dianamt54

I like that one also! Funny!

Being such a Russell Crowe fan, I have not seen it yet. Not a movie to see with kids around.

I had a problem with this book. I could not get use to Caesar being called Julius. Caesar had two sisters, he was not an only child. If there were no sisters, there was no Atia, and then there would be no Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. I know this is an old thread . Just had too!

I am getting on my speaker's corner box: I was just wondering, what do you think about the controversary? I don't believe that the Olympics should have ever been awarded to China. I am not sure what China presented to the Olympic committee, but what ever the Chinese presented the committee was impressed. If certain countries or people want to protest, that is fine, but no violent. Not trying to grab the flame from the runners hand. The runners have been training for this day. They are honored to carry the flame. My mom told me that some where that the protesters turned their back when the person carrying the flame ran by. If China is being blamed for violence, what does that say about the protesters and violence? I hope that everything goes well in China. Can coutries really keep politics and sports separate?

I just keep this in mind, if the meteorologist can't perdict the weather for tomorrow, how can they perdict the weather in 100, 200 and so on years?

Though much more involved than suggested, yes, Pompeius, Crassus and Caesar for all intensive purposes, virtually announced to the Senate they were in charge by virtue of controlling the key components of the Roman political system. There was still considerable opposition of course, and that opposition had a voice (M. Porcius Cato in particular), but little real power. The "triumvirate" (so-called only in retrospect as it was not an official designation of government or authority) controlled the tribunate (and therefore the power to legislate) through support of the urban populace, held significant support of the army via Pompey and had access to massive wealth and the support of the Equites via Crassus. Additionally, even after Caesar had left Rome for Gaul, the scheming of Clodius managed to manipulate the senate into sending Cato to govern Cyprus (and exiled Cicero, but Cicero could hardly be recognized as a great opponent to the triumvirs and in fact supported them in some legislation/activity). Thanks for the info, being I am still an infant, I do go back and try to read as many posts as I can. I don't look at the date, I just look at the subject. Are there more up to date ways of looking for certain topics? Sometimes, I just happen apon one and just start writing questions. Thanks again!

In my opinion, the better question is... what don't governments want to control? Every new uncontested method of control restriction of personal liberty breeds more government dependency. It ensures the status quo as regards the ruling class and preserves their positions of authority and privilege. While there may be some who honestly think they are trying to help people, ultimately I find it impossible to believe that the bureaucratic establishment truly cares about our health as individuals...including what we eat, smoke, drink or otherwise shove into our various bodily orifices. PS. Even if margarine were "one molecule away from being plastic" it is essential to note that the existence of that one particular molecule or any other slight variation in chemical structure makes it not plastic or not toxic (though there are ingredients in natural forms of some products that can be harmful--aluminum in deodorant/anti-perspirant for example). However, I do agree that eating products closer to their natural state as opposed to processed foods, is in general terms, a wise policy. (Provided one is not spending all day eating toxic 'shrooms.) How funny, I made shrooms for dinner. Not that kind, normal kind.

Oh my gosh, did you just describe the United States?? You know that government always deals the such important issues! I thought it was ridiculous to have congressional meetings on baseball. I know there are a lot of steroids in everthing, but to waste time on that when there are so much more important issues to deal with, it just crazy! Just my opinion. I think bindge drinking and all you said are so true. I know that I did it, and by the Grace of God, I am still here! When my children go to College, I am just going to move in with them. To butter or not to butter! I just like it better and don't like margarine.

Tiberius was also the son of Luvia Drusilla and third wife of Augustus. After Augustus's grandchildren died, he adopted Tiberius and his name was Tiberius Caesar Augustus.

I was listening to Rush Limbaugh yesterday and he said that New Zealand was going to out law butter. Its fattening. Sure, if you eat a tub of it. Also heard that Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE from being PLASTIC. Some people believe it, some don't. I just rather eat butter. Why do governments want to control what we eat?? In the USA, they changed the recipe on movie popcorn! I know that some people go to the movies a lot, but since I don't go as often as I would like to, but if I want movie popcorn, I want it! Just a thought! And, yes, I do have a lot of time on my hands!

I am the same way. I always wear tee-shirts and hoodies. I guess I collect tee-shirts. I bought two hoodies for my boys at Christmas, but the sizes we off. So I ordered a new one for the oldest one. It might be able to fit in it, plus I don't want him to wear it. He has lost one court, and three hoddies at school. It is a good thing they were super cheap. Where did you get your SPQR hoodie?

Who sanctioned the Triumvirate? Did the three just meet somewhere and decide this? Did they march into the senate and said, this is the way it is going to be and that is it? Thanks for the info, I have been thinking about the triumvirate for the last couple of days.

Certainly your characterization is supported by what we hear from Cicero's speeches and by the fact that Sulla's own former supporters rushed to undo his legislation. Still, I wonder whether those who had been victimized by Cinna and Marius felt the same way. Between the war between Sulla and Marius, the killings by Cinna and Marius, and then Sulla's reign of Terror, I am amazed any one was left in Rome. Didn't all these killings deplete Rome of senators, their sons and half of the patricians?

In 90 B.C., the Roman Consul, L. Juluis Caesar, passes a law giving citizenship to residents of cities not fighting Rome in the Social War. When the next Consul comes into "office", could the law be revoked?

Thanks for the info. I was wondering, why then are the Romans credited with all this? Are the Greeks being forgotten? Why is Rome more known?

