Age of Augustus

Circus Maximus with Japanese Tourists 2004

2005-04-23T18:47:00.000-07:00

Ovid vs. Horace

2005-04-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

When we were discussing the time-line last class and the topic came up about Ovid writing his love poems inspite of Horace's satires, I couldn't help think that maybe Ovid wrote them because no one else had. I know that everyone thinks that he wrote them because back in that time people frowned at writings that dealt with adultery and sex and all that jive but what if he wrote those love poems because that's what he felt and at that time maybe the mode of the people was changing. I mean the war was over and monuments of peace were going over, maybe the new generation wanted to read something else that epics and bashing people for character flawfs. I don't know, maybe he was just a perv and wanted to be controversial but I think he wrote them for a different reason that he wrote the poems from what everyone else thinks.

Food for Thought

2005-04-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

One the issue of Rape Fanasties and Ovid--

I read a short story once entitled Rape Fantasies; the narrator is talking with her girlfriends and asked them point blank about their rape fantasies...each in turn repsonded with descriptions of being ravished, found naked and taken without word by a man they don't know...the narrotor proceeded to tell them that that isn't rape- that's ravishing. Rape is terrifying, brutal and cruel. It involves fear beyond belief. With that...can we say that what Ovid describes about him and his girlfriend is rape or rape fantasy?

I would agrue no. its game couples play that is more along the lines of playing "cat and mouse". and I would go on to say that with that defination - which is narrowing of Rape, it removes the Rape from Roman society. Its not a completely consentual society but not completely a cohorced one either. Its a strange middle ground. Does that make it right? of course not. but what does it make it?

Satire 1.3 Line 99-124

2005-04-12T21:11:00.000-07:00

We as humans have evolved from uncivilized creatures and continue to evolve
We have learned from our past ancestors successes and failure (survival of the fittest)
The development of language was the mark of objectivity, it enable humans to define themselves, society, and provide a moral basis
The birth of language gives humans the opportunity to keep and record archives of history
And if we are willing to examine the past we will come to the realization that our form of justice is birthed from our fear of chaos
Nature does not know the difference between right and wrong
Nature only knows the innate feelings of what is wanted and unwanted, what is beneficial and what is detrimental
Nature knows this only by reason
And reason does not justify the fact that not all sins are equal
Therefore the punishment much fit the crime

A Strange Parallel

2005-04-10T21:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I found a strange connection with Satire 1.3 and Ecclesiastes 3:12. (despite religious beliefs this is interesting.)

The Satire section is primiarily a mockery of the "so called wise" and teases those that are over wordy.

Ecclesiates 3:12-- says:
"Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly;
for what can the man do what succeeds a king-- Only what he has already done
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly
As light excels darkness
The wise man's eyes are in his head,
The fool walks in darkness.
Yet I myself perceived
That the same event happens to them all.

So I said in my heart,
'As it happens to the fool, it also happns to me. Any was I then more wise?'
There is no more rememberacne for the wise than the fool forever...And how the wise man dies As the fool"

Now what struck me as interesting is that passage is similarily laid out in not only a verse like prose but also it speaks of how being wise or considering yourself wise is not true wisedom. True wisdom comes from acknowledging that nothing saves you from the ulitmate end --death. Horace's satire though different is similar. Let those who consider themselves wise go on, but realize that they are not as wise as they boldy and loudly claim. This passage from the Bible also speaks of the ranks of kings and what makes a man better than a king. Horace's satire talks about being everything therefore being your own king.
Ulitimately,this caught my attendtion because we talked in class how Judism was 'trendy' for some Romans and here I would argue there is clear line of similar thinking. And I honestly found it very intrigueing. Was Horace himself a little influenced with Jewish philosophy? Or would you argue this being just a similar opinion found across the board?

satire 1.7 question

2005-04-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

i have read through this short satire several times, and am having difficulty determaning the point. there is some obviouse sarcasm, but i think it might be lost on me. in particular, i would like to know what it means in line 21-23,

"they (Bithus and Bacchius) rush fiercely into court, each a memorable sight. Persius states his case amid general laghter:he praises Brutus, Calling him 'the sun of Asia', and he praises his staff, calling them all 'stars of health', except for the King,"

why did he call Brutus the sun of Asia? i don't have any idea what this is a referance to, and it feels like this particular satire has several referances like that which i just don't understand. bugs me too, cause it's nice and short. oh well.

My Satire/Horace's Satire remade

2005-04-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

I have been very sick, which is why this is late. Gotta love Nyquil, though; 180 proff, knocks you OUT!

SATIRE 1.3 remake

"A man may be over zealous and not quite up to step with modern trends; his hair is long, his dress unkempt and his shoes too big, but he is a better man than all he passes. He is your friend and he wears this falsehood like a cloak, hidding the true him from those too caught up in outward appearances. And what of you? Are you not faulty, imperfect? You are, none can escape imperfection, so turn a deaf ear on critics and gossips. Be yourself!

