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Viggen

Triumviri
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Everything posted by Viggen

  1. Between 2010 and 2014, archeologists digging in London’s financial district, on the site of a new British headquarters for Bloomberg, made an astonishing discovery—a collection of more than four hundred wooden tablets, preserved in the muck of an underground river. The tablets, postcard-sized sheets of fir, spruce, and larch, dated mainly from a couple of decades after the Roman conquest of Britain, in A.D. 43, straddling the period, in the reign of Nero, when Boudica’s rebellion very nearly got rid of the occupation altogether. Eighty of them carried legible texts—legible, that is, to Roger Tomlin, one of the world’s foremost experts in very old handwriting... ...via The New Yorker
  2. ...if you happen to be in Canberra, worthwile to visit it seems... The Roman navy's attempt to rescue people from one of history's most famous natural disasters is detailed in the exhibition Escape from Pompeii – the untold Roman rescue, at the Australian National Maritime Museum. The story of the rescue mission is often overshadowed by the scale of the disaster, which buried Pompeii and the neighbouring city of Herculaneum under metres of volcanic ash. Exhibition curator Will Mather says the decision by naval commander Pliny the Elder (uncle to Pliny the Younger) to turn warships into rescue boats reveals a different face of the notoriously powerful Roman Empire. "His first impulse is to use a military force to rescue civilians, which shows that more human side," he says. via Canberra Times
  3. 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. 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... ...continue to the review of Gladiators & Beasthunts by Christopher Epplett
  4. 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. 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... ...continue to the review of Gladiators & Beasthunts by Christopher Epplett
  5. ....who noticed... home page is nho longer wordpress,but also invision forum software, which means better integrated (you already get notification from the forum at the home page for example) visually not a big step, but technically it is...
  6. A remarkable archaeological investigation is shedding new light on the Roman conquest of Britain – and on the geopolitical background to one of the murkiest royal sex scandals of British history. The newly discovered Scotch Corner Roman artefacts represent the earliest known major archaeological evidence of Roman influence in northern Britain. A key discovery at the site is a large collection of late Iron Age metal pellet moulds, thought to have been used for native coin manufacture. Research at the University of Liverpool has revealed that they were probably used to produce gold/silver/copper alloy native British coins – perhaps needed for massively increased levels of trade with newly arrived Roman merchants. The alloys detected in them are consistent with native British coin production. Their discovery may well be the first archaeological evidence of Brigantian coin production – because so far no coins of that particularly important British tribal kingdom have ever been found. ...via Independent
  7. Viggen

    ABC Empire Series

    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
  8. 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... ...continue to the review of A Companion to Roman Italy by Alison E. Cooley
  9. 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... ...continue to the review of A Companion to Roman Italy by Alison E. Cooley
  10. ...i guess a bit mor balanced article on the same subject https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ancient-romans-may-have-been-cozier-huns-they-let?tgt=nr
  11. HISTORY dictates that the ferocious Hun tribe brought about destruction that eventually sparked the demise of the Roman Empire. But hordes of ordinary Romans may have happily left their homes to follow the Huns and their nomadic lifestyles, according to research... ...via SUN
  12. The remains of a huge Roman temple, the size of St Paul's Cathedral in London has been found by a Cambridge University archaeological team in central Italy. The sacred site was uncovered several feet below Falerii Novi, an abandoned town around 30 miles north of Rome. The Falerii temple had rows of columns on three sides and is believed to cover a site 120m long and 60m wide... ...via IBTimes
  13. Viggen

    ROME: Antony & Caesar Playing Cards

    ...awesome, thanks for keeping us up to date!
  14. ...those cards look terrific, ...its a Kickstarterproject which means it only happens if the goal is reached (about 10% still left to hit the target) https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/randybutterfield/rome-antony-and-caesar-playing-cards
  15. ...very interesting article! ....the Clovis first model has collapsed. Based on dozens of new studies, we now know that pre-Clovis people slaughtered mastodons in Washington State, dined on desert parsley in Oregon, made all-purpose stone tools that were the Ice Age version of X-acto blades in Texas, and slept in sprawling, hide-covered homes in Chile—all between 13,800 and 15,500 years ago, possibly earlier. And in January, a Université de Montréal PhD candidate, Lauriane Bourgeon, and her colleagues published a new study on Bluefish Caves bones in the journal PLOS One, confirming that humans had butchered horses and other animals there 24,000 years ago. “It was a huge surprise,” says Bourgeon... ...via Haika Magazine
  16. I would assume both, didnt they find very old settlements (like 15.000 to 20.000 years old) in Chile? There would be no way that those settlers would have arrived via Beringia this early
  17. I am not sure what you mean by that....
  18. Viggen

    New Forum

    ...was about time and last chance, the old forum software was about to expire for good (meaning no more security updates). With this 4.0 version we should be good for another 4 to 5 years and than who knows.... I am also strongly consider to change the whole site to a CMS (custom management system), with about 2.000 hand coded pages no small task, but whatever keeps one busy...
  19. The Greek Ministry of Culture announced that the location where the Greek naval forces had gathered before the historic sea battle of Salamis against Persians in 480 BC has been discovered. The battle of Salamis is one of the most important battles in the history of Ancient Greece. It was a naval battle fought between an alliance of Greek city-states under Themistocles and the Persian Empire under King Xerxes in 480 BC which resulted in a decisive victory for the outnumbered Greeks. The battle was fought in the straits between the Attica mainland and Salamis, an island in the Saronic Gulf near Athens, and is deemed as the climax of the second Persian invasion of Greece... ...via Tornos News
  20. Viggen

    The Cumbria Coast

    Hardknott looks very impressive
  21. 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... ...continue to the review of Empire at War: A Compendium of Roman Battles by Don Taylor
  22. 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... ...continue to the review of Empire at War: A Compendium of Roman Battles by Don Taylor
  23. Viggen

    Itali - The Ancient "Italians"

    @sonic as you are also into early Roman period, maybe you know something about Sicanians or this period?
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