M. Porcius Cato Posted January 12, 2007 Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 Also, what time period are we talking? Rome before the Caesars was basically a boring, dirty Latin town. Not so. With a population of a million, new theaters being built all the time, the chariot races in the Circus Maximus, and nearly half the year taken up in festivals and games (which must have been as fun as marvelous since that's when the snooty aristocrats spent themselves into bankruptcy to impress everyone for the free elections), Rome was neither a mere town nor boring. As for being dirty and Latin, it was, but what city in the ancient world wasn't dirty, and what's wrong with being Latin? Anyway, for me, the real excitement would have been in the Forum, with the contiones and the trials. The prosecution of Verres would have far more fascinating than any dumb gladiatorial contest (which were probably fixed like today's boxing matches). During the republic, politics was the ultimate blood sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Octavius Posted January 12, 2007 Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 I think that MPC is spot on. At that time, Rome was probably the cleanest city of the ancient world considering its size. Wasn't Ravenna once the headquarters of the Roman Adriatic fleet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Paulinus Maximus Posted January 12, 2007 Report Share Posted January 12, 2007 I think that MPC is spot on. At that time, Rome was probably the cleanest city of the ancient world considering its size. Wasn't Ravenna once the headquarters of the Roman Adriatic fleet? True, Augustus founded the military harbor after he defeated Antony in 45BC and it became an important station for the imperial fleet for many years. Ravenna also had another role in Roman history, it was where Caesar gathered his troops before deciding to cross the Rubicon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASCLEPIADES Posted September 10, 2007 Report Share Posted September 10, 2007 Salve, guys & Ladies! All periods considered, Constantinople. A metropolis specifically designed to be Caput Novis Mundi is not everyday's stuff (nothing to do with Hellenic Byzantium). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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