Pertinax

Which leads me where I feared to tread at first-STDs in the Ancient World. I am casting about for a piece I read regarding infertility and "social diseases", which in essence suggested that given a. the low "world population" density (acknowledging urban concentration as a countervailing index) b. low age at marriage and conception c. repeated conception d. usage of pessary/prophlactic physical "gel" barriers . That as viral mutation of STDs was also in an "infantile" stage non-specific urethritis might be a problem but "killer"STDs were less of a threat than "ordinary" bacilli (plague for example). So it is suggested that the denizens of the Roman world could apparently indulge in salacious and libidinous activities of an extravagant nature with far less chance of life threatening infection. This doesnt mean I am encouraging quite such an ambitious number of fervent encounters. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=103 heres one of the commoner contraceptive gel plants discussed in Roman medicine.

yes indeed, the very first tablet ever recovered " 20 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of sandals and 2 pairs of underpants"( it is one of the Bataviian cohort who recieved the letter). online here: http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...cial_s%26sa%3DG http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=447

I pondered that bunny weakness myself, however are we not told the climate was a litle milder in those halcyon Romano-British days? I have to say though that the Vindolanda/Luguvallum bone midden and ditch finds dont place rabbit too high up the dining order, lots of sheep ,goat and pig and anything that could be hunted shows up in abundance. Here is a sad story about a cherished bunny http://idler.co.uk/journal/?p=32 and here the bunnies strike back against Rome! and if that isnt bad enough click the "romans" link and check out the "gladiator" article, http://heritage.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?ti...0&id=1821762005

to the tune of Kokomo... " Commodus , Sejanus , they arent very harmless: Messalina, li-via come on pretty mama.."

go to the "home" area for the whole Wall then look for the Forum under the "special interest" heading

http://www.hellskitchen.com/sartre.htm a little known philosophical work

You are welcome , please mention the site by all means , its good to draw interested Romanophiles of all ages to the UNRV.

so what does this mean for genetic screening of "mistakes" ? What irony.

I was pondering this change-we have infeudation/subjugation of a population , with persons tied to a locality and no hint of social mobility either. Any change in rank relates to those already in a priveliged position, by rendering of acceptable services to a Lord or King. Until the Black Death produces a balance tipped toward the scarcity of human labour there seems to be no reason to strive beyond subsistence , certainly not to strive to any hope of change in either art or mindset.

Kurt Smile ( -that should identify him to you ) pours as full a range of emotion into "Macbeth" as having a small , yellow ,plastic head will allow. Mrs Smile is chillingly effective as Lady Macbeth.

I saw this company (Person and plastic Ninjas) at the Fringe in 2003 , the production of Macbeth was as good a reading as I have seen , combined with semi-lunatic briefcase top action.May I commend the "Tiny Ninja Fun " area to you all. http://www.tinyninjatheater.com/

I just wonder about this topic , because the Romans had one huge sanitation technology advantadge over ourselves, they always sought a constant flushing of latrines with waste water from fountains/public supply .This is seen in all fort installations as well ,perhaps they got rid of the solids pronto? Urine you can certainly use and alas some animal faeces ("skivving" for tannery work) , alas that is for those who use it or live near it.

Once again I expect your readings will show that our ancestors were smarter, more mobile and technologically savvy than is generally assumed.

The article looks good-I might suggest that (as we have discussed on forum recently) it can be emphasised that the pre-invasion infiltration of Roman goods (and latterly Roman traders) was an important part of acculturation to Roman products ie: the tribal elites "buying into" quality goods even if profoundly anti-Roman in sentiment. The rabbit business is interesting because the late Jack Hargreaves (Out of Town) used to discuss this very topic 30 years ago, the ferret as sporting and food seeking helper also appears to be a Roman introduction for the very purpose of ferreting out the coney (its anglo saxon name).It was the later assertion of Norman feudal law over wild creatures that alienated the animal from the ordinary man. Ive tried to make some sense of the Roman/Celtiberian herbal medicine chest on my blog(cross linked to the gallery): http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...logid=19&&st=10 and to tie in the possible recipes for beer available to troops on Hadrian's Wall Some of the recently (as yet uncatalouged ) food finds from the Carlisle dig bear out what you say about the wide range of meats used to supplement diet. does that help at all?

The Dublin Vikings were the main identifiable political opposition along with the Strathclyde Irish, but lots of other minor Kings wanted to join the party. Egills Saga? Its an evocative piece and it inadvertently says a lot about "client" status as a valued mercenary.

When I meet the mounted Auxilliae at Ribchester I will ask them about the comparative stability of horned saddles versus stirrups, previous displays seem to indicate a firm seat.

Its the cuirass that was niggling me as well-they looked like they were small stamped-on afterthoughts.

Well...shortish (under 44 inches) blades/sticks can ( should) be wielded/controlled by light ,balancing, hand control pivoted on the left hand.(sword/shinai/boktu). A shorter weapon "cutting inside" any of these needs better timing , it can be done but requires experience and practice. Spear versus sword would I assume therefore need "avoidance of the point" (of the spear) , thats the whole of the sword technique reduced to one phrase ( push the opponents point away from a centered position) and cut or stab him with your own weapon which is occupying the centre.Now of course this is one versus one , but if I had a reasonable shield I would be quite happy to try to wait for an opening and strike the point out of centre by whatever means are needed -once inside the contact zone I would be confident of either striking or pushing the enemy backwards. So ..in formation facing multiple points? Interesting , re-enactment is what we need here, but the "fix and flank " rule of Virgil is most important. Velites/any pre-contact attrition on the Phalanx looks more important to me now. Break no fracture ,the monolith and I suggest you can hack away and destroy it at speed.

Go Roman-mass concrete!

the "near Burnley " one is my local "supposed" site, Rotheram (!) was another -Dumfries strikes me as plausible but youd expect an awful lot of finds . I wonderd if Longbow had any theories?

Birley (at Vindolanda ) says "most significant single item find". This will be in the Flavian dig area I assume.

I will make the review my top priority.

I am not far enough into the text to quote dependably, but, II Adiutrix seem to have been a fully utilised "combined ops" force, striking deep inland and used particularly because they demoralised the Tribes badly. More info when I have read and inwardly digested! Mons Graupius looks like a d-day landing assault!