HBO Rome Season 2 Review
March 24, 2008
"Bad sex, it is said, is still pretty good, insofar as it is preferable to no sex at all. Unfortunately one cannot say the same thing about bad history. One spends too long in anticipation and preparation; the actual event proceeds rather clumsily; and when the climax (such as it is) finally arrives, one gets the sense it was hardly worth it. I do not mean to suggest that I am UNRV's resident expert on bad sex, but after watching the 2nd season of "Rome" I know a thing or two about bad history. The problem with "Rome" is precisely that its sex is better than its history and left me feeling like a dirty whore for watching it."...
Read "Ursus'" full review of HBO Rome Season 2
Review: Looking at Laughter and Author Interview
March 16, 2008
""Like no other visual form, humor allows us to to know the lives of Ancient Romans - and to enter into their thoughts and feelings." So intones John R. Clarke, the author whose brilliant studies of Roman visual artifacts led to thoroughly enjoyable works on Roman life and Roman sex. When the author graciously offered me a free copy of this latest work on Roman humor, I consented to read and review it for UNRV. I initially was a bit concerned that a study focusing solely on humor might not fully sustain my interest. As it turns out, my fears were unfounded. Looking at Laughter is a somewhat more complicated piece than Clarke's other works, but equally as elucidating of Roman cultural values."...
Read the full review of Looking at Laughter by John R. Clarke.
Also be sure to read this insightful and informative author interview
Rome: Engineering an Empire
March 11, 2008
Ursus' review of the History Channel DVD:
"Some have said Rome's greatness was achieved by the spade as much as by the sword. Certainly the empire would have lacked much of its grandeur without its famed engineering feats. The History Channel produced one of its better outings in this DVD which explores Rome's architectural triumphs from the early Republic to the reign of Caracalla. A copy of the DVD is also included with every "Caesar IV" game, the latest in the series of Ancient Roman city building simulations. I was struck by how much the DVD seemed to be an audio-visual parallel to the Nigel's Rodgers "Roman Architecture" as the two productions cover much the same ground. For those too lazy to read Rodger's great book, the History Channel's DVD is an educational and enjoyable exposition"...
Read the full review of Rome: Engineering an Empire
Anthemius
March 03, 2008
Guest biography contribution on the late western emperor Anthemius by forum member "Honorius".
"Anthemius came to power through merit and family influence. While a notable general, he was also the grandson of the infamous Anthemius, builder of the Theodosian walls and a notable philosopher. Perhaps most importantly he had the support of the emperor of the East, Leo.
Anthemius marched on Rome with a substantial army that he had been appointed to his command by the eastern emperor and was quickly draped in the purple of the emperors on 12 August 467 AD. Despite the rapid acceptance, Anthemius was being watched with much suspicion by the Suevian count Ricimer, who had effectively been king maker in the Western Empire for many years and had been responsible for the accession of this new emperor from the east. Despite his suspicions, Ricimer accepted Anthemius as the new western emperor. He had desperately needed Leo’s support against the newly established Vandal kingdom in North Africa after the failure of Majorian's expedition. However, even with the support of the Eastern Empire, the largest ever Roman expedition failed under the incompetent Basiliscus. The Vandal scourge continued to plague the West, further undermining Anthemius’ rule."...
Anthemius
