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Centurion-Macro

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Posts posted by Centurion-Macro

  9. What's the last book you read?

    in Libri

    Posted

    I am going to be rereading the Aeneid soon,

     

    If you haven't already bought the book might I suggest the you get the 2007 Penguin classic version translated by Robert Fagles.

     

    In my opinion it's by far the best translation of The Aeneid. Ursus did an excellent review of it a few years back.

     

    But which ever translation you end up with I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

    I was unaware there was a new translation out - it certainly isn't in my library :P. I am readying the translation by Jackson-Knight.

  10. Cynicism and the Common People

    in Templum Romae - Temple of Rome

    Posted

    The Cynics would not have appealed to the aristocracy at all because they regarded virtue as the only requirement for living a fulfilling life. The Cynics believed that to achieve this state of being that you should shun all wealth, titles, reputation etc. That's most definately not how the aristocracy rolled!;)

     

    Cynicism was basically the early greek equivalent of Roman stoicism.

    And so they may have appealed to the common citizens?

  11. Cynicism and the Common People

    in Templum Romae - Temple of Rome

    Posted

    I was discussing with a friend today about H.H Scullard's From the Gracchi to Nero, and there was one question that stumped both him and me. He mentioned how some Cynics were apparently street preachers, which got us thinking. Most philosophies were for the aristocracy, because they had access to them. But if the Cynics preached to the commoners, does this mean that the Cynics could have gained support from the lower classes?

     

    Certainly I feel that they could have drummed up a bit of support with their theories, but I can find no references to it. But I wanted to ask you chaps first as you are far more informed than me about this stuff, especially religion in where I am still learning a great deal.

     

    Thank you for your help!

  13. Welcome and Introduce Yourself Here

    in Welcome and Introduce Yourself Here

    Posted · Edited by Centurion-Macro

    Hello, all! I was guided here by Russell Whitfield, who assures me this enclave knows everything there is to know about the ancient world :) Very glad to be here.

     

    I'm a 44 year old married author of three books: Men of Bronze, Memnon, and The Lion of Cairo. I'm researching and writing my fourth and fifth (the former is a tale of Artemisium; the latter a fantasy involving Orcs). I like ancient Greek history, gaming, and long walks on the beach . . . :)

     

    Thanks!

     

    Scott

     

    Scott Oden

    www.menofbronze.com

    Welcome Scott! I remember reading Men of Bronze a few years ago, and finding it a pleasant book - though I was never as interested in Egypt than the ancient Romans and Celts.

     

    It is so weird to see an author of a book I have read posting on the same site as me, I guess they always seem so far away :P

     

    Anyway, welcome to the site, and I am glad to meet you.

  14. What's the last book you read?

    in Libri

    Posted

    I've just finished the latest Simon Scarrow novel, The Legion starring the brilliant Macro and Cato. These books just get better and better, this one has probably been my favourite one of the whole series so far...... Just brilliant!

    The plot is certainly thickening, but my all time favourite would have to be The Prophesy when they served with the navy.

     

    I am really looking forward to the next book, which will be set in Rome. I sense a lot of political intrigue coming along :D

  18. England's western-most Roman town uncovered

    in Archaeological News: Rome

    Posted

    Did the Romans ever build in Cornwall? Or was that too west for them?

     

    I think on the whole Cornwall wasn't so heavily colonised by the Romans. I was watching Neil Oliver's series 'A history of Ancient Britain' which included a section on Cornwall under the Roman Empire. Oliver showed a series of Iron Age roundhouses built during the Roman period, which either showed that the Britons in the area retained their culture, or were allowed to live as they wish, as long as they continued to pay taxes to Rome.

    I had no idea they allowed that area of Britain to keep their customs. I just assumed they made everything Roman and left it at that.

     

    So I assume there was a very low military presence in the South-West of Britain if it was not important?

  24. Decurions In Roman Navy?

    in Gloria Exercitus - 'Glory of the Army'

    Posted · Edited by Centurion-Macro

    I just finished Simon Scarrow's 'The Legion' novel, and there was one part that confused me. Usually I find that his facts are sound, but early in this novel, when a century of Roman marines storm a ship, it says they were lead by a decurion. The quote is a bit awkward, but it will post it. Note that Diodorus is the marine leader, and Cato is a prefect:

     

    "Diodorus was squatting beside one of the bodies and Cato joined him. 'There's little sign of corruption'. The Decurion sniffed and..." (it is on page 23 if you have a copy of the book)

     

    It is the only reference to Diodorus's rank in the book, and while I took for granted that he was a marine centurion, this quote shows that he was a decurion. I always believed the decurions to be in charge of cavalry, not infantry - and certainly not Roman marines. So I am wondering if decurions did actually serve in the Roman navy (it seems unlikely to me), or if Mr. Scarrow got a really simple fact wrong (that also seems pretty unlikely.

     

    Thanks for the help.

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