C. Petronius Dexter P. M. omnibus Quiritibus Novis Romanis salutem plurimam dicit,

Today I performed the Kalends ritual and it follows:
This morning at sunrise, I invoked Iuno Covella with the traditional formula:

"Die te quinti kalo, Iuno Covella"

I said good prayers asking the Gods to be favorable toward us, New Romans.
I offered incense and poured milk as sacrifice and honey as piaculum.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Here the nature of the days for this month.


A 1 Kal. Nov. F Nundina
B 2 a.d. IV Non. Nov. F Ater
C 3 a.d. III Non. Nov. C
D 4 pr. Non. Nov. C
E 5 Non. Nov. F
F 6 a.d. VIII Id. Nov. F Ater
G 7 a.d. VII Id. Nov. C
H 8 a.d. VI Id. Nov. C
A 9 a.d. V Id. Nov. C Nundina
B 10 a.d. IV Id. Nov. C
C 11 a.d. III Id. Nov. C
D 12 pr. Id. Nov. C
E 13 Id. Nov. NP Feriae Iovi, Epulum Iovis
F 14 a.d. XVIII Kal. Dec. F Ater
G 15 a.d. XVII Kal. Dec. C
H 16 a.d. XVI Kal. Dec. C
A 17 a.d. XV Kal. Dec. C Nundina
B 18 a.d. XIV Kal. Dec. C
C 19 a.d. XIII Kal. Dec. C
D 20 a.d. XII Kal. Dec. C
E 21 a.d. XI Kal. Dec. C
F 22 a.d. X Kal. Dec. C
G 23 a.d. IX Kal. Dec. C
H 24 a.d. VIII Kal. Dec. C
A 25 a.d. VII Kal. Dec. C Nundina
B 26 a.d. VI Kal. Dec. C
C 27 a.d. V Kal. Dec. C
D 28 a.d. IV Kal. Dec. C
E 29 a.d. III Kal. Dec. F
F 30 pr. Kal. Dec. C

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

--
C. Petronius Dexter
Pontifex Maximus Arcoiali scribebat
Kalendis Nouembribus P. Vllerio C. Equitio coss.





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

EDICTUM CENSORIS IULII SABINI DE OFFICIO CENSORIS:

1. For the excellent job performing during the census the following censorial scribes receives public thanks and appointed `scriba pro census': L. Iulia Aquila, C. Maria Caeca and Cn. Cornelius Lentulus.

2. C. Maria Caeca is advanced from the `scriba' position to `senior scriba' position inside the censorial office.

3. Proconsul Ti. Galerius Paulinus for very good cooperation and in recognition of the high level of the census job performance in his province is honorific appointed as `scriba pro census' with no required attributions in the censorial office.

4. No oath shall be required.

5. This edict takes effect immediately.

Given under my hand this 20th day of October 2764 a.U.c. in the consulship of P. Ullerius and C. Equitius coss.

EDICTUM CENSORIS IULI SABINI DE OFFICIO CENSORIS

1. For the excellent job performing during the census the following censorial scribes receives public thanks and appointed `scriba pro census': L. Iulia Aquila, C. Maria Caeca and Cn. Cornelius Lentulus.

2. C. Maria Caeca is advanced from the `scriba' position to `senior scriba' position inside the censorial office.

3. Proconsul Ti. Galerius Paulinus for very good cooperation and in recognition of the high level of the census job performance in his province is honorific appointed as `scriba pro census' with no required attributions in the censorial office.

4. No oath shall be required.

5. This edict takes effect immediately.

Given under my hand this 20th day of October 2764 a.U.c. in the consulship of P. Ullerius and C. Equitius coss.

Ecce! Triumphator!

On 10/20/2011 2:45 PM, Sabinus wrote:
>
> EDICTUM CENSORIS IULII SABINI DE OFFICIO CENSORIS:
>
> 1. For the excellent job performing during the census the following
> censorial scribes receives public thanks and appointed `scriba pro
> census': L. Iulia Aquila, C. Maria Caeca and Cn. Cornelius Lentulus.
>
> 2. C. Maria Caeca is advanced from the `scriba' position to `senior
> scriba' position inside the censorial office.
>
> 3. Proconsul Ti. Galerius Paulinus for very good cooperation and in
> recognition of the high level of the census job performance in his
> province is honorific appointed as `scriba pro census' with no
> required attributions in the censorial office.
>
> 4. No oath shall be required.
>
> 5. This edict takes effect immediately.
>
> Given under my hand this 20th day of October 2764 a.U.c. in the
> consulship of P. Ullerius and C. Equitius coss.
>
>

--


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est Kalendis Novembribus; hic dies fastus est.

"The consuls for the next year were L. Furius Camillus and C. Maenius.
In order to bring more discredit upon Aemilius for his neglect of his
military duties the previous year, the senate insisted that no
expenditure of arms and men must be spared in order to reduce and
destroy Pedum. The new consuls were peremptorily ordered to lay aside
everything else and march at once. The state of affairs in Latium was
such that they would neither maintain peace nor undertake war. For war
their resources were utterly inadequate, and they were smarting too
keenly under the loss of their territory to think of peace. They
decided, therefore, on a middle course, namely, to confine themselves
to their towns, and if they were informed of any town being attacked,
to send assistance to it from the whole of Latium. The people of Tibur
and Praeneste, who were the nearest, reached Pedum, but the troops
from Aricium, Lanuvium, and Veliternae, in conjunction with the
Volscians of Antium, were suddenly attacked and routed by Maenius at
the river Astura. Camillus engaged the Tiburtines who were much the
strongest force, and, though with greater difficulty, achieved a
similar success. During the battle the townsmen made a sudden sortie,
but Camillus, directing a part of his army against them, not only
drove them back within their walls, but stormed and captured the town,
after routing the troops sent to their assistance, all in one day.
After this successful attack on one city, they decided to make a
greater and bolder effort and to lead their victorious army on to the
complete subjugation of Latium. They did not rest until, by capturing
or accepting the surrender of one city after another, they had
effected their purpose. Garrisons were placed in the captured towns,
after which they returned to Rome to enjoy a triumph which was by
universal consent accorded to them. An additional honour was paid to
the two consuls in the erection of their equestrian statues in the
Forum, a rare incident in that age.

Before the consular elections for the following year were held,
Camillus brought before the senate the question of the future
settlement of Latium. 'Senators,' he said, 'our military operations in
Latium have by the gracious favour of the gods and the bravery of our
troops been brought to successful close. The hostile armies were cut
down at Pedum and the Astura, all the Latin towns and the Volscian
Antium have either been stormed or have surrendered and are now held
by your garrisons. We are growing weary of their constant renewal of
hostilities, it is for you to consult as to the best means of binding
them to a perpetual peace. The immortal gods have made you so
completely masters of the situation that they have put it into your
hands to decide whether there shall be hence-forth a Latium or not. So
far, then, as the Latins are concerned, you can secure for yourselves
a lasting peace by either cruelty or kindness. Do you wish to adopt
ruthless measures against a people that have surrendered and been
defeated? It is open to you to wipe out the whole Latin nation and
create desolation and solitude in that country which has furnished you
with a splendid army of allies which you have employed in many great
wars. Or do you wish to follow the example of your ancestors and make
Rome greater by conferring her citizenship on those whom she has
defeated? The materials for her expansion to a glorious height are
here at hand. That is assuredly the most firmly-based empire, whose
subjects take a delight in rendering it their obedience. But whatever
decision you come to, you must make haste about it. You are keeping so
many peoples in suspense, with their minds distracted between hope and
fear, that you are bound to relieve yourselves as soon as possible
from your anxiety about them, and by exercising either punishment or
kindness to pre-occupy minds which a state of strained expectancy has
deprived of the power of thought. Our task has been to put you in a
position to take the whole question into consultation, your task is to
decree what is best for yourselves and for the republic.'" - Livy,
History of Rome 8.13


"In the last struggle, however, the Samnite Telesinus, like some
champion, whose lot it is to enter last of all into the lists and take
up the wearied conqueror, came nigh to have foiled and overthrown
Sylla [Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix] before the gates of Rome. For
Telesinus with his second, Lamponius the Lucanian, having collected a
large force, had been hastening towards Praeneste, to relieve Marius
from the siege; but perceiving Sylla ahead of him, and Pompey behind,
both hurrying up against him, straitened thus before and behind, as a
valiant and experienced soldier, he arose by night, and marching
directly with his whole army, was within a little of making his way
unexpectedly into Rome itself. He lay that night before the city, at
ten furlongs' distance from the Colline gate, elated and full of hope
at having thus out-generalled so many eminent commanders. At break of
day, being charged by the noble youth of the city, among many others
he overthrew Appius Claudius, renowned for high birth and character.
The city, as is easy to imagine, was all in an uproar, the women
shrieking and running about, as if it had already been entered
forcibly by assault, till at last Balbus, sent forward by Sylla, was
seen riding up with seven hundred horse at full speed. Halting only
long enough to wipe the sweat from the horses, and then hastily
bridling again, he at once attacked the enemy. Presently Sylla himself
appeared, and commanding those who were foremost to take immediate
refreshment, proceeded to form in order for battle. Dolabella and
Torquatus were extremely earnest with him to desist awhile, and not
with spent forces to hazard the last hope, having before them in the
field, not Carbo or Marius, but two warlike nations bearing immortal
hatred to Rome, the Samnites and Lucanians, to grapple with. But he
put them by, and commanded the trumpets to sound a charge, when it was
now about four o'clock in the afternoon. In the conflict which
followed, as sharp a one as ever was, the right wing where Crassus was
posted had clearly the advantage; the left suffered and was in
distress, when Sylla came to its succour, mounted on a white courser,
full of mettle and exceedingly swift, which two of the enemy knowing
him by, had their lances ready to throw at him; he himself observed
nothing, but his attendant behind him giving the horse a touch, he
was, unknown to himself, just so far carried forward that the points,
falling beside the horse's tail, stuck in the ground. There is a story
that he had a small golden image of Apollo from Delphi, which he was
always wont in battle to carry about him in his bosom, and that he
then kissed it with these words:

'O Apollo Pythius, who in so many battles hast raised to honour and
greatness the Fortunate Cornelius Sylla, wilt thou now cast him down,
bringing him before the gate of his country, to perish shamefully with
his fellow-citizens?'

Thus, they say, addressing himself to the god,
he entreated some of his men, threatened some, and seized others with
his hand, till at length the left wing being wholly shattered, he was
forced, in the general rout, to betake himself to the camp, having
lost many of his friends and acquaintance. Many, likewise, of the city
spectators, who had come out, were killed or trodden under foot. So
that it was generally believed in the city that all was lost, and the
siege of Praeneste was all but raised; many fugitives from the battle
making their way thither, and urging Lucretius Ofella, who was
appointed to keep on the siege, to rise in all haste, for that Sylla
had perished, and Rome fallen into the hands of the enemy." -
Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Sylla"

"Sulla drove Carbo out of Italy, having defeated his army at Clusium,
Faventia, and Fidentia, and fought with the Samnites (the only Italian
nation that had not laid down its weapons yet) near the city of Rome
at the Porta Collina, and having restored the state, soiled his
beautiful victory with a greater cruelty than anyone had ever
displayed. In the Villa Publica, he killed 8,000 people who had
already surrendered, set up a proscription list, filled the city and
all of Italy with slaughter, ordered the murder of all unarmed
Praenestines, and killed Marius, a man of senatorial rank, after
having broken his legs and arms, cutting off his ears and pulling out
his eyes." - Livy, Periochae 88.1-2

On this day in 86 B.C., the last battle in the wars between Marius and
Sulla was fought, outside the Colline Gate at Rome. Sulla having
already marched into the city, a group of Samnites and Marians led by
Pontius attacked at the Colline gate on the northeastern wall, and
fought all night before being routed. The Marian forces, led by Carbo,
had been continually harassed by Pompey and Metellus, allies of Sulla,
and almost all the Marian forces had either desterted or been forced
into submission. A few, though, cut their way through to join up with
a Samnite army. Their combined forces, estimated at 70,000 men, made a
determined attempt to disengage the younger Marius in Praeneste, but
it could not get through Sulla's armies. In a final attempt to save
the besieged, the Marian and Samnite forces made a sudden dash on
Rome. Sulla raced there in the nick of time. Dividing his force Sulla
doubled back to Rome with a mobile column, and offered battle under
its walls outside the Colline Gate. His own wing was almost
overpowered, but made a final rally, while Crassus carried all before
him on the right flank. The fight for Rome ended in the destruction of
the last Marian army. Losses on both sides were heavy; the battle was
swiftly followed by the extermination of the Samnite prisoners within
earshot of the senate house before Sulla addressed the senate (this
was the last serious action ever fought by Samnite forces). The
Samnites were slaugtered in the Villa Publica, that housed the five
year census. Their bodies were carelessly tossed into the Tiber River.


Valete bene!

Cato

Reminder from:		Nova-Roma Yahoo! Group
Title:		After every Kalends, Nones, Ides, the next day is "Ater"
Date:		Wednesday November 2, 2011
Time:		All Day
Repeats:		This event repeats every month.
Notes:		Ater (unlucky) *Gods or Goddesses should not be invoked by name while indoors, and no celestial God or Goddess should be invoked by name while outdoors. *Sacrifices should not be made, even at the lararium. *These days are ill-omened to begin any new project since any new project would necessarily begin by performing a rite calling for the assistance of the gods. Such religious rites, beginning something new, are not to be performed. *Avoid making journeys, or doing anything risky.
Get reminders on your mobile, Yahoo! Messenger, and email. Edit reminder options

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Salvete Amici et amicae!

I'm back, and sooner than I thought ...still much to do, however. My OS was corrupted, (the boot sector, no less), but, thanks to the brilliance and patience of a neighbor ...we've rebuilt everything, and it works! I lost a lot of things, like all my pictures, and numerous emails I'd saved, for one reason or another, but ...vita est ...or something.

Valete bene!
CMC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Amen.

Ti. Marci Quadra


________________________________
From: Sabinus <iulius_sabinus@...>
To: Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 3:15 AM
Subject: [Nova-Roma] Nova Roma 2764 a.U.c Lustrum.


 
SALVETE!

Today, early in the morning, I performed the Lustrum, the ritual cleansing of the Nova Roman state.
With that done, at the end of the census and based of positive signs I received, Nova Roma is purified and will live a new foundation.

I wish to all of you health, happiness and prosperity!

May the Gods bless us!

Details:
http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lustrum_MMDCCLXIV

VALETE,
T. Iulius Sabinus
censor.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Salve Sabine, Pontifex!

A most beautiful ritual, may it bring us all good fortune.
Gratias tibi ago!

Vale,

Julia

> SALVETE!
>
> Today, early in the morning, I performed the Lustrum, the ritual cleansing of the Nova Roman state.
> With that done, at the end of the census and based of positive signs I received, Nova Roma is purified and will live a new foundation.
>
> I wish to all of you health, happiness and prosperity!
>
> May the Gods bless us!
>
> Details:
> http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lustrum_MMDCCLXIV
>
> VALETE,
> T. Iulius Sabinus
> censor.
>

Salvete, While I am not generally a student of the Eastern Roman empire,
( I have always seen it as more Greek
than Roman) I am reading a book
on the period from 400-1000.

In the book the author state that, Heraclius Emperor of the
Eastern Roman Empire from 610-641, had the MOST disastrous reign in a 1000
years of Roman history.

My question is� Is the author right or not? Why or why not? Valete, Ti. Galerius Paulinus



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodie est ante diem VIII Idus Novembris; hic dies fastus aterque est.

"M. Claudius Marcellus and T. Valerius were the new consuls. I find in
the annals Flaccus and Potitus variously given as the consul's
cognomen, but the question is of small importance. This year gained an
evil notoriety, either through the unhealthy weather or through human
guilt. I would gladly believe-and the authorities are not unanimous on
the point-that it is a false story which states that those whose
deaths made the year notorious for pestilence were really carried off
by poison. I shall, however, relate the matter as it has been handed
down to avoid any appearance of impugning the credit of our
authorities. The foremost men in the State were being attacked by the
same malady, and in almost every case with the same fatal results. A
maid-servant went to Q. Fabius Maximus, one of the curule aediles, and
promised to reveal the cause of the public mischief if the government
would guarantee her against any danger in which her discovery might
involve her. Fabius at once brought the matter to the notice of the
consuls and they referred it to the senate, who authorised the promise
of immunity to be given. She then disclosed the fact that the State
was suffering through the crimes of certain women; those poisons were
concocted by Roman matrons, and if they would follow her at once she
promised that they should catch the poisoners in the act. They
followed their informant and actually found some women compounding
poisonous drugs and some poisons already made up. These latter were
brought into the Forum, and as many as twenty matrons, at whose houses
they had been seized, were brought up by the magistrates' officers.
Two of them, Cornelia and Sergia, both members of patrician houses,
contended that the drugs were medicinal preparations. The
maid-servant, when confronted with them, told them to drink some that
they might prove she had given false evidence. They were allowed time
to consult as to what they would do, and the bystanders were ordered
to retire that they might take counsel with the other matrons. They
all consented to drink the drugs, and after doing so fell victims to
their own criminal designs. Their attendants were instantly arrested,
and denounced a large number of matrons as being guilty of the same
offence, out of whom a hundred and seventy were found guilty. Up to
that time there had never been a charge of poison investigated in
Rome. The whole incident was regarded as a portent, and thought to be
an act of madness rather than deliberate wickedness. In consequence of
the universal alarm created, it was decided to follow the precedent
recorded in the annals. During the secessions of the plebs in the old
days a nail had been driven in by the Dictator, and by this act of
expiation men's minds, disordered by civil strife, had been restored
to sanity. A resolution was passed accordingly, that a Dictator should
be appointed to drive in the nail. Cnaeus Quinctilius was appointed
and named L. Valerius as his Master of the Horse. After the nail was
driven in they resigned office." - Livy, History of Rome 8.18



"But Tiamat without turning her neck roared, spitting defiance from
bitter lips, 'Upstart, do you think yourself too great? Are they
scurrying now from their holes to yours?' Then the lord raised the
hurricane, the great weapon he flung his words at the termagant fury,
'Why are you rising, your pride vaulting, your heart set on faction,
so that sons reject fathers? Mother of all, why did you have to mother
war? 'You made that bungler your husband, Kingu! You gave him the
rank, not his by right, of Anu. You have abused the gods my ancestors,
in bitter malevolence you threaten Anshar, the king of all the gods.
'You have marshaled forces for battle, prepared the war-tackle. Stand
up alone and we will fight it you, you and I alone in battle.'" -
Babylonian Creation Epic, Tablet VI

On this day the ancient Babylonians celebrated the birth of Tiamat.
She took the form of a dragon and swam in the primal waters. Long
before the time of the new gods, and there was only chaos. This chaos
was ruled by the old gods Apsu (fresh water) and Tiamat (the sea). So
a new or younger generation of gods were created for the purpose of
bringing order to chaos. Summoning all of the other young gods,
Marduk went to war against Tiamat. Finally, in a one on one battle,
Tiamat was no match for the great Marduk, Lord of the Four Quarters.
Cornering Tiamat with the four winds at his command, Marduk caught
Tiamat up in his net. When Tiamat opened her mouth to breath fire at
him, Marduk let loose the Imhulla, "evil wind" or hurricane. The many
winds of Marduk filled her up. The winds churning her up from within,
rendered her defenseless. Then Marduk speared her with a lightning bolt.

Splitting Tiamat (the sea) in two, Marduk then raised half of her body
to create the sky and with the other half created the earth. In the
process of this splitting apart, Tiamat's eyes then became the sources
of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In the realm above (heaven) Marduk
set Anu, the sky god, and in the realm below (earth) Marduk set Ea,
the earth god. Between the two, Marduk set the air god, Enlil. Other
gods were then given their places in the heavens and then the stars
were formed in their likeness.


ROMAN REPUBLICAN TERMS - CONSUL

The most important magistracy was the consulship, which can best be
described as a dual prime ministership or presidency. The office of
Consul is believed to date back to the traditional establishment of
the Republic in 509 BC but the Succession of Consuls was not
continuous in the 5th century. Consuls had extensive competences in
peacetime, administrative, legislative and judicial, and in (frequent)
war time often held the highest military command(s); additional
religious duties included certain rites which, as a sign of their
formal importance, could only be carried out by top level state
officials (compare Rex sacrorum); the reading of the auguries was an
essential step before leading armies into the field.

Under the laws of the Republic, the minimum age of election to consul
for patricians was 40 years of age, for plebeians 42. Two consuls were
elected each year, serving together with veto power over each other's
actions, a normal principle for magistratures. The two men were
elected by the Comitia centuriata, an assembly of the people in which
the richest Romans were in the majority. The consuls served for only
one year (to prevent corruption) and could only rule when they agreed,
because each consul could veto the other one's decision. According to
tradition, the consulship was initially reserved for patricians and
only in 367 BC the plebeians won the right to stand for this supreme
office, when the lex Licinia Sextia provided that at least one consul
each year should be plebeian; the first plebeian consul, Lucius
Sextius, was thereby elected the following year.

From the third century BC onward, it was also necessary that the
candidate had served in other magistracies (e.g., the praetorship). It
was possible to have a second term as consul, but ten years ought to
separate these two terms; however, in the late second century Gaius
Marius was consul in 107, 104, 103, 102, 101, and 100. Later, men like
Iulius Caesar and Octavian had similar careers.

The consuls were the chairmen of the Senate, which served as a board
of advisers. They also commanded the Roman army (both had two legions)
and exercised the highest juridical power in the Roman empire.
Therefore, the Greek historian Polybius of Megalopolis likened the
consuls to kings. Only laws and the decrees of the Senate or the
People's assembly limited their powers; only the veto of a consul or a
tribune could supersede their decisions. This meant that the consuls
could always interfere with the decisions of praetors, aediles and
quaestors, although Tribunes, censors and dictators were immune.

The idea to divide executive leadership was probably derived from
Carthage, which was ruled by a similar college of suffetes ('judges').
This seems to be confirmed by the fact that the consuls were
originally known as iudices ('judges'). An alternative explanation is
that the idea originated in Central-Italy, where colleges of
meddicesruled tribes like the Sabines and the Samnite federation.

Under the empire, the consulship was often held for only two months;
in this way, twelve senators could occupy the empire's highest office.
(In the year 190, there were no less than twenty-five consuls.)
Although the election of the consul took place in the building of the
Senate (Curia Julia), the candidates were appointed by the emperor; if
he emperor wanted to honor a particular senator, he shared the office
(e.g., the emperor Trajan and senator Sextus Julius Frontinus in the
first two months of 100). At that time, the consulship was only a
little more than a purely honorary title and the minimum age had been
lowered considerably. However, during a crisis (e.g., after the death
of an emperor), a consul still had great responsibilities.

A consul had twelve bodyguards (lictores) and was allowed to wear a
purple-bordered toga. The two consuls gave their names to the Roman year


Valete bene!

Cato

Salvete FYI Valete Ti. Galerius Paulinus
To: explorator@yahoogroups.com; BRITARCH@...
From: rogueclassicist@...
Date: Sun, 6 Nov 2011 10:19:10 -0500
Subject: [Explorator] explorator 14.29




























================================================================

explorator 14.29 November 6, 2011

================================================================

Editor's note: Most urls should be active for at least eight

hours from the time of publication.



For your computer's protection, Explorator is sent in plain text

and NEVER has attachments. Be suspicious of any Explorator which

arrives otherwise!!!



Hopefully everyone enjoyed their extra hour of sleep ... if you're

in a part of the world that ponders the utility of Daylight Savings

Time this time of year ...

================================================================

================================================================

Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon, David Critchley,

Diana Wright, David Pettegrew, Donna Hurst, Jennifer Cosham,

Edward Rockstein, Rick Heli, Hernan Astudillo, Michael Caputo,

Kurt Theis, John McMahon, Barnea Selavan, Joseph Lauer,

Mike Ruggeri, Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths,

Bob Heuman, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week (as always

hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================

EARLY HUMANS

================================================================

Rethinking those footprints at Laetoli:



http://www.livescience.com/16894-human-ancestor-laetoli-footprints-family.html



Genetics suggest humans first left Africa by crossing into

Arabia (I think we had this a few months ago, no?):



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15565654

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2057546/Early-humans-Africa-route-Arabia-Egypt.html



Meanwhile, based on dental evidence homo sapiens arrived in Europe earlier

than previously thought:



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-homo-sapiens-europe-earlier-previously.html

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/11/humans-and-neanderthals-overlapped-longer-than-thought/

http://news.yahoo.com/look-fossils-yields-oldest-modern-europeans-180120611.html

http://www.abc.es/20111102/ciencia/abci-homo-sapiens-dientes-italia-201111021916.html



... I'm not certain how this Torquay spin fits into this (sorry, no coffee

yet):



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/evolution/8864941/Earliest-known-European-died-in-Torquay.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2056732/Was-northern-Europes-human-resident-Torquay.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/nov/02/humans-torquay-ice-age



... although some coverage does seem to pull the two together:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15540464

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-evidence-earliest-modern-humans-europe.html

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/9340833.Getting_their_teeth_into_our_early_past/

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-11/wuis-nef110111.php



... and we're still hearing about the interbreeding thing, but it seems to

involve even

more species (?):



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-10-genes-neanderthal-relatives-unusual.html

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/hominids/2011/11/modern-humans-once-mated-with-other-species/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111101-humans-mating-denisovans-neanderthals-southeast-asia-science/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-20128079/human-ancestors-mated-with-more-than-neanderthals/

http://www.livescience.com/16806-asian-ancestors-mated-denisovans.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/humans-mated-with-denisovan_n_1070221.html



... and the implications of Neanderthals' short legs:



http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/hominids/2011/10/neanderthals-made-for-mountaineering/

================================================================

AFRICA

================================================================

The fall of Gaddafi in Egypt is causing excitement over potential

research now being possible in regards to the Garamantes:



http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/05/gaddafi-sahara-lost-civilisation-garamantes



Latest on efforts to repatriate remains from the Intrepid:



http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-intrepid-crew-tripoli-20111101,0,7522968.story



================================================================

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

================================================================

A new theory for the stone circles known as Rujm al-Hiri:



http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=51583

http://www2.tbo.com/news/nation-world/2011/nov/06/menewso23-grisly-theory-for-holy-land-mystery-ar-300825/

http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/2011/11/ap-enterprise-grisly-theory-holy-land-mystery-1

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Lifestyle/2011/Nov-05/153204-pseudoscience-swirls-about-prehistoric-golan-site.ashx

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2011/11/03/ap_enterprise_grisly_theory_for_holy_land_mystery/

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iAcqW4QL532VHXBh6d0p6PgYCn0g?docId=3a82d460d57c4e598c18e3de8bce3c8a



Latest CT scan of a mummy failed to discern a child mummy's sex:



http://www.livescience.com/16853-egyptian-mummy-hospital.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/science/gleaning-new-insights-from-mummies-no-dissecting-needed.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102190010.htm

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-hospital-reveal-secrets-egyptian-mummy.html



Sites from various periods identified at a couple of sites in Al Gharbia and

Sharjah:



http://www.thenational.ae/thenational/news/uae-news/ancient-settlements-detected-at-dalma-island-and-al-khan



Egypt is allowing a mummy to stay at University College Cork:



http://www.independent.ie/national-news/egypt-says-mummy-can-stay-at-ucc-if-its-too-fragile-for-travel-2923081.html



Recreating Egyptian beer:



http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/11/03/drink-like-an-egyptian/



A Second Temple Miqveh from near Beit Shemesh (didn't we have this

a couple weeks ago?):



http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=244067

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=51465



An account of the Domuztepe Dig:



http://blog.britishmuseum.org/category/archaeology/domuztepe-dig-2011/



The effects of UNESCO recognition of Palestine on archaeology:



http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1082018

http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10835&Itemid=49

http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=17935



Landminds interview with Chaim Cohen about Biblical Hebrew and other

matters:



http://www.foundationstone.org/LandMinds10/LM2011B/files/LM-011111a.mp3

http://www.foundationstone.org/LandMinds10/LM2011B/files/LM-011111b.mp3

http://www.foundationstone.org/LandMinds10/LM2011B/files/LM-011111c.mp3

http://www.foundationstone.org/LandMinds10/LM2011B/files/LM-011111d.mp3



Latest from Tel Burna:



http://telburna.wordpress.com/2011/10/30/more-test-pits-and-work-with-ibex-next-week/



Tel Jezreel now has an online presence:



http://www.jezreel-expedition.com/?mid=51768



A couple of videos from the Tel Shikmona dig:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE7UwJFH5xw&feature=share

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qx-t7QxWhw&feature=related



Hagia Sophia may once again become a mosque:



http://en.trend.az/regions/met/turkey/1951696.html



The Biography folks had a feature on Howard Carter:



http://www.biography.com/people/howard-carter-20683395



The Amarna Letters are now online:



http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/september-2011/article/ancient-amarna-letters-of-egypt-now-online



The Knesset is still refusing to declassify their Temple Mount Report:



http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/149312



An illegal Muslim burial on Temple Mount is also adding fuel to the fire:



http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/149422



A plan to preserve the Dead Sea:



http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=243909



Interview with Mark Glickman about the Cairo Genizah:



http://www.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/joe-nalven/2011/oct/30/mark-glickman-the-cairo-genizah/



Review of Alice Hoffman, *The Dovekeepers*:



http://www.npr.org/2011/11/05/141905655/a-tale-of-forgiveness-from-the-tragedy-of-masada

http://blog.theomnivore.co.uk/2011/10/31/sex-and-the-polis/



More on that Byzantine 'prayer box':



http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=25&subj_id=240&id=1877&module_id=#as

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/byzantine-era-christian-prayer-box-discovered-in-city-of-david-parking-lot-1.392864

http://www.thetandd.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/article_82e363ee-0663-11e1-9b1e-001cc4c03286.html

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/culture/2011-11/01/c_131222561.htm

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/8510248-418/israeli-archaeologists-tiny-christian-relic-found-in-jerusalem.html

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/10/30/tiny-christian-relic-found-in-israel/?test=faces

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45095083/ns/technology_and_science-science/

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/israeli-archaeologists-tiny-christian-relic-found-14845301



More on that mummy with prostate cancer:



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2057026/Prostate-cancer-2-000-year-old-Egyptian-mummy.html

http://news.discovery.com/history/mummy-prostate-cancer-111101.html

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/ancient_gauze_of_death_Q3uLdzcF2Wnn2LpKMc60zL



More on the dig at Acre/Akko:



http://www.macon.com/2011/10/29/1763443/crusader-town-being-rediscovered.html



More on Arabian 'Nazca Lines':



http://www.thenational.ae/thenational/news/worldwide/middle-east/ancient-middle-eastern-stone-structures-revealed-by-google-earth



Egyptology News Blog:



http://egyptology.blogspot.com/



Egyptology Blog:



http://www.egyptologyblog.co.uk/



Dr Leen Ritmeyer's Blog:



http://blog.ritmeyer.com/



Paleojudaica:



http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/



Persepolis Fortification Archives:



http://persepolistablets.blogspot.com/



Archaeologist at Large:



http://spaces.msn.com/members/ArchaeologyinEgypt/

================================================================

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

================================================================

Did the Romans leave London because of the weather?:



http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/11/05/did-the-romans-leave-london-because-of-the-miserable-british-weather/



Interesting ancient Roman DNA project in the works:



http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2011/11/ancient-roman-dna-project/



A dispute over putting a garbage dump near Hadrian's Villa:



http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/01/noble-defends-hadrian-villa-rome-rubbish



Finds from various periods at Kataliondas Kourvellos:



http://famagusta-gazette.com/excavations-at-kataliondas-kourvellos-reveal-neolithic-and-cyproclassical-p13412-69.htm



A Bronze Age 'baby bottle' turns up at a garage sale:



http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/5886762/Garage-sale-find-4000-years-old



Nice to know that NATO spared Libyan sites in its bombing runs:



http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=51579

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iWvxpg6d-B5mt5cIUirZculKDLqA?docId=525731c637024b16832fe161ef95c341

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/archaeologist-thanks-nato-for-bombing-raid-precision-in-libya-says-spared-ancient-roman-sites/2011/11/04/gIQA3VjimM_story.html

http://tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=7241



What Kathleen Coleman is up to:



http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2012/nov/coleman-gladiators-110111.html



Nice feature on a Roman curse tablet:



http://archaeologicalmuseum.jhu.edu/the-collection/object-stories/a-roman-lead-curse-tablet/



A course compares Jay Z to Homer?:



http://www.thehoya.com/opinion/jay-z-not-a-21st-century-homer-1.2676070



Feature on the return of the Getty Aphrodite:



http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/The-Goddess-Goes-Home.html



Interview with James Romm about his Alexander the Great tome:



http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/2011/nov/02/death-alexander-great-and-war-crown-and-empire/



Review of Lise Lunge-Larsen, *Gifts from the Gods*:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/books/review/gifts-from-the-gods-treasury-of-greek-mythology-review.html



Review of all those Iliad translations:



http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2011/11/englishing-the-iliad.html



Latest reviews from Scholia:



http://www.classics.ukzn.ac.za/reviews/



Latest reviews from BMCR:



http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/recent.html



Visit our blog:



http://rogueclassicism.com/

================================================================

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

================================================================

Apparently Viking 'sunstones' aren't just a tale:



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-viking-sunstone-myth.html

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/magic-viking-sunstone-just-natural-crystal-004406011.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8862471/Magical-Viking-stone-may-be-real.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15523520



Not sure of the date of his one ... a Viking settlement found in Temple Bar

(Ireland):



http://www.thejournal.ie/archaeologists-find-new-viking-site-in-temple-bar-131090-May2011/#slide-slideshow6



Not sure if we've had this Viking boat burial find from Ardnamurchan yet:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-15333852



A 14th century 24 hour clock turns up in a pile of pipe fittings:



http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=51491

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2056690/Scientific-instrument-shed-Britains-second-oldest--1396-valued-150-000.html



A metal detectorist finds a Tudory wedding ring:



http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk/news/9336571.Brierfield_man_hits_gold_discovering_tudor_wedding_ring_worth___10_000/



Cuts to archaeology in Bulgaria:



http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=133540



Archaeology in Europe Blog:



http://archaeology-in-europe.blogspot.com/



================================================================

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

================================================================

A 200 years b.p. mummy from Dong Nai (Viet Nam):



http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Culture_Art/2011/11/97927/



Plans to conserve the ruins of Vikramshila 'university':



http://www.calcuttanews.net/story/200662760/ht/After-1Eighth-century-Bihar-university-set-for-conservation



More on that Kubai Khan ship find:



http://www.historytoday.com/blog/2011/10/13th-century-mongolian-invasion-ship-discovered-under-japanese-seabed



East Asian Archaeology:



http://eastasiablog.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/east-asian-archaeology-cultural-heritage-%E2%80%93-2052010/



Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:



http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/



New Zealand Archaeology eNews:



http://www.nzarchaeology.org/netsubnews.htm

================================================================

NORTH AMERICA

================================================================

Plenty of coverage of this new evidence of a 'megadrought' in the 2nd

century

(although the 'Roman' connection is never made):



http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-11/uoa-usf110411.php

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-scientists-evidence-roman-period-megadrought.html



A First Nations burial at Cumberland Beach (Ontario) has brought a housing

development to a halt:



http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3357573



Fort Monroe is now a national monument:



http://www.npca.org/parks/fort-monroe.html



Virginia's top ten endangered artifacts:



http://vamuseums.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=dd1J4O0Idb4%3d&tabid=36



They're still looking for the Bonhomme Richard:



http://www.stripes.com/news/expedition-continues-search-for-220-year-old-shipwreck-1.159236



A Civil War photo collection is going on display:



http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/civil-war-diarists-photo-collection-to-go-on-view-in-south-carolina/



A jawbone found near the Kennewick Man site might renew the controversy:



http://www.pasthorizonspr.com/index.php/archives/11/2011/jawbone-find-near-kennewick-man-site-raises-potential-of-new-controversy



More on how far into the 'U.S.' deSoto went:



http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111101-conquistador-america-de-soto-science-spanish-glass/

================================================================

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

================================================================

Plans to preserve Marcahuamachuco:



http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=51544



A Gulf Coast 'enclave' from Teotihuacan:



http://www.inah.gob.mx/index.php/boletines/2-actividades-academicas/5335-confirman-multietnicidad-de-la-ciudad-de-los-dioses



Latest coverage of the Mayan doomsday thing:



http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111103143255.htm



Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:



http://web.mac.com/michaelruggeri



Ancient MesoAmerica News:



http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/

================================================================

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

================================================================

Now humans and climate both take the blame for megafauna extinction:



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-humans-climate-contributed-extinctions-large.html

http://green.yahoo.com/news/livescience/20111104/sc_livescience/mammothmysterywhatkilledoffthewoollybeast.html

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-unravelling-ice-age-megafauna-extinctions.html



... but whoever wrote this article on it was clearly confused:



http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112414031/study-finds-culprits-to-ice-age-mammal-extinctions/index.html



Pondering the plunderability of shipwrecks:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15031084



A major study of the history of malaria:



http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102125650.htm



Dr Livingston's own men may have been involved in the Nyangwe massacre:



http://news.yahoo.com/newly-deciphered-diary-muddles-livingstone-legend-174422293.html



Feature on the acoustics of the Basilica San Marco:



https://files.nyu.edu/bbb259/public/braxtonboren/sanmarco.html#sanmarcoAnchor



Feature on Fibonacci:



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/8861723/Fibonacci-the-man-who-figured-out-flowers.html



Interesting study of evolution and colonization:



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-evolution-human-colonizations.html



Our Stonepages friends who put out ArchaeoNews just published their 400th

issue

(congratulations!):



http://www.stonepages.com/news/



How the potato changed the world:



http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/How-the-Potato-Changed-the-World.html



A medieval art slideshow:



http://www.livescience.com/16794-photos-banganarti-medieval-upper-church.html



Review of Jonathan Lethem, *The Ecstasy of Influence*:



http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/books/la-ca-jonathan-lethem-20111106,0,2362857.story



Review of *Ambrose Bierce: The Devil's Dictionary, Tales, and Memoirs*:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/books/review/ambrose-bierce-the-man-and-his-demons.html



Review of Andy Borowitz, *The 50 Funniest American Writers*:



http://www.npr.org/2011/10/29/141693188/twain-hughes-among-funniest-american-writers



http://www.ancientdigger.com/

================================================================

TOURISTY THINGS

================================================================

Capuchin crypts:



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/atlas-obscura/a-capuchin-crypt-full-of-_b_1066012.html



Ravenna:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/arts/28iht-rartravenna28.html

================================================================

BLOGS

================================================================

About.com Archaeology:



http://archaeology.about.com/



Archaeology Briefs:



http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/



Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:



http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/



Time Machine:



http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/================================================================

CRIME BEAT

================================================================

Egyptian police recovered a number of purloined artifacts:



http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContent/9/40/25317/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Stolen-ancient-Egyptian-artefacts-recovered.aspx



... and a smuggling attempt in Aswan was thwarted:



http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContent/9/40/25879/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Antiquities-smuggling-attempt-thwarted-in-Aswan.aspx



A London gallery returned some Jiroft items smuggled from Iran seven years

ago:



http://www.presstv.ir/detail/208503.html



More on the theft of the Benghazi Treasure:



http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/30/treasure-benghazi-stolen-in-one-biggest-heists-in-archaeological-history/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15557403

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2055283/Looters-Libya-seize-gold-known-The-Treasure-Benghazzi.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15582483



... some of it is turning up in markets in Libya, apparently:



http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Culture/Art/2011/Nov-03/152959-search-is-on-for-national-treasures-looted-in-the-wake-of-the-libyan-uprising.ashx



... or Egypt:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15517886



... cf:

http://phdiva.blogspot.com/2011/10/antiquities-missing-from-libya.html



Looting Matters:



http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/



Illicit Cultural Property:



http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/



Safe Corner:



http://safecorner.savingantiquities.org/

================================================================

NUMISMATICA

================================================================

A 17th century Chinese coin turns up in the Yukon:



http://news.discovery.com/history/chinese-coin-canada-yukon-111104.html

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/weird-wide-web/chinese-coin-found-yukon-first-nations-casino-mine

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/technology/Rare+coin+suggests+China+traded+with+Yukon+17th+century/5636468/story.html



Gold coins from the reign of Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander were found

in Urvich:



http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=133577



Latest eSylum:



http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v14n45.html



... and the issue which will appear later today:



http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v14n46.html



Ancient Coin Collecting:



http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/



Ancient Coins:



http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/



Coin Week:



http://www.coinweek.com/================================================================

EXHIBITIONS, AUCTIONS, AND MUSEUM-RELATED

================================================================

Mummies of the World:



http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/11/06/2752398/mummies-inspire-respect-and-awe.html



Modern Antiquity:



http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/modern_antiquity/



Aphrodite and the Gods of Love:



http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/11/1/mga-aphrodite-gods-love/



Degas' Dancers:



http://www.npr.org/2011/11/03/141905600/degas-dancers-behind-the-scenes-at-the-barre



Rembrandt in America:



http://www.ncnn.com/edit-news/7390-rembrandt-collection-opens-at-nc-museum-of-art



Transition to Christianity:



http://onassisusa.org/exhibition_transitions.php?m=3&h=3



From Klimt to Klee:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/arts/design/ronald-s-lauder-collection-at-neue-galerie-review.html



Staffordshire Hoard:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15534528

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-15496704



The Egyptian Antiquities Museum in Rome has a new director:



http://english.ahram.org.eg/~/NewsContent/9/40/25837/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/New-director-for-Egypts-antiquities-museum-in-Rome.aspx



Concerns for Aboriginal art:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/05/arts/05iht-rartabor05.html



Oddities in collecting folk art:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/arts/design/shenanigans-of-folk-art-collecting-art-nouveau-nudes.html



More on the Met's Islamic collection:



http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=51501

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/10/30/arts/design/20111030-met-islamic-wing.html

http://www.npr.org/2011/11/04/141987063/art-of-the-arab-lands-displays-a-global-heritage



Assorted Arts items of interest:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/arts/design/the-met-buys-a-hans-schaufelein-work.html



An update on the progress of the of the National Museum of Egyptian

Civilization:



http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1071/he1.htm



Big bucks expected for a Ming-style moonflask vase:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-15554613



Didn't know about the labour dispute at Sotheby's:



http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/concerns-about-labor-dispute-prompt-increased-security-at-sothebys/



... while there is a mystery behind the sale of four Matisse sculptures:



http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/sothebys-sells-suite-of-four-matisse-back-sculptures/



... and general anxiousness for the upcoming 'auction season':



http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/auction-season-starts-amid-financial-angst/



... perhaps unfounded:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/arts/design/sothebys-art-auction-totals-nearly-200-million.html



... then again, some items didn't sell at Christie's:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/arts/design/31-of-82-art-works-go-unsold-at-christies-auction.html



Reviews/hype/interviews related to Neil MacGregor's *History of the

World in 100 Objects*:



http://www.npr.org/2011/11/05/141996729/a-global-history-told-through-100-objects

http://www.guardian.co.uk/extra/2011/nov/03/history-of-the-world-in-100-objects?newsfeed=true

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/whether-humble-or-glorious-telling-stories-of-human-history-through-objects/



Review of *The Art Museum*:



http://www.npr.org/2011/11/03/141992336/the-art-museum-a-case-for-the-printed-book



Check out our Twitter hashtage for more ancient exhibition reviews:



http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23classicalexhibit

================================================================

PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED

================================================================

Anonymous:



http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/nov/03/anonymous-shakespeare-reel-history



Love's Labour's Lost:



http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/theater/reviews/loves-labors-lost-at-public-theater-review.html



Goethe in Love:



http://www.npr.org/2011/11/04/141858424/goethe-in-love-sweetness-to-go-with-those-sorrows



Qaqal Najmuddin Saifuddin and Brothers:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/arts/music/qawal-najmuddin-saifuddin-brothers-at-met-museum-review.html



Check out our Twitter hashtag for Ancient Drama reviews:



http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23ancientdrama



... and for Sword and Sandal flicks:



http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23swordandsandal

================================================================

OBITUARIES

================================================================

Allen Mandelbaum:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/arts/allen-mandelbaum-translator-of-divine-comedy-dies-at-85.html



Mary Hunt Kahlenberg:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/arts/mary-hunt-kahlenberg-native-textile-expert-dies-at-71.html

================================================================

HUMOUR

================================================================

Soup to Nutz explains BC and AD:



http://www.gocomics.com/soup-to-nutz/2011/11/01

http://www.gocomics.com/soup-to-nutz/2011/11/02



I think some of us knew there'd be something like this about Stonehenge

eventually:



http://wulffmorgenthaler.com/strip/2011/10/16/

================================================================

PODCASTS

================================================================

The Book and the Spade:



http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm



Stone Pages Archaeology News:



http://news.stonepages.com/



Archaeologica Audio News:



http://www.archaeologychannel.org/AudioNews.asp



Naked Archaeology Podcast:



http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/archaeology/

================================================================

EXPLORATOR is a weekly newsletter representing the fruits of

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


















[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

P. Porcius Licinus Ti. Galerio Paulino SPD

That is a biased view that is not accepted by all. Heraclius was handed an empire in disarray, due to the tyrant Phocas and the civil war that drove him out and placed Heraclius on the throne. The Persians took advantage of the weakened empire, slowing advancing through Anatolia and the Levant until some years later they were at the gates of Constantinople. Heraclius nearly abandoned the capitol, but was persuaded to agree to terms, paying the Persians tribute.

By 622, he had rebuilt the army, and counterattacked. By 629, the tables had completely turned, with the Persian king Khosrau killed in a coup and his son suing for peace. Heraclius then called himself "King of Kings" in the Persian fashion, signaling his triumph.

Perhaps the true beneficiary of this war was the Muslims. Devastated by the war with Byzantium, Persia provided little resistance to the Muslim advance. Heraclius was unable to retain his grasp on the Levant and Egypt, losing them to the Muslims shortly before his death in 641.

Heraclius also greatly reduced corruption, and his reconstituted army was able to halt the Arab advance at what is now the eastern border of Turkey. Had he been as incapable as Phocas, Constantinople might well have fallen to the Arabs in the 600s rather than to the Turks in 1453.

Valete optime!

P. Porcius Licinus

--- In Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com, Timothy or Stephen Gallagher <spqr753@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Salvete, While I am not generally a student of the Eastern Roman empire,
> ( I have always seen it as more Greek
> than Roman) I am reading a book
> on the period from 400-1000.
>
> In the book the author state that, Heraclius Emperor of the
> Eastern Roman Empire from 610-641, had the MOST disastrous reign in a 1000
> years of Roman history.
>
> My question isÂ… Is the author right or not? Why or why not? Valete, Ti. Galerius Paulinus
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

In a message dated 11/5/2011 10:23:49 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
spqr753@... writes:

In the book the author state that, Heraclius Emperor of the
Eastern Roman Empire from 610-641, had the MOST disastrous reign in a 1000
years of Roman history.

My question is… Is the author right or not? Why or why not?
I wouldn't say disastrous per se, but I would say eventful for Roman and
middle Eastern history.

1. He took the new Avar inspired army of the Romans against the Sassanid
Persians, in order to recover Armenia for the Empire. His success went to
his head and embarked on a large range expensive campaign against the
Persians.

2. He stopped the use of Latin as the Empire's main language, breaking
one more tie with the old Empire.

3. With his attention on the Persians he missed events in Arabia. A
heretical sect of former Arab Christians started fighting the Jewish and
Romanized Christian tribes for dominance.

4. By the time he realized the danger to Syria and Egypt from this Arab
sect it was too late. The polygot army he sent to Syria scrapped together
from Armenians, Christian Arabs and the Anatolian percent, was broken at
Yarmuk. It was the only army available. With the rest of the Roman army in
the East, and the North nothing was able to intervene. The Empire lost
Palestine, Egypt, and Syria. Heraclios died of syphilis, just as the Arabs
were invading Anatolia and Persia. Persia fell, but the Roman Empire survived
since the Arabs could not take Constantinople. It was the high water mark
of Arab expansion in the middle east. The Caliphs' would turn their
attention to the West.

5. The argument has always been that had Heraclios been less worried
about the Persians just reclaimed Armenia and listened to his Egyptian Prefect
Kyrios, most likely strong Roman support would have been sent to the
Christian Arab tribes in Arabia.
And a long debilitating war that weakened both Empires would have been
avoided. While there is no guarantee that both
successors to the Prophet, Ali and Omar's deaths would have eliminated
Islam, it certainly would have remained confined to Arabia, and Persia would
have remained Pagans with a chance they eventually might Christianize.
Today's world would be much different.

By ignoring the rise of Islam in Arabia, he sowed the seeds for the
eventual destruction of the Eastern Roman Empire 1300 years later.

Q Fabius Maximus


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

C. Maria Caeca C. Marcio Crispo omnibusque S. P. D.

This is excellent news, and I fervently hope that this is a trend that will spread. I did take Latin in high school, and I have never regretted doing so, even if I've forgotten virtually everything I learned. I can think of numerous reasons for studying Latin, though nothing that hasn't been said before, numerous times. I once started one of those 25 reasons to lists, but this one was 25 reasons to study Latin. I wonder if I've still got it. It might be time to look at it again, post what I've got, and try to finish it so it can go on our web site.

Vale et valete bene!
C. Maria Caeca

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Salvete omnes


(Originally posted on the Hospitum list)

We have frequently bemoaned the decline of Latin in state schools.

Though Public schools (in other words private, fee-charging ones)still teach the classics to a high standard, the state system here in Britannia seems determined to destroy Latin as a main subject.

However, there are movements afoot to change this. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London (the whole of London, that is, not just the City of London) has thrown his weight behind a plan to get Latin back into state schools.

Early results seem to prove that not only do pupils find Latin new and refreshing, but they also enjoy the more disciplined tuition that is being offered.

This seems to indicate that the continual downgrading of educational standards may yet be proved to be a mistake, and that a reversal is possible.

More news here:-

http://www.london24.com/news/education/team_london_boris_johnson_aims_to_revive_latin_in_schools_1_1120691

I have also had news of another movement, among teachers this time, to push for more Latin in schools. I shall bring reports when I find them.

How many on this list were able to learn Latin at school, and - perhaps more likely - how many were left feeling frustrated that Latin was not available at their place of education?

Any thoughts on this subject? Hopefully there will be interesting developments.

Valete omnes
Crispus

Caeca omnibus sal!

Oops, sorry, Crispe, I thought it had gone to both lists! Mea culpa!

Valete bene!
C. Maria Caeca

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Crispus Caeca omnibusque sal

No problem, I knew that.

Vale, et valete bene
Crispus

--- In Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com, "C. Maria Caeca" <c.mariacaeca@...> wrote:
>
> Caeca omnibus sal!
>
> Oops, sorry, Crispe, I thought it had gone to both lists! Mea culpa!
>
> Valete bene!
> C. Maria Caeca
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Salvete et omnes,
This is good that Britannia is considering bringing Latin back. Here in the US, there seems to be a lack of Latin in both high school and college. I attend a private college that offers Greek and the normal romance languages, bt not Latin. I think being a foundation for soay of the worlds to lnguages, it should be taught

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est ante diem IV Idus Novembris; haec dies comitialis est.


"The foundation of Alexandria in Egypt is stated to have taken place
this year [327 B.C.], and also the assassination of Alexander of
Epirus at the hands of a Lucanian refugee, an event which fulfilled
the oracular prediction of the Dodonean Jupiter. When he was invited
by the Tarentines into Italy, he received a warning to beware of the
water of Acheron and the city of Pandosia; for it was there that the
limits of his destiny were fixed. This made him cross over into Italy
all the sooner, that he might be as far as possible from the city of
Pandosia in Epirus and the river Acheron, which flows from Molossis
into the Infernal Marshes and finally empties itself into the
Thesprotian Gulf. But, as often happens, in trying to avoid his fate
he rushed upon it. He won many victories over the nationalities of
Southern Italy, inflicting numerous defeats upon the legions of
Bruttium and Lucania, capturing the city of Heraclea, a colony of
settlers from Tarentum, taking Potentia from the Lucanians, Sipontum
from the Apulians, Consentia and Terina from the Bruttii and other
cities belonging to the Messapians and Lucanians. He sent three
hundred noble families to Epirus to be detained there as hostages. The
circumstances under which he met his death were these. He had taken up
a permanent position on three hills not far from the city of Pandosia
which is close to the frontiers of the Lucanians and Bruttii. From
this point he made incursions into every part of the enemy's
territory, and on these expeditions he had as a bodyguard some two
hundred Lucanian refugees, in whose fidelity he placed confidence, but
who, like most of their countrymen, were given to changing their minds
as their fortunes changed. Continuous rains had inundated the whole
country and prevented the three divisions of the army from mutually
supporting each other, the level ground between the hills being
impassable. While they were in this condition two out of the three
divisions were suddenly attacked in the king's absence and
overwhelmed. After annihilating them the enemy invested the third
hill, where the king was present in person. The Lucanian refugees
managed to communicate with their countrymen, and promised, if a safe
return were guaranteed to them, to place the king in their hands alive
or dead. Alexander, with a picked body of troops, cut his way, with
splendid courage, through the enemy, and meeting the Lucanian general
slew him after a hand to hand fight. Then getting together those of
his men who were scattered in flight, he rode towards the ruins of a
bridge which had been carried away by the floods and came to a river.
Whilst his men were fording it with very uncertain footing, a soldier,
almost spent by his exertions and his fears, cursed the river for its
unlucky name, and said, "Rightly art thou called Acheros!" When these
words fell on his ear the king at once recalled to mind the oracular
warning, and stopped, doubtful whether to cross or not. Sotimus, one
of his personal attendants, asked him why he hesitated at such a
critical moment and drew his attention to the suspicious movements of
the Lucanian refugees who were evidently meditating treachery. The
king looked back and saw them coming on in a compact body; he at once
drew his sword and spurred his horse through the middle of the river.
He had already reached the shallow water on the other side when one of
the refugees some distance away transfixed him with a javelin. He fell
from his horse, and his lifeless body with the weapon sticking in it
was carried down by the current to that part of the bank where the
enemy were stationed. There it was horribly mutilated. After cutting
it through the middle they sent one half to Consentia and kept the
other to make sport of. Whilst they were pelting it at a distance with
darts and stones a solitary woman ventured among the rabble who were
showing such incredible brutality and implored them to desist. She
told them amid her tears that her husband and children were held
prisoners by the enemy and she hoped to ransom them with the king's
body however much it might have been disfigured. This put an end to
the outrages. What was left of the limbs was cremated at Consentia by
the reverential care of this one woman, and the bones were sent back
to Metapontum; from there they were carried to Cleopatra, the king's
wife, and Olympias, his sister, the latter of whom was the mother, the
former the sister of Alexander the Great. I thought it well to give
this brief account of the tragic end of Alexander of Epirus, for
although Fortune kept him from hostilities with Rome, the wars he
waged in Italy entitle him to a place in this history." - Livy,
History of Rome 8.24


"Euripides and Sophocles and many others have said of her that she
boasted that she excelled the Nereids in beauty. For this she was put
among the constellations, seated in a chair. On account of her
impiety, as the sky turns, she seems to be carried along lying on her
back." - Hyginus, Astronomica II.10

Today is the culmination of the constellation Cassiopeia --- it
reaches its zenith in the night sky. Cassiopeia was the wife of
Cepheus, the Ethiopian king of Joppa (now known as Jaffa, in Israel),
and the mother of Andromeda. The queen was both beautiful and vain,
and the story of how her vanity caused great distress is told in
relation to the constellation Andromeda. After promising her daughter
in marriage to Perseus, Cassiopeia had second thoughts. She convinced
one of Poseidon's sons, Agenor, to disrupt the ceremony by claiming
Andromeda for himself. Agenor arrived with an entire army, and a
fierce struggle ensued. In the battle Cassiopeia is said to have
cried "Perseus must die". At any rate it was Perseus who was
victorious, with the help of the Gorgon's head. Perseus had recently
slain Medusa, the Gorgon, and had put its head in a bed of coral. He
retrieved the head and waved it in midst of the warring wedding party,
instantly turning them all to stone. In the group was both Cepheus and
Cassiopeia. A contrite Poseidon put both father and mother in the
heavens. But because of Cassiopeia's vanity, he placed her in a chair
which revolves around the Pole Star, so half the time she's obliged to
sit upside down. The Romans knew Cassiopeia as "Muller Sedis", the
"Woman of the Chair"; or simply as "Sedes", qualified by "regalis" or
"regia".



In ancient Latvia, today was celebrated as the festival of Martini.
Martini was celebrated to mark the end of the autumn and the beginning
of winter. The festival marks the transfer from Usins to Martins, two
deities of horses. The god Usins is invoked during the summer, while
Martins is a winter god. The festival marked the end of the
preparations for winter, such as salting meat and fish, storing the
harvest and making preserves. Martini also marked the beginning of
masquerading and sledding, among other wintry activities.



Valete bene!

Cato

C. Maria Caeca omnibus in foro S. P. D.

this is specifically for any veterans among us, but I hope all enjoy.

Thank you



I give to you, each of you,

The only gift I have; a small thing

I hold it out to you

With all my heart: gratitude



Because you answered

When your country called

You went into the jaws of

Danger. You stayed. You fought.

Some of you came home hurt:

Some of you lie in soil not your own



You went where I cannot go

You did what I cannot do,

You kept safe that which we all

Loved, and love. But for you,

I and mine might not be safe

And free; and so, I carry

What you did, as part of me;

I remember, and I thank you.



Valete quam optime,

C. Maria Caeca

Gratias maximas tibi ago!


D. Mento
Urbs Novae Eboracum

On 11/11/2011 12:56 PM, C. Maria Caeca wrote:
>
> C. Maria Caeca omnibus in foro S. P. D.
>
> this is specifically for any veterans among us, but I hope all enjoy.
>
> Thank you
>
> I give to you, each of you,
>
> The only gift I have; a small thing
>
> I hold it out to you
>
> With all my heart: gratitude
>
> Because you answered
>
> When your country called
>
> You went into the jaws of
>
> Danger. You stayed. You fought.
>
> Some of you came home hurt:
>
> Some of you lie in soil not your own
>
> You went where I cannot go
>
> You did what I cannot do,
>
> You kept safe that which we all
>
> Loved, and love. But for you,
>
> I and mine might not be safe
>
> And free; and so, I carry
>
> What you did, as part of me;
>
> I remember, and I thank you.
>
> Valete quam optime,
>
> C. Maria Caeca
>
>

--


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Aeternia C. Maria Caeca Omnibusque S.P.D.


Well written! I also give kudos to all our Veterans on this day.


Vale quam Optime,
Aeternia


--
*"Fortes fortuna iuvat"*


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

C. Maria Caeca Sta. Corneliae Aeterniae sal,

Gratias tibi ago.

CMC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est ante diem III Idus Novembris; haec dies comitialis est.


"A laetisternium took place this year [326 B.C.], the fifth since the
foundation of the City, and the same deities were propitiated in this
as in the former one. The new consuls, acting on the orders of the
people, sent heralds to deliver a formal declaration of war to the
Samnites, and made all their preparations on a much greater scale for
this war than for the one against the Greeks. New and unexpected
succours were forthcoming, for the Lucanians and Apulians, with whom
Rome had up to that time established no relations, came forward with
offers to make an alliance and promised armed assistance; a friendly
alliance was formed with them. Meantime the operations in Samnium were
attended with success, the towns of Allifae, Callifae, and Rufrium
passed into the hands of the Romans, and ever since the consuls had
entered the country the rest of the territory was ravaged far and
wide. Whilst this war was commencing thus favourably, the other war
against the Greeks was approaching its close. Not only were the two
towns Palaeopolis and Neapolis cut off from all communication with
each other by the enemy's lines, but the townsfolk within the walls
were practically prisoners to their own defenders, and were suffering
more from them than from anything which the outside enemy could do;
their wives and children were exposed to such extreme indignities as
are only inflicted when cities are stormed and sacked. A report
reached them that succours were coming from Tarentum and from the
Samnites. They considered that they had more Samnites than they wanted
already within their walls, but the force from Tarentum composed of
Greeks, they were prepared to welcome, being Greeks themselves, and
through their means they hoped to resist the Samnites and the Nolans
no less than the Romans. At last, surrender to the Romans seemed the
less of the two evils. Charilaus and Nymphius, the leading men in the
city, arranged with one another the respective parts they were to
play. One was to desert to the Roman commander, the other to remain in
the city and prepare it for the successful execution of their plot.
Charilaus was the one who went to Publilius Philo. After expressing
the hope that all might turn out for the good and happiness of
Palaeopolis and Rome, he went on to say that he had decided to deliver
up the fortifications. Whether in doing this he should be found to
have preserved his country or betrayed it depended upon the Roman
sense of honour. For himself he made no terms and asked for no
conditions, but for his countrymen he begged rather than stipulated
that if his design succeeded the people of Rome should take into
consideration the eagerness with which they sought to renew the old
friendly relations, and the risk attending their action rather than
their folly and recklessness in breaking the old ties of duty. The
Roman commander gave his approval to the proposed scheme and furnished
him with 3000 men to seize that part of the city which was in the
occupation of the Samnites. L. Quinctius, a military tribune, was in
command of this force." - Livy, History of Rome 8.25



"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled
with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's
service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing
from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given
America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of
the nation." - U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, proclaiming Armistice
Day on 11 November A.D. 1919

Today is Armistice, or Veterans', Day. Armistice Day is the
anniversary of the official end of World War I, November 11, 1918. It
commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at
Rethondes in Compiegne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on
the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning
— the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month." While
this official date to mark the end of the war reflects the ceasefire
on the Western Front, hostilities continued in other regions,
especially across the former Russian Empire and in parts of the old
Ottoman Empire. After World War II, it was changed to "Veterans' Day"
in the United States.


Valete bene!

Cato

Salvete!

I apologize for this, but, sometimes, I don't quite say what I need to say
in the first poem, so ...if I don't write another one, it haunts me, until I
do, and misery loves company. Thanks for reading it, if you do.

Valete bene!
C. Maria Caeca

THE GUARDIANS



He looks into the fire; at camp's edge

The sentries walk; watching, always

Waiting for trouble. Rome fills his mind

The market where his mother buys food;

A girl...a love .a baby not yet seen, but born

He knows; he stands at the edge of what could

Hurt her, his city; all the little things

He treasures, knowing how much, now.



Deep in a trench, they huddle; frightened boys;

One tries to read; one prays; beyond them, the guns

Give merciless music. They wait to go out, to search

Between the lines; perhaps to die here, in a land not known

To them before, except by name: Flanders. A shape on a map.



A girl sits in a small room; curtains drawn tight

To hide her lamp, and writes; "I miss you, my love"

Then she holds her child's hand, and guides letters

"I love you, Papa, Gretchen"



Above England, 2 planes soar and dive.

Muzzles flash; pilots seek

Advantage; not thinking, but

Knowing that what they do will

Protect what they hold precious.



We, whose birth and life were given

To us by them, the Guardians

Of our futures, pause now,

To honor them; to give homage

To their inestimable gift: Because

Of what they did; we are what we

Are, and because of what they do now

We are kept safe from the terrors

Of unimaginable destruction.

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est pridie Idus Novembris; haec dies comitialis est.

"Nymphius at the same time approached the Samnite praetor and
persuaded him, now that the whole of the Roman fighting force was
either round Palaeopolis or engaged in Samnium, to allow him to sail
round with the fleet to the Roman seaboard and ravage not only the
coastal districts but even the country close to the city. But to
ensure secrecy he pointed out that it would be necessary to start by
night, and that the ships should be at once launched. To expedite
matters the whole of the Samnite troops, with the exception of those
who were mounting guard in the city, were sent down to the shore. Here
they were so crowded as to impede one another's movements and the
confusion was heightened by the darkness and the contradictory orders
which Nymphius was giving in order to gain time. Meantime Charilaus
had been admitted by his confederates into the city. When the Romans
had completely occupied the highest parts of the city, he ordered them
to raise a shout, on which the Greeks, acting on the instructions of
their leaders kept quiet. The Nolans escaped at the other end of the
city and took the road to Nola. The Samnites, shut out as they were
from the city, had less difficulty in getting away, but when once out
of danger they found themselves in a much more sorry flight. They had
no arms, there was nothing they possessed which was not left behind
with the enemy; they returned home stripped and destitute, an object
of derision not only to foreigners but even to their own countrymen. I
am quite aware that there is another view of this transaction,
according to which it was the Samnites who surrendered, but in the
above account I have followed the authorities whom I consider most
worthy of credit. Neapolis became subsequently the chief seat of the
Greek population, and the fact of a treaty being made with that city
renders it all the more probable that the re-establishment of friendly
relations was due to them. As it was generally believed that the enemy
had been forced by the siege to come to terms, a triumph was decreed
to Publilius. Two circumstances happened in connection with his
consulship which had never happened before-a prolongation of command
and a triumph after he had laid down his command." - Livy, History of
Rome 8.26


"O Jupiter Capitolinus, to You I pray, I entreat You, who the Roman
people have named Optimus after Your kindness and Maximus after Your
great power. And to You, O Juno Regina, guardian of the City of Rome.
O Minerva, You have always come to my aid with Your counsels, witness
to the existence of my works; And most especially to You, Penates, who
most of all has called me back, gods of my fathers and my family,
recalling me for the sake of your stations; And You who preside over
the City of Rome and the Republic, You I call to witness, You from
whose temple precincts and shrines did I repel the heinous and
destructive flames of impious duplicity; You also, Mother Vesta, I
pray to You, whose most chaste Vestales I have defended against
pillage and desecration by demented men; for their eternal flame I
could not allow to pass, extinguished in the blood of citizens, or
Your pure flame be intermingled with a conflagration sweeping the
entire city." - Cicero, De Domo sua ad Pontifices 144

"O Jupiter, it was through Your omen that I was led while I laid here
upon the Palatine Hill, to establish the very first foundations of the
city of Rome. Already the Arx, that fortress wickedly bought, is
seized by the Sabines, from whence they, with sword in hand, now
advance across the valley against us. But if You, Father of the Gods
and of men, hold back our enemies, at least from this spot, delivering
the Romans from their terror, and stay their shameful retreat, then
this I vow to You, Jupiter Stator, that a holy precinct and shrine
will be built in Your honor as a memorial to remind our descendents of
how once the city of Rome was saved by Your aid." - Livy, History of
Rome 1.12

Today begins a great three-day-long festival to Iuppiter, around which
the Ludi Plebii were celebrated. Iuppiter is the supreme god, also
called Iove. Originally a sky deity associated with rain and
agriculture, he developed into the great father god, prime protector
of the state, concerned, like the Greek Zeus (with whom he is
identified), with all aspects of life. At his temple on the Capitol,
triumphant generals honored him with their spoils and magistrates paid
homage to him with sacrifices. Iuppiter was the son of Saturn and Ops
and the brother and husband of Iuno. Some of his titles are:

1. Iuppiter Caelestis ("heavenly")
2. Iuppiter Fulgurator ("of the lightning")
3. Iuppiter Latarius ("God of Latium")
4. Iuppiter Lucetius ("of the light")
5. Iuppiter Pluvius ("sender of rain")
6. Iuppiter Stator ("who stands", from stare meaning "standing")
7. Iupiter Terminus or Jupiter Terminalus (defender of boundaries)
8. Iuppiter Tonans ("thunderer")
9. Iuppiter Victor (leading the Roman armies to victory)
10. Iuppiter Summanus (sender of nocturnal thunder)
11. Iuppiter Feretrius ("who carries away [the spoils of war]")

The largest temple in Rome was that of Iuppiter Optimus Maximus on the
Capitoline Hill. Here he was worshipped alongside Iuno and Minerva,
forming with them the Capitoline Triad. Temples to Iuppiter Optimus
Maximus or the Capitoline Triad as a whole were commonly built by the
Romans at the center of new cities in their colonies.


Valete bene!

Cato

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est Idibus Novembribus; hic dies nefastus publicus est.

"This was followed almost immediately by a war with the Greeks on the
eastern coast. The Tarentines had encouraged the people of Palaeopolis
through their long resistance with vain hopes of succour, and when
they heard that the Romans had got possession of the place they
severely blamed the Palaeopolitans for leaving them in the lurch, as
though they were quite guiltless of having behaved in a similar manner
themselves. They were furious with the Romans, especially after they
found that the Lucanians and Apulians had established friendly
relations with them-for it was in this year that the alliance had been
formed-and they realised that they would be the next to be involved.
They saw that it must soon become a question of either fighting Rome
or submitting to her, and that their whole future in fact depended
upon the result of the Samnite war. That nation stood out alone, and
even their strength was inadequate for the struggle, now that the
Lucanians had abandoned them. They believed, however, that these could
still be brought back and induced to desert the Roman alliance, if
sufficient skill were shown in sowing the seeds of discord between
them. These arguments found general acceptance among a people who were
fickle and restless, and some young Lucanians, distinguished for their
unscrupulousness rather than for their sense of honour, were bribed to
make themselves tools of the war party. After scourging one another
with rods they presented themselves with their backs exposed, in the
popular Assembly, and loudly complained that after they had ventured
inside the Roman camp, they had been scourged by the consul's orders
and were within an ace of losing their heads. The affair had an ugly
look, and the visible evidence removed any suspicion of fraud. The
Assembly became greatly excited, and amidst loud shouts insisted upon
the magistrates convening the senate. When it assembled the senators
were surrounded by a crowd of spectators who clamoured for war with
Rome, whilst others went off into the country to rouse the peasantry
to arms. Even the coolest heads were carried away by the tumult of
popular feeling; a decree was passed that a fresh alliance should be
made with the Samnites, and negotiations were opened with them
accordingly. The Samnites did not feel much confidence in this sudden
and apparently groundless change of policy, and the Lucanians were
obliged to give hostages and allow the Samnites to garrison their
fortified places. Blinded by the imposition that had been practiced on
them and by their furious resentment at it, they made no difficulty
about accepting these terms. Shortly afterwards, when the authors of
the false charges had removed to Tarentum, they began to see how they
had been hoodwinked, but it was then too late, events were no longer
in their power, and nothing remained but unavailing repentance." -
Livy, History of Rome 8.27


"Vividi gaudens Feronia luco." - Vergil, Aeneid, viii.800

"His fractus ductor conuelli signa maniplis
optato laetis abitu iubet. itur in agros
diues ubi ante omnis colitur Feronia luco
et sacer umectat Flauinia rura Capenas." - Silius Italicus, Punica
XIII.83

"Circaevmque ivgum circa hunc tractum Campaniae colebatur puer
Iuppiter, qui Anxyrus dicebatur, quasi aneu xurou, id est sine
novacula, quia barbam numquam rasisset, et Iuno virgo, quae Feronia
dicebatur. Est autem fons in Campania iuxta Terracinam, quae aliquando
Anxur est dicta." - Maurus Servius Honoratus, Commentary on the Aeneid
of Vergil 7.799

"Feronia was the ancient goddess of the market-place and fairs. This
would, as a matter of course, identify her with, and make her the
patron of, all strolling characters who frequent such places. But as
she had temples in Etruria, it is possible that she was common to both
races. The ancients were at a loss where to place her among the
deities; she appears, however, to be a goddess of the earth, and
allied to Mania. But what is most important of all for my purpose is
that she was feared, and that people brought her offerings. She often
appeared as an old woman who went about begging in the country, yet
she always had a gran pulitica--that is, she was intelligent or shrewd
or very cunning in manners--and, as one would have believed, she was a
witch. All who gave her alms were very fortunate, and their affairs
prospered. And if people could give her nothing because of their
poverty, when they returned home after the sun rose (dopo chiaro) they
found abundant gifts--enough to support all the family--so that
henceforth all went well with them; but if any who were rich gave her
nothing, and had evil hearts, she cursed them...The incident of the
begging, and the elegant style and distinguished air indicate a
character like that of Juno and Ceres combined." - C.G. Leland,
"Etruscan Roman Remains in Popular Tradition", ch. III p. 55

