Metella

ha ha ha I think most girlies on here are already slightly aberrant ... I hunker down to football and enjoy being logical. Oh, once in a while I throw in some female trait to keep my husband on his toes .... When I went to Rome nearly a decade ago .... I spent HOURS just walking the side/back alleys - still cobbled, Ancient and tall doors - and down along the Tiber - numbers don't mean much to me; but I still can't imagine all the water that was needed to keep people healthy back then .... and the underground work - and how could they repair stuff back then?

I edited a book where the author connected the various tales of Christian Jesus with Serapis ... the visual look is similar - the dead and back to life - is similar - the good of the whole society was a new concept for gods at the time.... was an interesting theory. So Saturnalia turned to christmas and Serapis turned to Jesus. I feel robbed of my heritage.

So the Geico commercial of lizard behind a lecturn - calling for jello for everyone .... there are Fasces on the wall behind him ! Have my eyes deceived me? And why would they be there for a spoof on an American political scene.

Now - I'll even settle for some good Greek Key designs .... I want to have a feel of Republic in my bathroom ... but I can't afford marble fixtures ... So I'm going pleb and just want stuff with gods or goddesses - or ancient warriors .... I've done a google search - but google has sold out to SEO maddness. One thing - I hate white - so I did find a white towel with inlaid white (textured) greek key - but that won't do. White to me is cold as a corpse. Thanks all !

I thought the review was good - could have been a little longer. Loved this line: Unfortunately Wheelock's Latin does not commend itself to self-study. ha ha ha I do agree that to couch the lessons in mythology and other lessons is a better way for us modern people to learn Latin. I don't have any background except for biology (naming system).

huh. I had no idea anyone stitched hair. fascinating to watch. today we would read our books or play with our smart phones during such a long event - wonder what domna did? Did she conduct business or was her hair a secret, and did she have to sit and waste all that time?

I'm loving it - thanks for the extra info !!!

sexist in our terms maybe. But they respected their wives and daughters (for the most part) and women were often looked at as life-partners. Now, the areas they were responsible for were often more traditional home roles - but compared to many societies where women were treated like property - the Romans were at the forefront in respecting women. So I can't see them encouraging women to go out and do any type of job; but it was a decent time to be a woman ... As to the female leaders; I'm not sure it was because they were women - I think you hit on it more directly when you say Roman vs non-Roman as being the reason that some armies were under-estimated. Just an opinion, from my century looking back.

I'm a freelance editor for just this type of thing ...Mostly sci fi and fantasy novels. If you can stand some redlines and markups - I'd do this for you. Message me and I'll give you my work email.

this wasn't my questions; but you "old timers" are really a wealth of information and energy! I'm inspired each time I read on this site.

That does help! Again - you guys are absolutely the best! You (meaning me) can read a large tome like one from Polybius or Livy - and get a lot. But later, when trying to bring up a small fact ... it is too much to recall.

Fire from Heaven ! Thanks - that is the title I could not recall.

Ah, I read one by her; not the one you are reading - but also about Alexander ... I really really liked it. I'm scrapping my memory, but can't come up with the title. Tell me if you like this one when you are finished.

Thanks guys. Unfortunately - expensive is something I can't swing right now. But you have gotten me started. I just got Kindle for PC free - so I can read right on my computer, of course, that is NO good at the beach.

I just finished reading the Troy Series ... I didn't mind the twist on the Iliad stories, I like the pace and nearly all of it. One thing I didn't like was the way the author infused his character's thoughts with modern morals. Seems trite, even seems unfair to those ancient people. Anyway - knowing I read all three, lets you know I thought they were just fine entertainment.

So - I can't find much on this era and topic. I want to know ... how did the units form up? Did they meet on the plains of mars? Were they assigned to Decurions before muster? Just the gritty details. Did they carry shields? I know at this time, most were at least moderately wealthy, provided their own horses ... that is about it - and that is not much. Thanks to anyone added to my knowledge of this time and topic.

Happy B-lated B day - Ghost - Thanks for making my newbie days here enjoyable (and the same to the rest of you)

I really loved the answer to my question - as all good answers - now I have even more questions! HA ! Congrats to Vipsania - that was a good question.

Har ! I don't get the physics of it - but I don't want the bruises it would take to teach me. I'll just accept it was a weapon that never ran out of ammo.

Yeah, and as far as I know (I'm not an expert) other than honoring Roma, there wasn't ever any "offical" Roman Religion until some silly Emperor decided that Christianity should be the religion. They had many different "cults" which are not like our cults today; but actual religions, with priests and temples and traditions. Fortunately, the emphasis was on honor, family and the greater glory of Rome, with only the poets to fret about vices. The one that seems to be prevalent is greed - this was frowned upon from the time of Roman Kings into the Empire. That's my unofficial and non-expert view on it - leave the vices to the private citizen to wrestle with; and encourage all the good stuff.

Sheesh - remember if you are slapping mud on your dignity - it will be COLD ! Your will lose your breath as well as your dignity! Better go for a kilt and some woolen leggins. Share some pictures when you get back, eh?

Well, if you are sure an infant will die day within days, why nurture it for days and develop a bond that is bound to end in sadness. Also - if you have an infant that is clearly showing signs of being mal-formed or suffering from mental deficiency - then it makes sense to kill the infant. While I may go for smothering to make the death quickly rather than exposure, I think it was an efficient practice allowing the parents to move on. I know they never named their children for what - a week or so ? Perhaps to ensure they were growing and thriving before becoming officially part of the family. Not necessary survival of the fittest, but survival of the whole community to not waste resources on a lost cause.

I'm so impatient - I would want to know immediately about any new bits; and any bits that did not match current translations. Why can't the scholars just pump this out in a user friendly version ! ? I'll miss it all if they just stick to peer reviewed academic articles.

I also thought it was meh - take it or leave it I didn't think any of the 3G stuff was worth it - it should have stayed the 2G movie it started out to be. Liam was the only reason I went to the theater to see it. I won't seek it out, but probably would watch it again if I was flicking channels with nothing to do on a rainy day.

I don't know ..... if she was on her knees and the stroke was from behind; perhaps it was an execution for some crime, one that disgusted them so they tossed her in a shallow grave. (what? Me stand up for those ancient brutes?)