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Gaius Paulinus Maximus

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Posts posted by Gaius Paulinus Maximus

  1. Black Ships

    in Reviews

    Posted

    After reading this encouraging review I decided to go out and buy the book and read it for myself. I think it's fair to say that I took a bit of warming to Black Ships, the first few chapters didn't really grab me at first, but once the story started to take shape and I got to know the characters a bit more then I found myself really enjoying it.

     

    I think Jo Graham did an excellent job of blending her own story with that of The Aeneid, especially where Aeneas is concerned and the inner turmoils he faced like is he worthy to be king? and can he lead his people to a new land? and is he able live up to the high expectations of his father Anchises? I think she conveys this part of the story really well to the reader.

     

    The switching of Dido of Carthage to Princess Basetamon of Egypt is clever and really works, but I have to agree with Ursus that the inclusion of the God Mik-el is pretty pointless and not needed, at one point Mik-el kind of indicates that he's related to Gull's lover, Xandoros, but then never expands on it and just leaves you wondering. But other than that minor criticism I thought all in all it was a really good, well written and well researched novel.

  7. Sallust's pessimism about Rome's rise to power

    in Res Publica

    Posted · Edited by Gaius Paulinus Maximus

    While reading Sallust's Bellum Catilinae I came across a section of the book (Chapt.8 thru 10) which comes across to me that Sallust is obviously proud of what Rome has achieved but at the same time he is dissapointed with what Rome is becoming, basically in not so many words he blames the destruction of Carthage and the capture of Greece for the start of the deterioration, because the one removed an enemy that had kept Rome on her toes, whilst the other familiarized Rome with the enervating luxuries and vices of the Greek world.

     

    But beyond question Fortune holds sway everywhere. It is she that makes all events famous or obscure according to her caprice rather than in accordance with the truth. The acts of the Athenians, in my judgment, were indeed great and glorious enough, but nevertheless somewhat less important than fame represents them. But because Athens produced writers of exceptional talent, the exploits of the men of Athens are heralded throughout the world as unsurpassed. Thus the merit of those who did the deeds is rated as high as brilliant minds have been able to exalt the deeds themselves by words of praise. But the Roman people never had that advantage, since their ablest men were always most engaged with affairs; their minds were never employed apart from their bodies; the best citizen preferred action to words, and thought that his own brave deeds should be lauded by others rather than that theirs should be recounted by him.

     

    Accordingly, good morals were cultivated at home and in the field; there was the greatest harmony and little or no avarice; justice and probity prevailed among them, thanks not so much to laws as to nature. Quarrels, discord, and strife were reserved for their enemies; citizen vied with citizen only for the prize of merit. They were lavish in their offerings to the gods, frugal in the home, loyal to their friends. By practising these two qualities, boldness in warfare and justice when peace came, they watched over themselves and their country. In proof of these statements I present this convincing evidence: firstly, in time of war punishment was more often inflicted for attacking the enemy contrary to orders, or for withdrawing too tardily when recalled from the field, than for venturing to abandon the standards or to give ground under stress; and secondly, in time of peace they ruled by kindness rather than fear, and when wronged preferred forgiveness to vengeance.

     

    But when our country had grown great through toil and the practice of justice, when great kings had been vanquished in war, savage tribes and mighty peoples subdued by force of arms, when Carthage, the rival of Rome's sway, had perished root and branch, and all seas and lands were open, then Fortune began to grow cruel and to bring confusion into all our affairs. Those who had found it easy to bear hardship and dangers, anxiety and adversity, found leisure and wealth, desirable under other circumstances, a burden and a curse. Hence the lust for money first, then for power, grew upon them; these were, I may say, the root of all evils. For avarice destroyed honour, integrity, and all other noble qualities; taught in their place insolence, cruelty, to neglect the gods, to set a price on everything. Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue; to value friendships and enmities not on their merits but by the standard of self-interest, and to show a good front rather than a good heart. At first these vices grew slowly, from time to time they were punished; finally, when the disease had spread like a deadly plague, the state was changed and a government second to none in equity and excellence became cruel and intolerable.

     

    What do you think?

  9. Roman Fiction?

    in Libri

    Posted

    I don't do fiction very much, I am afraid. But a recent book I read that was decent was Black Ships by Jo Graham which retold the Aeneas foundation myth.

     

    I've just started reading this today, I'm about 60 pages into it and I'm still sat on the fence as to whether I like it or not, but it's early days yet so I'll persevere.

  10. Togas of the Late Empire

    in Romana Humanitas

    Posted

    I'm sure it's Byzantine.

     

    ...which of course, makes it Roman. From the mosaics at San Vitale, Ravenna, 6th century:

     

    2dumko5.jpg

     

    If I'm not mistaken that's the Emperor Justinian with his famous General Belisarius on his left hand side, Which would then make it a Byzantine style toga wouldn't it ?

  11. Roman Fiction?

    in Libri

    Posted

    I was wondering if you guys could give me some names of Roman fiction books. I have already read...

    the entire Eagle Series,

    the entire Eagle of the 9th series,

     

    I am now looking for more Roman fiction, I will take any of it, but preferably a Legionary story or something.

     

    Thanks.

     

    Eagle in the Snow by Wallace Breem is a classic.

     

    Excellent suggestion Lanista.

     

    This is probably my favourite novel of all time.

     

    There's also a few good recent books like The Forgotten Legion Chronicles by Ben Kane and The Warrior of Rome series by Harry Sidebottom.

