Viggen

Book Review by Marc Ollard Imagine yourself entering the public seats of a Roman arena. Would you expect a days entertainment? Displays of martial courage? Would you become excited and spellbound by the spill of blood? Or stare horrified at the sight of men mauled and mangled by wild animals? All these emotions are attested to in the Roman sources. Today we're alternately appalled and fascinated by the subject, noting parallels with modern attitudes and behaviour, wondering whether the love of violent competition is really so alien to us. Then again, these days we're more concerned with our enviroment, the natural world, the decline of species. The Romans had no such qualms beyond their own profit and covenience. That they were denuding the wilderness of wildlife was not lost on them, but did it change their outlook, motivating them them to preserve rather than exploit? Perhaps that was where we part company with our Roman ancestors, for they never saw value in preservation. Welcome to Gladiators & Beast Hunts, a book by Dr Christopher Epplett. The first impression is largely helped by the books cover, showing mosiac imagery many will be familiar with. Presentation maintains the standards we have come to expect of the publisher and the colour photographs in the centre section are both relevant and illuminating. There have been any number of books published on these themes before, generally falling into one of a number of categories.You can find works that revel in the excitment and bloodlust in a sensationist view of arena combat. Others tend to focus on particular aspects of the sport. The author has indeed done this, and makes special reference to the venationes, the beast hunts, which he considers has not received due attention. Dr. Epplett rejects some aspects of Roman sport as irrelevant to this theme. Sports such chariot races, pancration, wrestling, and boxing are not detailed. One cannot help feeling that this is a literary microscope zooming in on the petrie dish of Roman entertainment. The reader is led by the hand into a gory world of contest and slsughter with a scientific detachment and there's no going back. If that sounds critical, don't be misled. The author's research is impressive, revealing insights from some of the most obscure documents. We're used to the common themes of the Roman arena. In this book, the author digs deeper, and opens our eyes to details of Roman society as a whole that are not immediately obvious. Gladiators & Beast Hunts follows a logical sequence, starting with the origins of funerary violence to the development of mass entertainment and the extraordinary set piece theatre of the Spectacle. We can read about the variations of event both in Rome and the empire at large, and better yet, the author has delved into what he can find about the personal angle, the sentiment expressed by those who watched and those who fought. There is a section devoted to to the infrastructure of the games, revealing hints of an entire lost world of logistical effort and negotiation. The process of obtaining animals for public shows is reconstructed from the initial capture through tranpsort to the temporary if sometimes long term placement in private zoos. Fascinating glimpses of Roman bureaucracy emerge as we discover evidence of job titles related to the keeping of animals. And yet, despite all this and the huge financial investment that beasthunsts incurred, there is a worrying background of wastage even before the animals reach the arena. There is no doubt that the Romans were capable of catching wild animals - the author uncovers a strong vein of military involvement in this activity - yet they were so often clumsy and ignorant of how an animal should be kept fit and healthy. For modern sensibilities the sorry tales of animals emaciated or dying in captivity evoke sympathy even before we consider the deliberate slaughter. Eventually the book reaches that inevitable theme of the demise of arena sports which accounts for nearly a quarter of the text. Many popular preconceptions are questioned in the light of evidence. Indeed, the whole concept of violent competition is shown to be not unique to the Roman world - merely their social emphasis and popularity. Dr Epplett discusses this without unnecessary attachment to our contemporary experience, though clearly one can see that the human love of violence, especially that incurred by others, has always been part of the human psyche if suppressed by social norms. One cannot help thinking this book should have been longer. At 170 pages, the impression left is more of a very detailed summary than a wide ranging discussion, which is odd considering that the author has gone to great lengths to evaluate the evidence left to us by the Romans. There is an intensity to his writing that results in this sort of brevity. ...more Book Reviews! Swords And Cinema by J. McCall Gladiator Manual by P. Matyszak Chariot Racing by Fik Meijer As a history of munera and venationes Christopher Epplet's book works well, and indeed, has a level of detail that is condensed into a handy volume. There is an impression that every recorded instance of a public event has been charted and considered for importance and relevance. Nonetheless the book does not dwell on every aspect of arena sports. You will learn almost nothing of the psychology of such fighting, limited coverage of social issues, architecture, and even descriptions of the established gladiator classes seem a little cursory. Should you buy this book? There are good reasons for doing so, with the understanding this will not be the only book about gladiators you will ever need. Dr Epplett comes agonisingly close to a palm leaf of victory but in the final analysis, he recieves a missio - with some well deserved applause. Tell us your opinion - Submit your Review - Buy the book! Book Review of Gladiators & Beasthunts - Related Topic: Roman Gladiator Bibliography Get it now! Gladiators & Beasthunts for the UK ________________________________ Archive

Home Forum Empire Government Military Culture Economy Books Support Roman Culture Architecture Mythology Religion Gladiator Literature Daily Life Medicine Slavery ABC Empire Series Discuss ABC Empire "Empire" is a sweeping new limited drama series from the executive producers of the Academy Award-winning "Chicago." The period drama focuses on Julius Caesar's nephew, Octavius, who is forced into exile after Caesar's murder, and a fictional disgraced gladiator, Tyrannus, who has sworn to protect him. The series is slated to air during the 2004-2005 season on the ABC Television Network. The one-hour, six-episode series, which features a stellar international cast led by Jonathan Cake ("First Knight," Hallmark's "Noah's Ark") and Santiago Cabrera ("Haven"), with guest and recurring stars including Dennis Haysbert ("24")and Trudie Styler ("Friends," "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister"), will be one of the most lavish and technically complex ever to air on ABC in primetime. "Empire" is being executive-produced by award-winning producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron ("Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," "Meredith Willson's The Music Man," "Brian's Song," ABC's "Annie," "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella," "The Reagans" and ABC's comedy series "It's All Relative"), Tony Jonas ("Queer as Folk," "Leap Years"), Chip Johannessen ("24," "The X-Files,") and Thomas Wheeler ("The Prometheus Project," "The Mission"), who is also series creator. The time is 44 B.C. and the Conqueror Julius Caesar (Colm Feore, "Chicago," "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself") returns from triumphs in Spain to a neglected Republic and a corrupt Senate, drunk with power. Though he's hailed as a hero by the masses, the Senate is wary of Caesar's plans that might place him in a position of ultimate power. Brutus (James Frain, USA Network's "Spartacus," "Arabian Nights") and Cassius (Michael Maloney, Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet," "Painted Lady") attempt to enlist the assistance of Marc Antony (Vincent Regan, "Troy," "Joan of Arc") in overthrowing Caesar, but Antony is loyal to Caesar and refuses. A terrible conflict looms and the fate of an empire will fall to one man - a gladiator named Tyrannus. Tyrannus (Jonathan Cake), Caesar's bodyguard and confidant and Rome's finest warrior, is undefeated in the arena and considered a champion among men. A slave since he was a young man, Tyrannus impresses Caesar with his fighting prowess and his popularity, and with his dedication to Rome. Caesar offers him freedom in return for his service and friendship. However the Senate puts up a vicious fight for power and manages to separate Caesar from Tyrannus' protective grasp by sending the gladiator to one last match to the death. Cassius and Brutus have Tyrannus' son, Piso, kidnapped. Tyrannus rushes to his son's rescue and kills his kidnappers only to realize that the abduction is a diversion. He hurries to Caesar's side, but it is too late. His absence results in Brutus successfully leading a group of conspirators in assassinating the great conqueror. As he is drawing his last breath, Caesar swears Tyrannus to an oath to protect his successor, Octavius (Santiago Cabrera), his 18-year-old nephew. Tyrannus and Octavius are forced into exile to protect the young man from those who want to sever Caesar's bloodline once and for all. They are joined by Agrippa (Chris Egan, Australian series "Home & Away"), a young soldier, and Camane (Emily Blunt, "Warrior Queen"), a Vestal Virgin from the powerful religious Order whose members are being hunted down for trying to save Octavius. Together they will help Octavius fulfill his destiny. He leaves Rome an impetuous boy, but will Octavius return an Emperor? Historical References Julius Caesar Ides of March Death of Caesar Aftermath Marcus Antonius Octavius ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B002NN7ETC (ASIN Code for Amazon) Did you know? Latin was the language originally spoken in the region around Rome called Latium. It gained great importance as the formal language of the Roman Empire. All Romance languages descend from a Latin parent, and many words based on Latin are found in other modern languages such as English. ABC Empire Series ABC Empire Cast Production Notes Executive Producers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABC Empire Series - Related Topics: Roman History - Roman Provinces - Roman Timeline

Book Review by Marc Ollard Describe Roman Italy. Go on, I dare you. Chances are you're hopelessly wrong. We have just left behind a century of global conflict and competition between powerful political idealism. Vast industrial empires and centralised control. With such an astonishing hold over a vast swathe of the Known World is it any wonder we so readily connect with the Romans? Or at least we think we do. Our preconceptions are incredibly distorted by recent history and contemporary politics. If you don't believe me, A Companion To Roman Italy is a book that will teach you just how little you know. Edited by Alison Coolly, this book is one of an extensive series of companion volumes dealing with important themes of the Roman world. Within this book are essays by twenty four academics who may not be the most widely known experts, but whose contributions build toward a coherent and deeply insightful picture of Italy under Roman rule, covering the political, cultural, economic, social, and historical relationships of those peninsular regions surrounding the eternal city. The first part of the book deals with the history of the Italian peninsula from the earliest days to the last Roman Caesar, and touches on the sub-Roman world of the Ostrogoths and Lombards. Part two deals with local and regional diversity, along with identity, citizenship, and some degree of sociology. Part three looks at town and country with details of urbanisation and case studies of Naples, Pompeii, Cosa, Ostia, and other fascinating remnants of regionality. Finally, part four deals with economy and society, dealing with markets, farming, public spectacles, aristocracy, and a number of normally overlooked issues that complete our picture. If you thought Italy was simply Roman territory, assimilated, romanised, and broadly the same from north to south, think again. A brief skim through this volume reveals very quickly that many fondly held assumptions about Roman culture are overly simplistic or even just plain wrong. The picture emerging from historical and archeological research shows an Italy that was far more diverse and less centralised than you might expect. There were many languages and alphabets in use and only the domination of imperial power brought Latin into general use. Further, the desire of autocratic Caesars to bring the very autonomous regions of Italy under the direct rule of Rome would continue for centuries. This was a world of co-operative regions, not of centralised tyranny, and the results of their efforts to bind Italy permanently would bring significant changes in Roman society. Dr. Epplett rejects some aspects of Roman sport as irrelevant to this theme. Sports such chariot races, pancration, wrestling, and boxing are not detailed. One cannot help feeling that this is a literary microscope zooming in on the petrie dish of Roman entertainment. The reader is led by the hand into a gory world of contest and slsughter with a scientific detachment and there's no going back. If that sounds critical, don't be misled. The author's research is impressive, revealing insights from some of the most obscure documents. We're used to the common themes of the Roman arena. In this book, the author digs deeper, and opens our eyes to details of Roman society as a whole that are not immediately obvious. The wonderful thing about A Companion To Roman Italy is the sheer breadth of subject matter. We learn about the extraordinary reign of Augustus and its future implications, the unifying significance of gladiatorial games, the rise of female identity and role in society. Agriculture, administration, architecture, religion, commerce, interaction, travel, towns, villas and settlement patterns. Whilst