Nephele

Wow! That's wild. I'm in New York, and I hadn't heard this! I found a vid on YouTube about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjWg36BXxH8 Thanks for the info, Klingan! -- Nephele

I'd like to thank UNRV for their gracious review. It looks like JGolomb was also kind enough to post a review at Amazon - thanks, sir! Those really help get the book in front of more Amazon customers. And I really appreciate the feedback as well. It's not Roman-themed, but I have a new "historical horror" novel that just came out on July 1 that you might find interesting as well. The Last Days of Jericho is set in the Bronze Age and reimagines certain Old Testament episodes as an apocalyptic monster horror tale. This is a great site, and I'm happy to have found out about it! Welcome to UNRV, Thomas Brookside! We have a number of author members here, so you'll find yourself in good company! -- Nephele

Well, she was said to have "rosy fingers." Now when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn, appeared...

I think that's a good point to consider. There's currently a religious scholar in the news named Gunnar Samuelsson who's even saying that he's been unable to find absolute evidence that Jesus had been crucified. Considering all the inventive ways that people might devise for torturing others with stakes and crosses, I wouldn't be surprised if using nails were only one of several options. Gunnar Samuelsson is from Sweden

This has nothing to do with the Romans (or any other ancient civilization) being less intelligent than us. As explained in this issue of American Scientist:

Then you've definitely missed the best. Especially those episodes directed by Michael Hurst. They had devilish plot twists that defied guessing how the episode would end. -- Nephele

I really need to give this show another chance as it seems to be getting fairly rave reviews from all quarters. (The problem is that I really just want Crassus to kick his ass) I do just about all my online DVD shopping with DVD Planet, which often has better prices than Amazon. PP, how much of the series did you see already? I think it gets better as it progresses. It certainly gets more shocking. (And I thought I was already pretty shock-proof.) The characters are very interesting, which probably is what makes the series. -- Nephele

I think you'd be a better choice as reviewer, Maty. You can certainly give a better opinion on the quality of the translation, than I can! -- Nephele

Some really great news for us Spartacus: Blood & Sand fans! 'Spartacus' star Andy Whitfield finishes cancer treatment -- Nephele

A new English translation of Macrobius' Saturnalia (Books 1-2) is due to be published this fall: http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674996496

Ah, that makes sense, and explains a lot. Although I wonder how much of the victim might be left for a proper burial after the lions had their share of him. Did they allow the lions to finish their meal, I wonder? Thanks for the info, Maty! -- Nephele

I haven't yet read any of Melvadius' links to this story, but my own local newspaper's reporting suggests that these weren't condemned criminals: "All of the skeletons were buried with pottery, animals or other offerings, suggesting they were respected people, not criminals." The reporter is quoting Michael Wysocki, a lecturer in forensic anthropology and archaeology. Wysocki also explained the beheadings as having been "an act of mercy" for those gladiators who surrered horrific injuries during their fights. Medusa, I always find your comments on gladiators and gladiatrixes interesting. What kind of mercy killings, to your knowledge, did the Romans practice on their mortally wounded fighters? -- Nephele

well-endowed nanophiliac could

Birthday hails to you, GoC! -- Nephele

"They are now going ahead with a six-part prequel, which will focus on the characters played by Lucy Lawless and John Hannah." Yay! -- Nephele

orifice of the

Well, my most recent experience of the Vestals having been "brought up to the surface" in books revolves around a work of fiction. In Lindsey Davis' novel, Saturnalia, the Vestals play a significant role. I love the way Lindsey Davis ties her fiction in with historical fact. In this scene from Saturnalia, she has the Vestals agreeing to lead a deputation of respectable Roman matrons (properly dressed in black), to go before the emperor Vespasian in order to plea for the life of the historical Germanic priestess and enemy of Rome, Veleda, who has been captured. To establish a reasonable justification for this scene, Davis mentions in passing the historical account of when the Vestals had formed an earlier deputation to plea on behalf of the general Vitellius with Vespasian's general Antonius. (Tacitus 3.81). Even though such intervention by the Vestals didn't always prove successful, it interests me that Roman generals, and even the Emperor, himself, would pause to respectfully receive the Vestals and give due consideration to their petitions. -- Nephele

The countdown was exciting. Congratulations, MPC! -- Nephele

I've always considered our nation (U.S.A.) to be a constitutional republic. If we were a true democracy, then we wouldn't have laws and representatives making certain that minorities in our nation had a voice, beyond that of the majority. I rather think that majority rule (as in a democracy) is oppressive to those of us who disagree with the majority. In this respect, I like to think of the U.S. having much in common with ancient Rome. But I'm not certain if this was the reason why Rome was founded as a republic. After all, the plebeians didn't have much of a voice in Rome's government in the early republic. -- Nephele

testical and had

Welcome aboard, Vesta! The Vestal Virgins make up one of my favorite subjects in Roman history. Not because I have a thing for virgins, I hasten to add. But rather it's the power and privilege that this unusual sisterhood had, that fascinates me. -- Nephele

...Brutus, Caesar and... Caligula. Institutional heritage provided a reassuring

[so far so good, but it looks like we need to delete that extra "by" -- "remembered by, by stoic romans." Change to "remembered by many stoic Romans"?] -- Nephele Unofficial Three Word Story Editor.

I know the word "awesome" is used all too often, but damnit, that device really is awesome. I would love to have known something about the inventor. -- Nephele