guy

I imagine that most the texts salvaged will just be more philosphical musings. Hopefully, some of the "lost" Greek plays will be discovered. We can hope, as Romanophiles, that the scrolls include important lost works such as lost parts of Livy's history or the Emperor Claudius's works on Carthage or the Etruscans. It is sad to think that many of the carbonized papyrus scrolls were carelessly destroyed by more modern "researchers." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_of_the_Papyri http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ancient-scrolls-blackened-vesuvius-are-readable-last-herculaneum-papyri-180953950/?no-ist guy also known as gaius

I hope that this isn't a repost, but it is interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpTunZJ845I guy also known as gaius

I agree. I almost gave up on this site when I couldn't find the forum. Make the "forum" its own column. guy also known as gaius

In the past ten or so years: Ancient/Medieval- Gladiator Although I agree that the movie "Gladiator" was not historically accurate (and bordered on the ridiculous), the opening battle scene in Germania was impressive. guy also known as gaius

Watch the included video: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/concerns-grow-for-fate-of-palmyra-one-of-the-middle-easts-most-renowned-sites/2015/05/21/45e47ec2-ff8b-11e4-805c-c3f407e5a9e9_story.html guy also known as gaius

Wow. That's a bit harsh. I, too, have been to the Carnegie Museum many times. It is nice, indeed. There is nothing, however, like seeing an ancient site in situ. Visiting a museum cannot compare with seeing a site and enjoying the surrounding natural geographic contours. Books are nice. Museums can be fascinating. But there is nothing like the real thing, despite natural wear and human depredations. guy also known as gaius.

Let's hope for the best: guy also known as gaius

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/15/isis-pulls-back-from-palmyra-but-fear-of-cultural-atrocity-remains guy also known as gaius

I guess the important fact to consider is when did these "mini-strokes" begin? If these episodes began late in Caesar's life, it is possible that these were, in fact, mini-strokes as a result of cerebovascular disease. If these episodes began earlier in life, however, it is doubtful that Caesar could have survived to live to beyond 50 years of age with such severe vascular disease. guy also known as gaius

A recent article suggesting Julius Caesar suffered mini-strokes, not epilepsy: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3039158/Julius-Caesar-s-strange-behaviour-caused-MINI-STROKES-Military-leader-s-symptoms-misdiagnosed-says-study.html I'm not sure if I agree with the conclusions, but it is an interesting article, nevertheless. guy also known as gaius

Wow. Don't know what to say. One of the above authors, Pat Southern is a great scholar on Ancient Rome with brilliant insights, whose books I usually enjoy. But, I have to admit, the subject matter (the story of Roman bath) probably wouldn't hold my interest. The last book by Elizabeth Archibald quickly lost my interest with this quote about the book: Of the latest crop of books, only the Lindsay Powell book on Marcus Agrippa first grabs my attention. That said, I have found in the past that many of the books on obscure topics have been surprisingly insightful and entertaining. I must be getting old or something. guy also known as gaius

It is an exceptional article. I recommend it highly. guy also known as gaius

Maybe it was for the elite. For most of the residents, however, it was a dirty, fetid-smelling, densely-populated, crime-ridden, dilapidated urban sprawl. Ancient Rome reeked of excrement and urine (both human and animal), rotting animal carcasses and garbage, rancid human sweat barely cloaked with sickly-sweet perfumes, and exotic food and spice smells. (Not so) good times. guy also known as gaius

http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/1.2985789 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatra

http://www.prosciuttodiparma.com/en_UK/prosciutto http://www.academiabarilla.com/the-italian-food-academy/meats-charcuterie/prosciutto-parma-1.aspx My relatives are from Reggio Emilia, near Parma. They love that prosciutto. Not me, however. Despite what many say, pigs are among the smartest and most gentle animals on the planet. guy also known as gaius

I'm enjoying this thread as it is making me examine more closely a source whose validity I never considered. That said, there are several things about the link that are either translated incorrectly or just factually wrong. http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Post/1021862 guy also known as gaius

Just a thought: Could Malalas, writing more than two centuries after the fact, confused Numerian with Valerian? I believe here's what he wrote about Valerian: No mention of Valerian's capture and later display? As mentioned by Heather, it was reported that Valerian was captured by Shapur, the Persian King. It is alleged that he was later skinned, his skin was stuffed, and he was used as a trophy. Writing two centuries later (without the benefit of Google), Malalas could easily have gotten his emperors confused. guy also known as gaius

Heather's source is Dodgeon's Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars, and Dodgeon appears to be quoting Malalas: Interestingly enough, I was reading about Numerian this week as I was studying some of the numismatic material from this period. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/numerian/t.html Thank you for bringing the anecdote and the source to my attention. I was not familiar with Malalas, but I offer these caveats: There exists little reliable history about the third century and so we can never be sure about these or other anecdotes. Malalas wrote more than two centuries later (during the reign of Justinian) about the events involving Numerian. Malalas seems to have a Christian agenda. This possibly distorts any history about a pre-Christian emperor written by a Christian writer. Thank you, again, for bringing this source and anecdote to my attention. guy also known as gaius

Landslide Smashes Into Wall at Italy's Historic Pompeii Site http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/landslide-smashes-wall-italys-historic-pompeii-site-28718190 guy also known as gaius

Interesting article. I think historians have underestimated the role of both climate and disease on Ancient societies. guy also known as gaius

Honestly, this coin is of such poor quality, I wonder why it was used in this otherwise fine course. I am sure that they have nicer coins in their collection. The inscription was not legible and the images are so poor that it is difficult to interpret anything from the coin. I think the authors' conclusions about the coin's significance are a bit of a stretch. guy also known as gaius

It really does sound exciting: I wonder why more of that kind of research wasn't done earlier. Perhaps Italy's financial crisis prevented further study. http://news.yahoo.com/ancient-scrolls-scorched-vesuvius-may-read-again-162718464.html;_ylt=AwrSyCTCjr5UIUoAWsPQtDMD guy also known as gaius

Was this the question? guy also known as gaius

I've been to New Orleans a few times. Great food. Fun music. Interesting night life. Just don't wonder off alone too much in the seedier parts of town late at night. The problem for me is that I have only so many vacation days. New Orleans is not on the top of my list of places to go. An interesting scene of New Orleans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRLucEmfNCQ Honestly, New Orleans and the state of Louisiana have more of a Caribbean feel than anything. guy also known as gaius

Interesting meeting. (I really wouldn't want to go to New Orleans in January, however.) I've seen a copy of the magazine "Amphora," which I believe the organization sponsors. It appeared to be a fine enough magazine. http://apaclassics.org/sites/default/files/ckfinderfiles/Amphora_Spring2014.pdf That said, if they held conferences in Las Vegas.... guy also known as gaius