     

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=...ywords=ben+kane

     

    There's masses of great historical novels out there......Search and ye shall find!!!!

     

    P.S. Check out Lanista's book as well, you won't be disappointed.

  13. Vespasian's villa uncovered north of Rome

    in Archaeological News: Rome

    Posted

    Thanks for more details on this news item. If you have any images of either Flacrinae artifacts or of mosaic floors from the presumed Vespasian villa could you please post them or links to them. I'm curious. What do you find interesting about this emperor and his sons?

     

    Sorry I forgot to post the link to the article, there's a couple of picture's of the mosaic floor they discovered.

     

    http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/08/06/v...sian-villa.html

     

    What I like about Vespasian is the way he managed to stabilize the Empire after the tyrannical rule of Nero and then the civil war which happened after his death. Vespasian was a soldier at heart and had worked his way up to the very top of the tree by firstly being extremely good at what he did and secondly by earning the love and respect of his soldiers and the people of Rome. He was a man of strict military discipline and simple tastes, Vespasian proved to be a conscientious and generally tolerant administrator. More importantly, following the upheavals of A.D. 68-69, his reign was welcome for its general tranquility and restoration of peace. In Vespasian Rome found a leader who made no great breaks with tradition, yet his ability to rebuild the empire and especially his willingness to expand the composition of the governing class helped to establish a positive working model for the "good emperors" of the second century. Plus the fact that he was the first Emperor to die peacefully since Augustus ( OK, Tiberius had supposedly passed away quietly, but there is some speculation that his successor Gaius could have helped him along a bit!) surely goes to prove that he was a good and worthy ruler of Rome.

  14. Vespasian's villa uncovered north of Rome

    in Archaeological News: Rome

    Posted · Edited by Gaius Paulinus Maximus

    Thanks for this Ludovicus.

     

    The reign of Vespasian and then that of his sons has always been a favorite of mine.

     

    Here's a bit more info to add to your post.....

    "The exact location of Falacrinae has long been the subject of debate. We now know that this village of ancient Rome lay near Cittareale, " Pierluigi Feliciangeli, the mayor of Cittareale, told Discovery News. Indeed, the rediscovery near Cittareale of an ancient Roman inscription celebrating a Falacrinae resident at the Social War in 91-88 B.C., has made it possible to identify the ancient village.

    In a parallel dig, archaeologists found the remains of Falacrinae -- tombs, vases, and various artifacts which are now on display at the Cittareale museum. "We have Falacrinae and we have this huge villa. It all points to Vespasian. This is an incredible finding for Cittareale," Feliciangeli said. According to Coarelli, the most spectacular section of the villa is the floor of the main hall, made of polychrome marbles quarried in North Africa. Two other rooms have delicate mosaic floors.

     

    The villa is said to be somewhere in the region of 15,000 square meters in size.

  19. people of rome

    in Imperium Romanorum

    Posted

    Hi, kevin37.

     

    I've arranged your "people of Rome" in chronological order, starting with the one who died first. The following quotes come from Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology:

     

    -- Nephele

     

    Hi Nephele

     

    thank you for that information. can i ask you is that the web site link to where you found that from when they died? thank you again

     

     

    Hi Kev,

     

    If you click on the link supplied by Neph then it will take you to Smith's Dictionary...... There you enter the name you are looking for in the search engine and it will take you to the the page giving you a brief history of the person in question.

  20. General Spartacus

    in Arena

    Posted · Edited by Gaius Paulinus Maximus

    A few quotes from Vegetius that kind of sums up Spartacus and his army..

     

    "A general is not easily overcome who can form a true judgment of his own and the enemy's forces."

     

    "Few men are born brave; many become so through care and force of discipline."

     

    "Novelty and surprise throw an enemy into consternation; but common incidents have no effect."

  21. The death of Ajax

    in Templum Romae - Temple of Rome

    Posted · Edited by Gaius Paulinus Maximus

    I'm pretty sure that there was infact two warriors named Ajax, the one we all know of and a lesser not as well known Ajax.

     

    I'll be back later with a bit more info....

     

    EDIT:

     

    I was just gonna say that Sylla!!!! :D Seems like you beat me too it...

  22. General Spartacus

    in Arena

    Posted

    In fact, there's a strong possibility that he thought he could get away weith his bandit lifestyle. Although he'd been caught and sentenced once already, his ability to outwit the legions sent against him persuaded him (or if not, most of his followers) to turn south and begin plundering instead of making for the Alps and freedom 'over the border'.

     

    I know this is one of those "what if" questions but let's just say that Spartacus stuck to his original plan and made it over the Alps to freedom. Would his band of outlaws have just split up and gone their own ways in order to make a new life for themselves and more importantly would Rome have let them?

     

    I don't think so. Personally I think Spartacus knew full well that Rome would never let him escape to a new life across the Alps, that they would pursue him until he was finally crushed and punished for having the audacity to rise against Rome.

  23. Romans and diet

    in Romana Humanitas

    Posted

    For food Vegetius lists as staple corn, wine, vinegar and salt in plenty at all times. The men mostly ate porridge, bread and beans, supplemented by other vegetables and eggs, with meat on the numerous feast days, plus any obtained by hunting.

     

    When campaigning they ate hardtack, long lasting wholewheat biscuits. Such hardships were made more acceptable by the way many generals even those of the imperial family such as Tiberius or Julian, shared their troops hardships while on campaign, sleeping on the ground and eating basic rations.

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