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Zeke

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Everything posted by Zeke

  1. Does anyone here worship the Roman Gods......I do......does anyone reconstruct Roman homes and such, Roman way of life using modern techologly. If anyone is a Roman Pagan please tell me about it...I want to know more about the spirtual world of anceicet Rome. I sacrfice but I don't animal sacrfice I pray and I have an altar. Sounds kind of imature but I do take it quiet seriously. I am just wondering. I also want to build a villa in Ireland or the Western United States. Any tips for reconstruction? Cheers,Zeke
  2. Zeke

    Mark Antony

    Ok I am sure all of us have seen the last instalment of the series of Rome, where they epically make Mark Anathony die like a "True Roman." From my understanding of the guy he was a preety volupscious character, capricious, arrogant, indulgent, a heavy alcoholic, a gambaler, and a ruthless solider who didn't really care about the Republic to the slightest. He grew up in the streets of Rome to a semi-noble family and was known for his thugish ways when he was a teeanger. Latter in life to escape is mounting debt he fled to Athens and studied rhetoric. Upon returning to Rome he joined up with Caeser's Legions and made a name for himself. Today when someone mentions Marcus Antonius, images are conjured up about a man who was a dashing commander, Caeser's chief leutienant and the charming lover of Cleopatra. But is he really the man everyone potrays him to be? Or his legacy a romanticied shakesphere description. Is he a larger then life hero? Or was he just a sexually crazed coward...who did indeed betray his home land for lust? Who is the real Mark Anathony? -Zeke
  3. Zeke

    Roman Historical Fiction

    Did anyone ever read The Skystone? By Jack Whyte its a great legened to King Authur and a good account of Roman Britian before it fell to Barbarians. Also know any other good Roman Historical Fiction Books?? EAGLE IN THE SNOW IS ON THE TOP OF MY LIST. Sorry about spelling Zeke
  4. Zeke

    Question

    In the Golden Age of the Five Emperors could anyone from outside the empire just enter through its borders? Example: An Parthian Trader from Ctespoion crosses the border in Judea. Could he stay in the empie and cruise around and go to all the provinces? Were their special conditions, like registared immigrants? How were you identified as a citizen? Was their a special ring you wore? How free were you really to travel along the road if you were not a citizen of the empire.
  5. I know that Egypitians gods and goddess came home when the Legions returned from Egypt, the most prominant being Isis. But what other Gods and goddess of the land of the Pharaohs came home with them? Anubis? Osiris? And how were these gods worshiped in the Imperial System? Did they have Roman Rituals or Egptian Rituals? Zeke
  6. Something I always wondered...how did the Roman legionaries deal with swollen soreness. With improper footwear that didn't have much support other then to keep the foot protected, I am sure the Romans had to deal with constant shins splints and sprains from overworking their muscles. Did the Romans have any knowledge of steatching? Or loosening their muscles up for the march. I run Cross Country and I have the best shoes money can buy and I still have the constant ache of shin splints...without physcial trainers, how did the Romans cope with such constant pain when on the march? -Zeke
  7. Zeke

    The Dark Ages

    Rameses...I don't understand what your question is. Please rephrase it.... -Zeke
  8. Really? Thats interesting about the Olive Oil Pertinax. I am just told to ice my shin splints and hope they get better. I have even have a little bump on the side of my leg now..sticking out where my shin is. So I have switched gears from running to biking. -Zeke
  9. Hey everyone...sometimes I get bored late at Night. If anyone is intresting in having a "Private meeting" with Zeke, give me a ring...its always a joy to talk about the glories of Rome and the Ancient World with educated people. IrishMcMartin@hotmail.com -Zeke
  10. Zeke

    Animal Sacrifice

    But you got to think about...that killing an animal is much more of a deeper symbolic act then lighting a few sticks of incents. You are taking life...in the name of the gods. Sacrificing something for their glory...what exacly does Incense do? THe Ancients thought of incense as a transmitter of offerings from the mortal world to the godly realm. They burnt incense so the holy smell of blood could be smelt by the nostrils of the gods. OK got to admit that the barbeque thing was a huge factor for sacrifice of animals...it fed people. But eating sacrificial meat showed a bond between the believer and the diety and this is metaphorical in itself. -Zeke
  11. Zeke

    Atheism in Ancient Rome

    No, I don't have any clear examples, so I am going to back down there because I don't have a clear answear for that. My additude towards this topic comes from a combination of my biased beliefs as well as the opinions of others and the numerous history books I have read. What I am trying to say is this is my theory....but with no real solid proof I suppose my theory is flawed, and I admit that. It seems logical enough however that an Ahtiest would accept Christainty before Polytheism. If you fast foward to our modern day in age you will see that people are more likely to adopt a monothestic faith then a Polythestic one. There is alot of information out there on Polythestic beliefs...yet the vast majoriy of the westerns still belongs to a Monothestic Faith. I hear stories all the time about Atheists checking out all sorts of different beliefs. They ussually end up embracing Christianity because of its message and perhaps because of some sense of conformity. 98% of American Society is Christian...you feel a little out of place if you're from a minority faith. Constant persacution is something that is always on the mind as well. I, however...don't wish to be a drone worker to Consumer Christian America. Maybe its the fact that I am 17 and am trying to find myself. But I have chosen my religion of preference and it suits my needs for the time being. ANYWAY! I was drawing conclusions...but since I don't have the evidence to support the conclusions, my aplogies. All Polythestic dieties have some selfish human story releated to them. Even a god like Osiris who piously built kingdoms across the Earth had his own ambitions in mind. I believe that is what makes the Gods interesting, they have sin, they have problems, they can relate to humans in a more pratical manner. How can I relate to this Christ? He is a utopian individual with no desire. I can relate to Mars because of his virtues and vices.....Mars is cocky and boastful, and he went with a Vestal Virgin to conceive Rommulus and Remus, she was supposed to remain a virgin but he broke that law because he desired her so. At the same time Mars is still the god of the warriors and the selfless farmers of the Republic. He embodies the values of thriftyness and self substistancy, he is powerful and from his iron body (in some myths), metraphorically speaking, humans are made. Just because I say Polythestic dieties are selfish doesn't mean I think their horrible...if thats what your thinking. I think its their personality that makes them reality, that makes them more pratical for the human mind to understand. About the Bona Dea thing, I am sure she had her own issues as well. Perhaps the majority of the myths concern themselves with her goodness...but I bet you will find one where she sends her wrath down upon those who displease her. I feel comfortable making this conclusion because every myth I have read the gods have personified human characteristics both good and bad. Ancient Roman Pagans thought of early Christians as cannibals who ate the body of their god...isn't that trippy to think about? YES Primus Pilius...I should have presented more information on the subjects you just talked about. I just didn't want to sound too ranty...and I agree with you. Thank you for informing me, your right of coarse. You are correct...Osiris as well. These two deities resemble Chirst sooo much that sometimes you got to wonder how much Polythestic mythology was stolen..or should I say culturally diffused into Christian Mythology. Zeke
  12. Zeke

    Your Hidden Roman Name

    Mrniat Cnyucha Sbustb Work your magic Nephele.
  13. Zeke

    Atheism in Ancient Rome

    Christianity was appealing to so called "atheists" in ancient Rome because of the fact that it is a "Love-Bombing" religion that offers a wider variety of services relating to the human physce. The Polythestic religions of ancient Rome didn't market in trying to help the invidivudal. As long as the gods were pleased with the blood of sacrifce, then the state would be prosperous and the government of Pagan Rome thought that if the state was prosperous then the people would be happy. Humans are humans and I have seen many athiests go back to being religious because they need that feeling of support. As Karl Marx said "Religion is the Opium of the people" and even non-believers need something to feel like they are not alone in this universe. It is difficult for a human being to just say... "I am alone, no magic fairy is going to help me." In the back of their mind their still hoping there is something...so the great mystery that is the human adventure will continue on after our eventual demise do to whatever illness or calamity that will eventually behallf us. The Atheists of Ancient Rome found it easier to accept a loving, caring diety then the selfish human ones that were already in place. People don't want to feel ignored, they want to be helped. Jupiter and Mars do not offer nearly as much support as the Christian God does. The lack of dogma that Polytheism has also enforced the idea among the Athiests that perhaps the whole concept of gods and goddesses was a bunch of bull* Yet the Christian God was mysterious, and was up there somewhere in the sky giving support by allowing his son to die for human sin. That concept is romantic, why wouldn't athiests see that as suppieror to the state sponsered cults of eccentric deities that were often combinded together for national purposes? Since no one ever goes into account about what this Christian God looks like or acts like...its open for more speculation, allowing for greater belief. TO THIS DAY people are still speculating Who or what god is. Paganism shuts out this idea by telling you elabrorate stories of what the gods did and how they act. The mystery is taken away...and when that mystery is gone skeptiscim developes because there is only one question left to ask..... "Is this really real?" Christians don't have to ask this question...there too busy trying to figure out what god is accually doing. On the subject of Judaism....Judaism didn't become popular because of its Nationalistic sentiments. It is a Jewish Religon, it doesn't have any plans on ever becomming anything else. Christianity has always tried to convert the world to the Kingdom of Haeven. Your right about the hostility towards Christianity in the Cities Nephele...yet Taticus doesn't record the sentiments of the country people towards Christianity. (Unless you can show me something) Perhaps it was ten times worse....Cities offered places for Christians to hide in vast populations of immigrants. Cities are known for their cosmopoltian additudes, so people are still going to move forward with the trends...it only took a few people embracing Jesus to get the cycle going. YES I TOTTALLY AGREE that Christians were hated in the begining and that they were fed to the Lions...but this only made the Christian resolve to continue on. It made them Martyrs...it allow for Priests to tell the people that these Martrys had rissen and ascended into haeven. State religious intollerance towards Christianity turn out to be the worst policy. It fed the fire so to speak. -Zeke
  14. Happy Birthday to me! I am now 17...I smell like a monkey...but I don't look like one yet so thats a plus 17 years of life on this planet...I feel so old. -Zeke
  15. Zeke

    Atheism in Ancient Rome

    Atheism in ancient Rome was practiced by the philosphers of non-religious logical sects and a select few of skeptical upper class merchants and landowners. The upper class used the various Polythestic religions of the day to enforce their rule over the mob and I personally believe that most of the Emperors saw religion as foolish but useful as a way to assert their domiance over the varried populations of the empire. Philosphies such as Stoicism and Cyncism...made mentions of the varioes deities of the day, but these deities were seen as distant and not having much of an effect on the world...so in a way these philosphies embraced atheism as their officials doctrines. The atheism of the upper class stands in stark constrast to the zealousness of the simple man; especially in rural areas where the gods and spirits of nature had a particular effect on people's lives and the phenamonons that they observed. Illiteracy perhaps had a major contributing factor to this, and the philosphies that were embraced by the urban classes of the Empire essentially stayed in those urban centers. As such Christianity was able to spread better among the Athiests in the cities then the Pagans in the country. With a more friendly breeding environment, Christianity was able to spread rapidly among questing intellectuals and povery stricken slaves alike. A final note is that....the Romans are not known for their persacuttion of atheists....as long as you showed up for the sacrifice at the temples you were considered a patriotic citizen. It didn't matter whether you believed in the rituals or not. Thus allowing for considerable freedom of thought about the functions of religion. Glory be to the gods of coarse, -Zeke
  16. Zeke

    Happy Birthday to me!

    My masterful essay on the Dacians? hmmm its been a long time fellow citizens. Time to dust off my typing fingers and go back to the ancient world.
  17. Zeke

    De Patre Vostro (Episode 22)

    I don't know everyone...I thought the second season was better then the first. Its epicness was more apparent to me. But the historical inacuracies were still preety bad. SO I AM DYING TO KNOW. IS THIS THE END? FOR REAL? or is there going to be a season 3? Much apperciation, Zeke
  18. Zeke

    Explaining Things to Ancient Roman Guy

    Zeke (Describing George W. Bush) "In our country called America, we have this Consul sort of character who rules the excecutive branch of government, he has been put in power by the people and he goes and invades two different countries in the spand of two years. He tottally ruins the economy, gives money to farmers for doing absolutatly nothing in the province of Kansas, and seems to be hording money and not giving it to the Senate." Brutus and Cassius.... "AND YOU HAVN'T MURDERED HIM YET!
  19. Zeke

    Speaking With the Gods

    Or their just too stupid do other wise. :smartass: I think in the case of the average Roman plebian...they were so illiterate and intune with the simpiler things in life (like getting enough to eat, or finding a sutiable partner) that they didn't have time to be afraid. This same principal can be applied to the religions of the Roman Empire...I don't think the average person had the time to try to figure out if a person "really spoke to the gods" all that an average person cared about was making sure that whatever god did exist was appeased so that their insignifagant 40 lifespan would last a little longer. Us Modern folk put the label "crazy" on everything...because we want to put the blame on everyone else so we don't appear crazy ourselfs. If we really had a life...then we wouldn't be worrying about other people. Let's open our minds to the supernatural and believe in our immaginations, Nympths, Saytrs and other Forest folk the haunt the by-ways of the Italian landscape....or I am just crazy? The point is the people had other worries then to care about a few Priests wandering the streets of Rome going "Jupiter is cursing us!" Nowadays we just have way too much time on ours hands...and thats the reasons why real dangerous cults our formed...(Cough cough Jim Jones, physco, cough cough
  20. The Eastern Emperors had a large pool of recruits in Anatolia, that was their major center of their Catapract Calvary...I think it was because of the "I don't care toward the west" that the government at Constantinople didn't run off to save Rome in 476, as well as a lack of funds. When the Byzantines did finnally liberate Italy in the 500s...well they didn't accually have the money to pay for that campagain either. Theodosius is said to have paid his soliders with money from the treasury then tax it out of them double the price latter on, a very clever but unfair system of money raising.
  21. Zeke

    Farms

    Roman Agriculture went through several phases. The first phase was from the founding of the Republic till the Punic Wars. The Roman state had its foundations in agriculture and as such its culture revolved around the thrifty, farmer, solider who fought for a certain amount of time and then returned to his farm to tend his crops and animals. I do not believe that the Roman Senate had a permant standing army until after the Punic Wars and this primitive form of conscrition served the Republican City State well. The destruction of the Italian farm land by the mercenaries of Hannibal forced the Romans to find another method in which to supply their capital and tribute states with grain. Thus the scholar will find the Latifunda developing, a system of agriculture in which aristocratic Patrichans bought out most of the avaliable farm land in North Africa and Spain and turned into their own corporate caboodles. With the influx of cheep grain from the African and Spanish provinces and the warrior farmers of the Republic found themsleves out of a job and with little skills other then solidery, turned into a mob of poverty stricken individuals living off grain distrabutions supplied by the state. It is because of the Latifunda the Republican system of governance began to fail and poverty began to grip the plebians. Seeing the plight of the small farmers...the Gracchi Brothers tried to implament reforms upon the Roman Senate. There pleas for social reform caused their deaths. The Patrichans saw it in their best intrest to keep the system of governance conservative and tradditional and the Gracchi Brothers challenged the system that was in place. Civil strife fallowed the Punic Wars as military dicators came to power and promised rewards to their soliders in the form of provicial lands that had not been bought up the Latifundas. The Third Phase of Roman Agriculture began with reign of Octavian, who sought to be a enlightened despot and please everyone. Thus he allowed for a healthy balance of Senatorial Latifundas and yeoman farmers who were equally scatttered throughout the lands of the Empire. Centeralized government control of Egypt; "The bread basket of the Empire," allowed for a steady shipment of grain into the city of Rome to ensure thats it people didn't go hungry. Yeoman farmers had control of much of the agriculture of the provinces of Gaul, Spain, and Britian and the Eastern provinces of Greece probably had a similiar agrement. It is because of these yeoman farmers that the Empire flourished....they encouraged competition and a diversity of products were produced on plots some times no more then 50 acers. This phase exsisted up until the regien of Marcus Aurelius. The Fourth and declining phase of Roman Agriculture really starts in the age of the "Barrack's Emperors" as crop prices went down and inflation sky rocketed. With the advent of Christianity and the waves of Barbarian peoples ramming into the Empire's borders more and more people found it benificial to move back to the Latifundas for protection. In the end the Latifundas did prevail and slowly changed into the Feudal Estates of the Middle Ages. Roman Agriculture was very productive and its productivity levels were not matched until the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Roman Society was essentially agrain, 80% of the Roman population inhabbited the country side and rural lifestyle was highly coveted by the wealthy. Since manual labor was seen as slave work, none of these "wealthy" people accually did any of the work....but the idea is still romantic. And by the way the Latin poets fawned their lyrics over the glories of farming it can be assumed that Roman farmers were generally happy with their simple existances. -Zeke
  22. There are many beautiful cities on Earth today but back in 1400 A.D the cities that existed were considered to best of their day. In my opinion this is a turning point in the history of human construction because gradually everything began to be built not out of beauty but out of convience. Latter on in the 1800's cities were no longer built out of forced slave labour or human craftmen but industrial macheinery. Their became more steel buildings that were considered "Beautiful." But in my opinion in the 1400s is the point where the most beautiful cities existed on Earth because craftmen's and builders dilbertly wanted to make their creations beautiful. Now-a-days I think it's safe to say that men no longer think of beauty in cities (unless their rich and have money) but as cities as meeting centers and a place to get job enmployment. Paris is still beautiful of coarse....but it much more marvellous back in the day. At least thats my opinion Anyway what in your opinion was the most beautiful city on Earth in 1400?? Zeke
  23. Zeke

    Winners are chosen! - September Book Bonanza

    I would like to participate as well. AN INTRODUCTION TO ROMAN RELIGION is my top choice. Second would be the "Roman Revolution." Thanks, -Zeke
  24. Though I havn't posted in 9 months I would simply like to send my best wishes to the Dictator of Cuba. Yes he is a dictator and yes he does abuse his power yet overal he has done great things for the Cuban People. He is sick as the momment and has just undergone surgery let us hope El Presidente of Republica de Cuba gets well soon! Because without Castro Cuba would be screwed. Besides..don't we long to see him come up on stage and make a fool of himself talking about the glorious revolution...you must have some smpathy for the man and you must admire him for he has stayed in power for 47 years a great accomplishment! I would smirk to see him come back fighting. Senator Zeke, the main Polythestic Represenative who doesn't have a voice at the momment.
  25. Perhaps people exagerate how bad off everyone was before the Industiral Revolution. Ancient Societies too my understanding were healthy and long lived. Its only the onset of the Middle Ages do we start to see the severe starvation cases that Capitalists point out to. I am not saying there wasn't cases of starvation in the Roman Empire. Yet we make a big deal out of it. Gods..if the Ancient Peoples were that sick and starving then they wouldn't have had time to build such wonders. So...I do admit the pre-industiral societes might have not as been as high in living standards as our modern day. Yet we put them down to much. I believe these socities were more advanced then the starving villagers in current day Ethiopia. I know most of you won't agree with me....but I admire the Ancient World for all its accomplishments if it were so pitful and starving then I wouldn't admire it.
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