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Crispina

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Posts posted by Crispina

  1. Has anyone watched it on Starz! or Encore? It premiered last week and I DVR'd it but haven't had the time to sit down for the 2 hours and watch it. The book is right at the top of my list of historical fictions and I'm hoping the show stays true (as much as possible of course) to Follet's original text.

     

    In any case, between HBO's Rome, The Tudors, Spartacus and this recent production, there's no shortage of historical related television in the last few years.

     

     

    I didn't know anything about the series until it was mentioned on another site, so I watched the first two episodes on On Demand. I didn't care for it, the costumes and sets were done well; but the acting and script were not the greatest. Also, haven't read the books.

  2. 7 - "No connection. I knew these things were a stupid barbarian idea. Break out the signal flags lads, and get someone up on that hill"

     

    8 - "Umm?.. Oh, it's tablet game... Total Anhilation:Rome. Can't seem to get past the fourth level..."

     

    9 - "You know, if Spartacus sends me one more text, I swear I'll crucify him when I catch him"

     

     

     

    Number 9 - :lol:

  3. A friend of mine took this photo recently around the Coliseum. While I lack any sense of creativity whatsoever, I thought maybe some of you could come up with an entertaining caption...post-3-1280258489_thumb.jpg

     

     

     

    Cassius with cellphone: "Better call that twerp Caligula and find out what the new watchword is today, and it better not be "Give us a kiss"."

  4. I am very curious how the Romans cleaned themselves. I always read about people using oil -sometimes perfumed oil, but still fundamentally just plain olive oil- which they would rub on and after a while remove by gently scraping it off with a small piece of wood.

     

    Would this really remove much dirt from your body? Did Romans have any material other than oil that would have been more useful in removing oil and dirt from the skin? In public baths, would all of this oil not mess up the pools extremely quickly? Was this oil really just olive oil, or am I mistaken with regards to its composition?

     

    And most importantly, has anyone here tried to bathe like the Romans?

     

     

    No, but I've walked like an Egyptian. Sorry. I've wondered about the oil thing too, but perhaps this was done before the bath (in water). Over time, it would have softened the skin that is for certain.

  5. The corrupt Emperor Tiberius forces his bravest general, Marcus, to subdue the monstrous Cyclops that has been decimating the countryside. Once the Cyclops is brought to the dungeons, Marcus is forced to fight in the gladiatorial games. Eventually, he and the Cyclops become allies and they fight together to defeat the corrupt Emperor and his evil nephew, along with the beautiful barbarian Barbara.

     

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210344/plotsummary

     

    Facepalm_by_Rolzor.gif

     

     

    What? Now wait a minute, I could have sworn Centurion Marcus Romulus got the ole' thumbs down by Cyclops; or perhaps you are right and there was a general named Marcus not the Centurion. Who is Barbara the Barbarian? Now look what you have done - forcing me to watch it again! UGH! :lol:

  6. There were Cyclops during Augustus's reign?

     

    They must have fought for the Republican forces against Octavian. It's well established in The Odyssey that Cyclops thumb their noses at too much authority.

     

     

    Good observation! Too funny.

  7. Not sure where this movie topic belongs, but it definitely had Romans in it! I came in for a break from yard work and flipped on the TV. SciFi channel was on with a movie called "Cyclops". One character exclaims: "....but the last Cyclops was killed by Augustus years ago!". Hmmmm. There were Cyclops during Augustus's reign? And Anthony Edwards as Tiberius? Oh, brother. The movie was horrible, the actors too. I couldn't pull myself away until I saw the gladiator Centurion Romulus fight the Cyclops in the arena. The centurion was killed - head eaten off. He was the main character I thought.

     

    The set and the costumes (not sure if they were authentic) looked great,tho. Don't know how it ended as I went back out to finish the mowing. I was just curious if anyone else has seen this movie, or perhaps it's already been discussed here.

  8. I have a list with 20 titles in this series, 21 if you include "Falco - The Official Companion(2010)". Seems there was a book written (or published) every year beginning with 1989 until 2010, with the exception of the years 2006 and 2008 unless I missed finding those titles.

     

    Right now I'm re-reading "I, Claudius" and then want to begin "Claudius, The God" which I have never read but have had an old copy on the shelf for years.

    And are the stories reoccurring in these 21 titles?

     

    ~I have never heard of those books. What aspect of Claudius do they cover?

     

    I haven't read any of the Davis novels, but from the titles it appears to be a new story with each one? The first five seem to revolve around a certain metal! :ph34r: Example: "The Silver Pigs", "Shadows in Bronze", "Venus in Copper", "The Iron Hand of Mars", "Poseidon's Gold". Two sound particularly interesting: "Three Hands in the Fountain" and "A Body in the Bath house" !

     

    I, Claudius by Robert Graves - Emperor Claudius's life as told by himself. I assumed it was non-fiction, until I found out otherwise on this forum. Most of the facts are real, it's just in the telling that it becomes embellished. Well, the Masterpiece Theater production was base on it - that was my introduction years ago. The sequel, "Claudius, The God" I haven't read yet but pretty sure the story resumes after he becomes emperor(?).

  9. I absolutely love this series. I got lucky. Our local half price bookstore near the Uni had most of the books for sale, and signed at that! So I purchased them. Its a great read, and she never ceases to amaze me with her witty style. I am almost finished with A Dying Light in Corduba.

    Does the series get repetitive after a while? I understand there are a lot of books in the series.

     

     

    I have a list with 20 titles in this series, 21 if you include "Falco - The Official Companion(2010)". Seems there was a book written (or published) every year beginning with 1989 until 2010, with the exception of the years 2006 and 2008 unless I missed finding those titles.

     

    Right now I'm re-reading "I, Claudius" and then want to begin "Claudius, The God" which I have never read but have had an old copy on the shelf for years.

  10. I think it's a nice idea, Viggen.

     

    great! :)

     

    I keep them now on top of the post so they are all in one place and easy to spot and select...

     

    ...added

    Apicius

    Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome

    APICIUS.pdf

     

     

     

    Thank you!

     

    You are welcome Crispina;

     

    added

    Caesar, Julius

    "De Bello Gallico" and Other Commentaries

    Caesar.pdf

     

     

    Wouldn't it be wonderful to attempt to re-create these recipes one by one, just like the heroine in "Julie and Julia"?- she cooking her way through Julia Child's French cookbook. What an adventure - even more of an adventure finding Apicius's ingredients!

  11. Archaeologists have unearthed a beautifully preserved Etruscan house in western Italy in the first ever discovery of its kind. The 2,400-year-old building, uncovered at the archaeological site of Vetulonia near the Tuscan coast, is one of only a handful of Etruscan homes ever found. Nearly everything known about Etruscans has come from their extensive network of tombs. The remarkable condition of the house makes the discovery even more exceptional, say experts...

     

    ...read the full article at ANSA

     

     

    It's so interesting, I wish I could see this building. Thanks for posting, I love coming here and reading these threads.

     

    Excuse me for being OT, but what the h-- is this?! http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/photogaller...1818761070.html

  12. We are happy to announce that we are giving away one copy of Rome: Caput Mundi Capitol of the World, just post below that you would like to be included in the lucky draw.

    The winner will be chosen randomly from all replies, deadline is the 6th of June 2010.

     

    Good Luck!

     

     

    ROME: CAPUT MUNDI Capitol of the World by Peter Melaragno

    Product Description - ROME: CAPUT MUNDI Capitol of the World. FIVE stars; TWO shows; 108 minutes. 58 min for the History then a 50-min step-by-step Walking Tour by a filmmaker who actually gave walking tours of Rome. Plus your own 60-page Pocket Guide to carry with you. This 2-part DVD is a WALKERS HISTORY OF ROME that prepares you for YOUR visit. The FIRST VIDEO is 58 minutes. It sets the thematic scale of your visit and touches on all the historical layers: the pre-historic, Etruscan, Imperial Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, and the modern. But it is the SECOND VIDEO of 50 minutes that explores the city as organically as a WALKING VISITOR does. It takes you STEP BY STEP (take a right; take a left) to all the important sites and offers suggestions for EATING AND LODGING. Included in the DVD case is a specially designed 60-page POCKET GUIDE to carry with you on your tour. It has a centerfold MAP and is coordinated with the 50-minute WALKING VIDEO. And if this is not enough, once you purchase, I will send you a LINK where you can DOWNLOAD your own MPEG-4 version of the WALKING TOUR. Install it on your IPOD or other video device and carry it with you to Rome. All cities are layer cakes stacked with detail. Rome is the most deeply layered of all. Few major cities offer the WALKING VISITOR such a spectrum of choice and most of it is free and out in the open. Let CAPUT MUNDI show you the way. Buon Viaggio!

     

    Yes please add me too!

     

    I, Crispina, say YES.

  13. The Silver Pigs by Linsey Davis. I surprisingly like the book, as it offers a change from Roman legionary stories. I like a bit of variety.

     

     

    Did you purchase the book or find it available at a library? I printed out the list of Davis' books and had planned to seek them out in the order published, but haven't gotten the chance. Hopefully, the library can find some for me.

    I bought it over in Germany, but I only read it since I got back.

     

    Have you read any of the series?

     

     

    No, not yet.

  14. The Silver Pigs by Linsey Davis. I surprisingly like the book, as it offers a change from Roman legionary stories. I like a bit of variety.

     

     

    Did you purchase the book or find it available at a library? I printed out the list of Davis' books and had planned to seek them out in the order published, but haven't gotten the chance. Hopefully, the library can find some for me.

  15. I forgot to mention, "The Roman Empresses" by Robert Graves. My very first non-fiction(?) book about Rome.

     

    Right now I'm on the third chapter of "Eagle in The Snow". Hey - no blood, guts, short sword thrusts or decapitations so far! Just when I was getting used to all that after finishing Scarrow's Under the Eagle series. :) Not to mention it is 400AD now.

  16. I ordered a paperback of Eagle of the Snow last night online because of this thread. I was having a difficult time deciding which book(s) to read next (until Scarrow comes out with another with my heroes, Macro and Cato). May still go to the library and see if they can find some Lindsey Davis books for me, as I know they don't have them on their shelves.

     

    Of course Centurion Macro, you know I loved Eagle of the Ninth. It was my first introduction to Roman historical fiction.

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