guy

More discoveries from Pompeii https://phys.org/news/2018-12-harnessed-horse-unearthed-ancient-stable.html

Thank you for reading my post (from many, many years ago 😎). Yes, you are correct to have concerns about forgeries. That said, there are many honest sellers in the market. When buying a coin from them, one could be fairly certain that the coin is authentic. There would be no need to get the coin certified by a service such as NGC Ancients. Here is an excellent site with both excellent numismatic information and authenticate coins for sell: https://www.forumancientcoins.com/ One of the coins shown in my post above is in a plastic holder. It was certified by NGC Ancients. The decision whether to get ancient coins certified by NGC is one of the controversies of coin collecting. Personally, I am not a coin collector. Despite looking at ancient coins for more than a quarter century, I am not always good at determining authenticity. Also, buying coins online can be fraught with danger. If I were to buy a coin online, especially from an unknown online seller, I would be comforted by a certification of authenticity from NGC. A final word of advice, remember that ancient coins are frequently less expensive than a novice would imagine. Please check comparable prices on the market before buying any coin. The site above (Forvm Ancient Coins) has many excellent coins offered for sell by coin dealers who are held to a high standard of numismatic ethics. They are possibly little more expensive, but overall, they offer reasonable prices for ancient coins. A good site to do coin research or enjoy coin discussion is below: https://www.cointalk.com/forums/ancients/ If you have any questions, you can send me a message. Good luck. guy also known as gaius

Garrett: Looks like an interesting website. I'll have to explore it further. guy also known as gaius

Caldrail: Thank you very much for your reading my post and sharing your family perspective. Here is a portion of Wilfred Owen's last letter written to his mother just days before his death on November 4, 1918: http://advancingpoetry.blogspot.com/2013/10/his-last-letter.html

One hundred years ago this month, British poet Wilfred Owen died (November 4, 1918) on the war front in France. Wilfred Owen was one of the leading poets of the First World War. (1893–1918) Owen's poetry was inspired by the horrors of the First World War. He was troubled by the dreary life in the trenches with its incessant and deafening shelling, horrifying gas attacks, and the ever-present specter of death. His poem, "Dulce et Decorum est," was an ironic interpretation of the famous line from the Roman poet Horace's "Odes" (III.2.13): "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" [It is sweet and proper to die for one's country.]. DULCE ET DECORUM EST by Wilfred Owen Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of gas-shells dropping softly behind. Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time, But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime.— Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams before my helpless sight He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin, If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,— My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori. According to Wikipedia: One hundred years ago this month, British poet Wilfred Owen died ... but the power of his poetry continues to touch us deeply today. guy also known as gaius

Part II: https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/6893/NGC-Ancients/

Thank you for the excellent article. It's been a while since I've thought about medicine as it relates to the military. Here's a fine video on the nature and surgical treatment of military wounds. I'm not certain the theory on wound management is correct, however. If I remember correctly, opium derivatives, alcohol, and cannabis were available for some analgesia. I'm not sure that pain relief would be adequate for most invasive procedures, however. (Although Mandrake is frequently mentioned by ancient sources, its side-effects -- including confusion, agitation, nausea, etc. -- may have made its use less frequent than previously thought.) https://books.google.com/books?id=8hIoN3Q_zOkC&pg=PA5&lpg=PA5&dq=Side-effects+of+Mandrake&source=bl&ots=E4oBf4DrYR&sig=WIVOY_uF3O9boNEdrY7NAroGZIU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjahs-0kd_dAhUIUa0KHRB1DbU4KBDoATADegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=Side-effects of Mandrake&f=false guy also known as gaius

Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant. To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace. (Oxford Revised Translation) They plunder, they slaughter, and they steal: this they falsely name Empire, and where they make a wasteland, they call it peace. (Loeb Classical Library edition) Warren Hastings was the subject of a corruption trial that lasted for seven years (1788-1795). Hastings, an Englishman, worked for the British East India Company and was the former Governor-General of Bengal, India. Many in the Parliament felt that British involvement in India, despite creating great personal wealth and annexing territories for the British Empire, had a morally corrupting influence on British society. Below is a passage from British historian Thomas Babington Macaulay’s “Warren Hastings.” These are the opening remarks by the brilliant, but sometimes histrionic and over-the-top Whig statesman Edmund Burke during the trial. Reading this quote carefully, one can see that the skilled orator Burke references Tacitus's famous quote about the Caledonian chieftain Calgacus before the battle with Rome. This quote is often cited when discussing the destructive impact of unchecked military expansion. Now some context: The following is a famous quote by the Roman historian Tacitus (56-120 AD) from his work "Agricola." In this text, Tacitus discusses Julius Agricola, a Roman general and Governor of Britain from 77-83 AD during the reign of Domitian. Agricola was also Tacitus' father-in-law. According to Tacitus, Agricola was recalled to Rome by Domitian out of envy and distrust, following Agricola's successful campaigns in Britain. After this, Agricola never served in government again. As a historian, Tacitus contrasted the liberty and nobility of the Britons and Germanic tribes with the corruption, venality, and tyranny of the invading Romans. Tacitus attributed the following quote to Calgacus, a possibly mythical chieftain of the Caledonian Confederacy, whom Agricola defeated at the battle of Mons Graupius in northern Scotland in AD 83 or 84. The great trial of Warren Hastings was initially dramatic and captivating but soon became an overdrawn and tiresome ordeal. Some, however, viewed Burke as a modern-day Cicero, prosecuting the former governor of Sicily, Gaius Verres, for corruption and extortion. Hastings's seven-year trial was finally resolved with his acquittal. Public attention, however, had long been diverted away to other issues, such as the turmoil and impending revolution in France. This quote of Tacitus, however, continues to reverberate throughout history. Robert F. Kennedy, on March 18, 1968, used the quote to make a reference to the Vietnam War. https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/RFK-Speeches/Remarks-of-Robert-F-Kennedy-at-the-University-of-Kansas-March-18-1968.aspx

Nice review article by NGC Ancients https://www.ngccoin.com/news/article/6842/NGC-ancient-coins/

Time does move on. This site has certainly undergone quite a turnover in recent years because of technology issues, bruised egos, and simple attrition. Hopefully, we can maintain stability, bring back a few "old school" contributors, and continue to attract newer members. I originally misread your recent post. I thought you have written, "I tend to poop [!] in once in awhile." 😱 I thought you were referring to your original post. It's late here. Time for bed. guy also known as gaius

Author and UNRV contributor Ben Kane wrote a very nice article in the September 2018 issue of "History Revealed" magazine entitled "Empires at War: Rome vs Greece: How the Ancient World was Rocked by a Clash of Superpowers in 197 BC." This article examines the background history of tensions and eventual conflict between Macedon and the Roman Republic. Mr. Kane also examines the rivalry between Philip V of Macedon and the vainglorious Roman general Titus Quinctius Flamininus. Despite the fact that "History Revealed" is not a scholarly publication, many articles are informative and richly illustrated. Mr. Kane's article is no exception. This article has some enjoyable and succinct insights: "When the Second Punic War started in 218 BC, the Roman Republic was one of the smallest of the five major powers around the Mediterranean. Half a century later, the situation had changed beyond recognition. Just two factions remained: weak and unstable Ptolemaic Egypt and the ascendant Roman Republic. Remarkably, the three that had fallen -- Carthage, Macedon and the Seleucid Empire -- had all been beaten by Rome in War." Recommend highly. guy also known as gaius Addendum: As mentioned in the article, Flamininus stuck gold staters with his portrait and his name. He was the first Roman in history to mint coins with his own portrait as "it showed aspirations toward kingship." T. Quinctius Flamininus, Consul in 198 B.C., Gold Stater (8.44 g 12 h), Chalkis (?) mint, c. 196 B.C. Obverse: Bare head of Titus Quinctius Flamininus right Reverse: T.QVINCTI (upwards) Nike standing left, holding wreath over name with her right hand and palm branch with her left. (Source: Imagine from the British Museum, attribution from wildwinds.com.)