this is impressive as it is, a more subtle benefit awaits the reader. The effects of Roman hegemony were felt in many different ways and would continue to change the Roman Empire until the end, and some of those changes happened for reasons most of us would not realise. What is lacking is the human element. Whilst much of the book deals with artifacts and ruins of the Roman people, it isn't the Romans themselves we read about. It leaves out the colourful ambiguity and wit, the drama and tragedy, the love of life or the shameful ambition and greed the Romans exhibited. To be fair those are aspects of the Roman world better illustrated elsewhere. This book deals with their enviroment. Eventually the book reaches that inevitable theme of the demise of arena sports which accounts for nearly a quarter of the text. Many popular preconceptions are questioned in the light of evidence. Indeed, the whole concept of violent competition is shown to be not unique to the Roman world - merely their social emphasis and popularity. Dr Epplett discusses this without unnecessary attachment to our contemporary experience, though clearly one can see that the human love of violence, especially that incurred by others, has always been part of the human psyche if suppressed by social norms. As the title suggests, this book should be seen as an important guide to studying the Roman heartland. The information is very detailed yet well packaged. By necessity the essays are somewhat short, but this does not prevent the writers from getting across what they believe we should know, who are not shy of recommending further reading. Written in an uncompromisingly academic style the sheer enthusiasm of the contributors comes across and makes up for any lack of humour. Although not liberally illustrated, diagrams, charts, and photographs are enough to complete the picture. Not a book for bedtime reading, but one for those long periods of quiet study that will reward you in your future efforts. ...more Book Reviews! Time in Antiquity by R. Hannah The Navies of Rome by M. Pitassi Roman Empire by C. M. Wells So, if you really want to know what Roman Italy was, how it developed, and what it became, then this has to be one of the most important choices you could make. You will find however it also one of the most important investments you will make. If there were ever reasons to believe you get what you pay for, this is definitely one of them. Alison E. Cooley is a British classicist specialising in Latin epigraphy. She is a professor at the University of Warwick and former head of its Department of Classics and Ancient History. In 2004, she was awarded The Butterworth Memorial Teaching Award. Tell us your opinion - Submit your Review - Buy the book! Book Review of A Companion to Roman Italy - Related Topic: Roman Italy Bibliography Get it now! A Companion to Roman Italy ________________________________ Archive

Book Review by Martin Holmes Reference books do not often make for popular reading. Many are too thick and cumbersome, their dusty pages clogged with statistics and data, lengthy quotations and technical prose. Good for academics and universities, yes. Worthy of a glance or two in passing, certainly. But to buy? Usually I avoid it. After all, why buy an encyclopaedia of nineteenth-century Russian literature when one could read Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky? Why buy a compendium of ancient battles when one could read Tacitus or Xenophon or Thucydides, or any number of modern classicists? Such were my thoughts before reading Don Taylor’s Roman Empire at War: A Compendium of Battles from 31 BC to AD 565. Although my preconceptions found some basis in reality, I admit I was pleasantly surprised by this little book – and by little I mean little! Numbering only 215 pages, it surely must rank among the most concise compendiums ever written. Aware of the gargantuan nature of his project, as well as of the difficulties in summarising nearly six hundred years of military history, Taylor takes the road less taken by scholars. Instead of confusing readers with the interpretations and doubts of modern historians, quotations and counter-quotations from ancient historians, and the ever present difficulties involved in trying to figure out what actually happened on those battlefields a millennia ago, he takes the ancients at their word. “I’ve allowed the original writers to speak for themselves,” he states in his preface, summarising their accounts to give a “brief description of each battle.” Those who wish to go further are invited to do so, and he provides a complete list of relevant sources for each battle. For brevity, however, he has chosen to keep it simple. And how valuable a resource it is! Part One, the first