And just as two young lovers will find no fault with the other, finding the smallest imperfection a beautiful part in a whole, we must find ways to make our faults acceptable. Give nickmaes of endearment, turn the bad to good, and call a friend with bad vision 'Hawkeye' and a small friend 'Shorty'. If a friend is slow in his steps, call him "Speedy" and another's bent legs give him the nickname "Bowie". A cheap friend is thrifty and one who knows not when to hold his tounge is opinionated. But say these things with a light heart and mean them not as judgements but as praise, and your friendships will endure the test of time."

~~ Reaver

Roman Architecture

2005-04-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

The most fasinating part of Roman history to me is the monumental architecture. The Romans were the first ones to create a form of concrete that would actually set in water. They used volcanic ash to form it. Perhaps this is one of the reasons some of their buildings have withstood times in as good condition that they have.

Satire I.3 lines 75-98

2005-04-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

We are merely human, therefore we are not perfect. Mistakes only come natural to us. Infact we are prone to screwing up, and most of the time we arn't even aware of what we are doing. We will not evole out of our mistakes for the most part. So how will severe punishment change things that we are unaware of doing? The punishment should fit the crime. Most people act without observing the situation, not much can change that.
For example lets say we have Grandpa having the best golf game of his life. We also have little Billy who is just tagging along for company and to ride around in the cart. Due to severe A.D.H.D. and totaly ignorance for the game Billy picks up the old mans ball only lying only inches from the pin, and hurls into the near by pond in a state of oblivian. What would you think of Grandpa, if he left Billy crying and fearing for his life in a bunker as he speed off to write Billy out of the his will? Overkill!
The punishment should fit the crime, no one likes a bully. Look where it got Saddam.
Take for example the 2003 AL playoff series. A true Cubs fan interfears with a catchable ball. His punshment was a esscort from the game and death threats for a year. This fan was only thinking about obtaining a game ball, not that he may have cost the Cubs a chance to go to the World Series. This man loved Chicago, should he really be hated by the city?
Who are we to judge? Its so much easier to catch others in mistakes than ourselves. The one who judges whould be prepaired to be judged ten fold.

Modern Horace

2005-04-06T08:10:00.000-07:00

Lines 76-98 Book 1 Satire 4, modern edition

Since human beings are a bunch of dumbasses
we should be rational about our own retardedness
Suppose a friend spilled a small ration of bongwater on your rug
And you laid a 50 gallon drum of whoop-ass on him
People would think you were an asshole
Is it worse to ignore your friend for something completely trivial
Not answering your cell phone when he calls, or worse yet
blocking him from your AOL Instant Messanger Buddy List
What if your friend ruins your only vinyl copy of Ice Ice Baby?
or what if he ate the left over Papa John's that you were saving for breakfast?
Should you be hatin on him? Not forever.
The punishment should fit the crime.

Blog homework.

2005-04-06T06:21:00.000-07:00

lines 125-end.
-Even someone with everything thinks he has nothing and craves what he already has.
-you are always going to be what you are, no matter what you do in life. The singer is still a singer even while asleep and the king is still a king even if he is poor.
-It is easy to be unkown then known, since everyone is not looking/hoping for you to mess up and are more willing to forgive your faults.
If this is totally wrong then I'm sorry.

What Do You Like The Most About The Romans ?

2005-04-05T22:51:00.000-07:00

Here is an open topic to see what each of us likes the most about the Romans. This can be anything related to the Romans (social, political, cultural, economical, or whatever). You can include reasons or whatever that make you choose such a thing.

For me, what caught my attention the most was how the Romans used the concept of citizenship. For the Romans, citizenship was a very important tool to achieve a lot of things. The Romans felt very proud of being citizens of the Roman empire. It was amazing how the citizinship gave some kind of prestige to the Romans, and how citizens got several rights just because of their Roman citizenship. In fact, outsiders had to go through different stages in order to achieve a full Roman citizenship. The Romans fought bravely for the sake of their empire and their citizenship. So, being a Roman at that time was a special thing.

Questions From Satire 6 Book 1

2005-04-05T18:22:00.000-07:00

Lines 23-25, I wasn't sure what the dazzling car or the broad strip were. Lines 27-28, Horace mentions the broad stripe again. Also, I was lost to the meaning of these two lines. In addition, I wasn't sure what the Newman junior was or who Natta was. Also, what message of Natta is Horace referring to? I think one of the hardest things for me, when reading Horace, is that I don't know the people or some of the places he is talking about.