When considering appearance of Italians, it is better to consider the genetic makeup. Even today, Italians seem to have a unique genetic makeup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_history_of_Italy https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/science/13visual.html?_r=0 I found this quote rather shocking: So, despite the many barbarian invasions from the North, there appears to be very little outside impact on the genetic mix, except in the far South of Italy where the Greek influence (which mostly predated the Germanic invasions) is unmistakable. So, my guess is that modern Italians would be larger today because of diet and the increased opportunity to find a mate from outside one's immediate village. I would imagine, however, that the typical Italian today looks very similar (although larger in stature) to the average Ancient Roman from 1800 years ago. guy also known as gaius Addendum: I think genetic testing is making us all more humble, forcing us to realize our common humanity. I had to explain to one friend who was "100% Mexican" why her genetic testing results showed at least 25% Italian (as well as 40% Iberian as well as smaller percentages of Native American and African). She was surprised to learn that there wasn't a "Mexican" gene. Another friend who was "pure Italian" was shocked and disappointed to learn that she was mostly Greek, with some smallers percentage of African and Italian.

Interesting stuff. Reading Wikipedia (source of a lot of misinformation), I see that the Neapolitan Mastiff is a close relative. Not a cute and cuddly looking pet, I must say. guy also known as gaius

Another thoughtful critical review of Catherine Nixey's "The Darkening Age": https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/08/book-review-the-darkening-age-catherine-nixey-christians-and-antiquity/

I am always disturbed by this brutal and powerful quote by Cassius Dio describing Roman history after the death of the stoic Emperor Marcus Aurelius: [O]ur history now descends from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust .... Now some context: Cassius Dio was a Roman statesman and historian of Greek descent (155-235 AD). He was also a senator under Commodus. Cassius Dio, therefore, got to witness many events and historical figures upclose. He made this quote in his extensive "Roman History," writing about the death of Marcus Aurelius, the last of the "Five Good Emperors." With the death of the thoughtful and measured Aurelius, his psychopathic son Commodus game to power. The quote in its entirety: guy also known as gaius http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/72*.html

That was a very interesting and informative interview. Thank you. I, too, enjoy the writing of Ammianus Marcellinus. It is his writing that inspires me to learn more about the rather dreadful history of late Roman Empire. I wish you continued success with your work. These are two of Ammianus' many quotes that haunt me:

Assuming your question is sincere, I recommend putting the poster on a foam board. It is great for display and teaching purposes:

On another site, others (including UNRV members) answered a very similar question (possibly yours). http://historum.com/european-history/124788-why-italy-so-weak-compared-her-predecessors-roman-empire.html I do not believe in ethnic or racial superiority. That said, cultural institutions are very important. There would be no reason, therefore, to think that an Italian citizen from Rome in 1888 would be exactly the same as a Roman citizen from 118 AD as the cultural milieus and historical contexts are very different. Similarly, a modern educated citizen of Mexico would be quite different from a a bloodthirsty resident of the Aztec Empire in Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City) in 1500. Mussolini tried to reinvigorate mythology of ancient Roman values. Superficially, at least, he was able to create the facade of a new "Roman Empire." Unfortunately for him, he was not confronted with the usually-disorganized and poorly-coordinated barbarian incursion. He faced, instead, the disciplined and lethal onslaught of a professional and technologically advanced Allied military. Did not end up well for him. guy also known as gaius

