1. #11
    MLudner's Avatar Banned
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    Originally posted by Waldo.Pepper:
    Every 20 years(ish) people rediscover I Cladius and think it is new.

    Maybe there reaslly is nothing new under the sun.
    I have and have read both "I, Claudius" and the sequel, "Claudius the God" and recommend them both as excellent reading. They rely heavily on the historian SVETONIVS, though, who could be called the Roman National Enquirer...
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  2. #12
    ploughman's Avatar Senior Member
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    Titus and Varenus. Pullo's name has been slightly bastardised for some reason and and he appears to have been promoted.

    In that legion there were two very brave men, centurions, who were now approaching the first ranks, T. Pulfio, and L. Varenus. These used to have continual disputes between them which of them should be preferred, and every year used to contend for promotion with the utmost animosity. When the fight was going on most vigorously before the fortifications, Pulfio, one of them, says, “Why do you hesitate, Varenus? or what [better] opportunity of signalising your valour do you seek? This very day shall decide our disputes.” When he had uttered these words, he proceeds beyond the fortifications, and rushes on that part of the enemy which appeared the thickest. Nor does Varenus remain within the rampart, but respecting the high opinion of all, follows close after.

    Then, when an inconsiderable space intervened, Pulfio throws his javelin at the enemy, and pierces one of the multitude who was running up, and while the latter was wounded and slain, the enemy cover him with their shields, and all throw their weapons at the other and afford him no opportunity of retreating. The shield of Pulfio is pierced and a javelin is fastened in his belt. This circumstance turns aside his scabbard and obstructs his right hand when attempting to draw his sword: the enemy crowd around him when [thus] embarrassed. His rival runs up to him and succours him in this emergency. Immediately the whole host turn from Pulfio to him, supposing the other to be pierced through by the javelin. Varenus rushes on briskly with his sword and carries on the combat hand to hand, and having slain one man, for a short time drove back the rest: while he urges on too eagerly, slipping into a hollow, he fell. To him, in his turn, when surrounded, Pulfio brings relief; and both having slain a great number, retreat into the fortifications amidst the highest applause. Fortune so dealt with both in this rivalry and conflict, that the one competitor was a succour and a safeguard to the other, nor could it be determined which of the two appeared worthy of being preferred to the other.
    Book V, Section 44, Julius Ceasar’s De Bello Gallico.
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  3. #13
    MLudner's Avatar Banned
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    Originally posted by Ploughman:
    Titus and Varenus. Pullo's name has been slightly bastardised for some reason and and he appears to have been promoted.

    <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> In that legion there were two very brave men, centurions, who were now approaching the first ranks, T. Pulfio, and L. Varenus. These used to have continual disputes between them which of them should be preferred, and every year used to contend for promotion with the utmost animosity. When the fight was going on most vigorously before the fortifications, Pulfio, one of them, says, “Why do you hesitate, Varenus? or what [better] opportunity of signalising your valour do you seek? This very day shall decide our disputes.” When he had uttered these words, he proceeds beyond the fortifications, and rushes on that part of the enemy which appeared the thickest. Nor does Varenus remain within the rampart, but respecting the high opinion of all, follows close after.

    Then, when an inconsiderable space intervened, Pulfio throws his javelin at the enemy, and pierces one of the multitude who was running up, and while the latter was wounded and slain, the enemy cover him with their shields, and all throw their weapons at the other and afford him no opportunity of retreating. The shield of Pulfio is pierced and a javelin is fastened in his belt. This circumstance turns aside his scabbard and obstructs his right hand when attempting to draw his sword: the enemy crowd around him when [thus] embarrassed. His rival runs up to him and succours him in this emergency. Immediately the whole host turn from Pulfio to him, supposing the other to be pierced through by the javelin. Varenus rushes on briskly with his sword and carries on the combat hand to hand, and having slain one man, for a short time drove back the rest: while he urges on too eagerly, slipping into a hollow, he fell. To him, in his turn, when surrounded, Pulfio brings relief; and both having slain a great number, retreat into the fortifications amidst the highest applause. Fortune so dealt with both in this rivalry and conflict, that the one competitor was a succour and a safeguard to the other, nor could it be determined which of the two appeared worthy of being preferred to the other.
    Book V, Section 44, Julius Ceasar’s De Bello Gallico. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

    Indeed, now I remember. I am better with incidents than names, just like as in faces...
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  4. #14
    fascinating (hand on chin mode...)
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  5. #15
    waffen-79's Avatar Senior Member
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    guys? what season?

    Niobe lives?
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  6. #16
    Visigoths Won the War Be sure

    Nothing like a touch of claret on the arena floor to get the old blood a pumping. Went down quite well with my haggis and mash and whiskey this morning.

    Wasn't sure at first about this series as they do gloss over a lot of the plot but as a piece of entertainment it works very well.

    Now if they would only incorporate a few scenes like that into that fakking celebirity big brother drekk I would be happy as a pig in the preverbial manure
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  7. #17
    WWSensei's Avatar Senior Member
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    No, while the episodes of up close butt-whuppins were good you don't truly appreciate Verenus and Pullo's true attitudes until the shipwreck episode.

    Come on, talk about never say die. They built a raft OUT OF THE DEAD, BLOATED, YET BUOYANT, BODIES OF THEIR FELLOW LEGIONAIRES! Talk about major survival instinct...

    No doubt those two would have been fighter pilots. Never on the defensive though on occasion their offensive situation was a might poor.
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