Satire 1.3 Lines 76-98

2005-04-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

People make mistakes but that doesn't mean that all of those mistakes should receive the same punisment. If a waiter or waitress was to eat off of his customers' plates his boss might fire him but he would never physically hurt him. If your friend is truly friend you wouldn't cut all contact with him if he did something as small as being ten minutes late for dinner. If your friend got a stain on the shirt you let her borrow or dropped and broke your cell phone you wouldn't give them the same punishment as someone who broke into your house and stole everything. And the same goes for a roommate who drank the last of your soda. All crimes and faults are different and the one penalty cannot account for all of them.

Horace's Satire 1.3 Group 1 (Lines 1-28)

2005-04-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

Yay!! I got this thing to work!
Okay now my "turning" of Horace's Satire:

Performers are all the same, when asked to perform, they will refuse. However, if the mood strikes they have no self-control and will sing nonstop. Even if the most influential person were to ask such a performer (even one with strong familial ties) would be wasting his time. But, if the mood hit, this performer would sing like a mad man anywhere he pleased; in the mall, a restaurant, the bathroom, in class, or any other inappropriate place.
These people are completely inconsistent.
They move without rhyme or reason. One minute they might be running as if Jason were chasing him with his chainsaw; other times they act as if they are in the company of royalty. After talking stately of seemingly important and expensive things, they will change their tune to one of more humble origins. Claiming they need only the barest of necessities. If you gave a large sum of money to this person even in his/her most pious moment, it would be gone as fast as it could be spent.
These people go to sleep while most hard-working people are starting to wake up and then they sleep soundly all day. They are the most paradoxical people on the face of the planet.
Some people may plainly point out that I am not perfect and that I do have my faults; but mine are different and conceivably less severe.
The hypocrite will complain about his/her friends; which invites someone to say "Don't you know what you are like? Or do you think that we just can't see it?" He/She (the hypocrite) will reply "I know, but it doesn't bother me."
That attitude of outright, brash egotism should be stopped immediately.
Most people look at their faults through rose-colored glasses and look at their friend's with a magnifying glass. Unknown to you, they usually provide you with the same courtesy.

Horace Satire 1-3 Group one lines 1-28

2005-04-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

The first lines are referring to the singers and their attitude toward their audience and their patron. This I felt is very similar to the "rock star" mentality. The very unpredictable character, people constantly subject to the performer's feelings and whims. For example when a singer or band cancels a sold out concert at the last minute. Or when asked to meet for an interview on a "talk show" and simply have to perform.

Tigellious not singing for Caesar, even though there is a relationship between Caesar and Tigellious' father is I feel a perfect example of modern day rock stars.

Next the satire refers to Tigellious being a bundle of inconsistencies. Running around like Tom Green one day haphazardly and the next like an altar boy in church or the term "walking around on pins and needles." Tigellious sounds like a kid on riddelian that is inconsistent with his required daily douses. Bouncing off the walls one minute and carefully concentrating the next.

The part referring to his amount of slaves and his social habits, I feel is comparable to a regular middle class man vs. a rich one. Tigellious owning 10 slaves at one time like the average American home owns 2 cars. Then the more extravagant side owning 100 slaves like modern rich car collector may have a lot of nice and expensive imports. This is a symbol of wealth and, not simplicity pursy but less of a display of extravagant wealth.
Tigellous would talk as if he was royal and then later appeal to "simplicity" and claim all he needs are the bear essentials. At the same time he would spend money like M.C. Hammer, wasting it… as if it were burning a hole in his pocket.

He would rebel against the earth and act nocturnal. Sleeping all-day and staying up all night. Also one could count on Tigellious to instantly find and criticize all his friends' faults with a sharp "eagle eye" and completely ignore his own. Tigellious sounds personally torn, between two extremes maybe trying to please a large majority of people or more simply not caring and acting like a chameleon, changing to make every situation highlight him.

Group 3: Satire 1.3 (Lines 55-75)

2005-04-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

People are used to describe others in a way that doesn't actually fit the person being described. People would attach a bad nickname to a person who is decent and who lives just his normal life. They would make him as if he is an extreme person. Also, they would describe the person who tries to be careful in doing anything as one who doesn't trust anyone or suspect everyone. In fact, a good person would be that whose faults and mistakes are the smallest.

Satire 1:3

2005-04-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

Entertainers all have the same faults. When you ask them to perform
they won't, but if you do not ask them, they never shut up.
David Letterman, that typical American, was just the same.
If George W. Bush, who could have demanded it, had asked him
to give a monolog on his father's friendship and of his own,
He would have been wasting his time, yet if in the mood Letterman would
fill the entire hour of his show with jokes and stories about
The Bush family.