There is no simple answer to a very complicated question. Basically, you are asking why Italian unification (Il Risorgimento) has taken many decades and is (in many ways culturally, at least) still in progress. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_unification It is thought that only 2.5% of Italians could speak Italian at the time on Italian unification in 1861. Most people spoke a regional dialect unintelligible to other regional dialects. Over simplistically, I would say there has been no nation identity. Since the collapse of the Rome Empire there have been rival city states, foreign intervention (most notably French and Austrian), as well as a Church that had interjected itself into regional politics. These factors help explain Italy's relatively late formation of a nation state in 1871. As late as 1975, more than half the households in Italy spoke a dialect at home and not standard Italian. This lack of national identity still affects Italy today. As an Italian cousin told me, the only time the Italians feel united as a country is when they win the World Cup in Soccer. A good read on the subject is Christopher's "The Force of Destiny: A History of Italy since 1796." guy also known as gaius

Namque pauci libertatem, pars magna iustos dominos volunt. Only a few prefer liberty, the majority seek nothing more than fair masters. Histories IV.69.18 Gaius Sallustius Crispus (Sallust) As I get older, this quote resonates with me more and more. Sallust (85-35 BCE) was a novus homo, politician, bitter rival of Cicero, and an opportunist. He befriended Julius Caesar, acquiring great wealth as a result of his friendship. He was also one of ancient Rome's greatest historians. I am not certain how Sallust developed his skeptical philosophy about liberty, however. Being a supporter of Caesar, he acquired great personal wealth (most probably unscrupulously) from his tenure as governor of the province of Africa Nova at Numidia. This allowed Sallust to escape to an involuntary but luxurious retirement in Rome where Sallust could dedicate himself to writing his famous works on Roman history, including accounts about the Cataline War, the Jugurthine War, and finally the Historiae (Histories). Interesting quote: http://canterburyproject.wikispaces.com/Africa+in+Sallust's+Bellum+Jugurthinum This quote has been inspirational to both early 17th century English republicans and modern libertarians, movements associated with a skeptical view of authoritarian and arbitrary government. I wonder, however, how many of these folks realize that its author was a beneficiary of the type of corruption that this quote seems to condemn. guy also known as gaius Addendum: I was interested to see that Sallust's Gardens (where he did much of his writing after his comfortable retirement from government) still exists. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardens_of_Sallust

I appreciate the information and insight. Maybe some of our more knowledgeable contributors can add something to the discussion as your research far exceeds anything I might know or understand. guy also known as gaius

I'll study the site this weekend. Looks interesting. Have you read Michael Kulikowski's "Rome's Gothic Wars"? I vaguely remember that I liked it, but that was years ago. I still have a difficult time grasping the supposed division of the Goths into the two groups: Visigoths and Ostrogoths. I found this response below to the debate interesting, but not completely convincing: https://www.quora.com/Why-did-the-Goths-split-into-the-Visigoths-and-the-Ostrogoths A similar opinion about the separation of the Goths into two groups: https://www.ancient.eu/Goths/ Any thoughts? guy also known as gaius

I can't comment on Wootz steel. However, the best source of steel for the Roman Empire was Noricum, the Celtic Kingdom located in modern Austria and Slovenia. We have had a few interesting threads on Ancient Roman Steel: http://www.ancientcoingallery.net/categories?Title=Noricum&Category=Celtic https://books.google.com/books?id=OLQ2CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT240&lpg=PT240&dq=the+chalybs+Noricus&source=bl&ots=UdUn88t88T&sig=XZDKlwH53JE1tpoScYiQIWbnqAQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv_Mrl-uXbAhVNtlkKHQk5BaUQ6AEIWjAD#v=onepage&q=the chalybs Noricus&f=false guy also known as gaius

I'm not a coin collector. I'll give this my best guess, however. Your coin is probably a Maximinus Thrax sestertius: Maximinus I AE Sestertius. IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust seen from the back / VICTORIA AVG, S-C, Victory walking right, holding wreath and palm. RIC 88; Cohen 103. See RIC 88 in the list: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/maximinus_I/t.html (A similar coin to the one you presented.) I imagine that your coin would go for anywhere from $20-45. guy also known as gaius

Here is a video description of the battle: