Primus Pilus

There are also those who have and would argue vehemently that Caesar's war, while initially justifiable by the diminished Roman standards of the late Republic, evolved entirely into a war for Caesar's personal glory.

I for one would love to a take on Antonian propaganda. While you know considerable detail in anti-Antonius propaganda thanks to Cicero and the contemporary Augustan historians, we know far less (relatively speaking) of the countering view. The information is out there, so you're task is certainly not impossible, but I think it could be one that has some very compelling potential... especially considering that everyone knows Antonius was a dirtbag... or was he? As you said, the era and details of Livius Drusus has been well documented and debated, though should you choose it, you may wish to pursue your own angle. Again the information is there, via primary and secondary sources, so you stand a chance of telling the tale of any pre-existing view. However, if you take sides and do so with conviction, even using arguments of earlier historians, you're thesis can stand on it's own and with merit.

Thank everyone... I had a few too many glasses of wine... hence my slow reply

Hello Aurelia, please feel welcome to join in the discussion wherever your interests may be.

Because it was superceded by this list... http://www.unrv.com/government/legal-insti...-chronology.php Note the correct date on this law and the notation on the possible law in 192. Thanks for pointing it out though Aha ! I say About the ambitu - Livius said "Acting on the authority of the senate, the consuls brought before the people a measure dealing with bribery. " (40.19) . That is all . There is another source ? Details ? Scholars opinion ? It's the only source I could find. Would likely explain the date confusion thanks to the difficulty in sometimes deciphering Livius. If anyone has anything I would gladly add it to the reference material.

Have you actually discussed this with the locals? I haven't and I don't know which side of the political agenda to believe. As stupid as the invasion of Iraq was, it actually seems that its finally starting to get to the point where real self-governance is a reality. Do some people hate the US and British for it? In the immortal words of the Alaskan nitwit... you betcha, but there must be many who don't see it that way. Was it worth the price on any number of levels (casualties... our soldiers, Iraqi civilians, world relations, localizing the threat of terrorism or giving the radicals a rallying cry, etc.)? I sure don't know, but then again, this is a completely different topic. As for "regime change" in general... without being instigated by the people who are oppressed or victimized in some way, it lacks a certain zealousness necessary to make it happen and stick.

The system is the way it is because of archaic traditions. Most people agree that it's a disaster, but it's going to take a good deal of politicking to change it.

Because it was superceded by this list... http://www.unrv.com/government/legal-insti...-chronology.php Note the correct date on this law and the notation on the possible law in 192. Thanks for pointing it out though

Indeed, but what I mean to point out is simply that motivation takes many shapes and forms. Often we can misuse the term lazy to describe a student that may show disinterest in some areas but may have a very specific and highly motivated focus on one or a couple of particular subjects. Ultimately, I think we care to much about "test scores" and the so-called well rounded education rather than letting students specialize in areas that they are well suited for. I'm not saying that a student who only shows interest in building an engine (for example) shouldn't also be taught to read as a matter of course, but not caring about the tyrannical regimes in Africa is not necessarily a sign of laziness.

While I agree in general, I'd just like to add that one doesn't necessarily need to be lazy or spoiled to be disinterested in a particular current event; whether that event is historically and/or socially significant or not.

I have no choice but to repeat my question . Thanks Edit : Let say that Shakespeare's work writen c. 1599 is a biography (certainly it is a play with dramatization of actual events), it is the only one between Plutarchus'/Suetonius' and the 19th century ? Unless you include the many various versions copied by medieval monks there isn't anything of significance that I'm aware of.

The good news is that if they can find Egypt, they're not too terribly far away from Darfur (though one might want to be as far away as possible).

Since since has been dead since 1893... I doubt it. LOL. (Yes, I'm just kidding)

What is this now? This is news to me, please elaborate. Here's the word on Caesar's birth year, from our own Primus Pilus, who authored this introduction to The First Triumvirate: "Of interesting note regarding the election is Caesar's age. The constitution, under normal circumstances, required a Consular candidate to be 42 years of age. Caesar, however, according to common beliefs, being born in 100 BC, was only 40 years old. This has led to much speculation that he was actually born in 102 BC to make him the right age for the office. The fact that the 'boni' and their ultra conservative policies make little argument against the legality of Caesar running for Consul, lends credence to the argument that Caesar was actually born 2 years earlier. In fact, each office Caesar held was exactly 2 years prior to being legally eligible. However, circumstances throughout this imperatorial period of the Republic often negated such rules. Pompey served as consul in his 20's without even having been a Senator first. Both Plutarch and Suetonius, ancient Rome's great biographers, both say that Caesar died during his 56th year. He would have turned 56 in July of 44 BC making it seem quite clear that Caesar was indeed born in 100 BC. Some theories have suggested that his age may have been overlooked because Caesar won the corona civica in his youth while on campaign in the east. Regardless, no special legislation or extenuating circumstances seemed to block Caesar's legal position to run for Consul." I, also, am unaware of any primary source stating that Caesar changed his birthdate "in order to become younger." That does seem a rather extraordinary claim. -- Nephele Thanks for posting this Nephele. After the discussion with MPC some time back, I actually meant to rephrase this paragraph... will do so now. I haven't completely dismissed the notion that Caesar was born in 100 but it's definately important to note the legal issues (or lack thereof in this case).

