Pertinax

My apologies , I used the latin name of the beastie: Murex is (or rather was in this case) a shellfish , from which the purple dye was "expressed" . There are quite a number of Murex species but it is thought that the best original dye yeilding animal is extinct.

I was inclined to think "Punic/hopliati/celtiberian" with a falcata? So what is the sword on the belt of his helper? Sorry 'bout that chaps. Macedonian infantryman id say. I did try to get a shot of the Bangor sword (DC refers ) but no luck.

Ah , this is very good news, you may have seen my notes here: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4711 rather hasty im afraid, but I aim to make good any shortfall in information by a thorough photographic sweep of Pompeii in the spring. You are certainly going for a striking and substantial building! As you can probably divine ,I would be interested to see your rendition of pigmentation hierarchies within the house.Do you have any specific sources you would suggest for decorative styles?

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'long pointed gracefully curved blade.' It sort of sounds like you are speaking of the falcata, but Roman armies either never used it or at least only used it right in the beginning of their use of the gladius short sword, since it's likely that the weapon's effectiveness was learned and adapted during wars in Iberia or while fighting the Carthraginians (and their Iberian allies/mercenaries). Or are you speaking of the tip of the gladius? Does this illlustration help the debate? http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1241

Salve Decimus! That is excellent news, I thought your good work was lost. I am delighted to see you back in the fray.I particularly like the "Temple of Isis" image , which I havent previously seen. What period will the Domus be ?

I can't believe you called the menu 'Arab Goodies'... The only thing on there that is Middle Eastern is tabouli and that's Lebanese! Not exactly Arab. You must forgive Cecil, Lord Brooklynsaxmundhame, his primitive diet of moose , elk and racoon (seasoned with dried sedges) alongside the consumption of "French Fries" (a type of potato ) leaves him ill equipped to deal with the rich cornucopia of a semi-exotic foods served in your Triclinium.

May I ask what exactly is the "Spunky and Tadpole Show?".

I did try to post previously, but it was too splenetic, so I discarded it. We saw the live TV broadcast and sat in grim silence.Our hearts went out to those who suffered, and those who still do.

Decimus Caesar actually hits on a point ( previously made by Ursus) which is a valid critiicism of most of Ridley Scott's films; a sort of spectral beauty of filmatic light combined with an undefined feeling of emptiness.The appearence of the film as a whole is wonderful, the "Triumph of the Will" section (Commodus' return to Rome) hints at the epic but seems devoid of real emotion. I felt that a lot of the protaganists didnt seem to have personalities , but were plot devices and markers. Only Oliver Reed seemed to force his self onto the celluloid. And I must ask (Northern Neil and I couldnt work this one out) why no Pilum discharge in the opening battle?

We have, buried deep , a thread on this very subject: the BBC seem to have been desparate to put forward a PC agenda on nil evidence http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showto...=black+soldiers however I seem to remember even more detailed postings, which I currently cannot find.

Huh? Why would they keep books at the lighthouse of Alexandria when there was a well-known library of Alexandria nearby? So it would be easier to read at nighttime?

Excellent stuff, now people will believe me when I say "Walt told me to do it!"

Thank you GO. Just to explain a little here, these mosaic examples are fine decorative pieces, so dont confuse them with the "zebra" cross hatch warning panels displayed in servile areas of the house. The trompe l'oeil spatial pattern is exactly the sort of sophisticated confection associated with the aspiring middle classes.

This is a good read: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penguin-History-La...8&s=gateway the history of the Southern Americas is rather interesting , if horrific, the very late establishment of the state of Argentiana is surprising , the Chaco War is a ghastly episode,The Uruguay deserves great consideration...on and on it goes . For cinematic "popular" culture Aguirre Wrath of God has a ghastly touch of flyblown reality about it: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aguirre-Wrath-God-...8&s=gateway

Anything containing the words "Epicurean Mayhem" draws me as a moth to a flame.

Will you be posting any part of the vid on (say) youtube? Or is it a private item for your Family? How did you find the light , was it really as golden as it seems in Romer's work?

So what are the changes into the Imperium? Let us say you are a person (Paterfamilias specifically) of some importance in Pompeii in AD 79. You are to receive a visit from your crusty old Uncle , a strict unbending Catonian of the old school . You wish to impress this Uncle as he is rather wealthy despite living , apparently , on porridge and old dried fruit, (hence suffering impacted bowels). How will you avoid making a decorative or stylistic faux pas that will mark you down as a man of modish opinion , and therefore unfit to be bequeathed his great wealth? Tricky, firstly you cannot undo the architecture of the house you had built a few years ago. The atrium-peristyle

Or indeed if the coin is of sufficient precious/scarce metal as to be a tradeable item itself?

From what is left of it on the Palentine, do we actually know the colour scheme of Augustus

Interesting article, and with baited breath, I'm waiting to hear about the esthetic changes that attended the end of civil wars. These changes may not live up to the anticipated "vulgarian excess" that strict Catonians might suspect to follow the demise of the Republic. From the notes I am presently making we see more a change in the division of rooms by "panels" , rather than, say, a ground colour with decorative treatment .What I can allude to though is the tremendous upsurge in interest in displaying pictures and statutary as a sign of status , so much so that Agrippa was keen on "nationalising" images -as he understood the power of display( I was going to say advertising).

As regards the two colours: Cinnabar red would perhaps be an "aspiring middle class (potential vulgarian ) with substantial wealth" colour, as I stated a decorator would not include this colour at a "standard" price for a client, rather a specific bill would be presented. It struck me that perhaps the vicinity of Vesuvius would have been a potential source of this pigment given its volcanic origins. Black seems a startling choice to modern eyes, initially I assumed it to have been a cheapish pigmentation (lamp black for example) , but that is not the case . The clue to its "profound" use is in its earlier usage in Greek "public" spaces/theatres/stoi. I will be interested to see how the use of interior motifs changes as the hierarchies of client/patron power became more personal and intimate under the Divine Augustus. I am continuing with the notes now , so more information soon.

What does that mean? Is there a movie with such scenes? Apologize for I seldom watch historical films so I am not very familiar with them =w=" The film was nicknamed "Queer Eye for the Macedonian Guy" , but frankly the homo-erotic sub plot was just hilarious . The battle scenes are quite good, mainly because the actors have stopped spouting hammy dialogue.

There is a definite Republic/early Imperial shift in decorative vocabulary , I will write more on this later-so please watch the main thread.