GhostOfClayton

Did the Flavians invent it?

Simple answer. Yes. A cache of armour parts were unearthed at Corbridge.

Hi, Crispina. I have one of Commodus. For technical reasons I can't post here, but I'm sure I got it Googling 'Commodus' and going to images. If you struggle, feel free to PM me.

I give talks to various societies - there are loads of them and they're always looking for speakers. They don't pay much, but every little helps during the quiet season. They really aren't after a dry, academic lecture, and the best way to educate is to entertain. I can assure you though that dumming down isn't on my radar. Make em laugh and make em think. Then they ask you back again.

This is good too: http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/year7links/doneforuse.html

An interesting resource: try looking up the following on Wikipedia (no URL I'm afraid. I only use the mobile app): Legacy of the Roman Empire

Tour Guides are a varied lot, with a very varied remit. We can lead tours where our role is to tell people about stuff, or tours where we're purely there to look after the clients and make sure they have a safe and enjoyable (in that order) holiday/day out. . . . And obviously most tours fall on a point between those two extremes. It's always worth bearing in mind that 99.9% of punters have only a non-academic interest in what they're seeing, and are there to be entertained. We aren't lecturers, we're story tellers, and I feel it's ok to give a more entertaining version of the truth. That said, it has to be soundly based in truth, and not a total fairy tale about headless statues. Sadly, Tour Guides' notes are a great place for perpetuating that kind of hogwash (good choice of word, Artimi). If a story sounds good, Tour Guides will put it in the notes for future guides, and future Tour Guides will read it, like it, and tell it. It would be great if all Tour Guides had an academic background, and verified their sources, but they don't.

I've just about wrung all the cash I can out of my current batch of presentations (thanks to UNRV members for the Top Ten Roman Atrocities, by the way, it has been going down a storm), so I've turned my mind to coming up with another. I suppose the clue is in the title of this thread. I know we did a thread many years ago on the same subject, but if I'm honest, I can't seem to find it; and a lot of water has flown under the bridge since then, and we have a lot of new blood with refreshing and interesting perspectives. That thread (do post a URL if you stumble upon it) examined all the different things the Romans are reputed to have introduced, concluding that they didn't actually bring that much to the table. Mostly they just distributed existing technologies. Anyway, let's give the question another outing, shall we. I'm looking for things that fall broadly into two categories: 1. Things the Romans actually did for us 2. Things we think the Romans did for us, but somebody else did it, and the Romans only brought it to the party. Ready? Go for it.

Good point. It would be easy to draw up a grid for a quick game of Ludus, then reset for your Shopping List app when the market opens.

Nephele used to do these. They were called blanagrams if you need a search term. They're like an anagram, but you can substitute a single letter.

I should just correct you for the record, Onsander. The Battle of Hastings took place at what is now the imaginatively named town of Battle, which is in England. Anyone wishing to visit the battle site should visit Battle Abbey. Here you can take an very good audio tour around the battle site and the hill you mentioned. It has my personal recomendation for a pleasant afternoon out.

Mason's mark? There are plenty of other examples from the church at the end of the Alyscamps in Arles, to examples along Hadrian's Wall.

Maybe it's something to do with a show of power over a slave? Especially in front of dinner guests?

The guy who showed us round Herculaneum was one of the top men there. He suggested IIII was used by the less educated, and IV by the more so.

Interesting article, Guy.

I always assumed it was Yule EE oos But I'm not any kind of expert.

I always assumed it was Yule EE oos But I'm not any kind of expert.

Talk to anyone in Northumberland, site of much of Hadrian

Cambridge is about three hours away (by train or car) from home. However There's a chance I'll be working away in early November . . . Probably nearer to you than Cambridge, Crispina.

Wish I could be in Cambridge on the 2nd November.

Thanks very much, Guys. You've given me quite a lot to process, research and itinerise (is that a word?) Everyone else can feel free to add their pearls of wisdom, by the way.

An aside, but how was the exhibition? I have tickets for 20th September.

The UK version was a one off. If you have a look back through the 'Coming Up Next' topic, you won't have to go back too far to find a review. Sorry, can't insert a link using this iPhone app.

I'll bump this thread, as I intend to visit Rome in 2014 (50th birthday treat). It looks like I'll get 6 full days. bryaxis Hecatee has already outlined some excellent ideas for places to visit, but it has left me with a number of practical questions: I'll either arrive by air or rail. If I arrive by air, what

Best of luck. I wish I had the time and/or the remaining brain cells.