"At or near Feronia was a celebrated temple to the goddess of that
name, which, like many ancient shrines, stood in a thick grove — Lucus
Feroniae. She seems to have been identical with Proserpine, and was
worshipped by the Sabines, and Latins, as well as by the Etruscans.
Hither, on yearly festivals, pilgrims resorted in great numbers from
the surrounding country, many to perform vows and offer sacrifice —
and those who were possessed with the spirit of the goddess, walked
with naked feet over heaps of burning coal and ashes, without
receiving injury — and many merchants, artisans, and husbandmen,
taking advantage of the concourse, brought their goods hither for
sale, so that the market or fair held here was more splendid than any
other in Italy. From the numerous first-fruits, and other gifts
offered to the goddess, her shrine became renowned for its riches, and
was decorated with abundance of gold and silver. But it was despoiled
by Hannibal on his march through Italy. It was however maintained
till the fall of paganism in the fourth century. That the temple
itself stood on a height seems probable from the fact, mentioned by
Livy, of its being struck by lightning." - G. Dennis, "The Cities and
Cemeteries of Etruria", ch. 10

"These incidents led to his [Hannibal] withdrawal from Rome, and he
retired as far as the river Tutia, six miles distant from the City.
From there he marched to the grove of Feronia and the temple, which
was celebrated in those days for its wealth. The people of Capena and
other cities round used to bring their first-fruits and other
offerings, according to their ability, and they had also embellished
it with a considerable quantity of gold and silver. Now the temple was
despoiled of all its treasures. Great heaps of metal, where the
soldiers, struck by remorse, had thrown pieces of uncoined brass, were
found there after Hannibal's departure. All writers are agreed as to
the plundering of this temple. Coelius tell us that Hannibal diverted
his march to it while he was going from Eretum to Rome, after marching
from Amiternum by Reate and Cutiliae." - Livy, History of Rome 26.11

"After this war another arose against the Romans on the part of the
Sabine nation, the beginning and occasion of which was this. There is
a sanctuary, honoured in common by the Sabines and the Latins, that is
held in the greatest reverence and is dedicated to a goddess named
Feronia; some of those who translate the name into Greek call her
Anthophoros or "Flower Bearer," others Philostephanos or "Lover of
Garlands," and still others Persephone. To this sanctuary people used
to resort from the neighbouring cities on the appointed days of
festival, many of them performing vows and offering sacrifice to the
goddess and many with the purpose of trafficking during the festive
gathering as merchants, artisans and husbandmen; and here were held
fairs more celebrated than in any other places in Italy." - Dionysus
of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities 3.32


Today is the second day of the three-day festival to Iuppiter, and is
held in honor of both him and the goddess Feronia. Since Iuppiter is
a pretty well-known deity, I am focussing on Feronia. Feronia is a
difficult goddess to identify; some sources claim that she is an
aspect of Iuno, or Ceres/Persephone, or both. She is also called the
"mother of the nymphs of Campania" by Servius (Commentary on the
Aeneid, 8.564), and Varro places her in the group of Sabine goddesses
("Feronia, Minerva, Novensides, a Sabinis." - de Lingua Latina V.74).
At Rome Feronia had a grove and later a temple in the Campus Martius;
the latter is attested only in the calendars. Since her cult at Rome
is curiously placed in the middle of the Plebeian Games, it was
probably older than they were, and it could go back to a primitive
fair, as at Lucus Feroniae. It is first mentioned at Rome when
expiatory offerings were ordered by the Sibylline in 217 BC: they were
extended even to the freedwomen (libertiinae), who according to their
ability had to contribute money for a gift to Feronia, while freewomen
(matronae) contributed to Iuno Regina on the Aventine, Though perhaps
originally an agricultural goddess (she received an offering of the
first-fruits of the season at Lucus Feroniae), she appears to have
acquired a special association with freemen and granting freedom to
slaves. In explaining her name Varro also called her Libertas,
"Libertatem deam dicit, Feroniam quasi Fidoniam", and an inscription
on a seat in her temple at Terracina, where freedman received the cap
of freedom (pilleus) on their shaved heads, runs "Let the deserving
sit down as slaves and rise as freemen" ("Bene meriti servi sedeant,
surgant liberi"). It appears that at Terracina slaves could take
sanctuary at her altar: this would be a Greek rather than a Roman
custom.


This is probably also the "dies natalis" of a temple of Pietas
(Piety), since Pietas is mentioned with Fortuna Primigenia in a
inscription of the second century A.D. Her temple in the Forum
Holitorium was vowed by M. Acilius Glabrio at Thermolpylae (191) and
dedicated by his son ten years later. In it was a gilded statue of the
father, the first of its kind in Rome.The temple was destroyed in 44
B.C. to make room for the Theatre of Marcellus. One aspect of Pietas
was the relationship of parent and children, and this temple was
connected with the (Greek) story of a daughter who supplied her
imprisoned father or mother with her own milk. The connection may have
arisen from the nearby Columna (Lactaria), where infants in need of
milk were brought.


Valete bene!

Cato

Salvete FYI Valete Ti. Galerius Paulinus
To: explorator@yahoogroups.com; BRITARCH@...
From: rogueclassicist@...
Date: Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:38:25 -0500
Subject: [Explorator] explorator 14.30




























================================================================

explorator 14.30 November 13, 2011

================================================================

Editor's note: Most urls should be active for at least eight

hours from the time of publication.



For your computer's protection, Explorator is sent in plain text

and NEVER has attachments. Be suspicious of any Explorator which

arrives otherwise!!!



================================================================

================================================================

Thanks to Arthur Shippee, Dave Sowdon,David Critchley, Gary Kirkpatrick,

Bill Thayer, Diana Wright, Don Buck, Dorothy Lobel King,

Jennifer Cosham, Joanne Conman,Edward Rockstein, Alex Pentzis,

David Pettegrew, Rick Heli, Hernan Astudillo, Michael Caputo,

Kurt Theis, John McMahon, Barnea Selavan,Joseph Lauer,

Mike Ruggeri, Richard Campbell, Richard C. Griffiths,

Bob Heuman, and Ross W. Sargent for headses upses this week

(as always hoping I have left no one out).

================================================================

EARLY HUMANS

================================================================

Neanderthals were the first inhabitants of the Greek islands:



http://greece.greekreporter.com/2011/11/10/neanderthal-men-first-inhabitants-of-greek-islands/



Quite a bit of coverage of the 'accuracy' of depictions of spotted

horses in various caves:



http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107162225.htm

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-ancient-dna-insights-cave-horses.html

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=51634

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15619885

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/science/spotted-horses-in-cave-art-werent-just-a-figment-dna-shows.html

http://news.yahoo.com/cave-art-accurately-depicted-horses-different-colors-190206913.html

http://news.yahoo.com/cave-painters-were-realists-dna-study-finds-200120657.html

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700195692/Cave-painters-were-realists-study-of-ancient-DNA-finds.html

http://detnews.com/article/20111110/NATION/111100428/1020/rss09

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/335913/description/Prehistoric_horses_came_in_leopard_print

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-ancient-horse-20111108,0,6320267.story

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111107162225.htm

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/caveman-art-spotted-horses-likely-real-not-fantasy-135014537.html



On cooking and human evolution:



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-cooking-energy-meat-driven-human.html



I think we had this homo floresiensis v birds story quite a while ago:



http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2011/11/06/ancient-bird-remains-illuminate-lost-world-of-indonesias-hobbits/

================================================================

AFRICA

================================================================

Oldest petroglyphs in Egypt:



http://newhaven.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=73533&nc=1



The fall of Gaddafi opens up Libya for studying the Garamantes, apparently:



http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/05/gaddafi-sahara-lost-civilisation-garamantes

https://www.npr.org/2011/11/08/142125279/satellite-images-reveal-lost-city-in-libyan-desert

http://historyoftheancientworld.com/2011/11/castles-in-the-desert-satellites-reveal-lost-cities-of-libya/

https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/drt/si?p=CAA&ut=AFAKxlQAAAAATrlQtrlYxPCyj_0S537zKxEA5mKacM7U

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-castles-satellites-reveal-lost.html



Latest on efforts to bring remains from the Intrepid back to

the U.S.:



http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/nov/09/sen-dean-heller-sponsors-bill-bring-remains-americ/

================================================================

ANCIENT NEAR EAST AND EGYPT

================================================================

Interesting 7500 years b.p. (or so) finds from Qatar:



http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=468921&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16



The Bogazkoy Sphinx will be on display soon:



http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=hattusa-reunites-with-sphinx-2011-11-07



Complaints about the politicization of archaeology in Israel:



http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/archaeologists-criticize-new-bill-for-politicizing-israel-antiquities-authority-1.394671



... but, of course, that's been going on for a while:



http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?q=node/88740



... and here's a timely case in point:



http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=244452



A feature on Eilat Mazar:



http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/november/archaeology-rebel.html



A semi-touristy thing/video on Herod's tomb:



http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=244814



A Landminds interview with Tim Harrison about ASOR and the upcoming meeting:



http://www.foundationstone.org/LandMinds10/LM2011B/files/LM-081111a.mp3



Another feature on the Cairo Genizah:



http://www.forward.com/articles/145977/



Latest recreations of ancient beer:



http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/11/03/drink-like-an-egyptian/



Egypt closed the Great Pyramid on Friday to prevent it being

used for 'spiritual ceremonies':



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/11/egypt-pyramid-11-11-11_n_1087823.html

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=245234

http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-closes-great-pyramid-rumors-rituals-104026490.html

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/egypt-closes-pyramid-avoid-11-11-11-rituals-174436435.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060458/Egypt-closes-Great-Pyramid-rumours-Jews-stage-rituals-Magic-Friday.html



More on that child-mummy CT scan:



http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102190010.htm



Egyptology News Blog:



http://egyptology.blogspot.com/



Egyptology Blog:



http://www.egyptologyblog.co.uk/



Dr Leen Ritmeyer's Blog:



http://blog.ritmeyer.com/



Paleojudaica:



http://paleojudaica.blogspot.com/



Persepolis Fortification Archives:



http://persepolistablets.blogspot.com/



Archaeologist at Large:



http://spaces.msn.com/members/ArchaeologyinEgypt/

================================================================

ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME (AND CLASSICS)

================================================================

This one doesn't seem to have made it to the English press this week ... a

shipwreck find near the Isola Sacra (Fiumicino):



http://www.beniculturali.it/mibac/export/MiBAC/sito-MiBAC/Contenuti/MibacUnif/Comunicati/visualizza_asset.html_1743025962.html

http://www.ilmessaggero.it/articolo.php?id=168917&sez=HOME_ROMA



Proposals for a housing development next to a Roman site in Southwell have

been rejected:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-15655165



Rethinking the fall of the Republic:



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-rethinking-fall-rome-republic.html

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/profile-broadhead-1109.html



Lots of coverage of Kristina Kilgrove's Roman DNA project:



http://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2011/11/11/an-archaeologist-wants-the-story-of-romes-99/



A followup to that 'birthplace of Augustus' find:



http://news.discovery.com/history/rome-first-emperor-birth-111111.html



They don't have problems getting diggers for Vindolanda, apparently:



http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/nov/10/vindolanda-archaeology-hadrian-s-wall-housteads-andrew-birley-haltwhistle



Researching the images of women in Roman mosaics:



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-images-women-roman-mosaics.html



UNESCO backs that fight to prevent establishing a dump near Hadrian's Villa:



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8887010/Italian-princes-rubbish-dump-fight-wins-Unesco-backing.html



The fall of Gaddafi opens up Libya for studying the Garamantes, apparently:



http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/05/gaddafi-sahara-lost-civilisation-garamantes

https://www.npr.org/2011/11/08/142125279/satellite-images-reveal-lost-city-in-libyan-desert

http://historyoftheancientworld.com/2011/11/castles-in-the-desert-satellites-reveal-lost-cities-of-libya/

https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/drt/si?p=CAA&ut=AFAKxlQAAAAATrlQtrlYxPCyj_0S537zKxEA5mKacM7U

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-castles-satellites-reveal-lost.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/11/111111-sahara-libya-lost-civilization-science-satellites/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060396/Fall-Gaddafi-s-regime-allows-archaeologists-explore-hidden-ancient-civilisation.html

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-11/uol-cit110711.php



OpEddish thing on why Pompeii should be saved:



http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/245854/20111109/disintegration-pompeii-ancient-roman-city-saved.htm



... and why people are writing such things:



http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/travelnews/2011/11/111107-pompeii-italy-science-travel-collapse-eu/



... although I think we had this funding news a while ago:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLiC2RkPkQA



Michael Fontaine comments on the new translation of the Roman Missal:



http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/582715/



Adrienne Mayor was talking about fossils and myths:



http://www.pulseplanet.com/dailyprogram/dailies.php?POP=5131



Interview with Stephen Mitchell:



http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/blog/2011/11/conversation-stephen-mitchell.html



Stacy Schiff on CSPAN's Q&A:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUK3qvVN3Nw



How to wear a toga:



http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/how-to-wear-a-toga-the-ancient-roman-way/



Interesting approach to Latin learning:



http://mindshift.kqed.org/2011/11/can-an-online-game-crack-the-code-to-language-learning/



Why we need more Latin in schools:



http://johnsblog.dailymail.co.uk/2011/11/why-we-need-more-not-less-latin-in-schools.html



I guess we should mention Joe Paterno and the Aeneid, since it's being

mentioned in almost

every article about the scandal at PSU:



http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7221684/the-tragedy-penn-state-nittany-lions-coach-joe-paterno



More on turning Hagia Sophia back into a mosque:



http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Erdogan%27s-religious-acrobatics:-Nicaea-council-church-back-to-being-a-mosque-23148.html



Latest reviews from Scholia:



http://www.classics.ukzn.ac.za/reviews/



Latest reviews from BMCR:



http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/recent.html



Visit our blog:



http://rogueclassicism.com/

================================================================

EUROPE AND THE UK (+ Ireland)

================================================================

Oldest painting ever found in central Europe:



http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,796726,00.html



Another one which hasn't made it to English yet ... on an earlier date for

human arrival in Europe:



http://www.faz.net/aktuell/wissen/mensch-gene/palaeoanthropologie-aelter-als-gedacht-11515282.html



An obscene graffito turns up in Kensington Palace:



http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/nov/03/kensington-palace-restoration-dirty-secret



A massive digging project in Manchester:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15635235



Assorted items from assorted periods in Norwich declared treasure:



http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/ancient_finds_uncovered_at_norwich_inquest_1_1124545

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/ancient_finds_uncovered_at_norwich_inquest_1_1124545



I think we mentioned this 'lost Norman town' near Kilkenny a few months ago:



http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/local/startling_discovery_of_lost_norman_town_1_3229885



Archaeology in Europe Blog:



http://archaeology-in-europe.blogspot.com/



================================================================

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC

================================================================

(Mostly Upper) Paleolithic tools from caves in Madh'a Pradesh:



http://www.livemint.com/2011/11/09223325/Stone-Age-tools-found-in-Dante.html



A Punnata era relief of a bull cart:



http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=121305



A 17th/18th century tomb from Dong Nai:



http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20111106-Vietnam-ancient-tomb-little-damaged.aspx



A project to study and digitize most/all of Cambridge University Library's

South

Asian manuscript collection:



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-powerful-words.html



More on that 14th century timepiece found in a Queensland shed:



http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/th-century-brass-piece-found-in-queensland-farm-shed/story-e6freoof-1226191121459



East Asian Archaeology:



http://eastasiablog.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/east-asian-archaeology-cultural-heritage-%E2%80%93-2052010/



Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog:



http://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/



New Zealand Archaeology eNews:



http://www.nzarchaeology.org/netsubnews.htm

================================================================

NORTH AMERICA

================================================================

Rock circles in Virginia may be the oldest above-ground paleoindian site in

North

America:



http://nativetimes.com/life/culture/6360-rock-circles-linked-to-ancient-indian-site



An apparent slave cemetery found at a former cotton plantation

in Florida:



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/apparent-slave-cemetery-u_0_n_1087249.html



A Native American skull found in a housing development in Mountain View

(Ca):



http://www.mv-voice.com/news/show_story.php?id=4936



Water main work in Salt Lake City turned up a rather old Native American

burial:



http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705393948/Skeletal-remains-found-in-Salt-Lake-City-front-yard-may-be-1000-years-old.html

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52871282-78/lake-salt-1100-skull.html.csp



A survey around a bridge in Missouri turns up several sites:



http://www.whig.com/story/news/Palmyra-Archaeological-Dig-110711

http://www.wgem.com/story/15979864/native-american-archeology-site-near-palmyra



Silliness about crystal skulls being brought to Serpent Mound for a

ceremony:



http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/science/2011/11/13/13-skulls-nonsense-detracts-from-real-mayan-achievements.html

http://ohio-archaeology.blogspot.com/2011/11/serpent-mound-and-crystal-skulls.html



The New York Historical Society is 'back home':



http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/11/11/arts/design/20111111-HISTORICAL.html



Feature on the Trent Affair:



http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/showdown-in-the-atlantic/



More on that pre-Clovis evidence from a mastodon:



http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-professor-mastodon-weapon-older-thought.html

================================================================

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

================================================================

They're digging at Holtun:



http://www.allvoices.com//contributed-news/10801693-work-to-uncover-massive-mayan-city-begins



Overviewish thing about what they've found recently in Mexico City:



http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2011/1107/Underneath-Mexico-City-s-bustle-lie-Aztec-wonders



The ROM has put up a video about what they thought about 2012:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcPht017VM&feature=uploademail



... and one about an upcoming exhibition:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D8UgnCdNrg&feature=related



