Pertinax

Did you make the (very attractive) garland of a particularly auspicious plant? Mandrake and Hellebore spring to mind of course, but "anythingge that dothe stupifye" would be in the frame according to Cornelius Agrippa, all dark coloured fruits are deemed appropriate as well ( so Belladonna would be a potent symbol).

Yes, their laser vision and gatling implants would soon wipe the floor with any mammoths and suchlike.

It was simple neglect im afraid, the decorative "normal " beds around the corner were meticulously groomed.

Where I get mine! http://claphamyorkshire.co.uk/amenities.html#Shopping (Glencroft Sheepskins..all sorts of pelts , but no wolf im afraid).

Most interesting , if you can find healthy specimens I would be grateful to have images of : cupid's dart, skirret, and bear's foot and any interesting appended information . Hmmm, Skirret is Chinese and not (as far as I know ) grown in Europe until the 1500s, I wonder what the idea is?

At Chester Zoo there has been an attempt to re-create a Roman garden , or certain elements of types of garden. The medicinal, the rustic (cottage garden) and the ornamental are represented in an overlapping reconstruction. The problem with visiting a Zoo is of course the spectacle of large , dumb animals wandering aimlessly and displaying semi-psychotic behaviour , whilst their offspring are never allowed to live in freedom (nor experience a healthy diet). The animals look pretty pissed off as well. The garden is a small part of the whole thing and whilst its original execution was reasonable , maintenance does not seem to be particularly good. Certainly I was able to visualise the gardens of Pompeii on an overcast day in Deva , but the original is still the greatest. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1879 http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1880 The medicinal garden contains: Marshmallow (Althea officianalis)..usually used as a poultice for bruises and sprains Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) ..for hypochondria and freckles (that is a new one to me as well!) Wormwood (Artemesia absinthum) ..of which I have written copiously , flavouring (absinthe), worm killer (internal parasites) , and relief for aching feet on the march (as an application). Bear's breeches (Ursus please note) (Acanthus mollis) the roots were cooked and used as a dressing for burns Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) the standard Roman cough medicine Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) ..used as a fragrant herb in rooms , but also an abortifactant (still used so) http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1878 House Leek (Sempervivum tectorum) the sap is good for burns (as one might use Aloe Vera now) , also placed on the roof of a house to protect from lightning and fire (being a gift from Jupiter Folgore). Borage (Starflower) (Borago officianalis)..as used by the Celts as a pre-combat beer( its name being borrach meaning "glad courage") and used for rheumatism and delerium.Nowadays used for PMT because of its huge linoleic acid content, and for prostaisis. Hyssop (Hyssopus officianlis) another useful cough medicine , still so used today.Usually boiled with figs and honey. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1881 The "decorative" garden was in poor shape , though the collected quinces and medlars were attractive. The bee skips (hives) were well done , set in a bed of hyssop to make honey with a useful expectorant quality.

LW you were thinking of this perhaps? http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1877

I particularly approve of the Galenic method. Though my notes aren't too well ordered for some reason.

The scutum doesnt really need to carry a sharp edge, just a defined one. A smart blow down into the shins would incapacitate anyone without greaves.

and why anyone considers meekness a virtue..well, words fail me.

"applauds". I was discussing the Seven Deadly Sins recently and opined that Pride far from being the apex of Sinfulness was the bedrock of humanity.Indeed the Classical virtues of pride and thoroughly hating, reviling and chastising ones enemies (vengefulness) whilst cherishing ones friends seem far more logical as the social and sociietal tools of mature peoples..

We do have a major topic that touched on some of these questions previously, but in the welter of information I cannot presently find it! Here is a shot I took a while ago as regards optimun gladius draw position: http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...=si&img=913 looks high doesnt it? However the draw is lightning quick from here.

You are most welcome TMP , and we hope you will contribute freely.Perhaps you have some observations regarding the Romanian language and Latin for example?

Au contraire , Docoflove is the most sympathetic and gracious of forum members, without rancour in the face of illogical argument and a graceful user of expressive language. A most courtly Laddye. . "Doffs hat"

and Bath of course was where one could consume sulphur rich waters to attempt to counteract the lead/vitamin b6/anemia "problem".

Myrrh grains as they are now sold, I cannot see any reason that they should differ from the product in Roman times. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?automo...si&img=1868 I am just going to melt some to see how they compare to the oil (which is very thick and heavy) in terms of fragrance and malleability. Post Scriptum: interesting, I am slightly narcotised by the fumes , but my hands and hair have a faint remote hint of robust, but not unpleasant resin (nothing so aggressive as pine or cedar).The oil driven off by heating does not burn readily, I suspect full exposure to a fierce flame is needed. Heady.

It appears to be correctly laid out.

I see that AD has some references in "Empire of Pleasures" to gums used to fragrance the hair.I was going to suggest beeswax and sticky balsams as a possibility , AD mentions: Balm of Gilead (or Balsam of Mecca) that being the Comiphora , a heavyish deep fragrance ..the extract is still used in some cough medicines(like Myrrh which is C.molmol) .If you recall we have the capture of these trees on the fall of Jerusalem , and were transported to Rome as part of the relevant Triumph.AD continues , mentioning Styrax (still commercially available) and galbanum. The upshot is that we are aware of a market for resinous and fragrant gums so it is not illogical to suggest they might have a role as a component in "hair gel" . Myrrh and Frankinscence are logical possibilities , but the latter is rather more flammable and might be a touch tricky (like hairspray). A ready made wig would perhaps be an easier mechanical confection.

May I add that given the tendency of wines ( from this era ) to cloud easily, the use of additives in general (resin, herbs) was more commonplace.

How excellent, really fluid.

Weve kicked this one around previously, but its bears repeating...to get comfortable and clean in the field and to look "Romanised" it would seem that short hair is a practical solution. However as Caldrail (I think) has previously mentioned those serving away from home or of "extramural" origin might on ocassion be given to a more hirsute appearence. The rationale would be this, if we accept that the desired goal of Roman grooming culture is the suppression of superfluous hair (indeed perhaps a microcosm of civilising behaviour that an aspiring barbarian could buy into) then logically short hair seems correct. A second factor is freedom from lice and ease of grooming on campaign (lice being a particularly potent disease vector), thirdly and oft forgotten comfort of fit for the helmet especially in very hot conditions ( those things burn in the hot sun), anyone who has worn a tin hat/re-enactment helm/kendo men would , I think, vote for very short hair.Trajanic representations hint at Germanic auxilliaries with "long" hair.

Ah what an interesting link, I will take a long look at these..avoiding the immediate tweeness.

Strew your bedchamber with it..its also called "Ladies Bedstraw"

Fat and ash together make soap or rather a soapy gelatinous mass, perhaps we have the medium for an iron rich ( red) earth dye, that shouldnt be too difficult to mix into a gelatinous medium? Hydrogen peroxide is the modern whitener of hair, but chamomille would lighten the hair to a degree . I note with some horror that black was produced by pulverising the anerobically decayed remains of leeches, the deep red of blood decaying to a deeper reddish black.

Do you have a good source for these illustrations please? I was wondering if they followed the "Doctrine of Signatures" in some way, so far I can only see sympathetic use of colour. Certainly the actual herb renderings are excellent.