Pertinax

Any news on the likely historical time frame?

on sorrell (particularly wood sorrell): "An excellent conserve, Conserva Ligulae, used to be made by beating the fresh leaves up with three times their weight of sugar and orange peel, and this was the basis of the cooling and acid drink that was long a favourite remedy in malignant fevers and scurvy" http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=692. personal goat skin eh? I knew my wine boxes were too small.

I forgot to mention that it is also suggested by Chinese folklorists and historians that skiing is also a Chinese invention in response to the biting Bejing winter.Now thats a bit more exciting than whacking a small ball into a rabbit hole.

A small piece in the British "Daily Mail" claims golf-like games were invented in China several hundred years prior to its development in Scotland. Illustrations in ancient manuscripts show gentlemen using "golf like " clubs to smite a small ball. This is dissapointing in many ways given the games apparent Mongol heritage , I would have expected a small skull rather than a ball.

Hmm....that being the case I might tackle this one and expand this pocket review http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showto...t=0entry32698 because its is pertinent as a detailed aside to the main work.

For re-enactment ,I am aware that the a-Viking /Saxon groups utilise baked leather "bottles" and canteens .These are usually made from heavy cow hide and once baked require no further treatment . I assume that pigs bladders/stomachs must have been a commonplace product in the Italian economy and inflated intestine can be pretty tough as well , perhaps AD can help us out? remember this gallery post? http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...&cmd=si&img=391 the same heavy hide is used and the same weight of stitching, the baking process makes them tough as old boots.

I think this recent work (and TV prog , if you can get it ) are very good on the "official branding" of "Product Rome" as an exercise in political and economic propoganda, and as a tool in the expansion and assimilation of other cultures.The practical work of Agrippa is emphasised as propoganda on a manifestly vast scale, perhaps Brunel might be likened to him in some ways in the context of his Imperial British activities. You will note that the authour does not make the usual contemporary hash of comparing the USA to Rome. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0...7926758-5191654 and as my learned friend Pantagathus says, to make it known that the Imperium wanted "respect from yo a**" as I understand the American vernacular to be.

I must actually put some thoughts together on him Phil, he certainly didnt look as though he would be candidate for the Imperium -but we all know that didnt last. The name was chosen for me in the traditional Roman way , giving a "pet" name to a particular personality trait of the person in question by his nearest family.

Is it me or is the gallery very quiet? I know im out of sync with the Americas and Australasia but I dont seem to see too many googles or yahoos.

If I remember correctly an inmate in "Ivan Denesovich" has a tiny ultra lightweight bible wrapped in rags that he reads covertly, perhaps your celebrants might have some austere fragments of sacred text or battered relics (crude icons or lamps)?

The book does give a fairly clear feeling that the Romano-British elite lived a life that the surrounding tribal societies could only aspire to by steady acculturation. The Celts were by no means unsophisticated in either technology, arts and culture but the Urban life was a dimensional leap in terms of societal organisation (and dare I say "means of production/distribution") . The British tribes were (at elite level) already Romanised despite themselves, in terms of desired consumables and fashions, indeed that acculturation being the steady corrosive pressure which drew Britain into the Roman world. The mobilisation of industrial process and agricultural supply to facilitate the efficiency of the Legions and Auxilliae, are key strategic goals visible in Roman policy eg: the siting of the Wall and internal policing fortlets to protect grain supply areas held by the client Carvetii and Parisii, the exploitation of salt, copper and lead supplies.Id better shut up so I dont get in the way of Ursus' review

Synchronicity again; I was showing a friend a pamphlet which explained why Christians who tried yoga were flirting with satan (and all his little wizards), but the bit I needed clarification on was how vegetarianism combined with yoga lead one inoxerably to cannibalism. However, a Jehovah's Witness colleague explained to me that the simplest interpretation of a charismatic/strict rejection of yoga was that the practitioner was , when relaxed , open to the influence of "subtle demons", that being those that men cannot distinguish from true divine voices. Now please dont rush to argue with me on this as I merely report two recent incidents, the latter one a conversation entered into in good faith with an earnest person.

Extreme BUSYNESS is a symptom of deficient vitality, and a faculty for idleness implies a catholic appetite and a strong sense of personal identity." Robert Louis Stevenson

I have a UK link here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B...7926758-5191654 and I have ordered it-thanks for digging that little gem out of the mud Phil.

I thought a very brief review would be worth posting. This book is the 2004 revised edition of Shoters '93 work, being himself Emeritus Professor at lancaster University. I added a side note to Ursus' blog entry regarding De La Bedoyeres "Roman Britain" book (just published), namely that the subject volume is an excellent , up to date , detailed "state of our knowledge" . However the subject is very specific and the scholarly detail not strictly assimilable to a casual reader, I will be carrying the work as a field reference when photographing the North Western sites: if you need very detailed information -and some very well thought out revised Flavian history then this is an excellent book. Shotter has revised the book massivley in the light of ongoing dig work here, and points to exciting possible discoveries which may radically change the map of Roman Brigantia. The listing of everything from fortress to marching camp (and logical extrapolation of data) are excellent . The photos are quite good , but the book is a low volume print so they are workmanlike rather than spectacular, however they are good enough to guide you in the field. If you require precise strategic information on Flavian/Trajanic/Hadrianic /Antonine building sequences then it is in this work. Ursus is impressed with De La Bedoyeres work and rightly so , its a good commercial work of quality finish , this honest little "local history" is a down-in -the -dirt nuts and bolts job. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1...7926758-5191654

The Skeksis could be dis-commoded by placing fluffy dessert animals on their banqueting tables,such animals would lodge in their teeth and distract them (note: this occurs in the film itself , proving my historical veracity).

Tyre was certainly a monumental effort and one might feel inclined to celebrate the achievment in a "monumental" gesture ( in physicality and mood) . Certainly Alexanders strategic vision cannot have been daunted by such an action , given the extent of his travels and the actuality of his achievements. So , perhaps as a demonstration of "strategic reach"? it would certainly daunt any possible enemies! I theorise but it doesnt seem amiss does it?

hmm..would either of them have the Skeksis (from Dark Crystal ) or the Peking Homunculus (Dr Who , Talons of Weng Chiang ) for backup? this is a serious post isnt it?

Corinth was , I believe , known for two quality exports , wine and courtesans ( oh and good architecture but thats a more abstract consumable). So did the Corinthians not know or not have a supply of sorrel herb to mitigate their bibulous excesses? Pantagathus what was the optimun wine skin our noble ancestors favoured? Would any old bladder do the job?