More on CT scanning of a Peruvian mummy:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15486720



Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Americas Breaking News:



http://web.mac.com/michaelruggeri



Ancient MesoAmerica News:



http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/

================================================================

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

================================================================

Audio news from the Archaeology Channel (Oct 30-Nov 5 ... I think I missed

this one):



http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/MP3/audnews6Nov11.mp3



... or possibly this one (Oct 23-29th):



http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/MP3/audnews30oct11.mp3



Latest use of satellites in archaeology is to identify potential

'fossil sites':



http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111108/full/news.2011.633.html



Six deaths supposedly caused by the 'curse of Tutankhamen' were actually

murders,

we are told:



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059084/Six-deaths-attributed-Curse-Tutankhamun-murders-committed-notorious-satanist-book-claims.html



A project to recreate the acoustics of Renaissance Venice:



http://www.newswise.com/articles/acoustical-archeology-reveals-sounds-of-renaissance-venice

http://www.srcf.ucam.org/~djh1000/soundandspace/



A fresco by Giotto has a hitherto unnoticed image of a demon:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEiiEwvK9Vw&feature=uploademail (video)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15624767

http://news.yahoo.com/devil-found-detail-giotto-fresco-italys-assisi-114509111.html



A Charlotte Bronte manuscript is coming to auction:



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/08/charlotte-bronte-manuscript-_n_1082192.html



Interesting story of a 'shipwreck Anglesey bone setter':



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-15628885



A TED talk by Ben Kacyra who has invented a 3D scanning system that

is being used to scan and preserve assorted heritage sites:



http://www.ted.com/talks/ben_kacyra_ancient_wonders_captured_in_3d.html



... and here's a semi-related story on using Gigapans for a similar purpose:



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/08/BU881LPJIP.DTL



Nice APOD of the sun setting behing Castle Neuhaus:



http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111112.html



Interesting story of some Viennese antiques in Australia:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/arts/design/viennese-works-from-australia.html



Interviewish thing with Robert K. Massie:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/10/books/robert-k-massies-latest-subject-is-catherine-the-great.html



... and one with 'atrociologist' Matthew White:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/books/the-great-big-book-of-horrible-things-by-matthew-white.html



A project to rebuild the Babbage Analytical Engine:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/science/computer-experts-building-1830s-babbage-analytical-engine.html



Review of Peter Englund, *The Beauty and the Sorrow*:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/books/the-beauty-and-the-sorrow-by-peter-englund-review.html



More on that David Livingstone diary find:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/08/science/restored-livingstones-fading-notes-from-africa.html



http://www.ancientdigger.com/

================================================================

TOURISTY THINGS

================================================================

Jerash:



http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/destinations/travel-asia/watch-gladiators-in-action-then-ride-your-own-chariot-in-jordan/article2231008/

================================================================

BLOGS

================================================================

About.com Archaeology:



http://archaeology.about.com/



Archaeology Briefs:



http://archaeologybriefs.blogspot.com/



Taygete Atlantis excavations blogs aggregator:



http://planet.atlantides.org/taygete/



Time Machine:



http://heatherpringle.wordpress.com/

================================================================

CRIME BEAT

================================================================

France is laying claim to a painting in a London gallery ... supposedly

stolen two centuries ago:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15628011



On the plundering of shipwrecks in Finnish waters:



http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2011/11/shipwrecks_being_plundered_3012362.html



More on the theft of the Benghazi treasure and the potential for other

thefts in Libya:



http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/11/world/europe/looted-treasure-libya/



Looting Matters:



http://lootingmatters.blogspot.com/



Illicit Cultural Property:



http://illicit-cultural-property.blogspot.com/



Safe Corner:



http://safecorner.savingantiquities.org/

================================================================

NUMISMATICA

================================================================

Latest eSylum:



http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v14n46.html



... and the one which will appear later today:



http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_esylum_v14n47.html



Ancient Coin Collecting:



http://ancientcoincollecting.blogspot.com/



Ancient Coins:



http://classicalcoins.blogspot.com/



Coin Week:



http://www.coinweek.com/================================================================

EXHIBITIONS, AUCTIONS, AND MUSEUM-RELATED

================================================================

Royal Manuscripts at the British Library:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15667183 (slide show)



Les Gaulois:



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8884189/Myth-of-Gauls-debunked-at-Paris-exhibition.html

http://www.smh.com.au/world/gauls-the-victims-of-bad-press-20111112-1ncvj.html



Aphrodite and the Gods of Love:



http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/blogs/thenextgreatgeneration/2011/11/mfa_gets_sexy_with_first-ever.html



DaVinci:



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15635002

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/leonardo-da-vinci/8870754/Leonardo-da-Vinci-Painter-at-the-Court-of-Milan-National-Gallery-in-London-review.html

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=lost-da-vinci-work-on-display-2011-11-07



Caravaggio and His Followers:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/arts/design/comparing-caravaggio-and-frans-hals.html

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/11/06/arts/design/20111106-caravaggio-hals.html



Staffordshire Hoard:



http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/07/in-washington-golden-reminders-of-englands-dark-age/



Venice and Egypt:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/arts/09iht-conway09.html



Modern Antiquity:



http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/11/art-review-modern-antiquity-picasso-de-chirico-getty-villa.html



Revolution! The Atlantic World Reborn:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/arts/design/revolution-at-the-new-york-historical-society.html



Dead Sea Scrolls:



http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/contemporary-christian-travel/2011/nov/7/ancient-israel-artifacts-debut-nyc/



On the return of the Getty Aphrodite:



http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/The-Goddess-Goes-Home.html



Feature on the opening of the Museum of the Great War:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/arts/design/museum-of-the-great-war-opens-in-meaux-france.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/world/europe/in-france-sacrifices-of-world-war-i-resonate-anew.html



Perhaps not surprisingly, history museums are really struggling:



http://philanthropy.com/blogs/philanthropytoday/in-the-arts-history-museums-are-struggling/41858



Items related to 'A History of the World in 100 Objects':



http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/blog/2011/11/around-the-world-in-100-objects.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vploL3KxGmA

http://www.juf.org/news/blog.aspx?id=413116&blogid=13574



US Marshals are going to be auctioning off some items:



http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/move-over-christies-u-s-marshals-want-a-piece-of-the-auction-action/



Possible WWII looted painted seized from a Florida museum:



http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/authorities-in-florida-seize-painting-on-loan-to-a-museum/



More on the market for Aboriginal art:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/05/arts/05iht-rartabor05.html



Check out our Twitter hashtage for more ancient exhibition reviews:



http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23classicalexhibit

================================================================

PERFORMANCES AND THEATRE-RELATED

================================================================

Huelgas Ensemble:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/12/arts/music/huelgas-ensemble-at-white-light-festival-review.html



Check out our Twitter hashtag for Ancient Drama reviews:



http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23ancientdrama



... and for Sword and Sandal flicks:



http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23swordandsandal

================================================================

OBITUARIES

================================================================

Allen Mandelbaum:



http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/11/07/2754882/mandelbaum-translated-dantes-divine.html



Morris Philipson:



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/books/morris-philipson-who-led-the-university-of-chicago-press-dies-at-85.html

================================================================

DON'T EAT THAT ELMER

================================================================

The nutty claim of the week: Alexander the Great's tomb AND the Ark of the

Covenant

have been found on Thasos:



http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n263980

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/an-unbelievable-ark-of-th_n_1085987.html



================================================================

PODCASTS

================================================================

The Book and the Spade:



http://www.radioscribe.com/bknspade.htm



Stone Pages Archaeology News:



http://news.stonepages.com/



Archaeologica Audio News:



http://www.archaeologychannel.org/AudioNews.asp



Naked Archaeology Podcast:



http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/archaeology/

================================================================

EXPLORATOR is a weekly newsletter representing the fruits of

the labours of 'media research division' of The Atrium. Various

on-line news and magazine sources are scoured for news of the

ancient world (broadly construed: practically anything relating

to archaeology or history prior to about 1700 or so is fair

game) and every Sunday they are delivered to your mailbox free of

charge!

================================================================

Useful Addresses

================================================================

Past issues of Explorator are available on the web via our

Yahoo site:



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To subscribe to Explorator, send a blank email message to:



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================================================================

Explorator is Copyright (c) 2011 David Meadows. Feel free to

distribute these listings via email to your pals, students,

teachers, etc., but please include this copyright notice. These

links are not to be posted to any website by any means (whether

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est ante diem XVII Kalendas Decembris; haec dies comitialis est.

"The Samnite war, the sudden dejection of the Lucanians, and the fact
that the Tarentines had been the instigators were quite sufficient in
themselves to cause the senators anxiety. Fresh trouble, however,
arose this year through the action of the Vestinians, who made common
cause with the Samnites. The matter had been a good deal discussed,
though it had not yet occupied the attention of the government. In the
following year, however, the new consuls, L. Furius Camillus and
Junius Brutus Scaeva, made it the very first question to bring before
the senate. Though the subject was no new one, yet it was felt to be
so serious that the senators shrank from either taking it up or
refusing to deal with it. They were afraid that if they left that
nation unpunished, the neighbouring states might be encouraged to make
a similar display of wanton arrogance, while to punish them by force
of arms might lead others to fear similar treatment and arouse
feelings of resentment. In fact, the whole of these nations-the Marsi,
the Paeligni, and the Marrucini-were quite as warlike as the Samnites,
and in case the Vestinians were attacked would have to be reckoned
with as enemies. The victory, however, rested with that party in the
senate who seemed at the time to possess more daring than prudence,
but the result showed that Fortune favours the bold. The people, with
the sanction of the senate, resolved on war with the Vestinians. The
conduct of that war fell by lot to Brutus, the war in Samnium to
Camillus. Armies were marched into both countries, and by carefully
watching the frontiers the enemy were prevented from effecting a
junction. The consul who had the heavier task, L. Furius, was
overtaken by a serious illness and was obliged to resign his command.
He was ordered to nominate a Dictator to carry on the campaign, and he
nominated L. Papirius Cursor, the foremost soldier of his day, Q.
Fabius Maximus Rullianus being appointed Master of the Horse. The two
distinguished themselves by their conduct in the field, but they made
themselves still more famous by the conflict which broke out between
them, and which almost led to fatal consequences. The other consul,
Brutus, carried on an active campaign amongst the Vestinians without
meeting with a single reverse. He ravaged the fields and burnt the
farm buildings and crops of enemy, and at last drove him reluctantly
into action. A pitched battle was fought, and he inflicted such a
defeat on the Vestinians, though with heavy loss on his own side also,
that they fled to their camp, but not feeling sufficiently protected
by fosse and rampart they dispersed in scattered parties to their
towns, trusting to their strong positions and stone walls for their
defence. Brutus now commenced an attack upon their towns. The first to
be taken was Cutina, which he carried by escalade, after a hot assault
by his men, who were eager to avenge the heavy losses they had
sustained in the previous battle. This was followed by the capture of
Cingilia. He gave the spoil of both cities to his troops as a reward
for their having surmounted the walls and gates of the enemy." - Livy,
History of Rome 8.29




Today is the festival of Shichigosan in Japan. Shichigosan literally
means "seven-five-three"; the ceremony is performed in families who
have daughters of seven, sons of five, and sons and daughters of three
years of age. The children are taken to shrines to to drive out evil
spirits and receive the blessings of the deities. Odd numbers are
considered lucky numbers. Candy in bags that are decorated with
turtles and cranes are given to the children. The candy, the crane and
the turtle all symbolize longevity. It is one of the few occasions
these days on which many Japanese women wear the kimono.


Valete bene!

Cato

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est ante diem XVI Kalendas Decembris; haec dies comitialis est.

"The advance into Samnium was made under doubtful auspices. This
circumstance did not portend the result of the campaign, for that was
quite favourable, but it did forshadow the insane passion which the
commanders displayed. Papirius was warned by the pullarius that it
would be necessary to take the auspices afresh. On his departure for
Rome for this purpose, he strictly charged the Master of the Horse to
keep within his lines and not to engage the enemy. After he had gone
Q. Fabius learnt from his scouts that the enemy were showing as much
carelessness as if there were not a single Roman in Samnium. Whether
it was that his youthful temper resented everything being dependent on
the Dictator, or whether he was tempted by the chance offered him of a
brilliant success, at any rate, after making the necessary
preparations and dispositions he advanced as far as Inbrinium-for so
is the district called-and fought a battle with the Samnites. Such was
the fortune of the fight that had the Dictator himself been present he
could have done nothing to make the success more complete. The general
did not disappoint his men, nor did the men disappoint their general.
The cavalry made repeated charges but failed to break through the
massed force opposed to them, and acting on the advice of L. Cominius,
a military tribune, they removed the bits from their horses and
spurred them on so furiously that nothing could withstand them. Riding
down men and armour they spread carnage far and wide. The infantry
followed them and completed the disorder of the enemy. It is said that
they lost 20,000 men that day. Some authorities whom I have consulted
state that there were two battles fought in the Dictator's absence,
and each was a brilliant success. In the oldest writers, however, only
one battle is mentioned, and some annalists omit the incident
altogether.

In consequence of the vast number slain, a large amount of spoil in
the shape of armour and weapons was picked up on the battle-field, and
the Master of the Horse had this collected into a huge heap and burnt.
His object may have been to discharge a vow to some deity. But if we
are to trust the authority of Fabius, he did this to prevent the
Dictator from reaping the fruits of his glory, or carrying the spoils
in his triumph and afterwards placing his name upon them. The fact
also of his sending the despatches announcing his victory to the
senate and not to the Dictator would seem to show that he was by no
means anxious to allow him any share in the credit of it. At all
events the Dictator took it in that light, and whilst everybody else
was jubilant at the victory which had been won, he wore an expression
of gloom and wrath. He abruptly dismissed the senate and hurried from
the Senate-house, repeatedly exclaiming that the authority and dignity
of the Dictator would be as completely overthrown by the Master of the
Horse as the Samnite legions had been if this contempt of his orders
were to remain unpunished. In this angry and menacing mood, he started
with all possible speed for the camp. He was unable, however, to reach
it before news arrived of his approach, for messengers had started
from the City in advance of him, bringing word that the Dictator was
coming bent on vengeance, and almost every other word he uttered was
in praise of T. Manlius." - Livy, History of Rome 8.30



"Hekate Einodia, Trioditis, lovely dame, of earthly, watery, and
celestial frame, sepulchral, in a saffron veil arrayed, pleased with
dark ghosts that wander through the shade; Perseis, solitary goddess,
hail! The world's key-bearer, never doomed to fail; in stags
rejoicing, huntress, nightly seen, and drawn by bulls, unconquerable
queen; Leader, Nymphe, nurse, on mountains wandering, hear the
suppliants who with holy rites thy power revere, and to the herdsman
with a favouring mind draw near." - Orphic Hymn 1 to Hecate

"Hekate Brimo ... hearing his words from the abyss, came up ... She
was garlanded by fearsome snakes that coiled themselves round twigs
of oak; the twinkle of a thousand torches lit the scene; and hounds
of the underworld barked shrilly all around her." - Apollonius
Rhodius, Argonautica 3.1194

"Then, earth began to bellow, trees to dance
And howling dogs in glimmering light advance
Ere Hecate came." - Vergil, The Aeneid Book VL

"[Medea] wearies heaven above and Tartarus beneath with her complains;
she beats upon the ground, and murmuring into her clutching hands
calls on the Queen of Night [Hekate] and Dis [Haides] to bring her aid
by granting death, and to send him who is the cause of her madness
down with her to destruction." – Valerius Flaccus, The Argonautica
7.311

Out of Erebos and Chaos she called Nox (Night) and the Di Nocti (Gods
of Night) and poured a prayer with long-drawn wailing cries to
Hecate ... a groan came from the ground, the bushes blanched, the
spattered sward was soaked with gouts of blood, stones brayed and
bellowed, dogs began to bark, black snakes swarmed on the soil and
ghostly shapes of silent spirits floated through the air." - Ovid,
Metamorphoses 10.403

"Baying [of Hounds] loud as that which rings at the grim gate of Dis
[Haides] or from Hecate's escort [of black hounds] to the world
above." - Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 6.110

"At another time you are Proserpina, whose howls at night inspire
dread, and whose triple form restrains the emergence of ghosts as you
keep the entrance to the earth above firmly barred. You wander
through diverse groves, and are appeased by various rites." -
Apuleius, Golden Ass 11.218



Today in ancient Greece was held in honor of the goddess Hekate. She
is most often shown accompanied by two ghostly hounds, and the barking
of dogs announces Her approach. Hekate is a goddess shrouded in
mystery, for there is continuing debate about Her name, origin and
character. There are few legends about Her,and no fixed geneology.
Some say that Hekate is the daughter of Erebus and Nyx, ageless
Goddess of the night, while others believe that She is one of the
Furies or the last surviving Titan except for Zeus. Hesoid claims
that She was born of the Titan Perses and the star goddess Asteria.
Musaeus claims She was born to Asteria and Zeus, Euripides says She is
a daughter of Leto, while Thessalian legend has it that Hekate is the
daughter of Admetus and a Pheraean woman.

The Olympians "adopted" Her after they had defeated the Titans, but
She was not of the same kind, and never lived amongst them. During
this time Hekate's power was still recognized: Zeus gave Her dominion
over Heaven, Earth and Sea, and they shared the right to grant or
withhold gifts from humanity. Hekate was worshipped as Goddess of
abundance and eloquence. Hekate is sometimes referred to a triple
goddess. Classically She was part of a group with Persephone and
Demeter. Contrary to modern Pagan assumptions, Demeter represents the
old crone woman, Persephone the wife woman, and Hekate is the Maiden.
Every early Greek representation of Hekate shows Her as a young woman.
It is only much later that She is represented as Crone.

In Mytilene on the eastern coast of the Aegean Sea, near what was
Troy, there are Temples of Demeter, where the women would go to the
annual festival of Eleusis to celebrate fertility rites. There is
ample evidence that Hekate was honored there too, perhaps as a guide
for initiates into the Mysteries.

