Pertinax

The fate of the "Herm breakers" I mentioned above was to be arraigned for trial , the common people were outraged at the indignity perpetrated. I suggest that the phallus might also be interpreted as an image of dread , certainly where cults relating to death/re-birth (as actual ceremonial ) are concerned , temporary entombment (with the images/paraphanalia) of re-generation cannot have been a pleasant experience. The Victorians were obsessed with images of death and untimely mortality that we find either morbidly odd or repulsive (yet they eschewed any sexual imagery), presently sexual/sexualising images proliferate whereas morbidity and death are anathema. Tricky cultural barriers to see through. Remember though , no body shame- we are pre-Judaeo Christian- the body is not a shameful thing to be hidden

Nerva and Antoninus did completely unobtrusive "safe hands" work, indeed Nerva (although short lived) is a pivotal figure in ensuring stability and continuity ( a capable senator and pro-Flavian), I dont think I can make a choice as to who is "best" , but I urge consideration of these two unspectacular achievers.

Note please the handily placed "socket" lower down the front face of the excellent image you took. Just pop the appropriate item into this cavity, though it should be of an upright nature to suggest both fecundity and to be meant as a warning. The nature of the warning might be interpreted thus, "do not indulge in excessive sensual pleasures or you will suffer penetration ie: you will acquire an effeminate nature ( acted upon by external events/things, hence superficial ) , rather than being a mature , self contained person of dignity and gravity". The concept of the crossing or potential transgression of boundaries is tied to this image also, so the "penetrative" meaning becomes clearer. My statement is very simplified and I suspect Pantagathus and Ursus may wish to comment . Strangely enough ,despite Gaius Octavius' recent highly imaginative and priapic gallery efforts, there is no herm image in that sequence. http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~kallet/greece/P...20Sacrafice.jpg a sacrifice being made before a priapic image. http://www.unrv.com/book-review/hermes-the-thief.php An excellent review of a very informative work.

Really? What is missing? You missed a little something? Er... the "sacred interpenetrating rgenerative member". To remove the sacred member is to disempower the image of the Herm. If "members" recall one bad night in Athens ,415 BC, a group of young men smashed the very same organs off a number of herms , so as to scare the "simpler' classes into thinking that the Gods had deserted the City (and hence to make the forthcoming naval campaign in Sicily "lack cujones " , so to speak).An act of gross impiety.

They fed them Buicks!?! :horse: You have a car named after alfalfa?

A very useful, if specialised site, for ethnobotanical /archeobotanical items in Britain. http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue1/tomlinson_toc.html

Excellent shots, I see the Herm has an important "part" missing.

this link explains, but the images dont appear to load. http://astro.temple.edu/~tlclark/lorica/pteruges.htm

And this (for those who havent yet seen it) is the scene: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=964 which shows the scale of comabt at that time, not the great ampitheatres of hollywood , but an in your face arena.

I now intend to move the thread to the arena, the discussion has not proceeded in appropriate manner for the Forum

Anyone know where the excellent image resource went to from this now defunct site? Look at the quality of this work: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...si&img=1154 it was a very graphic intensive site , I understand the Webmaster packed up and headed for the hills , is he by ant chance reading this?

I think I mislaid this link : the blog takes you to it , but not the gallery- http://www.chester.gov.uk/amphitheatre/index.html worth a look.

Thank you again, im noting all these down for future reference, even if I dont appear to be acting upon them now be assured that I will be giving serious consideration to these titles. May I ask does any author deal particularly ( and with clarity) with the "secession versus slavery themes " as the causus belli?

The screenplay must be from this source: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/02/20/222118.php but, of course , screnplays have a habit of ditching the original material, good, bad or indifferent. At least we know it will look good with Boorman directing , (like looking at the world through Fujichrome 64 ASA film, with extra luminous green filters )

Actually I would have tried the Veal as well, if its right its perfect, no not perfect, heavenly.

