Pertinax

Pantagathus are you really Seth Gecko ? You are always under ballistic , vampyre or katana attack , but always emerge composed and having eaten well.

Chester's Fort (that is on Hadrian's Wall not Deva the Fort at Chester!) is the subject of a second visit. The collection of artefacts in the site museum repays scrutiny , many are altars and inscriptions of great value saved by local antiquarians working only with private resources and a love of history. That these items are now in the custody of English Hertiage at least means theft and dispoilation cannot befall them. I dont intend to post the majority of shots in UNRV , rather a selection with a bulk upload off-site at my msn blog, otherwise I will clog up the plumbing here. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1463 Some of the artefacts have been taken by myself previously, this time though I have gone equipped for indoor work as well as site photos.So if you think youve seen the item before, I hope I have improved on my previous gallery shot. I will be loading a "Cilvirnvm Secvndvs" gallery on msn shortly. http://triclinium.spaces.live.com/ Scrolling down this blog will lead you to the first entry and assorted links. Augustus' "Hadrian's Wall site " is under construction , but watch for a future ntry for this important Fort.Find him here:- http://hadrians-wall.info/hadrianswall/segedunum/index.htm Just to remind readers that this is the crossing point of Wall over River Tyne, and I have placed a shot showing the remains of the southern bridge structure across the Tyne. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1461 The bathhouse fascinates me with its wonderful setting , so I took one or two more shots of it in autumnal colours. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1462 If you have keen eyes you may notice that finds are not just from this site but a number of adjoining localities (Proccolita, Vindolanda). Post Scriptum: I forgot to add this link to a blog entry on the concept of thoroughly hating your enemies in the Ancient World , as an appropriate aspect of virtue. http://laudatortemporisacti.blogspot.com/2...ng-enemies.html The whole Blog is a joyful plunge into a deep, evil smellin, weed choked pond of curmudgeonly excellence.

Phew! Liver and Kidneys recovering-thank you for your kind words! I detect an additional layer of chin developing.

Witty and erudite, I liked it so much ...I bought the book! A scholarly review of scholarly technique.

Bacchanaliae commence! I raise a glass to you all my excellent friends! :drunk: I might be away for a few days...............

just arrived-"oak aged beer" http://www.innisandgunn.com/index.htm ho ho ho

OK -initial information from insider sources: Domaine Du Ribet Claret, straightforward robust , full taste. Jadot Beaujolais -Villages, rich, full very drinkable.Oomoo Shiraz -got hold of a half case of this , very nice! http://www.wine-pages.com/temp/oomoo.htm Possible semi-fatal admixture with Chimay (red) , Cuvee Des Trolls, Draak or if in mood of uncontrolled gluttony a smoked beer : http://www.chimay.be/ http://www.cuveedestrolls.com/EN/biere/service.php http://www.vansteenberge.com/Bodypages/eng...uldenDraak.html http://www.schlenkerla.de/indexe.htm updates when sober! The Pertimaxus is a leisure hour cocktail , so more news of that if celebrations are extended. :bag:

Thank you, thank you all-how did I come to this great age? I was 35 only recently. I forsee a great migrainous pain of the temporal lobes in the morning :drunk: :stretcher:

I trust you are celebrating in style! Happy Birthday!

There was a lively trade in souvenir ephemera attached to Gladiatorial contests. Here is link to 'Ludus Gladiatorius" (associates of II AVG in the UK): http://www.ludus.org.uk/ when I saw them at the last re-enactment, I was shown a wide range of copied trinkets that would have been hawked by vendors -you only need to think about all the sideshows and t-shirts, mugs, pens etc at sporting events today, here's a piece of glasware with combat scenes: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1455 A favourite of mine: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=922 and a selection of helmets here: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=918 The early provocateur style is an adapted army helmet.

I fear I cannot resist the line - "His Two most Powerful Tools were put on public display" A man of many parts! :pimp:

This might be too much to bear (the music is a heartache) but try and look for a moment: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/flash/index.shtml and this if anyone needs a little info on the poppy: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/...ory/poppy.shtml

This seems to have slipped the net here-but I did find thsi by sheer inadvertence: http://www.romanmysteries.com/author/tvseries.htm

Peach pith and Almond Kernels in particular should be treated with respect.In the post above you will note the circumstances though-small child (low body weight) ingestion of seeds in an alkaline medium, hey presto a "detox migraine" . Peach pit jelly has the potential to have a heavier than usual concentration of cyanides-but I assume you are aware of the easy way to test a simple food (apart from feed it to your slaves) the tongue curdling bitterness of rancid almonds is the hint of cyanide. Note the starting point of amagdilyn glucose- So dont stop eating it, just dont accept any from rival political figures (if The Augusta sent me some for example I would offer it to friends first , just in case : http://www.raintree-health.co.uk/cgi-bin/g...eachkernel.html

My late Father (raised in rural penury) slept thus-three eldest siblings (8,10, 12) slept with their heads to the wall of the room , the two younger siblings (himself included) were neatly reversed and placed between the others like the teeth of two combs. My Grandmother slept in a chair nearby. He broke the ice on the horse trough to wash before setting off to school. They had no other clothes to change into. Thats England in 1927. This probably informed his attitude to central heating , which he considered to be a softening influence on Western Civilisation.

