Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual
May 25, 2009
Philip Matyszak seems to be applying for the lifetime achievement award in the category of "How To Write For a General Audience." His latest entry, Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual, is a successful attempt to translate the minutiae of Roman military studies for those who may not have any prior exposure to the subject. This informative yet exceedingly entertaining read will endear itself greatly to the student looking for a friendly introduction to the mystique of the legions...
...read the full review of Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual by Philip Matyszak
Female Gladiators in Archaeology and Re-enactment
May 22, 2009
Many people are still wondering if female gladiators existed or if they are a mere Hollywood fantasy. Yes, they did exist and the Canadian scholar Stephen Brunet did in his article "Female and Dwarf Gladiators" a classification of evidence of female gladiators as follows...
...read the full article of Female Gladiators in Archaeology and Re-enactment
Religion in the Roman Empire by James B. Rives
May 19, 2009
James B. Rives is an Associate Professor at York University, Toronto, and has written numerous books and articles on classical religion. What did the various pre-Christian religions of the Roman Empire have in common, and how did they differ from the monotheistic faiths that define modern religion in the West? These are the two questions that Rives answers with aplomb in his Religion of the Roman Empire...
...read the full review of Religion in the Roman Empire by James B. Rives
Surnames of the Valerii
May 15, 2009
The Valeria gens was third in producing the greatest number of magistrates for the Roman Republic, following the Cornelia gens (first) and the Claudia gens (second). I have attempted here to list and define the various surnames used by the Valerii of the Republic, particularly those who served in magisterial positions during the time of the Republic as noted in Broughton's Magistrates of the Roman Republic. For the purpose of this list, I have included cognomina, adoptive cognomina, and agnomina under the collective term of "surnames..."
...read the full article of Surnames of the Valerii
Interview with Adrian Goldsworthy
May 11, 2009
Adrian Goldsworthy is a British historian and military writer. Goldsworthy went to college in Westbourne School, Penarth. Later, after studying ancient and modern history at St John's College, Oxford, he completed a D.Phil in ancient military history from Oxford University. Goldsworthy is the author of such works as The Complete Roman Army and In The Name of Rome. We had a chance to ask him some question on his latest book How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower...
...to the interview with Adrian Goldsworthy
The Life of Brian - The Immaculate Edition
May 08, 2009
The world's "best loved - and only - biblical comedy." Or a "blasphemous incitement to violence." It all depends on which side of the theological fence you find yourself sitting. The Life of Brian is not exactly on the same level of Romanophilia films as Ben-Hur or Spartacus. But it is, simply, hilarious. Monty Python takes an irreverent look at a time in Roman Judea when everyone was looking for deliverance from Messiahs...
...read the full review of The Life of Brian - The Immaculate Edition by Monty Python
Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs
May 05, 2009
May I lay aside all attempts at academic objectivity, and simply proclaim that this book is fun? Of course, one's definition of "fun" must include reading a detailed catalogue of macabre bio-chemical weapons from Antiquity. This is a work on ancient warfare unlike any other, with a certain haunting relevance in today's post 9/11 climate. Adrienne Mayor's Greek Fire, Poison Arrows and Scorpion Bombs is informative, entertaining and all too often chilling...
...read the full review of Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, and Scorpion Bombs: Biological & Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World by Adrienne Mayor
Surnames of the Claudii
May 01, 2009
The Claudia gens was second to the Cornelia gens in producing the greatest number of magistrates for the Roman Republic. "Clodius" was an alternate spelling of the name "Claudius" and, even though some members of the Claudii eventually chose to use the form of "Clodius" all the time while other Claudii alternated between spellings, both the Claudii and the Clodii were of the same original gens...
...read the full article about Surnames of the Claudii
