guy

Here's a nice follow-up article. The attached video is interesting. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11247135/Colosseum-to-come-alive-again-2000-years-after-the-gladiators.html guy also known as gaius

I don't know whether this story is a hoax or not. It seems more than a little bit unbelievable: https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/colosseum-ancient-ruin-modern-venue-150644620--finance.html guy also known as gaius

I, too, finished the sixth (and final) week of the course. I thought it was a fine review about the scholarship and research involving Hadrian's Wall. The final week initially dealt with Hadrian's Wall during the late fourth and fifth century. A video showed the commanding officer's residence in a fort along the Wall having been converted to a church during this period. The course then followed the fate of the Wall after the fall of the Roman Empire. It also described the research involved in the Wall's excavation and scholarship. Overall, it was a light, usually entertaining review of Hadrian's Wall. guy also known as gaius

I completed week five "Conflict, consolidation and renaissance: life on the Wall in the 3rd and 4th centuries." This week was a little disjointed. Then again, any study of the turbulent and unstable third and fourth century would be a little confusing. Topics ranged from the Romano-Gallic Empire of Postumus to the Britannic Empire of Caruasius. To add to the diversity of topics, there was an interesting 4th century banquet and a section on numismatics. There was also a section on the presence of Septimius Severus at the wall. There was a mention of this famous anecdote: This lack of focus may have created some confusion. Nevertheless, this has been an interesting course. The last week will soon be available to be reviewed. In answer to the above question, it seems most these courses are offered again. I recommend this course (and others) as a quick and inexpensive (free) review of Roman history. guy also known as gaius

The fourth week of this six week course is now underway. This week's subject was "Ritual, Religion and the Roman Wall." Of course, the presentation has to be somewhat superficial given the time restraints. That said, there was an interesting presentation about the alters to the cult of Mithras found at Hadrian's Wall. I presented this video and link for further background: The sacrifice of bulls was also important in the other great Eastern mystery religion of the Roman Empire known as the cult of Magna Mater (Cybele or Great Mother). Here's a powerful depiction from HBO's "Rome" series of the religious rite of Magna Mater called taurobolium, the baptism in the blood of a sacrificed bull : (Click on the link in the video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUdxy836WY4 Here's an interesting summary of these two mystery religions: http://courses.ttu.edu/gforsyth/3302cp/20.htm guy also known as gaius

Discussed in lesson three is the very poignant tombstone of Regina found near Hadrian's Wall: http://www2.cnr.edu/home/araia/regina.html http://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/1065 Regina was a freed slave born into the British tribe of Catuvellauni. She married Barates, her former master from Palmyra. She died young, beloved and mourned by her husband. The majority of the epitaph is in Latin The last line of her epitaph, however, is Barates' final heartbreaking lament in his native Palmyrene and reads: Regina, freedwoman of Barate, alas. Line 1: D(IS) M(ANIBVS) REGINA LIBERTA ET CONIVGE Line 2: BARATES PALMYRENVS NATIONE Line 3: CATVALLAVNA AN(NORVM) XXX Line 4: (Palmyrene script) RGYN’ BT HRY ‘T’ HBL Line 1: To the spirits of the departed (and to) Regina, his freedwoman and wife Line 2: Barates, a Palmyrene (set this up) Line 3: (Regina was) Catuvellaunian by tribe, aged 30 Line 4: Regina, the freedwoman of Barate, alas These two people, separated by birth (Syria and Britannia) and class (a former slave and a wealthy merchant or soldier) were united by love in a very diverse Roman Empire. This touching tombstone to Regina is a lasting monument to their love. guy also known as gaius

The third week of the course is now up and running. Good stuff. This week is a description of everyday life in a frontier community. Someone posted a link to the BCC show Time Team's visit to Hadrian's Wall. It's very interesting. guy also known as gaius

guy also known as gaius

Question: On the course about Hadrian's Wall, the instructor keeps referring to the wall as "Rome's most heavily defended border." I'm a little skeptical. I imagine that there were other sections of the border (perhaps in Germany or the border with the Sassanians) that were at least "more militarized" with less active trade and commerce. I know that Rome's official presence was almost three centuries at Hadrian's Wall so it's hard to generalize throughout its entire existence. Thoughts? guy also known as gaius

One student of the course supplied this interesting link to Roman military diplomas: http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryDiploma1a.html Here's a interesting page from the link of some of the military diplomas: http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryDiploma-3.html#Africa guy also known as gaius

The second week of the course about Hadrian's Wall began this week. Much of it would be basic review for many of the people at UNRV since it mostly deals with military life. The section on military diplomas was very interesting, however: There was a section on the Notitia Dignitatum, a document that describes administrative organization in the Roman Empire (including military units). It was thought to be written in the 420's after Roman Britain had formally collapsed. Surprisingly, this document still lists units deployed in Britain, obviously information gathered before AD 410 when Roman Britain officially ended. (click to enlarge the image) All in all, this course has been a good review with some interesting information. I recommend anyone interested in Roman history (and with the time) to register for it. guy also known as gaius

"Just another coin hoard found," but an exciting one, nevertheless. http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2014/09/treasure-hunter-discovers-hoard-of.html http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/32520 guy also known as gaius (Thanks to Mat from Cointalk.com)

Interesting article. One had to scroll down on this link to find it, however: http://www.coinweek.com/featured-news/ancient-coins-coinage-barbarian-invaders/ guy also known as gaius

Wow, not just a little out of my league. Why the unusual picture of Augustus in the article? Am I missing something? guy also known as gaius

I agree that the lectures on the Vindolanda tablets (1-10 thru 1-14) were great. Here's a link to an old post concerning legionary health using the Vindolanda tablets online resource: http://www.unrv.com/forum/topic/11738-vindolanda-tablets-glimpse-of-legionary-health/ guy also known as gaius

Here's what I wrote at another site about the expected election results.

From the reading material: Or that was how Domitian has been traditionally described. Domitian, like Nero, has undergone a reevaluation, however. http://www.unrv.com/forum/topic/17798-good-nero-article-in-national-geographic-sept-2014/ From Wikipedia (surprisingly good): It's hard to imagine that Domitian's reign would have lasted fifteen years if everything his critics (sponsored by the Senate and the aristocrats) had said about him was true. guy also known as gaius

So far, I think they have done an excellent job. This course will hopefully bring enthusiasm to the study of Ancient Rome. I've had a few petty quibbles, however. They present two sculptures and ask "Which is the real Hadrian?" (Click to enlarge) Their answer is the Hadrian on the right in military garb. The explanation: Fair enough, but when examining the many numismatic images, Hadrian is usually presented as a bearded philosopher (the first emperor to routinely have a beard, by the way) and not a military general. http://wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/t.html Maybe (and just maybe) the problem is with the artist doing the sculpture and not those who did the numerous coin dies of Hadrian. Good stuff, though. If there is more interest, I will comment further. I do recommend the course highly. One goes at his or her own pace. And remember...it's free. guy also known as gaius

I'm looking forward to the course (if I can find the time). Here's part of the introduction I already received: The price is right (free) and it looks like the instructors are knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Anyone else here signed up? guy also known as gaius

Thanks for the alert. I enrolled. I will let you know. The course begins September 22. guy also known as gaius

I assume you wrote this to be more provocative than anything else. I recommend your reading Sir Basil Henry Liddell Hart's "Scipio Africanus: Greater Than Napoleon." Although dated (written in 1926, a few years after the horrors and slaughter of World War I), the author makes the point that although the sources are limited, Scipio was not only a great general but also a diplomat and a humane visionary. Famous generals such as Alexander and Napoleon were essentially self-serving dictators who did not have to deal with a bickering Roman Republican Senate while they we away in battle. I read this book years ago and I would recommend this book highly. One reviewer for the book put it this way: Another reviewer of the book wrote: I have no expertise in military matters, so I will defer to military experts on this forum. War, however, has costs far greater than casualties on the field. Scipio, at least, strove to maintain stability in the Roman Republic instead of just trying to achieve personal glory and riches at the cost of the Roman Republic. guy also known as gaius

Groundskeeper Willie has a few things to say prior to the Sept 18 Scottish election: guy also known as gaius

Are there any Scots amongst us? guy also known as gaius

Good article: http://online.wsj.com/articles/masterpiece-ponte-rotto-in-rome-1409959743 guy also known as gaius

Here's a thread I created almost three years ago concerning another coin that challenged accepted historical dating: http://www.unrv.com/forum/topic/14957-temple-mount-in-jerusalem-coin-find-sheds-light/ guy also known as gaius