jugurtha

(deleted) not happy with it - JUG

I'm reading up on Nero lately and the further I go the more I wonder why there hasn't been a movie about the life of Agrippina (the younger). I know Georg Friedrich H

Although that would seem to be the line (Ihr seid verfluchte Hunde), it is just ridiculous to assume that that is what it should sound like. The line mentioned above, and maybe the one used in the film sounds like modern German, New High German. I don't think German people of today would understand the ancient "Germans". The language has changed throughout the centuries and has known several soundshifts resulting in the Germanic languages we know today (see link - the eastern Germanic languages are extinct now). Germanic language tree - JUG

OMFG (Oh My Freakin' God) Didn't know that you got it back! That's just sheer absurdity. It's like the cufflings of the captain of the Titanic running ashore AD 2104. - JUG

The map has now arrived as well! (went smoother than the last time, eh ) - JUG

Just thought I'd say that I have received the book and the coin. Thanks again. the book looks really promising! - JUG

I'm glad to see people enjoying the poem. It's such a difficult genre. And no, you can't put prose and poetry in the same contest. Many people dislike poetry, for many reasons. I can't blame them, actually. It's such a small difference between a good poem and sheer rhyming. I personally try to avoid rhyme in a poem and try to focus more on the metrum. It's a matter of taste, I guess. Then again, an epic poem needs rhyme and this one clearly did the job. Maybe the next writing contest could focus on poetry? And after that, a comedy contest ... please. - JUG

Nr 3 is actually a very good story, if the structure were different it would've been the winner. We were asked to write a short story, so the "in medias res" intro is a must. Excellent start! I tried the same thing but failed to drag the reader into the story (that story was part of something I wrote earlier and it shows). Going into a wide shot is an excellent way to introduce the surroundings and zoom back into the protagonist's feelings. The presentation of the main character is good. You get to know his thoughts, some insight into his character but not too much ... this is not a novel. The instruction part I like least. It's too schematic, sounds like a RPGgame instruction. Might've been better if you'd made a complete flashback, including the thoughts of the protagonist at the time. The link with present-day findings is a good one, but - hey, it's only me ... don't lynch me - I would've started with it. Give the reader an enigma and solve it at the end of the story. - JUG (not a fair second, if you ask me)

That's some excellent writing, Lee! Very funny too! Read all the entries and I must say you can actually sense the joy people had when writing this stuff. I'd definitely want to see more of those. Especially liked the epic poem. That genre is really hard to write and keep it interesting. Thank you for the appreciation. Prizes: er ... the pocket guide to Roman Wales and the Commodus denarius, if possible. (Excellent prizes by the way!) - JUG

Indeed, and may I add that they were a success amongst my colleagues? I might place a new order in the near future. (I even had to give up my own map ) Major compliments about the modern look of the map (although I like old maps myself, I hear that history and Latin teachers feel the need to clear the dust from their subjects and a modern look is definitely/finally becoming part of that process.) Keep up the good work. - JUG

Excellent source material there. - JUG

Hehe, saw the series a few months ago on BBC. I think it is great entertainment. I'm looking forward to this game too ... but I do hope the system requirements don't spoil the fun, even though I have AMD XP 2600+ and a midrange graphics card, especially when talking about multiplayer battles. I'll be happy if I can play singleplayer though. - JUG

Sounds fishy. - JUG

I'd like to, but I haven't received it yet. Close to six weeks now. - JUG

And here it is.

As a matter of fact, Dr. Graham Anderson from the university of Leiden has found evidence for the Arthurian story that goes way back. The first proto-Arthur would appear to have lived in the Bronze Age, another was a Turk from the eighth century. I'll see if I can find time to translate the entire article on his book but it appears that the story of Arthur could actually be one that was constructed through the ages in different cultures. The story as we know it today (the medieval form) would then be just the end result of a pretty ancient tradition. The onomastic evidence is massive, referring to the same meaning of the name Arthur throughout ages and cultures - the original Arthur being king Arkas (later Arkturus) (King bear) who ruled the kingdom of Arkadia in Southern Greece. He lived in an ancient city called "the table" and had a weapon called Kalabros. This is one of those striking linguistic evidences that only become clear when you know that Excalibur was originally called Caliburnus. Anyhoo, I'll try and post the entire article when I can. - JUG

Y Chromosome Evidence for Anglo-Saxon Mass Migration But

Marcus Aurelius died, possibly of the plague, at a military encampment at Bononia on the Danube on 17 March 180 AD, leaving the Roman Empire to his nineteen-year-old son. Upon hearing of his father's death, Commodus made preparations for Marcus' funeral, made concessions to the northern tribes, and made haste to return back to Rome in order to enjoy peace after nearly two decades of war. Commodus, and much of the Roman army behind him, entered the capital on 22 October, 180 in a triumphal procession, receiving a hero's welcome. As you can see, the movie took some liberties there. It's very important to remember you are watching fiction (probably more than you would like). It's probably also best to remember that - unlike in the movie - Commodus was initially not that bad an emperor. He probably got a tad mad with power later on, being locked up in his imperial utopia surrounded by leaches. I think it's the (fictional !) oedipus motive in the movie script that led Joaquin Phoenix to portray Commodus as the emotionally troubled youngster. As far as I can recall, they called him Spaniard, so Spain should be a close guess. No Greek cities in Spain, although they may have had some trade centers in the vincinity at some stage. I'll leave the rest for someone else. - JUG PS: btw, there was a Spanish emperor at some time, no? Who was he again (too lazy to look it up)?

When the summer holidays kick in I might be able to write a short history of the fort from Hadrian's day till the fifth century. I'll use Breeze and Dobson's "Hadrian's wall" as resource. Would that be welcome? - JUG

Hehe, guess I was right after all! Funny reference to the Sex Pistols reunion in Jones' reply there if you ask me - intended or not. - JUG

Iron age Joan of Arc?

Controversy around the new Mel Gibson Flick THE PASSION OF CHRIST has brought about a fresh theatre release of the Python cult movie THE LIFE OF BRIAN! Teasers already offer potential moviegoers the choice between "the Passion or the Python?" So far the release is only planned for the US I believe. I think this re-release is really only for those who REALLY like the Pythons. If you DO decide to go however, be prepared for the hardliners to shout some excellent oneliners even before they hit the screen! (remember the stage shows!) You might be in for a load of fun though! (bring some beers!) On a personal note I'd like to add that this would mean a final closure on the controversy that surrounded the movie - for the Pythons themselves that is. The Pythons had always been very clear that the movie was not about Christ but about a poor sod who is mistaken for the Messiah. Jesus actually appears briefly at the beginning of the movie. This is however not the way church officials and some fanatics saw it, with all known consequences (poor Michael Palin). On the other hand, this could just be a stunt and we might see the Pythons come into action to prevent this from happening. - JUG

Nice to see a fellow Belgian on board. Welcome! Oudenburg (near Ostend) is about the nearest roman site to my place. Always wanted to go to Tongeren though, but it's so far away .. I just don't find the time to go. - JUG

Pfrt, crucifixion's a doddle! - JUG

Yes, please do ... I am very interested in the Civil War! :punk: