Jump to content
UNRV Ancient Roman Empire Forums

Skywatcher

Plebes
  • Posts

    19
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

Posts posted by Skywatcher

  1. edit: I realize that I misread your original post, I will see if there is anything else I can find. I actually know very little about astrology so this is good practice.

     

    I already know that the Roman system uses the same signs as the modern tropical system and the Greek,Arabic,Vedic,and Persian systems.

     

    But I am curious what made the Roman system of Astrology unique from other similar systems in various cultures esp. the Tropical System?

     

    Stuff on Roman Astrology seem scarce on the web :( as do stuff on other ancient Astrology System.

     

    So your question is how does the modern practice of astrology differ from those of ancient Rome? My initial search brought up many articles discussing the relationship between astrology and Roman politics. Apparently astrologers were expelled from Rome several times. Astrology in Roman Law

    and Politics by Frederick Cramer in 1954 seems to be a well-respected work on the subject. I would imagine it is very dry and scholarly but it might be a good read and answer some of your questions.

     

    A History of Western Astrology Volume I: The Ancient and Classical Worlds by Nicholas Campion is available at Amazon.com and looks like it might answer some of your questions. Volume II covers "The Medieval and Modern Worlds".

     

     

    The following is a short excerpt from a long encyclopedia article which lists some sources that may help answer your question. I believe Pliny is freely available online, so you might want to look at that. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plin.+Nat.+toc&redirect=true

     

    The Romans

     

    The Elder Pliny

  2. In my opinion, it doesn't really matter how historical those stories are. What was important was the message. Even from the little I have read it is very obvious that the Romans had very little respect for the sacredness of life. It says right in Genesis that we were created in God's image, and therefore are sacred. I am sure Caecilius could elaborate on that idea. I would not say that Christianity is perfect, but I do believe it planted a seed that has grown over time. Humanity is still far from perfect but at least we no longer are killing each other for sport.

  3. Well its actually a long story. In 10th grade we all had to read the play Julius Caesar. I thought he was a very interesting character and so I started doing my own research. In 2000 our Catholic youth group went to Rome for World Youth Day and I got to see the ruins in person. Unfortunately since the group had a religious focus I did not get the opportunity to see nearly as much as I would have liked. I have been so busy lately that I have not really had the time to indulge this hobby. Once I have got my career established I will hopefully have more spare time for things like this.

  4. There is a free online Latin class on the internet. He uses an old textbook which is in the public domain. I think he explains the material pretty well. So far he has completed 37 lectures out of 73. For anyone trying to learn Latin on their own this would probably be a good place to start although the author does appear to speak Latin with a Southern accent.

    http://linneyslatinclass.com/

  5. I would be very tempted to buy a map that highlights the campaigns of well known Roman generals with as much detail as possible, including major and minor engagements. I would be most interested in the campaigns of Julius Caesar and the Hannibalic War. Its not Roman, but I would also be interested in the campaigns of Alexander the Great.

     

    And a map of ancient Greece would go along nicely with a map of ancient Rome...

  6. I found this footnote from an to be very interesting.

     

    Accustomed as we are to the self-serving notion of our own superiority, modern readers, being told here that there was an eclipse of the sun at the birth of Romulus and one at his death, may well dismiss them as fables.

     

    Not so fast. Dio tells us Romulus was in his eighteenth year (i.e., 17) when he founded Rome, and that he ruled for 37 years. Those two eclipses, therefore, would have been 54 years apart. Now wouldn't you know it, there were in fact two total eclipses of the sun visible in or near Rome in the 8c B.C.

  7. Welcome to the forum... here's a good list to get you started. http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8719

     

    Livy is definitely the most comprehensive, but others provide more insight into different periods. If you want to do a chronological review though, then Livy, Dio Cassius and/or Dionysus of Halicarnassus are your best options.

     

    Thanks for the list, it is very helpful.

     

    Roman historical writing did not begin until the time of the Punic Wars with Q Fabius Pictor, who wrote in greek. Cato was apparently the first Roman to write a history in latin, in the 160s BC. Both these and other minor contemporary annalists are lost, however. Caesar, Sallust and Livy are the oldest surviving histories in latin.

     

    I remember reading somewhere that the first historians of Rome had to rely on some sort of religious records and oral traditions. According to Grant the Romans did not know exactly when these events occurred so they would choose dates that had numerological significance or that coincided with important dates in Greek history.

  8. Hi. This is my first post here. :lol: I am looking for primary sources from the ancient Romans themselves. I have been reading Livy, which I have been told is the best source for the early period of Rome's history. What are the other sources? Right now I am mostly interested in the period from the founding of the Republic up to the first Punic war. Are there any sources besides Livy? Also, what is the best modern history of Rome? I have one by Michael Grant published in the 70s, which is very informative but rather dry. Any help would be appreciated. Pat

×
×
  • Create New...