🟡 THE JULIO-CLAUDIANS
The Julio-Claudian dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of ancient Rome, encompassing the first five Roman emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero. It ruled the Roman Empire from its establishment under Augustus in 27 BC until the end of Nero's reign in AD 68.
The dynasty's name is derived from the two families that comprised it: the Julii Caesares and the Claudii Nerones. While not directly related by blood, they were connected through adoption and marriage.
Augustus, the founder, was Julius Caesar's adopted son and heir. He transformed the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity known as the Pax Romana. Tiberius, Augustus's adopted son and successor, continued his predecessor's work, consolidating the empire's borders and maintaining internal stability. His later years were marked by increasingly tyrannical rule.
Caligula, Tiberius's great-nephew and successor, is infamous for his erratic and cruel behavior. His short reign was characterized by extravagance, paranoia, and political instability. Claudius, Caligula's uncle and successor, initially underestimated, proved to be a capable and effective ruler. He expanded the empire's territory, improved the legal system, and oversaw significant construction projects.
Nero, Claudius's adopted son and successor, is remembered for his artistic talents but also for his tyrannical rule and alleged involvement in the Great Fire of Rome. His reign ended with a civil war that led to the downfall of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies.
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp,
Dare its deadly terrors clasp!
When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
🟤 THE THIRD SAMNITE WAR
The Third Samnite War, fought between 298 and 290 BC, was the culmination of decades of tensions between the Roman Republic and the Samnites, a people inhabiting the Apennine Mountains of central Italy. Roman expansionism had steadily encroached upon Samnite territory, fueling a growing desire for independence.
This conflict erupted into open warfare when the Samnites formed an alliance with other Italian tribes, including the Etruscans, Umbrians, and even Gauls. This coalition posed a threat to Roman hegemony.
The war initially favored the Samnite alliance, with Rome suffering a series of early defeats. However, Rome underwent a critical military transformation. A professional army was established, and innovative tactical formations were introduced.
In Battle of Sentinum (295 BC) a massive Roman army decisively crushed the combined forces of the Samnites, Gauls, and Umbrians. This victory shattered the Samnite alliance and cemented Roman dominance over central Italy.
Key figures in this conflict included Roman commanders like Publius Decius Mus, renowned for his self-sacrifice at Sentinum, and Quintus Fabius Maximus Rullianus, a skilled general who played a crucial role in the Roman victory. On the Samnite side, Gellius Egnatius emerged as a prominent leader, commanding the allied forces against Rome at Sentinum.
🔺 DISEASE AND REMEDY ON CAMPAIGN
“In his German campaign, Germanicus Cæsar had pitched his camp beyond the river Rhenus (Rhine); the only fresh water to be obtained being that of a single spring in the vicinity of the sea-shore. It was found, however, that within two years the habitual use of this water was productive of loss of the teeth and a total relaxation of the joints of the knees: the names given to these maladies, by medical men, were "stomacace" and "sceloturbe." A remedy for them was discovered, however, in the plant known as the "britannica," which is good, not only for diseases of the sinews and mouth, but for quinzy also, and injuries inflicted by serpents. This plant has dark oblong leaves and a swarthy root: the name given to the flower of it is "vibones," and if it is gathered and eaten before thunder has been heard, it will ensure safety in every respect. The Frisii, a nation then on terms of friendship with us, and within whose territories the Roman army was encamped, pointed out this plant to our soldiers: the name given to it, however, rather surprises me, though possibly it may have been so called because the shores of Britannia are in the vicinity, and only separated by the ocean. At all events, it was not called by this name from the fact of its growing there in any great abundance, that is quite certain, for at the time I am speaking of, Britannia was still independent.”
(Germanicus 15 BC – AD 19 was a popular Roman general, nephew and adopted son of Tiberius. He was famous for his campaigns in Germania. His early, possibly poisoned, death was a great loss to Rome).
The Natural History. Pliny the Elder
🔘 MOTIVATIONS FOR THE FIRST TRIUMVIRATE
“It was in Caesar's consulship that there was formed between himself, Gnaeus Pompeius and Marcus Crassus the partnership in political power which proved so baleful to the city, to the world, and, subsequently at different periods to each of the triumvirs themselves. Pompey's motive in the adoption of this policy had been to secure through Caesar as consul the long delayed ratification of his acts in the provinces across the seas, to which, as I have already said, many still raised objections; Caesar agreed to it because he realized that in making this concession to the prestige of Pompey he would increase his own, and that by throwing on Pompey the odium for their joint control he would add to his own power; while Crassus hoped by the influence of Pompey and the power of Caesar he might achieve a place of pre-eminence in the state which he had not been able to reach single-handed. Furthermore, a tie of marriage was cemented between Caesar and Pompey, in that Pompey now wedded Julia, Caesar's daughter.”
Velleius Paterculus, Roman History
🔵 ON THE ROMAN ARMY
“After electing the Consuls they proceed to elect military tribunes,—fourteen from those who had five years', and ten from those who had ten years', service. All citizens must serve ten years in the cavalry or twenty years in the infantry before the forty-sixth year of their age, except those rated below four hundred asses. The latter are employed in the navy; but if any great public necessity arises they are obliged to serve as infantry also for twenty campaigns: and no one can hold an office in the state until he has completed ten years of military service.”
Polybius, histories
🟣 MAGO THE CARTHAGINIAN
“Mago, general of the Carthaginians, having defeated Gnaeus Piso and having blockaded the tower wherein he had taken refuge, suspecting that reinforcements would come to his relief, sent a deserter to persuade the approaching troops that Piso was already captured. Having thus scared them off, Mago made his victory complete.”
Sextus Julius Frontinus: Stratagems
⚪️ THE POSESSIONS OF MITHRADATES EUPATOR
“As for Pontus, Mithridates Eupator established himself as king of it; and he held the country bounded by the Halys River as far as the Tibarani and Armenia, and held also, of the country this side the Halys, the region extending to Amastris and to certain parts of Paphlagonia. And he acquired, not only the sea‑coast towards the west as far as Heracleia, the native land of Heracleides the Platonic philosopher, but also, in the opposite direction, the sea‑coast extending to Colchis and Lesser Armenia; and this, as we know, he added to Pontus. And in fact this country was comprised within these boundaries when Pompey took it over, upon his overthrow of Mithridates.”
“Eupator was both born and reared at Sinopê; and he accorded it special honour and treated it as the metropolis of his kingdom. Sinopê is beautifully equipped both by nature and by human foresight, for it is situated on the neck of a peninsula, and has on either side of the isthmus harbours and roadsteads and wonderful pelamydes-fisheries, of which I have already made mention, saying that the Sinopeans get the second catch and the Byzantians the third.”
Strabo
🟢 FEVER AND BATTLE, NORTH AND SOUTH
“Those who live near the equator, and are exactly under the sun's course, are, owing to its power, low in stature, of dark complexion, with curling hair, black eyes, weak legs, deficient in quantity of blood. And this deficiency of blood makes them timid when opposed in battle, but they bear excessive heat and fevers without fear, because their limbs are nourished by heat. Those, however, born in northern countries are timid and weak when attacked by fever, but from their sanguineous habit of body more courageous in battle.”
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, de Architectura
⚫️ PLOT AGAINST THE KING
“Because both sides were digging tunnels in the area, they frequently encountered and even talked to each other; and from these encounters he became known to the king's men. Once, when he was caught on his own in the tunnels, one of the enemy pressed him to betray his allies, and he pretended to agree to the suggestion. When the king was informed of this, in his desire to capture the city he promised a reward and arranged a time to discuss the betrayal. Because the Roman demanded a surety for the agreement, the king sent men to settle it on his behalf. But the Roman said that he would not trust the agreement, unless the king gave him an oath in person. Mithridates considered that it was beneath his royal dignity to descend into the mines. But since the traitor said that he would not co-operate otherwise, and he was very eager to capture the city, Mithridates was forced to agree to the request. As a result the king would have been captured, if he had not been protected by one of his friends who, rightly suspecting a plot, produced a device that fitted in the tunneland could quickly be opened and closed. When this had been placed in the tunnel, and Mithridates and his friends went in, the centurion . . . the men who intended to help him seize the king, drew his sword and rushed at the king. But just in time the king closed the gate, and so escaped the danger.”
Diodorus Siculus
🟡 PLINY ON SYRIA
“Next to these countries Syria occupies the coast, once the greatest of lands, and distinguished by many names; for the part which joins up to Arabia was formerly called Palestina, Judaea, Coele Syria, and Phoenice. The country in the interior was called Damascena, and that further on and more to the south, Babylonia. The part that lies between the Euphrates and the Tigris was called Mesopotamia, that beyond Taurus Sophene, and that on this side of the same chain Comagene. Beyond Armenia was the country of Adiabene, anciently called Assyria, and at the part where it joins up to Cilicia, it was called Antiochia. Its length, between Cilicia and Arabia, is 470 miles, and its breadth, from Seleucia Pieria to Zeugma, a town on the Euphrates, 175. Those who make a still more minute division of this country will have it that Phoenice is surrounded by Syria, and that first comes the maritime coast of Syria, part of which is Idumaea and Judaea, after that Phoenice, and then Syria.
The whole of the tract of sea that lies in front of these shores is called the Phoenician Sea. The Phoenician people enjoy the glory of having been the inventors of letters, and the first discoverers of the sciences of astronomy, navigation, and the art of war.”
GM Nostr.
🟤 THE GOD VULCAN
Vulcan was the Roman god of fire, metalworking, and volcanoes, essentially the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Hephaestus. He was associated with both the beneficial and destructive aspects of fire, revered for his skills in crafting and feared for the destructive power of volcanoes. A skilled craftsman, Vulcan was known for creating powerful weapons and armor for the gods, and was considered the inventor of many tools and techniques used in metalworking.
Myths describe him as being thrown out of heaven by his father, Jupiter, leading to a limp or deformity. He was married to the goddess of love, Venus, despite their very different personalities. Vulcan crafted many famous objects, including the thunderbolts of Jupiter, the armor of Achilles, and the chariot of the sun. The Romans held an annual festival called the Volcanalia in his honor on August 23rd.
Vulcan represented the power and potential of fire, both for creation and destruction. He was associated with volcanic eruptions and other fiery disasters.
Off topic: Marlene Dietrich.
🔺 THE MEDICAL LIBRARY OF PONTUS
“It was he (Mithradates) who first thought, the proper precautions being duly taken, of drinking poison every day; it being his object, by becoming habituated to it, to neutralize its dangerous effects.”
“Among the other gifts of extraordinary genius with which he was endowed, Mithridates displayed a peculiar fondness for enquiries into the medical arts; and gathering items of information from all his subjects, extended, as they were, over a large proportion of the world, it was his habit to make copies of their communications, and to take notes of the results which upon experiment had been produced. These memoranda, which he kept in his private cabinet, fell into the hands of Pompeius, when he took possession of the royal treasures; who at once commissioned his freedman, Lenæus the grammarian, to translate them into the Latin language: the result of which was, that his victory was equally conducive to the benefit of the republic and of mankind at large.”
(Mithridates VI 134-63 BC, King of Pontus, fierce opponent of Rome in the Mithridatic Wars. Known for his ambition and attempts at poison immunity. Ultimately defeated by the Romans).
The Natural History. Pliny the Elder
🟣 Why are you on Nostr?