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Gaius Paulinus Maximus

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Posts posted by Gaius Paulinus Maximus


  1. After divorcing his first wife for infidelity Cato the Younger married Marcia, the daughter of L. Marcius Philippus, consul in 56, and "a woman of excellent reputation, about whom there was the most abundant talk." Plutarch's description of her suggests that she was somewhat more mature than many Roman brides, though she had not previously been married. There is little material on Marcia, though she also was deeply concerned over Cato's personal safety, and Appian says that Cato was extremely fond of her. She had borne Cato three children, and there is not the slightest indication that they were not happily married, when suddenly Cato divorced her.

     

    He divorced her because his close friend Hortensius had asked him for his own wife's hand in marriage! At first Hortensius had wanted to marry Cato's daughter Porcia, but she was already happily married to Bibulus with two young sons and the fact the he was at least forty years older than Porcia made the situation even more out of the question so old Hortensius changed his attention to his good buddys missus and Cato being the good guy that he was gave his wife to Hortensius.

     

    Strabo says that Cato gave Marcia in marriage to Hortensius "according to an old custom of the Romans"

     

    Does anybody know what this old custom was???

     

    Oh by the way, after Hortensius died, Cato took Marcia back as if he had merely loaned her!!


  2.  

    it would seem then that the question of whether Caesar was hero or villain rests on his motive for crossing the Rubicon. Was it indeed to replace a broken Republic with a new dynamic autocracy? Or simply a desire for personal power?

     

    I would say that Caesar's decision to cross the Rubicon was not initially to replace a broken Republic or for personal power but simply a matter of survival. Imo Caesar had been backed into a corner by the senate, if he'd have stood his legions down and crossed the Rubicon and entered Rome on his own then his career as a soldier and a politician would have certainly been over and his life would have also been in serious jeopardy. Caesar had accquired many enemies during his time in Gaul and to enter Rome alone would have been suicidal to say the least. So for me he wasn't really left with much option was he? Caesar was not the sort of man to just turn and walk away from a problem he was the the kind to meet it head on, and that's exactly what he did. Whether he made the correct decision or not will be argued over through the ages, but I'm pretty sure that if I was faced with the same choices after achieving so much then it would have been hard to turn around and walk away with my tail between my legs. Don't you think?

     

     

    Hero or villian? The ancient world was a cruel and savage place where only the strongest survived. It may be a bit of a cliche but it's true, through out history the names that stand out have all been ruthless, determined, brave, cruel, intelligent characters. To achieve this legendary status you had to be both a hero at times and a villian at others. Caesar definately falls into this cateogary.


  3. Hello, all! I was guided here by Russell Whitfield, who assures me this enclave knows everything there is to know about the ancient world :) Very glad to be here.

     

    I'm a 44 year old married author of three books: Men of Bronze, Memnon, and The Lion of Cairo. I'm researching and writing my fourth and fifth (the former is a tale of Artemisium; the latter a fantasy involving Orcs). I like ancient Greek history, gaming, and long walks on the beach . . . :)

     

    Thanks!

     

    Scott

     

    Scott Oden

    www.menofbronze.com

     

    Welcome on board Scott,

     

    I've read Memnon, a very enjoyable book. Obviously I prefer Roman novels but anything ancient is good by me! ;)


  4. From the Gracchi to Nero by HH Scullard.

     

    The Gracchi, Marius and Sulla by AH Beesley.

     

    The Gracchi by David Stockton

     

    Thanks.

     

    I think Scullard's is a 'general history of' type for Rome not an in depth study, but I've seen it around so much I might pick it up. I have the Beesley book (its free on gutenberg). I somehow missed the Stockton book, its circa 1980 or so but worth a try. Pity nothing more contemporary (though I do have a few dozen journal articles).

     

    Scullard's book is definitely worth having on your book shelf, a good book but you won't learn anything new about the Gracchi that you don''t already know, but David Stockton's book is solely dedicated to the Gracchi so this book probably fits your criteria, it's quite old and dated though and is also a bit pricey too, but I did pick up a reasonably priced used copy on Amazon. So it might be worth shopping around a bit.


  5. Nothing remotely Roman related this time I'm afraid but still two excellent books.

     

    Mud Sweat and Tears, the Bear Grylls autobiography, a very honest and entertaining story about his early life and remarkable achievements like passing SAS selection, breaking his back in a parachuting accident then recovering and going on to climb Mount Everest all before his 24th birthday.

     

    No Way Down, Life and Death on K2 by Graham Bowley. I could not put this book down, It's the story of the ill fated attempt to climb K2 in 2008, thirty climbers attempt to reach the summit of the most savage mountain on Earth. They make it, but before they start their descent an ice shelf collapses, sweeping away their ropes, it is dark, their lines are gone, they are low on oxygen, and it's getting very cold. It's a gripping, terrifying story of struggle for survival with stories of heroism, sadness and extraordinary endurance.

     

    I would highly recommend these books!


  6. I'm VERY disappointed with you guys for not spotting the obvious flaw in the movie reconstruction of the gateway, as opposed to the archaeological reconstruction (as per my photo).

     

    Have another look, and try again!

     

    Could it possibly be the very modern building seen beyond the the gateway?? :lol:


  7. Macro is the tricky one for me too, Russell Crowe is probably the obvious one as Is James Purefoy but I fear they would then be compared too much to thier roles in Gladiator and Rome, I think maybe to typecast for them?

     

    What about Jason Statham?? Or maybe even Vigo Mortisen??

     

    As for Cato I think Shia Lebouf from the Transformer films would be pretty good. He's young fairly tall, quite geeky like I imagine Cato to be, especially in the earlier books. Or What about Justin Timberlake???:unsure:


  8. Ok, yes it was a bit of a "buddy" movie but the relationship between the two was a pretty big part of the book too so surely the movie should follow suit???

     

    Two things in response: First, for the reasons stated above, I do not compare book and movie when reviewing one of them.

     

     

    Well personally I think when reviewing a movie that is based on a book, it would do well to take into account the part the friendship plays in the storyline of the book before completely dismissing it out of hand in the movie?


  9. I've just finished reading the latest adventure of Macro and Cato, for those that don't know, they are the heroes of the Simon Scarrow novels set during the reign of the emperor Claudius.

     

    Whilst reading these books I've often wondered if they ever decided to transfer these guys onto the big screen ( I wish!!) then which actors would play the parts of Macro and Cato??

     

     

    Macro

     

    Macro is a veteran of the Second Legion (the


  10. Personally I thought that The Eagle was ok, It will in no way go down as a classic thats for sure but it wasn't as bad as Rufus makes out.

     

    I pretty much agree with Lanista about the movie, I thought Tatum and Bell's portrayals of Aquila and Esca were passable. It was a enjoyable fast paced Roman jaunt, with great scenery and a nice soundtrack, Ok, yes it was a bit of a "buddy" movie but the relationship between the two was a pretty big part of the book too so surely the movie should follow suit???


  11. That's so strange I've just started reading Centurion today and I thought exactly the same thing when I read that, it's surely got to be an oversight on Mr Scarrow's part. In the story Cato does have some legionaries on board but he tells them to stay behind, that the marines will deal with it. But that still doesn't explain what a member of the cavalry is do on board a boat???

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