AD, the kernels and pips in the Cherry fruit are potentially high in Cyanide-several members of the rosaceae family (which includes apples and plums) have this potential. One can easily surmise why this might cause a migraine-an adult consuming very small doses would actually benefit , any intestinal parasites would suffer badly. Dear Members please do not rush out and make a paste from the various kernels , a sudden rash of Senatorial fatalities would be too obvious. From CUP "Evaluation of Antidotes" series (1993): " Cyanide is found in foodstuffs such as cabbage, spinach, and almonds, and as amygdalin in apple pips, peach, plum, cherry, and almond kernels. In the kernels themselves, amygdalin seems to be completely harmless as long as it is relatively dry. However, the seeds contain an enzyme that is capable of catalysing the following hydrolytic reaction when the seeds are crushed and moistened: C20H27NO11 + 2H2O --> 2C6H12O6 + C6H5CHO + HCN amygdalin glucose benzaldehyde hydrogen cyanide The reaction is slow in acid but rapid in alkaline solution,(Pertinax adds-and of course cherry flesh is exceptionally alkaline) Natural oil of bitter almonds contains 4% HCN. American white lima beans contain 10 mg cyanide/100 g bean. The dried root of cassava (tapioca) may contain 245 mg cyanide/100 g root. The cyanide content in 100 g of cultivated apricot seeds has been found to be about 9 mg and that in wild apricot seeds more than 200 mg." One needs a sulphur source (a divalent one ) to bind to the cyanide and get it out of the body-Sodium Thiosulphate is the handiest chemical counter measure , but sulphurous foods and water (as purge and poison binder) would help (copious mushy peas!). Pantagathus: I am at a loss to explain your mysterious affliction ? Voodoo perhaps? Perhaps you are not drinking sufficient fluid?

Vindolanda seems to point the way to general basic literacy as a definite necessity for the soldiery, the basis of the survivals suggesting a massive "communicating" and record keeping bureaucratic mechanism as the sinews of daily routine/maintenance/provisioning effort. This being Flavian period we must assume that literacy cannot have sprung out of the ground without reasonable precedent, and note also that this literacy extends to Auxilliary troops (Batavii and Gauls ) also.

Well posted Sir. Hard to watch , but best to Remember.

The technology of Pictish chariots constantly startles "moderns" , the use of specific ,appropriate woods for each part of the wheel construction (oak ,elm and ash) for maximun plyability and durability alongside lightweight (sprung) overall construction gives a very tough and manouverable vehicle. As the apex of warrior celebrity and prowess was (to many Celts also) the use and control of such vehicles this should not be that surprising, once again though the cult of individualism will have blunted the use of such a weapons platform as a strategic weapon.The use of small cob "ponies" is also not to be underestimated, the little beasts can turn on a sixpence and are very sure footed. As far as thrown missiles go , I can assure everyone that horse borne missile impact can be very accurate-as long as the horse is not kept at bay by countervailing missile fire. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1453 Here is a shot to give an idea of mount size-not a big animal at all, but tough and hardy. This is the sort of animal that the "enemy" would have utilised also.

I thought I had linked this in already, but I see it is in another thread:Here is a small earlier piece on the Brigantes- http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showto...mp;hl=Brigantes

He did indeed- the semi-transparent overlay ( on the lead link) is a useful reference tool. A few straightforawrd such would be a revealing resource-either that the suggested deployment was not as recorded (which we might certainly anticipate as regrads numbers of combatants) , that the interpretation of the field of action is obviously wrong (disposition of natural features) or that the logic of the engagement becomes much clearer when we see the terrain.Do you feel like attempting a pilot Antiochus?

Yes, but just a little water--like 20 drops of water for a double. Check-"a teaspoonful at most" as my Father would have admonished.

This series (unlike the recent BBC offering) is well worth seeing. Even if you disagree with Jones , you can pick up useful information and get a slightly different perspective. I think he likes to be devil's advocate -but he does it with affection and humor-so it's like having your mad Uncle round for Dinner , he goes off on odd tangents , but the conversation is worthwhile.

Because that's how some bourbons are traditionally made to be drunk--with a splash of water that is. In my post I was going to add "of course even the tap water tastes rich and peaty" (as regards the Tobermory), the dilution being water from the locality of the drink. This is as opposed to the HIDEOUS EVIL of :2guns: coke!