ABC Empire Mini-Series
June 29, 2005
A new 'epic' mini-series premiered Tuesday June 28, 2005 on ABC Television in the US. Amid speculation of huge budget overruns and potential scrapping of the project... the series, along with 'Rome' due for a fall release on HBO/BBC, has created a stir among Romanophiles everywhere.
While historically, there are elements which stray from accuracy, the theme and atmosphere are wonderfully recreated. Production quality, costuming and the cast (despite Octavian's character seemingly lacking the qualities that made him into the eventual Augustus) are all top notch and Empire is definately worth a look.
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The Truceless War
June 28, 2005
Truceless War
Article submitted by community member 'Hamilcar Barca'
The bloody conflict known as The Truceless War 241BC-237BC, fought between Carthage and it's mercenary armies following the first Punic War is one of the lesser known conflicts fought in the ancient world, mainly on behalf of the fact that all Carthaginian accounts were likely destroyed along with the city in 146BC. However, Polybius' account of the war did survive and I have used it as my primary source in summarising this conflict and its key battles for anyone who is interested...
Fall of the Julio-Claudians
June 21, 2005
Fall of the Julio-Claudians
Towards the end of Nero’s tumultuous reign (AD 65 – 68) things continued to spiral out of control. His excesses in Greece, performing as a singer and as an athlete in the Olympic games, were an embarrassment to Roman sensibilities, but Nero persisted, seemingly oblivious. He was not, however, completely detached from the government of the state, but daily governance was left to his entourage leaving his freedman Helius in charge at Rome....
Nero and the Christians
June 14, 2005
Nero and the Christians
During and after the revolt of Boudicca, Nero continued with his own extravagance in Rome and surrounding cities. Eventually performing on stage as both singer and actor, he indulged his artistic personality while earning the scorn and disrespect of elite society....
Defeat of Boudicca
June 06, 2005
Defeat of Boudicca
After leaving the towns of Londinium and Verulamium unchallenged to Boudicca’s rebel army, Suetonius prepared his terribly outmanned force in the forest of the midlands. (Ancient sources give estimates as greatly divergent as 200,000 to 10,000, but this is most assuredly wild propaganda on the part of Tacitus and Dio Cassius.) However, the Romans had the advantage of their classic discipline, and tactical use of geography....
