| The Great Semitic Revolts |
[23 Apr 2009|03:52pm] |
From State of Exile:
Historically, the worst mistake the Jews ever made was revolting against the Roman empire. It's a comparison no one wants to make, but the Jews were the Muslims of the ancient world order: the only ones, by virtue of religious zealotry, not to accept Pax Romana. Nowadays the Muslims refuse to accept Pax Americana, and for the same kind of reasons as the Jews refused to accept Roman rule: fear of cultural assimilation (Hellenism, American popular culture), anger at corrupt client kings (Herod, the Saudi royal family) and offended religious sensibilities (Roman soldiers in Jerusalem, American soldiers in Arabia). The difference of course is that the Romans so crushed the fighting spirit of the Jews that they became virtual pacifists for the next millennia. Only in the twentieth century did the Jews regain enough martial spirit to take back Palestine (the name the Romans gave Judea after dispersing the Jews). Yet now the rules have changed and martial spirit doesn't prove national legitimacy, but detracts from it. The Jews, with precision timing, decided to embrace master morality precisely when slave morality began sweeping the globe.
If the Jews hadn't revolted against Rome there would have been no exile, no Palestine and quite possibly no Christianity, since the calamitous fall of Jerusalem bolstered Christian claims to be the true Israel and destroyed the base of the Jewish Christians who might have kept the breakaway cult within the fold. Yet Jewish nationalists still grovel before Masada, the symbolic representation of the biggest error the Jews ever made from a nationalist perspective. Paganism was great for the Jews. We weren't viewed as Christ-killers or infidels; just as one bizarre sect among many. What's wrong with a little Hellenistic influence? At least Pax Romana introduced its subject peoples to philosophy and the value of exercise. Pax Americana has introduced its subject peoples to reality television and the value of a double cheeseburger. The Muslim revolt is just as futile and bloody as Masada, but since America can't steamroll Mecca and put up a shopping mall like the Romans would have, it will go on for much longer. What is it about Semites that makes suicide seem like such a great form of resistance anyway?
|
|
| a question.... |
[01 Feb 2009|03:03pm] |
I hope its relevant enough.
was there any other ancient culture that had entertainment of a similar form to the "games" ?
|
|
| newbie |
[15 Jan 2009|05:27pm] |
|
Name: - well I go by *filmsy* on Livejournal, thanks to my username :)
Age: 28
Location: England
Can you speak/read/write Latin? If so, how well?: no.
What interests you most about Ancient Rome or the Romans?:
- the Roman invasion and settling of Britian,
- how the "games" were used as a method of mass entertainment/ media/ people-control.
Is there anything you would like to learn more about Ancient Rome or the Romans?: more about the above
|
|
| new member introduction; |
[11 Dec 2008|09:09pm] |
Name: Simone
Age: 20
Location: Denmark
Can you speak/read/write Latin? If so, how well?: I've had Latin classes for a couple of years and will continue my schooling in half a years time when I'm starting the obligatory Latin classes that come with theology. I read Latin fairly well and can write some Latin if... given enough time. My Latin teacher spoke the language fluently. Some day I hope to be able to copy her in that regard.
What interests you most about Ancient Rome or the Romans?: I'm very interested in the period right before Christianity became an established religion (still being viewed as an underground and periodically harmful sect) and until the fall of Rome. Besides that, mythology in general is what interests me most, along with gender roles and the status of homosexuality in religious and civil life.
Is there anything you would like to learn more about Ancient Rome or the Romans?: After having been to Rome this fall, I'd love to learn tons more about the architecture and city structure. It was just such an interesting experience walking among the ruins from centuries ago, really feeling the atmosphere of the ancient world.
~ S.
|
|
| Virgil |
[10 Dec 2008|08:12pm] |
My literature class wrote limericks today about the Aeneid, specifically about Turnus.
Mine:
There once was a man who was fated
To die, although this was debated;
The augur saw signs
That they should break lines,
But it turns out that they just should have waited.
Not terribly scholarly, but thought this group might get a kick out of it.
|
|
| BBC |
[15 Nov 2008|10:02pm] |
The BBC website for In Our Time has several audio discussions on topics of roman interest-- the Aeneid, for example, is discussed in full.
Check it out; Melvyn Bragg does a wonderful job.
|
|
| Macrons and breves... |
[09 Nov 2008|10:28am] |
Just started a course on Catullus in the university, in which I need to type both of the above marks to denote long and short vowels.
How does one go about it in Microsoft Word, other than copying and pasting each character from the char. map?
|
|
|
[28 Oct 2008|04:25pm] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Morcheeba - Summertime |
] |
i thought this was interesting... it almost sounds like the Alethiometer from Philip Pullman's "Golden Compass" series...
The Antikythera Mechanism
|
|
| I was just wondering... |
[05 Oct 2008|06:05pm] |
|
Do you think Ancient Rome is anything like the United States of America at all in any way?
|
|
| book thoughts |
[25 Aug 2008|12:29am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 busy |
] |
recently i finished Adrian Goldsworthy's The Punic Wars. i found it to be an interesting read, as he presented both Rome and Carthage's side so that you could understand both sides and went through the events of each war without bogging it down with overwordy descriptives.
has anyone else read this book and if so i'd like your opinions :)
|
|
| Book recommendations! |
[24 Aug 2008|01:47am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 hopeful |
] |
Okay, so I'm currently obsessed with Nero's reign. I was wondering if anyone knew any good books about him. I'd appreciate it to either be light or easy reading. (Not both, one or the other)
Help?
Or just any great sources to learn about Nero. Google can only do so much.
Thank you,
L
|
|
| Pompeii: The Last Day |
[21 Jul 2008|09:07pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 curious |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Nein |
] |
I was just watching Pompeii: The Last Day on Youtube (The whole movie is uploaded now). 2/5 ways through I found out that one of the people who posted a comment said that Vesuvius was a racist. When the black gladiator died, they meant. There were a lot of black people in Pompeii....and I don't think that a volcano is racist.......I hope.
|
|
| I'm thinkin' about a plotline...I need ur help |
[29 Jun 2008|02:56pm] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Love Love Sugar - DDR |
] |
Okay, I've been interested in Ancient Rome for over a year now. I've written books about it, posted entires, and such. I've had these daydreams about me going back in time and annoying Pliny the Younger/Elder. I'm thinking about writing a book about these daydreams.
The plot revolves around a modern girl, me, 14-year-old who suffers from social disorder called Autism (we've heard of it). From birth, she's had the power of time travel. Since she's interested in ancient Rome/greece she goes back and visits her favorite Roman senator, Pliny the Younger and his little buddy, Tacitus. She annoys the crap out of them throughout the book to keep herself afloat during the hardships of middle school. Tell me if this is a good plot.....please message me.....^-^
|
|
|
[14 Jun 2008|06:47pm] |
Jus primae noctis in ancient Rome?
Does anyone have any truly reputable and specific sources for this in early Imperial Rome?
|
|
| Novel based on "Aeneid" is highly recommended |
[14 Jun 2008|03:40pm] |
Ursula Le Guin wrote a novel, "Lavinia" based on the "Aeneid," except told from Lavinia's point of view. I really recommend it, the research and language are incredible. I interviewed Le Guin about it on my new literature blog. Feel free to give feedback or suggest any other authors to interview. The blog is:
http://inkwellreview.blogspot.com/
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small}
roma_antiqua