Plautus

I look forward to seeing new and more interesting stuff on this site. I too am no major Roman scholar, merely someone who can't stop reading about the period.

Thanks Citizens! That is most helpful.

Didn't Frederich Nietzsche say he always hated the Apostle Paul for taking Christianity, a weird heresy of Judiasm, and inflicting upon millions of unsuspecting Pagans? Seriously, wouldn't you say Saint Paul is the one who injected the new faith with a strong dose of Roman Stoicism?. Even though Paul was a Jewish Pharisee he seemed to have a healthy respect for the Greek philosophies, since upon his conversion he went straight to Athen and tried to argue Chrisitanity in Plato's Academy? No other follower of the Nazarene thought of doing going there.

Hey, I have a question. I might be traveling to Jerusalem for the first time this December. I'll have a limited time. What are the cool must see sights for Roman scholars? I've been told Masada is an hour's drive from the city.

Hey, I'm Plautus, the comedian. Thats what I do. And I'm still pissed I didn't get enough credit in the film version of A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to the Forum. Steven Sondheim must have read my plays Pseudolus and Miles Gloriousus. What a gip! If I wasn't dead I'd sue. How about Woody Allen for Hannibal, Billy Joel for Scipio and Winton Marsalis for Masinissa? They can make a soundtrack of old jazz music.

Yeah. It does look like they went for cheap on the battle. If you get the special edition DVD of ELizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra, in the accompanying documentary it mentions that the shots of Rex Harrison as Caesar at Pharsalus were shot as an after thought. Director Joe Mankewicz had shot so much of the drama in small rooms there was no budget left for the battle scenes. Fox Studio head Daryl Zanuck was annoyed that he had a spectacle film with no spectacle outside of the entrance scene of Cleo to Rome. So he ordered the additional big scenes filmed. It's surprising also because one of Rome's producer-writers Johm Milius, loves a good battle scene. HIs credits include Apocalypse Now, the Wind and the Lion and Conan the Barbarian.

Actually, if we work on the idea that the Carthage, as a former colony of Phoenicia had pronounced Semetic origins, maybe Hannibal could be played by Larry David? Hasdrubal could be Gary Shandling and Mago Tony Schaloub? Joe Pesci for Scipio Africanis and Chris Rock for Massinissa? Somebody Call My Agent! I'm on to something!

Yep. If you check the Internet Movie Database, IMDB.com, which is a movie industry data site, it's slated for release in 2006. Here is the info from the site: Hannibal (2006) Directed by Vin Diesel Writing credits David Franzoni Ross Leckie (novel) Genre: Adventure / Drama (more) Plot Outline: Vin Diesel stars as the Carthaginian general who led an elephant-riding battalion across the Alps to attack Rome in the 3rd Century B.C. Status Updated: 3 October 2003 Note: Since this project is categorized as being in production, the data is subject to change; some data could be removed completely. Credited cast: Vin Diesel .... Hannibal Barca rest of cast listed alphabetically: Yorick van Wageningen Country: USA Language: English Color: Color

If you are ever traveling in Southern Spain and find yourself in the City of Seville, drop in at their Roman archaeological dig just outside town called Ciudad Italica. I don't recall the original ancient name but it was founded by Scipio Africanus in 218BC and claimed it was the birthplace of Trajan. At the time I visited in 1997 most of it was still unexcavated, but they had unearthed the amphitheater, some of the Forum and a few villas. What was fun was unlike the Italian Forum where much is closed off, you could wander freely through the buildings. This was most dramatic in the amphitheater It was like having a smaller version of the Colosseum to oneself. PLus it's sunny and the Sangria is killer!

I have a question, which may be better placed in the Temple section, but I kept it here. In last weeks ROME, episode 6- Niobe was prostrate praying in front of an obese naked lady, smeared with red paint and seated in front of corner shrine. This was before Niobe and Virinius reconciled domestically. What was the fat lady supposed to be? A devotee of Juno or Vesta?

I recall that the council was an attempt to reconcile the Arrian Christians with the Athaniasians; to understand the dual nature of God the Father and Jesus as the Son being One in Being With the Father. This was the Nicean Creed, which is still recited in Catholic Mass today. Constantine also had the Christian Sabbath moved from Saturday to Sunday because of his attachment to Sol Invictus, the Imperial Cult.

From what I recall, Carcopino's book was a groundbreaking work because it was the first modern history to concentrate on the average Roman working stiff instead of Caesars or gladiators. I enjoyed it's information, although it is dated. I believe it was first published in 1927.

The Secret History of Procopius is pretty scandalous. Obviously the guy had some issues with the Emperor and Empress because he made some pretty wild charges. Its a fun read but must be taken with a large pinch of salt. The Byzantine writer Michael Psellus tried to write bios of great Byzantine Emperors like Bazil the Bulgar Slayer in the style of Seutonius. Michael Graves of I Claudius fame also wrote a novel General Belisarius. Zoe Oldenburgs book on the Crusades gets a bit into the story of the Comnenoi Family.

Now that you are sampling Michael Grant, I enjoyed his book From Alexander to Cleopatra, a history of the Successor Kings of the Hellenistic World. It's an area not usually covered in detail by modern scholars.

Besides Gibbon I would search for a reprint of the END OF THE ANCIENT WORLD AND THE BEGINNING OF THE MIDDLE AGES by French historian Ferdinand Lot. It may be out of print but it is a classic piece of scholarship. Lot goes beyond the political and military maneuvers and gives a good step by step explanation of how ancient art, philosophy and writing all died out. Just for the transition of Gaul to France you should also check out Henri Guizot's History of France. Vol. 1.

Doh! Of course. Here I am overthinking it, wracking my brain for hints from mythology or literature. Obviously, the battering ram makes sense. Thank you citizen. now unlike Pliny the Elder who it is said worked way too long into the night to the light of tapers, I shall retire. One other question. I notice in the show an extensive use of candles. I thought that was more Medieval and that Romans used oil lamps. Are beeswax or wax candles accurate?

Interesting. I was wondering what was happening to that Vin Deisel Hannibal project. I can add that I know an actor who is leaving in November to go on location to be in a remake of THE THREE HUNDRED SPARTANS. It was a movie starring Richard Egan made in the 1960s about Leonidas and the Spartan last stand at Thermopylae.

Ave Citizens, I am enjoying your website. Thank you for your industry and skill at setting this up. May Fortuna Virilis reward all your endeavors. I too am enjoying the HBO Rome series. I particularly like the fact that the writers are not making it easy for the average viewer with regard to Roman conversation. Spicing the dialogue with references to the god Dis, or a casual mention of Leonidas at Thermopylae. It's all quite good. One phrase though has got me stumped. So I'd like to ask the scholars out there in the Mare Cyberneticus for help. In last weeks episode when Mark Anthony urges Caesar to reject truce with Pompey, he said:" It's too late, the Ram has Touched the Wall." Can anyone tell me the origin of that phrase?