Very few comedians make me truly laugh out loud... Louis CK is definately one of them.

AncientLibrary.com is back!!! :D -- Nephele Thank heavens. I found the navigation on his site so useful, that I even offered to buy it from him while it was down... (never heard anything back), but I was fairly desperate. LOL.

Allow me a second to rephrase my position... I honestly don't know if the tannins truly "break down"... but in general I notice a distinct difference in taste after refrigeration vs. re-cork on the counter. EDIT: It's also important to distinguish between different types of wines. I don't refrigerate after opening for two reasons... because I can't resist an open bottle and because we generally drink rather dry red wines. A wine like a Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon is more susceptible to taste changes after refrigeration than a sweet wine or even some table blends (in my opinion). However, some people like certain dry red wines, like Shiraz for example, to be chilled cooler than room temperature. It's really personal preference and do whatever tastes good to you. Just prepared for some moment in time when a wine snob will give you that snobbish look. Just tell them to F off.

In my opinion, it's better not refrigerated because as you said, it breaks down the tannins and changes the taste. However, it will definately keep longer when refrigerated and if you like the taste, who really cares... only wine snobs (like me =P). If you prefer chilled red wine but don't want to corrupt the bottle by getting it cold, try freezing a glass.

Aside from the zeal of the article's author for the highly objective greatness of Caesar, I found the theory to be interesting. Unfortunately, the theory fails to stand on its own when the reality of Caesar's assassination is considered. Had the greatest concern of the Liberators actually been the potential tyranny and debauchery of Antonius, then it very well would've been Antonius that was targeted along with, or instead of Caesar. Not only was Antonius not targeted but he was purposely left alive in order to prove that the assassination was truly tyrannicide and not a political purge. The sources are fairly clear that the liberators did in fact consider Caesar to be a tyrant and that his death was a necessity.

For a few days back in July 2007, it was hard for archaeologist Deborah Carlson to get any work done at her site off the Aegean coast of western Turkey. She was leading an underwater excavation of a 2,000-year-old shipwreck, but the Turkish members of her crew had taken time off to vote in national elections. So things were quiet at her camp on an isolated cape called Kızılburun. The shipwrecks' main cargo was 50 tons of marble

Excavations at an ancient Roman villa and bath complex in the outskirts of Rome have unearthed a wealth of surprisingly well-preserved artifacts, including the marble head of a Greek god, archeologists said on Wednesday. The site of the Villa delle Vignacce, towards Ciampino airport south of Rome, was first explored by archeologists in 1780, who found statues that are now in the Vatican museum. Canada.com

The bronze artefacts, which include a wine-mixing vessel, jugs and ceremonial pan-shaped objects, were discovered in Kent in two high status Roman pit-burials that are among the best examples ever seen in Britain. Previous excavation in an area close to the A2 where the items were found - by construction group Skanska Civil Engineering during a Highways Agency road improvement scheme - had predicted archaeological discoveries, but they were bigger than expected, with settlements ranging from the Bronze Age to the late medieval period... Physorg.com

The historical importance of the Palermo Stone has long been overshadowed by the famous Rosetta Stone, but Jill Kamil says it is now being reconsidered as a legitimate historical record of ancient Egypt The so-called Palermo Stone is the largest and best preserved fragment of a rectangular slab of basalt known as the Royal Annals of ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom. Its origin is unknown, but it may have come from a temple or another important building.... Al-Ahram

This sort of thing really highlights the sort of concerns mentioned by Northern Neil and others around here... especially regarding my own lightly engaged coin collecting hobby. I won't purchase a coin unless I have some pedigree confidence regarding it's origin, the reputation of the dealer, how it's been cataloged, etc. Considering how difficult this task can be, I've pretty much stopped altogether.

Britain's archaeological heritage is being plundered by illegal metal detector users who face little danger of being caught, a report said today. The first comprehensive national survey of its kind revealed thieves armed with state-of-the-art equipment are raiding some of the nation's most sensitive heritage sites. Researchers found knowledgeable criminals, dubbed nighthawks, are using auction websites such as eBay to cash in on what was once an illicit hobby... The Independent