twenty-six pages, gives a brief outline of the Roman Army and Navy from 31 BC to 565 AD. Although only an introduction, I consider it the finest part of Taylor’s book. Too many classicists remain students of Edward Gibbon, forever entranced by the late Republic and early Principate periods, culminating in the golden age of the ‘Five Good Emperors’ (96-180 AD). The popular imagination sees the Roman military as rooted in this era, a timeless, unchanging institution. Every legion was 5000-6000 strong, comprised of ten cohorts. Every cohort had six centuries of eighty men each, commanded by a centurion. Each soldier served twenty to twenty-five years and could march twenty-five miles a day – and so on and so on. Taylor transcends this by emphasising the latter centuries of the Empire. He notes the gradual slimming down of traditional legions into smaller and smaller groups to cope with invasions, the growing reliance upon heavy cavalry, and the role of Gauls, Dacians, and other northerners in later centuries. Reading Taylor, I found a new appreciation for the later Empire’s plight, the struggle to keep afloat amidst the chaos of continual invasions and mutinies. Part Two, the bulk of the book, outlines every battle of any importance that occurred between 31 BC and 565 AD. Due to the enormous scope of the topic Taylor does not consider his work comprehensive – he suspects a few events may have escaped his notice. It is, however, a valiant effort. Naval engagements, mutinies, large skirmishes, a few sieges, as well as regular battles are included. Most receive a paragraph’s explanation ranging from a few sentences to a half page. Pivotal battles – Actium (31 BC), where Antony and Cleopatra lost to Octavius Caesar; the Siege of Jerusalem (70 AD), which led to the destruction of the Jewish Temple and the ascent of the Flavians; Milvian Bridge (312 AD), where Constantine I defeated Maxetius and became the first Christian Emperor – are longer and include maps. Particularly interesting for me were the battles of the later Empire, such as the campaigns of Justinian I, which, despite their apparent importance, I knew little about. The book does have its shortcomings. The timespan is strange. Why assess only the Empire? Why not include the Republic as well? Given Taylor’s remarkable ability to summarize six hundred years of imperial military history, it seems strange he did not add the five hundred years of the Roman Republic or at least the last two centuries BC, when the Roman military developed into a strong, coherent force. As he himself admits, focusing just on the Empire had its downsides, especially for the navy. In Taylor’s book the latter receives just one and a half forlorn pages in Part One, and, apart from Actium, is largely absent from Part Two. Is this not a problem? Had he expanded the boundaries he could have discussed Pompey’s campaigns against the pirates, Caesar’s victory over the Veneti, Sextus’s guerrilla campaign against the Triumvirate, and Rome immortal conflict with Carthage. In terms of the army he could have mentioned the Servile Wars, the Gallic Wars, the Civil War, and so on. Just as he rescues the later Empire from history, so too could he have reminded readers of the turbulent days of the Republic. While this is not a make-or-break criticism of Taylor’s book, The Roman Military at War would perhaps have made for a better title than The Roman Empire at War. ...more Book Reviews! Great Battles by Owen Rees Roman Soldier by G. R. Watson Greatest Defeat by A. Murdoch In conclusion, despite a few shortcomings, Don Taylor’s book has merit. Military historians may find accounts of battles they never knew had taken place; amateur historians and students might be inspired to take a greater interest in the latter years of the Roman Empire, and realise that Justinian I was as skilled a commander as Marcus Aurelius and should be respected as such; classicists might consider purchasing this book for their local library, viewing it as an easy-to-navigate introduction to the subject. Even those who, like me, are somewhat wary of reference books are sure to find something of value in Roman Empire at War. Dr Don Taylor holds a PhD in European History with a concentration in Ancient Mediterranean Studies from Fulbright College of the University of Arkansas (USA). Since 1995 he has served as a university professor in European and Ancient History at Hardin-Simmons University, Texas and he has published and/or lectured on various topics of Greek and Roman history. Tell us your opinion - Submit your Review - Buy the book! Book Review of Empire at War: A Compendium of Roman Battles - Related Topic: Roman Military Bibliography Get it now! Empire at War for the UK ________________________________ Archive