Rome gave the USA our form of government. Marius gave the world the standing army. Almost all cities are based on a grid, and have a center point like a forum. Even the small hell hole I live in. Public libraries, firemen and police. If you look past the Republic, Imperial Rome, to the Church of Rome, religion.

I tried reading the first one, but gave up about half way through. His style is fast paced and entertaining, and should he write about a different time period or cast of characters I might sample him again. But for those books, in my opinion, he butchered the very well known history of one of the worlds most famous people and chain of events. I know its being 'stodgy' but I'm afraid I just couldn't get through it. Amen, and that is all I am going to say about that!

Maybe it is not such a bad idea to go to a camp for a couple of days. Get away from it all and be pampered. The thought I had is when one Patrician woman has her courses in the house,the rest of the women stay with her out of sight from the men. Of course if there were a lot of women in the house, like mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, no one would see the women for days. Didn't patrician houses have one side of the house for women and the other for men? I think the pleb women probably just worked through it. Some of them didn't have slaves, so they worked very hard keeping the household running.

Good for you and your friend! The people you helped probably thought you guys were angels. Very bid angels, but there are all sizes of angels. But, it you keep doing good deeds like this, you just won't be living up to your Sulla name. hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Giving up football? You are so young! But I guess years of activities like that puts your body through hell. Both my boys have played American Football and I do think all the time, what is happening to their bodies. Last year, my little one had a knee bruise. We use to go see the Kansas City Wizards soccer team and after the game the had a rugy match. Never seen one up close. OH MY GOSH! You guys are huge. The hitting, the blood! I kept yelling kill, kill, and I had my thumb down. Oh that was in my former life in Rome! In Florence Italy around St. John's day, they have Calcio in Cosutume. They have a Renassiance parade with the famous flag throwers, real Princes on horse back, lovely ladies showing their D

For every person that does, there must be 10 that do not. Most people are too lazy to crack open a book. There are still a lot of people that take "The Da Vinci Code" as gospel. Congrats, dianamt; I for one am profoundly happy that you're that one in ten! It's saddening to me that reading seems to be losing popularity with children. The majority of the kids I know fit right into that category of 'too lazy to crack open a book'. It's not Playstation's fault either; it's the parents fault! Even worse than reading "The Da Vinci Code" and taking it as gospel is watching the movie and thinking it is. I wasn't a fan of Dan Brown's book, but at least it got people reading! Damn all crap movies to Hades, I say! I know this is off topic, but "The Da Vinci Code" was an awful movie. But wait a minute, it does have something to do with Rome! All you churces in our area of Kansas had signs up saying come and learn the truth about movie. Our pastor told us not to go to it. Being as smart as my husband and I are (haha) we knew it was just a movie. On Monday after the movie tanked, all the signs were down and not a mention of it again. My children are good readers. My oldest, Vibius Hedius Donatius, can read a book in a day. I am a slow reader. Decimus Hedius Exoratus, read in spurts.

I find it interesting that both Caesar and Augustus had only one heir each and only daughters. Caesar did a least have a natural heir, his great newphew. I think that Augustus used Julia to beget heirs. Since he couldn't. He married her off as soon as one husband died. In the end, he didn't have any natural heirs. Julia just rebelled, in the only way she knew how. Get back at daddy by using sex. What other rescourse did she have?

I can't limit it to one, sorry. She would be an wonderful woman to meet. I would also like to meet Aurelia and Servilla. Not sure what I would talk about. Maybe how did you survive child birth? Didn't Cornelia had 12 children? Just two and I am done! I would love to meet Julius Caesar. "Did you want to be king?" I would like to meet Brutus, but I don't intend to meet him in Dante's deep layer of hell. Can I also say Richard III? I would ask him "Who Killed the Prince's in the Tower"?

I didn't a chance to expand last night, but if Caesar showed characteristics of a personality disorder, than Sulla must have something. Multiple personality disorder? Schizophrena? He was a genius, but I guess all those years of war, wine and woman, he just snapped. What do you think?

So was King Nicomedes IV Philapator of Bithynia, if we are to start sinking to that level... I'll admit that I have a considerable admiration for Caesar, and I'll also admit that Colleen McCullough did much to facilitate this admiration. I believe Caesar's military ability was not overrated, and that he was also an orator, writer and legal draftsman up there with (and perhaps beyond) Cicero himself. His Achilles' Heel, to me, was his complete and utter devotion to his dignitas. McCullough suggests that he firmly believed in the concept that his and every man's dignitas was also Rome's dignitas, and as such strove to the utmost all his life to increase it. Perhaps this is somewhat naive, but i don't like to assume the worst about people. This almost fanatic zeal made him incapable of the sort of compromise that would see his dignitas decreased, even a little. Maybe if he was more subtle, less obviously aiming for greatness, he would not have attracted the jealousy of his peers. This was the way of Augustus I believe. The Oxford Latin Dictionary defines the expression as fitness, suitability, worthiness, visual impressiveness or distinction, dignity of style and gesture, rank, status, position, standing, esteem, importance, and honor. Wow, what a list of words. Maybe that is why some people hold Caesar in such high esteem. The ultimate man. Is it all about image? I think that the populus that were interest in politics wanted to achieve this, the populus that only cared about food on the table, had no idea what dignitas. Reminds me of today.

What do think of Sulla?