But Hekate's power was to fade. In later myths She is represented as a
daughter of Zeus who rules the Underworld & the waning Moon. The
Greeks began to emphasize Her darker aspects; Hekate as Goddess of the
Dead & Queen of Witches. She was increasingly depicted as roaming the
earth on moonless nights in the company of baying dogs and the hungry
spirits of those dead who were not ready to die, those who were
murdered or not given appropriate burial rites.

Hekate has long been associated with crossroads where three roads
meet. In ancient Greek religion the soul was judged at a place where
three roads meet. One road led to the Elysian Fields, one to the
Fields of Asphodel, and the third road to Tartarus. So any crossroads
where three roads meet might symbolize this place of judgment, and be
seen as a sacred place.

The Romans adopted Hekate, and Her role shifted again. Hekate became
an aspect of the moon Goddess, Diana Triformus: Diana, the Full moon,
associated with Earth; Proserpina, the lunar phases, associated with
Heaven; and Hekate, the New moon, associated with the Underworld.

Valete bene!

Cato

Cn. Lentulus Quiritibus sal.

Citizens, I'm proud to report that, 3 days ago, the official blog of the Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) at the University of Oregon deemed our Res Publica, Nova Roma, worthy to suggest it for the learners of classical studies and Latin:
 
http://casls-nflrc.blogspot.com/2011/11/nova-roma-organization-dedicated-to.html
 
It's an honor, especially in such a poor period of our organization.
 
All doers of Nova Roma! Let's use it as an encouragement! Until people like the CASLS of the University of Oregon give credit to our Commonwealth, there is Hope for Nova Roma to thrive.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Salve Lentule,

Thanks for the information; this is indeed encouraging.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly


Quoting "Cn. Cornelius Lentulus" <cn_corn_lent@...>:

> Cn. Lentulus Quiritibus sal.
>
> Citizens, I'm proud to report that, 3 days ago, the official blog of the
> Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) at the University of
> Oregon deemed our Res Publica, Nova Roma, worthy to suggest it for the
> learners of classical studies and Latin:
>  
>

http://casls-nflrc.blogspot.com/2011/11/nova-roma-organization-dedicated-to.html

>  
> It's an honor, especially in such a poor period of our organization.
>  
> All doers of Nova Roma! Let's use it as an encouragement! Until people like
> the CASLS of the University of Oregon give credit to our Commonwealth, there
> is Hope for Nova Roma to thrive.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

Cn. Lentulus Q. Suetonio SPD
 
It's a pleasure, dear Paulinus. I only which there could be more similar news.
 
Maybe it's time to do something.
 
 
Vale!
 


--- Gio 17/11/11, mjk@... <mjk@...> ha scritto:


Da: mjk@... <mjk@...>
Oggetto: Re: [Nova-Roma] Nova Roma mentioned
A: Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com
Data: Giovedì 17 novembre 2011, 16:00



 



Salve Lentule,

Thanks for the information; this is indeed encouraging.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

Quoting "Cn. Cornelius Lentulus" <cn_corn_lent@...>:

> Cn. Lentulus Quiritibus sal.
>
> Citizens, I'm proud to report that, 3 days ago, the official blog of the
> Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) at the University of
> Oregon deemed our Res Publica, Nova Roma, worthy to suggest it for the
> learners of classical studies and Latin:
>  
>

http://casls-nflrc.blogspot.com/2011/11/nova-roma-organization-dedicated-to.html

>  
> It's an honor, especially in such a poor period of our organization.
>  
> All doers of Nova Roma! Let's use it as an encouragement! Until people like
> the CASLS of the University of Oregon give credit to our Commonwealth, there
> is Hope for Nova Roma to thrive.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est ante diem XV Kalendas Decembris; haec dies comitialis est.

"So they formed a compact to lend aid to one another in case any one
of them should be wronged in any particular; and they took oaths to
this effect and forthwith elected from their own number two
representatives — and afterward still more — in order that each class
might have a helper and avenger. And this they did not once only, but
the idea now conceived in this form kept growing, and they appointed
their representative for a year, as to some office. The men were
called in the tongue of the Latins tribuni — the same name that was
given to the commanders of a thousand — but were styled demarchoi
[leaders of the people] in the Greek language.

In order, however, to distinguish between the titles of the tribunes,
they added in the one case the phrase 'of the soldiers', and in the
other the phrase 'of the people'. Now these tribunes of the people
became responsible for great evils that befell Rome. For though they
did not immediately secure the title of magistrates, they gained
power beyond all others, defending every one who begged protection
and rescuing every one who called upon them not only from private
individuals, but from the very magistrates, except the dictators. If
any one ever invoked them when absent, he, too, was released from the
person holding him prisoner and was either brought before the
populace by them or was set free. And if ever they saw fit that
anything should not be done, they prevented it, whether the person
acting were a private citizen or a magistrate; and if the populace or
the senate was about to do or to vote anything and a single tribune
opposed it, the action or the vote became null and void. As time went
on, they were allowed, or allowed themselves, to summon the senate,
to punish anybody who disobeyed them, to practise divination, and to
hold court. And in the case of anything that was unlawful for them to
do, they gained their point by their incontestable opposition to
every project undertaken by others. For they introduced laws to the
effect that whoever should obstruct them by deed or word, be he
private citizen or magistrate, should be 'devoted' and under a curse.
This being 'devoted' meant destruction; for this was the term applied
to everything that was consecrated, like a victim, for slaughter. The
tribunes themselves were termed by the multitude sacrosanct, since
they served as sacred walls, so to speak, for the shelter of such as
invoked them; for sacra among the Romans means 'walls', and
sancta 'sacred'. Many of their actions were unwarrantable, for they
threw even consuls into prison and put men to death without granting
them a hearing. Nobody ventured to oppose them; or, in case anyone
did, he himself became 'devoted'. If, however, persons were not
condemned by all the tribunes, they would call to their help those
who had not concurred in the verdict, and so were given a regular
trial before the tribunes themselves or before a jury or before the
populace, and were subject to the deciding vote. In the course of
time the number of the tribunes was fixed at ten, and as a result of
this most of their power was overthrown.

Through the tendency, natural to most persons, to differ with their
fellow officials — since it is always difficult for a number of men
to attain harmony, especially in a position of any influence — all
their power was being dissipated and torn to shreds; for none of
their resolutions was valid in case even one of them opposed it. They
had originally received their office for no other purpose than to
resist such as were oppressing anybody, and thus he who tried to
prevent any measure from being carried into effect was sure to prove
stronger than those who supported it.

Now at first they did not enter the senate-house, but sat at the
entrance and watched proceedings, and in case anything failed to
please them, they would then and there oppose it. Next they were
invited inside. Later, however, the ex-tribunes became members of the
senate, and finally some of the senators even sought to be tribunes —
unless one chanced to be a patrician. Patricians the people would not
accept; for after choosing the tribunes to defend them against the
patricians, and advancing them to so great power, they feared that a
patrician might turn this power to contrary purposes and use it
against them. But if a man abjured the rank given him by birth and
changed his status to that of a common citizen, they received him
gladly. And a number of the most prominent patricians actually did
renounce their nobility, through desire for the immense influence
possible, and so became tribunes." - Cassius Dio, "Roman History"
IV.14-15


"The caesar who was owed to his ancestors, god manifest, has gone to
join them, and the Emperor whom the world expected and hoped for has
been proclaimed, the good genius of the world and source of all
blessings, Nero Caesar, has been proclaimed. Therefore ought we all
wearing garlands and with sacrifices of oxen to give thanks to all
the gods. The 1st year of Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus,
the 21st of the month of Neus Sebastus." - proclamation issued in
Aegyptus on this day in AD 54

Valete bene!

Cato

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est ante diem XIV Kalendas Decembris; haec dies comitialis est.

"Not long after this the Dictator appeared, and at once ordered the
trumpet to sound the Assembly. When silence was restored an usher
summoned Q. Fabius, the Master of the Horse. He advanced and stood
immediately below the Dictator's tribunal. The Dictator began:
"Quintus Fabius, inasmuch as the Dictator possesses supreme authority,
to which the consuls who exercise the old kingly power, and the
praetors who are elected under the same auspices as the consuls alike
submit, I ask you whether or not you think it right and fitting that
the Master of the Horse should bow to that authority? Further, I ask
you whether as I was aware that I had left the City under doubtful
auspices I ought to have jeopardised the safety of the republic in the
face of this religious difficulty, or whether I ought to have taken
the auspices afresh and so avoided any action till the pleasure of the
gods was known? I should also like to know whether, if a religious
impediment prevents the Dictator from acting, the Master of the Horse
is at liberty to consider himself free and unhampered by such
impediment? But why am I putting these questions? Surely, if I had
gone away without leaving any orders, you ought to have used your
judgment in interpreting my wishes and acted accordingly. Answer me
this, rather: Did I forbid you to take any action in my absence? Did I
forbid you to engage the enemy? In contempt of my orders, whilst the
auspices were still indecisive and the sanctions of religion withheld,
you dared to give battle, in defiance of all the military custom and
discipline of our ancestors, in defiance of the will of the gods.
Answer the questions put to you, but beware of uttering a single word
about anything else. Lictor, stand by him!"

Fabius found it far from easy to reply to each question in detail, and
protested against the same man being both accuser and judge in a
matter of life and death. He exclaimed that it would be easier to
deprive him of his life than of the glory he had won, and went on to
exculpate himself and bring charges against the Dictator. Papirius in
a fresh outburst of rage ordered the Master of the Horse to be
stripped and the rods and axes to be got ready. Fabius appealed to the
soldiers for help, and as the lictors began to tear off his clothes,
he retreated behind the triarii who were now raising a tumult. Their
shouts were taken up through the whole concourse, threats and
entreaties were heard everywhere. Those nearest the tribunal, who
could be recognised as being within view of the Dictator implored him
to spare the Master of the Horse and not with him to condemn the whole
army; those furthest off and the men who had closed round Fabius
reviled the Dictator as unfeeling and merciless. Matters were rapidly
approaching a mutiny. Even those on the tribunal did not remain quiet;
the staff officers who were standing round the Dictator's chair begged
him to adjourn the proceedings to the following day to allow his anger
to cool and give time for quiet consideration. They urged that the
youthful spirit of Fabius had been sufficiently chastened and his
victory sufficiently sullied; they begged him not to push his
punishment to extremities or to brand with ignominy not only a youth
of exceptional merit but also his distinguished father and the whole
Fabian house. When they found their arguments and entreaties alike
unavailing, they asked him to look at the angry multitude in front. To
add fire to men whose tempers were already inflamed and to provide the
materials for a mutiny was, they said, unworthy of a man of his age
and experience. If a mutiny did occur, no one would throw the blame of
it upon Q. Fabius, who was only deprecating punishment; the sole
responsibility would lie on the Dictator for having in his blind
passion provoked the multitude to a deplorable struggle with him. And
as a final argument they declared that to prevent him from supposing
that they were actuated by any personal feeling in favour of Fabius,
they were prepared to state on oath that they considered the
infliction of punishment on Fabius under present circumstances to be
detrimental to the interests of the State." - Livy, History of Rome
8.32


"Strong and bright, tall and beautiful of form, who sends down by day
and by night a flow of motherly waters as large as the whole of the
waters that run along the earth, and who runs powerfully." - Fifth
Yasht (Abaun), "Hymn to the Waters", from the Avesta, the sacred
writings of Zoroastrianism

"The first statue of massive gold, without any hollowness within, and
anterior to any of those statues of bronze even, which are known as
'holosphyratae,' is said to have been erected in the Temple of the
goddess Anaitis [Anahita]; to what particular region this name
belongs, we have already stated, it being that of a divinity held in
the highest veneration by the nations in that part of the world." -
Pliny, Natural History XXXIII.xxiv.82

"Most of the precious metals were stripped off in the invasion of
Alexander and his Macedonians, and the rest during the reigns of
Antigonus and Seleucus the son of Nicanor, but still, when Antiochus
reached the place, the temple of Aene [Anahita] alone had the columns
round it still gilded and a number of silver tiles were piled up in
it, while a few gold bricks and a considerable quantity of silver ones
remained." - Polybius, Histories 10.IV.27

"Now the Persians do not erect statues or altars, but offer sacrifice
on a high place, regarding the heavens as Zeus [Ahura-Mazda]; and they
also worship Helios [the Sun], who they call Mithras, and Selene
[Anahita] and Aphrodite, and fire and earth and winds and water; and
with earnest prayer they offer sacrifice in a purified place,
presenting the victim crowned, and when the Magus, who directs the
sacrifice, has divided the meat the people go away with their
shares,Â…; but still, according to some writers, they place a small
portion of the caul upon the fire." - Strabo, Geographies XV.3.13-14

In ancient Persia, today was held in honor of the goddes Ardvi Sura,
an aspect of Anahita. Anahita, which means "the humid", or "strong",
or "immaculate one", was one of the ruling deities of the Persian
Empire. She embodied the physical and metaphroical qualities of water,
especially the fertilizing flow of water from the fountain in the
stars. She also ruled semen and human fertility. She was viewed as the
"Golden Mother" and as a warrior maiden. Anahita was often shown
wearing a golden kerchief, square gold earrings, and a jeweled diadem,
and wrapped in a golde-embroidered cloak adorned with thirty otter
skins. Anahita was sometimes depicted as driving a chariot drawn by
four white horses, representing wind, rain, clouds, and hail. Anahita
was honored with offerings of green branches and white heifers. Ritual
prostitution occurred in Her temples in order to "purify the seed of
males and the womb and milk of females," according to Strabo.

Her cult was strongest in Western Iran, and had extensive parallels
with that of the Semitic Near Eastern "Queen of Heaven", deification
of the planet Venus, eternal virgin (however many sexual encounters
she had), goddess of war, love, and fertility Ishtar, who was probably
derived from the Sumerian Inana. Anahita may have been a direct
borrowing from the Near East, or may have acquired Near Eastern
characteristics from a confrontation between Iranian and Mesopotamian
cultures. By the Hellenistic era Anahita's cult came to be closely
associated with that of Mithra. An inscription from c. 200 B.C.
dedicates a Seleucid temple in Western Iran to "Anahita, the
Immaculate Virgin Mother of the Lord Mithras".

In modern Persian Anahita (Nahid) is the name for the planet Venus.


Valete bene!

Cato

Salvete omnes!

Livia, wife of Augustus and mother of Tiberius, has always been a women of
interest and controversy. Her image was set, for many of us, in I, Claudius
...but ...was she a murderous poisoner, or the exemplar of ancient Roman
womanhood, who just happened to be so rich, famous (and, oh yeah, the wife
of Augustus), who spent her time doing good? Well, I found an interesting
paper on the subject. unlike many academic papers, this one is not just
readable, but interesting, so, I thought I'd share. I'm giving the direct
link, but I accessed it through ancienthistory.com, so if it doesn't open
for you, try that. Enjoy! I did (grin).

http://www.wou.edu/las/socsci/history/Senior%20Seminar%20Thesis%20Papers%20HST%20499/2009/Megan%20Poole%20HST%20499.pdf

Valete bene!

C. Maria Caeca

Cato omnibus in foro SPD

Hodiernus dies est ante diem XIII Kalendas Decembris; hic dies fastus est.

"Fabius immediately summoned his troops to assembly, and appealed to
them to show the same courage with which they had defended the
republic from a brave and determined foe in protecting from the
unrestrained ferocity of the Dictator the man under whose auspices and
generalship they had been victorious. He was coming, maddened by
jealousy, exasperated at another man's merits and good fortune,
furious because the republic had triumphed in his absence. If it were
in his power to change the fortune of the day, he would rather that
victory rested with the Samnites than with the Romans. He kept talking
about the contempt of orders as though the reason why he forbade all
fighting were not precisely the same as that which makes him vexed now
that we have fought. Then, prompted by jealousy, he wanted to suppress
the merits of others and deprive of their arms men who were most eager
to use them, so as to prevent their being employed in his absence; now
he is exasperated and furious because the soldiers were not crippled
or defenceless though L. Papirius was not with them, and because Q.
Fabius considered himself Master of the Horse and not the lacquey of
the Dictator. What would he have done if, as often happens amid the
chances of war, the battle had gone against us, seeing that now, after
the enemy has been thoroughly defeated and a victory won for the
republic which even under his unrivalled generalship could not have
been more complete, he is actually menacing the Master of the Horse
with punishment! He would, were it in his power, treat all with equal
severity, not only the Master of Horse but the military tribunes, the
centurions, the men of the rank and file. Jealousy, like lightning,
strikes the summits, and because he cannot reach all he has selected
one man as his victim whom he regards as the chief conspirator-your
general. If he should succeed in crushing him and quenching the
splendour of his success, he will treat this army as a victor treats
the vanquished and with the same ruthlessness which he has been
allowed to practice on the Master of the Horse. In defending his cause
they will be defending the liberty of all. If the Dictator sees that
the army is as united in guarding its victory as it was in fighting
for it, and that one man's safety is the common concern of all, he
will bring himself to a calmer frame of mind. His closing words were:
" I entrust my fortunes and my life to your fidelity and courage." His
words were greeted with universal shouts of approval. They told him
not to be dismayed or depressed, no man should harm him while the
legions of Rome were alive." - Livy, History of Rome 8.31


On this day in A.D. 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered Puerto Rico.


Today is the National Holiday of the Principality of Monaco. Hercules
was said to have passed through the area, and the founders of the
nearby Greek colony, the Phoceans, built him a "single temple"
("monoikos") to commemorate the event.


Valete bene!

Cato omnibus in foro SPD


Hodiernus dies est ante diem XII Kalendas Decembris; haec dies comitialis est.

