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Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

11 Sep

1) When we think of a famous outlaw with a social conscience, stealing from the rich to give to the poor, a master of disguise outwitting those in power..the name that comes to mind is of course:

Bulla Felix

..The bandit hero who humiliated Rome around the years 205-207 AD..

2) Even at the height of Rome's power, the roads and countryside of the empire were regularly beset by bandit militias ('latrones'), an annoyance usually tolerated by the state until it began to impact commerce and cause large-scale complaints from the aristocracy..

3) The bandit who gave Rome the biggest headache gained his notoriety in the early 200s AD, under the rule of Septimius Severus. Bulla was an educated and charismatic Italian native; a brigand with a code, Bulla targeted the richest Romans, happily relieving them of their gold.

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Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

4 Sep

1) Pliny the Younger on his wife Calpurnia:

"She takes pleasure in reading my works, which are continually in her hands, and even learns some by heart. How full of encouragement she is when I am entering on some task, and how kindly she rejoices with me when it is completed..

2) "When I am pleading a case she stations messengers to inform her from time to time how I am doing and what applauses I receive. She asks to hear me recite my verses and afterwards sets them to music with her lyre. Her only master is Love, the best instructor..

3) "From this marriage I draw my most assured hopes, that the harmony between us will only increase with our days. She loves me for who I am, not for my youth or body which time will gradually decay. I hope to one day become all that my wife thinks I am."

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Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

28 Aug

1) The enormous tomb monument of the procurator of Britannia, Gaius Julius Alpinus Classicianus. As procurator from 61 to 65 AD, Classicianus was responsible for the financial administration of the whole province, you could think of him as the Roman Chancellor of the Exchequer!..

2) Classicianus took office in 61 in the aftermath of the Boudican revolt. Alongside the new provincial governor Publius Petronius Turpilianus, he would have had quite a job rebuilding the finances of the shattered province; clearly he was a trusted figure in Nero's government..

3) Like most Roman statesmen the fate of Classicianus was unknown - until in 1852 when sections of his tomb were found built into London's 3rd century Roman wall on Tower Hill. This revealed that he had died while in office and though not British, had been buried in Londonium..

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Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

26 Aug

1) The brightly painted terracotta sarcophagus of Seianti Hanunia Tlesnasa, an Etruscan woman who was buried near Chiusi around 150 BC. Inside was found Seianti's skeleton, the most complete Etruscan skeleton in existence. Let's meet Seianti and learn a little about her life..

2) The sarcophagus was found alone in a tomb specially made for Seianti. On the lid she reclines in an almost lifesize depiction. Her fine clothing and jewellery speak of her wealth, she wears a diadem, gold snake bracelets, gold-garnet earrings and six rings on her left hand..

3) Seianti wears a traditional white tunic and heavier veil which she lifts to reveal her face. It is possible that Seianti is being shown in the wedding clothes she wore at a younger age, as she prepares to meet her husband again in the afterlife..

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Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

26 Aug

1) In today's episode of 'why hasn't this ancient story been made into a movie?'
Julius Alexander was a young Syrian nobleman from Emesa. Despite his aristocratic background, Julius was famed in his hometown as a beast fighter (venator) in the arena. Unfortunately for Julius...

2) ..his exploits in Syria soon gained the attention (and jealousy) of the emperor Commodus, who also fancied himself a venator. He had performed in the Roman Colosseum, even styling himself as 'Hercules Venator' (Hercules the Hunter) - and did not like being overshadowed!..

3) When news reached Rome of a spectacular bout in which Julius on horseback had fought a ferocious lion and eventually killed it with a shot of his spear, Commodus could take no more - Julius had to go. The emperor assembled a team of assassins, as just one would not be enough..

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Gareth Harney

@OptimoPrincipi

23 Aug

1) The Vindolanda writing tablets offer fascinating glimpses of daily life in a tough frontier fort. One particularly intriguing tablet (no.344) might just be a draft-letter intended for quite the remarkable recipient: none other than the emperor Hadrian himself..

2) The writer drafts his letter to "Your Majesty.." (maiestatem), appealing for justice. In a fragmented yet emotive text, he describes being viciously "beaten with rods" and having his "goods poured down the drain", an "innocent man" treated like he had "committed some crime"..

3) He says he has complained "in vain" to the prefect and beneficarius to no avail, so now can only implore this unnamed "lord" for help. Interestingly, he highlights that he is a "man from overseas" perhaps implying such summary beatings were usually reserved for native Britons.

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