:drunk: Fortunately we had just eaten this : http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?s=&amp...ost&p=42981 when I read your blog, otherwise I would have fainted with envy!

a nice extract from Harris' work is here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2339656.html

Very interesting , because here is a relative of the species in question: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=867 quite capable of dispatching a small child, the crushing power of each claw is equal to the bite of TWO alsatian dogs.The talons have a reflex action "ratchet" , in essence if the prey struggles the talons bite deeper and harder-the bird has no control over this motor function-if you wriggle your arm the claws bit harder and harder, .

well MPC didnt reply that he isnt interested in this book, secondly if i remember correctly he quoted several books on Caesar in various of his posts, so he must have read them, which is only logic if you have such a great interest in this person... regards viggen Irrefutable logic :notworthy:

MPC , :bash: Caesar eh?

I think Vorenus is leading us back to the HBO thread! So ill take Cinncinatus there! Indeed Vorenus is called a "Deep Catonian" by Mark Anthony (" he'd follow the Eagle up Pluto's arse")also , but he himself only says he considers the Republic sacred.The Directors commentaries indicate an intention to suggest a "seduction" of Vorenus by GJC's plausibility and his own Wifes desire for material wealth-hence the "redemption" scene when Pullo is saved in the gladiatorial combat sequence -its redemption for both men , one from criminality , one from veniality , sacrificed to brotherly love. So the script is very much as Skarr suggests ,a "modernity" in Vorenus' conduct at this watershed point .

Thats right, but Vorenus is a strict believer in the religious sanctity of the Republic ,so a revolt of the plebs would be contrary to that belief (though he himself is a pleb). His attitude to plebian reform is questioned by Attia when he returns young Octavian to her, Pullo is all for Caesar "doing right by the people" , Vorenus is angered and they leave the house at that point.

Fraternal Greetings to all our American Cousins , for your Labour Day weekend I commend to you one of Sally Grainger's "Cooking Apicius " recipes: Ofellae Ostian style. Ofellae are highly seasoned meat pieces usually taken from salted belly pork, a modern alternative would be "spare ribs" an American barbecue favourite-hence my post.Indeed this might be a sort of "ancient fast food shop" recipe. Belly Pork must be marinated for three days in a blend of spices (below) and then roasted whole. Asafoteida was well known as a tenderiser, if you use it as given here ,you will find the meat is very tender.This is a good recipe for eating with your fingers at a party: 1tsp lovage seed 2 tsp dill seed 2 tsp cumin seed a generous pinch of asafoteida resin or powder a large bay leaf 1 tsp black peppercorns (this is getting spicey) 3 tbsp of fish sauce (nam plah, garum) 2 lbs of belly pork for the sauce: plenty of ground pepper half a level tsp lovage seed 2 tbsp fish sauce 50 ml of passum (malaga, raisin wine) a little cornflour. dry roast all the seeds in a frying pan quickly, till they give off fragrance . Then grind and mix with the peppercorns till they are all fine, add the fish sauce(and bay leaf), then cut the pork so that you have neat cubes of flesh attached to the skin (leave that unbroken) , rub the spice and fish mix into all the crevices so created . 24 hours resting is ok but 3 days left stood in a cool place is best. Place whole joint (skin downwards) in a roasting tin with any remaining marinadeand some olive oil (I like to work oil into even a a fatty piece of pork as the crackled glaze is enhanced).Medium oven (gas 5 or 375 deg F) till well done.The meat will tend to leave the skin in "bite size " parcels easily. Blend sauce separately, serve with same. Get drunk , get food all over toga. :chair: :drunk: Wash hands afterwards or rub on slaves hair to clean .Engage in lewd activities etc etc NB I tend to work a seam of thyme and fresh sage if folding over any joint of pork, likewise placing it on a bed of garlic (cut in cross section from a full bulb) keeps the joint moist.

More , "Carry on Up the Toga". I always thought Clodia would be perfectly played by Miss Hilton. Cato has logic.

That was my thought as well-he certainly did say Cinncinatus! The Gracchi is understandable, Marius was the other name called.A very odd triumvirate for our subject to be amongst.