"Not long after this the Dictator appeared, and at once ordered the
trumpet to sound the Assembly. When silence was restored an usher
summoned Q. Fabius, the Master of the Horse. He advanced and stood
immediately below the Dictator's tribunal. The Dictator began:
"Quintus Fabius, inasmuch as the Dictator possesses supreme authority,
to which the consuls who exercise the old kingly power, and the
praetors who are elected under the same auspices as the consuls alike
submit, I ask you whether or not you think it right and fitting that
the Master of the Horse should bow to that authority? Further, I ask
you whether as I was aware that I had left the City under doubtful
auspices I ought to have jeopardised the safety of the republic in the
face of this religious difficulty, or whether I ought to have taken
the auspices afresh and so avoided any action till the pleasure of the
gods was known? I should also like to know whether, if a religious
impediment prevents the Dictator from acting, the Master of the Horse
is at liberty to consider himself free and unhampered by such
impediment? But why am I putting these questions? Surely, if I had
gone away without leaving any orders, you ought to have used your
judgment in interpreting my wishes and acted accordingly. Answer me
this, rather: Did I forbid you to take any action in my absence? Did I
forbid you to engage the enemy? In contempt of my orders, whilst the
auspices were still indecisive and the sanctions of religion withheld,
you dared to give battle, in defiance of all the military custom and
discipline of our ancestors, in defiance of the will of the gods.
Answer the questions put to you, but beware of uttering a single word
about anything else. Lictor, stand by him!"

Fabius found it far from easy to reply to each question in detail, and
protested against the same man being both accuser and judge in a
matter of life and death. He exclaimed that it would be easier to
deprive him of his life than of the glory he had won, and went on to
exculpate himself and bring charges against the Dictator. Papirius in
a fresh outburst of rage ordered the Master of the Horse to be
stripped and the rods and axes to be got ready. Fabius appealed to the
soldiers for help, and as the lictors began to tear off his clothes,
he retreated behind the triarii who were now raising a tumult. Their
shouts were taken up through the whole concourse, threats and
entreaties were heard everywhere. Those nearest the tribunal, who
could be recognised as being within view of the Dictator implored him
to spare the Master of the Horse and not with him to condemn the whole
army; those furthest off and the men who had closed round Fabius
reviled the Dictator as unfeeling and merciless. Matters were rapidly
approaching a mutiny. Even those on the tribunal did not remain quiet;
the staff officers who were standing round the Dictator's chair begged
him to adjourn the proceedings to the following day to allow his anger
to cool and give time for quiet consideration. They urged that the
youthful spirit of Fabius had been sufficiently chastened and his
victory sufficiently sullied; they begged him not to push his
punishment to extremities or to brand with ignominy not only a youth
of exceptional merit but also his distinguished father and the whole
Fabian house. When they found their arguments and entreaties alike
unavailing, they asked him to look at the angry multitude in front. To
add fire to men whose tempers were already inflamed and to provide the
materials for a mutiny was, they said, unworthy of a man of his age
and experience. If a mutiny did occur, no one would throw the blame of
it upon Q. Fabius, who was only deprecating punishment; the sole
responsibility would lie on the Dictator for having in his blind
passion provoked the multitude to a deplorable struggle with him. And
as a final argument they declared that to prevent him from supposing
that they were actuated by any personal feeling in favour of Fabius,
they were prepared to state on oath that they considered the
infliction of punishment on Fabius under present circumstances to be
detrimental to the interests of the State." - Livy, History of Rome 8.31



"Quickly, Demeter let the corn grow up from the fertile fields,
and the broad earth was weighed down with leaves and flowers.
But she, going to the law-giving kings, showed to them – to
Triptolemus and to Diocles, driver of horses, to strong Eumolpus and
to Keleus, leader of his people – the rituals of her worship, and
instituted secret rites for all of them." - Homeric Hymn to Demeter

"But after Praetextatus, who held the office of proconsul in Greece,
declared that this law would make the life of the Greeks unliveable,
if they were prevented from properly observing the most sacred
Mysteries, which hold the whole human race together, he permitted the
entire rite to be performed in the manner inherited from the ancestors
as if the edict were not valid." - Zosimus, Historia Nova IV.33

"...but these things are small: you, a pious initiate of the holy
mysteries, grasp hiddenly the discoveries of the mind; and manifoldly
learned, you cultivate the divine numen." - from the Epitaph of
Paulina to Praetextaus

"To the gods of the dead. Vettius Agorius Praetextatus, augur, priest
of Vesta, priest of the Sun, quindecemvir, curialis of Hercules,
initiate of Liber and the Eleusinian [mysteries], hierophant,
neocorus, tauroboliatus, father of fathers. In public office imperial
quaestor, praetor of Rome, governor of Tuscia and Umbria, governor of
Lusitania, proconsul of Achaia, praefect of Rome, senatorial legate on
seven missions, prefect of the praetorian guard twice in Italy and
Illyrica, consul ordinarius elect, and Aconia Fabia Paulina, initiate
of Ceres and the Eleusinian [mysteries], initiate of Hecate at Aegina,
tauroboliata, hierophant. They lived together for 40 years." - from
the tomb of Paulina and Praetextatus

Today is dedicated to Paulina and Praetextatus, two gaurdians of the
Eleusinian Mysteries who, in A.D. 364, defied the order of the emperor
Valentinian I to suppress the practice of the Mysteries, and continued
them for another 20 years.

The Mysteries were based on a legend revolving around Demeter. Her
daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped by Hades, the god of death and the
underworld. Demeter was the goddess of life, agriculture and
fertility. She neglected her duties while searching for her daughter;
causing a dry season (summer in Greece) in which people starved—
today, we associate this with the first winter. During this time
Demeter taught the secrets of agriculture to Triptolemus. Finally
Demeter was reunited with her daughter and the earth came back to
life— the first spring. (For more information on this story, see
Demeter.) Persephone was unfortunately unable to stay permanently in
the land of the living, because she had eaten six seeds of a
pomegranate that Hades had given her. Those that eat the food of the
dead may not return. A compromise was worked out and Persephone stayed
with Hades for one third of the year (winter, as the Greeks only
recognized three seasons, skipping autumn) and with her mother the
remaining eight months. The Eleusinian Mysteries celebrated
Persephone's return, for it was also the return of plants and of life
to the earth. She had eaten the six pomegranate seeds (symbols of
lives) while in the underworld (underground, like seeds in the winter)
and her rebirth is therefore symbolic of the rebirth of all plant life
during the spring and, by extension, all life on earth.

There were two Eleusinian Mysteries: the Greater and the Lesser. The
Lesser Mysteries were held in Anthesterion (March) (the exact time was
not always fixed and changed occasionally, unlike the Greater
Mysteries). The priests purified the candidates for initiation myesis.
They first sacrificed a pig to Demeter and then purified themselves.
The Greater Mysteries took place in Boedromion (the first month of the
Attic calendar) and lasted nine days. The first act (14th Boedromion)
of the Greater Mysteries was the bringing of the sacred objects from
Eleusis to the Eleusinion, a temple at the base of the Acropolis.

The Roman emperor Theodosius I finally closed the sanctuaries by
decree in A.D. 392 in an effort to destroy pagan resistance to the
imposition of Christianity as a state religion. The last remnants of
the Mysteries were wiped out in 396, when Alaric, King of the
Goths, invaded accompanied by Christians "in their dark garments",
bringing Arian Christianity and desecrating the old sacred sites. The
closing of the Eleusinian Mysteries in the 4th century is reported by
Eunapios, a historian and biographer of the Greek philosophers.
Eunapios had been initiated by the last legitimate Hierophant, who had
been commissioned by the emperor Julian to restore the Mysteries,
which had fallen into decay. The very last Hierophant was a usurper,
"the man from Thespiai who held the rank of Father in the mysteries of
Mithras" Eunapios calls him.

Vettius Agorius Praetextatus was one of the political leaders of the
pagan intellectual movement in an increasingly Christian late imperial
Rome. Now while it was not quite as bad to be a pagan in Christian
Rome as it had been to be a Christian in pagan Rome — not only you
were not tortured or killed, but you could have the distinguished
career we read in the inscription above — it did take courage. In the
face of the Christian juggernaut, Praetextatus, his activist wife
Fabia Aconia Paulina, and a circle of friends including the statesman
and writer Symmachus, used mostly religious and cultural means to
fight the rearguard battle for Roman classical religion and ideals:
literary works, statues, the restoration of temples.

Valete bene!

Cato

Cato omnibus in foro SPD


Hodiernus dies est ante diem XI Kalendas Decembris; haec dies comitialis est.

"These remonstrances only irritated the Dictator against them instead
of making him more peaceably disposed towards Fabius, and he ordered
them to leave the tribunal. In vain the ushers demanded silence,
neither the Dictator's voice nor those of his officers could be heard
owing to the noise and uproar; at last night put an end to the
conflict as though it had been a battle. The Master of the Horse was
ordered to appear on the following day. As, however, everybody assured
him that Papirius was so upset and embittered by the resistance he had
met with that he would be more furious than ever, Fabius left the camp
secretly and reached Rome in the night. On the advice of his father,
M. Fabius, who had been thrice consul as well as Dictator a meeting of
the senate was at once summoned. Whilst his son was describing to the
senators the violence and injustice of the Dictator, suddenly the
noise of the lictors clearing the way in front of the Senate-house was
heard and the Dictator himself appeared, having followed him up with
some light cavalry as soon as he heard that he had quitted the camp.
Then the contention began again, and Papirius ordered Fabius to be
arrested. Though not only the leaders of the senate but the whole
House sought to deprecate his wrath, he remained unmoved and persisted
in his purpose. Then M. Fabius, the father, said: "Since neither the
authority of the senate nor the years which I, whom you are preparing
to bereave of a son have reached, nor the noble birth and personal
merits of the Master of the Horse whom you yourself appointed, and
entreaties such as have often mitigated the fierceness of human foes
and pacified the anger of offended deities-since none of these move
you-I claim the intervention of the tribunes of the plebs and appeal
to the people. As you are seeking to escape from the judgment which
the army has passed upon you and which the senate is passing now, I
summon you before the one judge who has at all events more power and
authority than your Dictatorship. I shall see whether you will submit
to an appeal to which a Roman king-Tullus Hotilius-submitted." He at
once left the Senate-house for the Assembly. Thither the Dictator also
proceeded with a small party, whilst the Master of the Horse was
accompanied by all the leaders of the senate in a body. They had both
taken their places on the rostra when Papirius ordered Fabius to be
removed to the space below. His father followed him and turned to
Papirius with the remark, "You do well to order us to be removed to a
position from which we can speak as private citizens."

For some time regular debate was out of the question, nothing was
heard but mutual altercations. At last the loud and indignant tones of
the elder Fabius rose above the hubbub as he expatiated on the tyranny
and brutality of Papirius. He himself, he said, had been Dictator, and
not a single person, not a single plebeian, whether centurion or
private soldier, had ever suffered any wrong from him. But Papirius
would wrest victory and triumph from a Roman commander just as he
would from hostile generals. What a difference there was between the
moderation shown by the men of old and this new fashion of ruthless
severity! The Dictator, Quinctius Cincinnatus, rescued the consul, L.
Minucius, from a blockade, and the only punishment he inflicted was to
leave him as second in command of the army. L. Furius, after
expressing his contempt for the age and authority of M. F. Camillus,
incurred a most disgraceful defeat, but Camillus not only checked his
anger for the moment and refrained from putting in his despatches to
the people, or rather to the senate, anything reflecting on his
colleague, but on his return to Rome, after the senate had allowed him
to choose from the consular tribunes one to be associated with him in
his command, he actually chose L. Furius. Why, even the people
themselves, who hold in their hands the sovereign power, have never
allowed their feelings to carry them beyond the imposition of a fine
even where armies have been lost through the foolhardiness or
ignorance of their generals. Never up to this day has a
commander-in-chief been tried for his life because he was defeated.
But now generals who have won victories and earned the most splendid
triumphs are threatened with the rods and axes, a treatment which the
laws of war forbid even to the vanquished. What, he asked, would his
son have suffered if he had met with defeat, been routed and stripped
of his camp? Could that man's rage and violence go beyond scourging
and killing? It was owing to Q. Fabius that the State was offering up
joyous and grateful thanksgivings for victory; it was on his account
that the sacred fanes stood open and prayers and libations were being
offered at the altars, and the smoke of sacrifice was ascending. How
fitting it was that this very man should be stripped and torn with
rods before the eyes of the Roman people, in sight of the Capitol and
the Citadel, in sight of the gods whom he invoked in two battles nor
invoked in vain! What would be the feelings of the army who had won
their victories under his auspices and generalship? What grief would
there be in the Roman camp, what exultation among the enemy! The old
man wept bitterly as he uttered these protests and expostulations,
ever and anon throwing his arms round his son and appealing for help
to gods and men." - Livy, History of Rome 8.33


"Hathor, Lady of Amenty, the Dweller in the Great Land, the Lady of
Ta-Tchesert, the Eye of Ra, the Dweller in his breast, the Beautiful
Face in the Boat of Millions of Years, the Seat of Peace of the doer
of truth, Dweller in the Boat of the favoured ones..." - The Chapter
of Praise of Hathor, Lady of Amenty, The Book of the Dead

In ancient Egypt, today was held in honor of the goddess Hathor.
Hathor originated in predynastic Egypt, around the fourth millenium
B.C. Her name means "house of Horus" and she was originally seen as
the mother of Horus until Isis took the role. Hathor embodied both
creative and destructive powers and when mankind rebelled against Ra,
he sent her to punish them. She took on the form of Sekhmet and was so
caught up in the bloodlust of slaughtering humans that mankind was in
danger of extinction. To stop her, Ra had his servants brew gallons
upon gallons of beer, adding berry juice to make it red. Then, while
she was sleeping, he poured it onto a field near her. Hathor thought
it was blood and so drank it and became drunk. This stopped her
murderous rampage and saved mankind. Hathor became the goddess of
joy, motherhood, and love. She was considered the protectress of
pregnant women and a midwife. She was the patron of all women, no
matter their station in life. As the goddess of music and dancing her
symbol was the sistrum. As a fertility goddess and a goddess of
moisture, Hathor was associated with the inundation of the Nile. In
this aspect she was associated with the Dog-star Sothis whose rising
above the horizon heralded the annual flooding of the Nile. In the
legend of Ra and Hathor she is called the "Eye of Ra."

In later times, when the Osiris cults gained popularity, her role
changed. She now welcomed the arrival of the deceased to the
underworld, dispensing water to the souls of the dead from the
branches of a sycamore and offering them food. Hathor was also
represented as a cow suckling the soul of the dead, thus giving them
sustenance during their mummification, their journey to the judgement
hall, and the weighing of their soul. In the Late Period, dead women
identified themselves with Hathor, as men identified with Osiris.



In ancient Mesoamerica, today was dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl.
The name "Quetzalcoatl" literally means quetzal-bird snake or serpent
with feathers (Amphitere) of the Quetzal (which implies something
divine or precious) in the Nahuatl language. The meaning of his local
name in other Mesoamerican languages is similar. The Maya knew him as
Kukulkan; the Quiche as Gukumatz. The Feathered Serpent deity was
important in art and religion in most of Mesoamerica for close to
2,000 years, from the Pre-Classic era until the Spanish conquest.
Civilizations worshiping the Feathered Serpent included the Olmec, the
Mixtec, the Toltec, the Aztec, and the Maya.

The worship of Quetzalcoatl sometimes included animal sacrifices, and
in other traditions Quetzalcoatl was said to oppose human sacrifice.
Mesoamerican priests and kings would sometimes take the name of a
deity they were associated with, so Quetzalcoatl and Kukulcan are also
the names of historical persons. The reason being that Quetzalcoatl
called twelve to reign in his stead after he left the people of the
Yucatan. He also called one man, who he gave his rights, priviledges
and powers to administer in his religious duties. This one took on the
name of the Deity, as to show the power had been given to this man.
The name was pronounced differently, to denote this man a mortal, in
contrast to Quetzalcoatl, Kate-Zal, or Kukulcan the God of wind and
waves.

One noted Post-Classic Toltec ruler was named Quetzalcoatl; he may be
the same individual as the Kukulcan who invaded Yucatán at about the
same time. The Mixtec also recorded a ruler named for the Feathered
Serpent. In the 10th century a ruler closely associated with
Quetzalcoatl ruled the Toltecs; his name was Topiltzin Ce Acatl
Quetzalcoatl. This ruler was said to be the son of either the great
Chichimeca warrior, Mixcoatl and the Colhuacano woman Chimalman, or of
their descendant. The Toltecs had a dualistic belief system.
Quetzalcoatl's opposite was Tezcatlipoca, who supposedly sent
Quetzalcoatl into exile. Alternatively, he left willingly on a raft of
snakes, promising to return.

When the Aztecs adopted the culture of the Toltecs, they made twin
gods of Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl, opposite and equal;
Quetzalcoatl was also called White Tezcatlipoca, to contrast him to
the black Tezcatlipoca. Together, they created the world; Tezcatlipoca
lost his foot in that process. The Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II
initially believed the landing of Hernan Cortes in 1519 was
Quetzalcoatl's return. Cortes played off this belief to aid in his
conquest of Mexico.

The exact significance and attributes of Quetzalcoatl varied somewhat
between civilizations and through history. Quetzalcoatl was often
considered the god of the morning star and his twin brother, Xolotl
was the evening star (Venus). As the morning star he was known under
the title Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, which means literally "the lord of
the star of the dawn". He was known as the inventor of books and the
calendar, the giver of maize corn to mankind, and sometime as a symbol
of death and resurrection. Quetzalcoatl was also the patron of the
priests and the title of the Aztec high priest.

Most Mesoamerican beliefs included cycles of worlds. Usually, our
current time was considered the fifth world, the previous four having
been destroyed by flood, fire and the like. Quetzalcoatl allegedly
went to Mictlan, the underworld, and created fifth world-mankind from
the bones of the previous races (with the help of Cihuacoatl), using
his own blood, from a wound in his penis, to imbue the bones with new
life. His own birth, along with his twin Xolotl, was unusual; it was
a virgin birth, born to the goddess Coatlicue.

In Terry Pratchett's Discworld novel "Eric", the people of the Tezumen
Empire worshipped a creature described as a "feathered boa" called
Quezovercoatl.

Valete bene!

Cato

Salvete omnes!

I'd like to take the opportunity to wish those who celebrate it a very happy
Thanksgiving, and to hope that all of you, wherever you may be, will take
just a minute to consider those things and people that have enriched your
lives in some way.

Valete bene!
C. Maria Caeca