hard times , and to have to subsist on this grain would be both tedious and a humiliating reminder of rural poverty. So the observation that the Roman soldiery "just" ate porridge and bread and then marched all day does not now strike me as totally ridiculous , especially if rich Imperialist tidbits could be added to this basic fare. "True Roman bread, for true Romans". http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1268

Augustus was asking me about the spelt loaf and the "hadrian",(which has a spelt content as well)-have you by any chance kept the wrapper for same-he was keen to know about the composition? These are the nearest to "off the shelf Roman" that I have come across (in the UK).

Caldrail has confirmed also by pm. Spittle likewise.

I am now starting to pm UK members for attendance at the Forum meet in York. Several of you have already booked hotels, but I want to try and make sure (within reason) of numbers. I understand the following to be likely :- Augustus Caesar (plus Domina) The Augusta ...could be tricky with Augustus there... Northern Neil Wot Wot Viggen Phil 25 Dalby A Longbow (if arriving baby permits) Self if I have failed to mention you please speak out , I need a reasonable idea of numbers for visiiting venues/speechifying/pubs etcetera etcetera. We will discuss the itinerary and meeting points in due course.I reiterate , this is a first time event so we may be excused for being a little unscientific, we need to guage everyones temperament and interests.

This is the same person who played opposite Hopkins in "Titus"(as his cousin -correct me if I am mistaken), he was impressive in that film also.

Profound.

Pliny (NH XVIII) desribes six different yeast cultures, yeast having made its debut in the Republic (Conservative types did not consume it deeming it "unhealthy", morally or gustatory, or both perhaps. 1.millet kneaded with must-with a shelf life of one year! 2. wheat bran given a white wine must marinade for about three days, turned into rolls and soaked in water then heated and kneaded again with flour.This was deemed high quality but with a short shelf life. 3. Dough balls of barley/water baked in ashes then kept till they fermented, dissolved back into water for a gruel base. 4. Barley bread using a yeast from chick pea flour or vetch. 5.sourdough-the commonest , boil unsalted flour and water, thence leave this porridge to ferment: voila live yeast. 6. and of course, keep some of the previous days risen dough. Apparently the introduction of yeast as a commodity signalled the rise of baking as an identifiable trade,as opposed to a general domestic craft.

Given the way that some "side" personalities were concentrated into representative persons, and a concentration on "striking" events in series 1, I'id venture to suggest that poor old Cicero will die spectacularly (and the hat pin/hair comb incident will be a prominent dramatic gesture).

So you are jaded and bloated after Saturnalia? A return to rustic fare, the food of farm workers is required: Take two bulbs of fresh garlic and grind in a mortar with sea salt.Add olive oil steadily (around 160 ml) to this mix and continue till you have a smooth paste.Eat as a spread on coarse spelt bread. This is of course the "old" version of aioli, nowadays eggg yolk would be included as a thickener and a little vinegar also.

Or as Paracelsus says "The dose makes the poison" ie: anything might be toxic if ingested too often

The thujone content needs to be high, and the consumption prodigious and sustained.

Sounds like my family.

In fairness , only if the thujone content is high enough.Otherwise just expect morbid melancholia.

I claim a "Laphau" on the Paternal side , from mid-18th C Ireland. An O'Dwyer from the Welsh Cromwellian settlers of Ireland , and most importantly a MacThrenifhir Dublin Viking (and as I have Dupuytrens contracture ( a rare blood lipid causated contracture of the hand )this appears to be my dominant gene strand.

What better time of year to add another toxicological entry? Nicotine: alkaloid insecticidal chemical, can be toxic if ingested through the skin or inhaled. Ordeal bean (Physostigma venemosum) a member of the pea family, a west African native.One quarter bean can be fatal to an adult. Oxygen: poisinous to anerobic bacteria Which is why exposing a gangrenous wound to the air (ie: oxygen) helps the cleansing of that wound. Essential to metabolism -many poisons work by impeding its progress to our blood.Botox is of course a derivative of Clostridium botulinum a virulent anerobic bacteria which is now routinely pumped into womens faces, killing the surrounding flesh and relaxing frown lines (leaving neat pockets of anerobic hapiness). Quinine: very poisinous in a large dose, anti malarial in a controlled one. Ricin: castor oil seed cake residue -only a few seeds are needed to kill. Rotenone: a pesticide made from the root of Jamaica dogwood (fish poison tree) . Strychnine: from the dried ripe Nux vomica seed. Wormwood: atremisia, which kills helminths (human intestinal/encysted worms). Thats it for the abbreviated glossary, I hope to add some notes on the historical use of these items particularly in relation to the classical world.

Another essay that now reads like a prophesy.

this is excellent, I own it: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-Ancient-Gree...TF8&s=books but I suspect AD will say , learn modern Greek its the same!

Django- but dont worry , we all knew who you meant , an excellent choice.Why did I forget McLaughlin? Has anyone heard of Juan Martin the flamenco maestro? http://www.juanmartin.com/ Keep on rockin in the free world!

OK before I am immersed in treacle coated ham , claret and a rib of beef as big as a small car-I wish all UK Forum Members an especial greeting for the Yuletide and the New Year. Dont forget to keep tabs on this thread for information on our get together in York in the spring

Robert Fripp and Mr F Zappa, and I rather like Mr Zoot Horn Rollo

Cleansing and cleeean.

Not quite GO, you have narrowed down the "where" but not identified the "what".You will need a cunning plan.