Gladius Hispaniensis

Ave I am quite aware that the famous Gladius Hispaniensis was not in use in the Roman Army until the Second Punic War when the Romans adopted it from the Iberian tribes but what did they use before that? If it isn't too much trouble would someone bother downloading a picture of such a weapon? Thanks in advance.

Ave There seems to be some evidence that some legionaries "expediti", that is, without armour, on campaign. Does anyone know why this was? I wonder if it was just a question of no being able to afford armour or if there were tactical reasons for it. I suspect that the majority of legionaries did wear armour though.

Google helps in translating Latin to English but what about vice versa? There are many exercises where translation from English to Latin is required.

Ave I just purchased and am working on Wheelock's 6th edition. Translating English to Latin is a lot harder than vice versa. For some reason the answers to exercise questions are not given. I am trying to translate the following sentence: You ought not to praise me I am translating this as Non debit me laudar. Is this correct?

Wow. Thanks Maty. You have no idea how much that will help.

It's just one of the sentences in Wheelock's exercise section.

What's throwing me off is the 'poena'. I understand it to mean 'penalty' or 'punishment'. I give up. You tell me Ludovicus.

Here's one that's really pissing me off: Non poterant, igitur, te de poena amicorum tuorum heri monere. Any suggestions?

Thanks a lot. I wish we could make this a sticky.

Ave There is a well known conflict between the dating of the census conducted by the procurator Quriinius in the writings of Josephus and the author of the Gospel of Luke. While Josephus dates the census as 6 C.E the latter would have it in the reign of Herod the Great, which would mean no later than 4 B.C.E. Luke's narrative has come under some criticism in the past but lately I came across one apologetic version: that the relevant passage is just a mistranslation. The original Greek rendition: αὕτη ἀπογραφὴ πρώτη ἐγένετο ἡγεμονεύοντος τῆς Συρίας Κυρηνίου which can be translated thus: "Done first survey when he was ruler of Syria Cyrene". The apologist in question has the viewpoint that what is being referred to here is the city of Cyrene not Quirinius the procurator and the "he" refers to Augustus himself. In other words it refers to the previous census taken by Saturninus in 8 B.C.E during the reign of Augustus when the latter was ruler of Syria Cyrene. This obviously begs the question of why Cyrene the city would be mentioned along with Syria in the first place, but I would love to get some input on this apologia from fellow forum members. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Wow, I'll take that with a dose of sodium chloride but I'll still look into it with an open mind.

Best I can tell from Plutarch, Cato the Elder was concerned that the geographic position of Carthage gave it an enduring competitive advantage in maritime trade and made it a permanent military threat to Sicily and the western Mediterranean. Moreover, Carthage was in constant conflict with Numidia, a good Roman ally. I don't think either of these factors required razing the city (nor did most Roman senators either), but it does explain Cato the Elder's beef with Carthage, against whom he had personally fought. Thanks for the info. Any details on Cato's military career against the Carthaginians? What battles etc?

I agree it is hard to justify the destruction of a beaten, cowed enemy. What was Cato's beef with Carthage anyway? That's one thing I never understood. Was it paranoia as in paranoia of a post-war unified Germany I wonder.

I completely agree. Of all the Roman atrocities, the one that makes me particularly sick is the idea of leading a defeated king out in a triumph and then having him ritually strangled. A brave warrior like Vercingetorix deserved more chivalry. Maybe if you were in Caesar's shoes you'd think differently. War has no sympathy or compassion my friend. Pompey was in Caesar's shoes more than once. This is one level he never descended to, quite uniquely among his compatriots I might add. The war fought in the North African desert in WW2 between the Allies and the Axis is witness that in war there is room for sympathy, compassion and chivalry - Krieg ohne hass. Otherwise this whole thread would be pointless.

You're right. I wonder about the weight differences between the oval shield and the rectangular versions. Perhaps it was easier to manouver with the oval shields in comparison with other types? I remember reading that the scutum weighed around 20 to 25 pounds but I can't remember where. It may have been Goldsworthy. But I'm not sure which design was being referred to. I imagine there wasn't much difference in weight. Does anyone remember when the earliest dated rectangular scutum was found?

Got that one too. I thought I logged on last week anyway it's all good.

Currently reading some early Socratic dialogues by Plato.

You must be referring to the Cornelius Ryan book. It's a good primer. Some of the information is dated though.

Currently reading Jane Austen's 'Northanger Abbey'

I believe his actual name was Paurava. There is a Paurava dynasty mentioned also in the famous epic the Mahabharata. One thing that has never been clear to me is if this particular king ruled the entire Indo-Gangetic plain or if he was just one of the local rulers there.

I'm currently reading a fascinating book called 'Infidels' by Andrew Wheatcroft. It examines the centuries old conflict between Islam and Christendom.

I completely agree. Of all the Roman atrocities, the one that makes me particularly sick is the idea of leading a defeated king out in a triumph and then having him ritually strangled. A brave warrior like Vercingetorix deserved more chivalry.

Here's another online course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if4XZVFTK5A Found it pretty useful actually

I just finished reading "Lost History - The Enduring Legacy Of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists" by Michael Hamilton Morgan

Salve I am curious to learn about the ethnic extraction of the various Greek colonies in Sicily and the Italian peninsula. I do know that Tarentum was settled by Doric colonisers who had named it Taras and I believe the same goes for Syracuse. Can anyone fill in the gaps here? Which cities were Doric and which Ionic? Thanks in advance