The man was very inconsistant, often running
as if from a murderer, other times walking as if holding
a hot cup of Starbucks. After speaking in grand tones about the
Rich and Famous, he would say he was content to live as a poor man.
But if you gave him any money, he would spend and spend and spend.
He stayed up all night and slept all day.

But you may ask "what about you? Don't you have any faults?"
Oh yeah, but they are mine, so they are not so bad.
Once when Dr. Wharton was bitching about a student, someone asked
Don't you know what you're like? Or do you think we don't notice?
"I am conscious but without a conscious" Dr. Wharton said.

Before looking at your own faults you make yourself blind,
but when judging others you first get lasix surgery.
Unfortunately they do the same when judging you.
So and so's a bit of a hot head and not quite with it.
He may cause amusement with his mullet, his dirty outdated clothes,
or shoes that don't fit. But he is a nice guy, your best friend,
And he's really talented even though he has a mullet. So shake yourself
incase you have the same thing going on.

Think about how a young man, so deeply in love
Does not notice any of his loves faults, like Hugh Grant, not noticing the
"wen" between the legs of his love Divine Brown.
I wish we could be the same when judging our friends.
We should all act as doting fathers seeing their faults as marks of
origionality, not deformities. If he squints call him Rocky, etc.

But in reality we tear apart the good qualities in our attempt
to normalize our friends. We go to far to the extreme.

1.3 lines 29-54

2005-04-04T07:30:00.000-07:00

"So and so's a bit hot-tempered and not quite up to the curling nostrils of modern society; he may cause amusement by his countrified haircut....and yet he's a good man. "
He's not fasionable or politically correct, but that doesn't change his good character. People turn up their noses at him (people in low working classes like a janator, or maybe just someone socially clumsy.)

"So give yourself a shaking in case the seeds of wickedness have already been planted in you by nature or by some bad habit. if you once neglect a field bracken appears which eventually has to be burnt out."
Rumors and popular opinion are seeds of wickedness that take root and turn to bad attitudes toward each other. if you neglect to rid yourself of these opiniuns of others, you will have a relationship (field) which is not fertile and healthy, but filled with weeds. (strife) Think of the high-school drama that comes from stories about students. If every popular kid looks down on one student, it will sway the opinion of those who have never met him, but worse, it can turn his own friends against him.

"Think instead of how a yong man, blindly in love, fails to notice his girl-friend's blemioshes or even finds them enchanting."
focus on the good in people, rather than turning everything bad. Even take their faults and think of them as enchanting quirks, not vices.

modern Book I Satire 3 (55-77)

2005-04-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

No one is innocent; all are guilty!
Those who compliment are brown nosers,
those who are considerate are condescending.
The society we inhabit is based on placing ourselves
above others no matter how low we remain as a result.
The intelligent woman is a shrew, a bitch, a know-it-all
chic and is sleeping her way to the top.
The reserved are loners who might become gunmen
or are labelled "at-risk youth."
My friends weigh me evenly.
My puckhandling may be adventurous,
but my butterfly is quick and my glove is omnipresent.
You must also view your teammates fairly
if you wish them to remain on your side.
Although they may be screening you,
they are trying to block the shot.

Horace, Satire 1.3 lines 99-124

2005-04-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

When creatures first crawled from the earth they were beast without words; they fought over caves and food, first with their claws, then with sticks, and so on with the weapons which experience produced at each successive stage, until they found words to express their cries and feelings. Thereafter they began to avoid war, and build cities and pass laws that made it a crime to steal, fight, or cheat. For Monica wasn't the first bitch to cause a scandle, by her foul behaviour, but men in those days ended in obscurity; making hurried and promiscuous love like rabbits they were done to death by stronger rivals, as happens with bulls in a herd. If you're willing to read your way through the history books you will have to admit that justice came from the fear of its opposite. Nature can't tell between right and wrong, only want, wholesome and harmful. Reason will never prove that the man who takes a fry from someones wendy's bag and the man who has stolen a car are committing one and the same offence. Lets have a punishment that fits the crime, or else you may give the chair for something that merits 15 years in prison or give the needle for something that merits community service, but thats not what I fear when you say theft is on par with armed robbery and threaten to use the same needle for pruning every crime, great and small alike, if you were given the black robe and gavel.

Horace Satire 1.3 lines 99-124

2005-04-04T05:20:00.000-07:00

From the earliest times society has been a learning process, and every person within that society is prone to make mistakes in the development of their social skills. Take a new born child, it has one need: to be nourished and nurtured. By the end of the first year, or soon afterwards, with many failed attempts with trial and error the child learns to walk. The world is full of exciting new adventures which excite the child’s learning spectrum. With each mistake the child makes, the disagreeable eventually subside to the agreeable. The same circumstances fall on a developing society. We are prone to make mistakes until we find that one solution is compatible for everyone, with communication playing a vital role in that learning process. My greatest fear is that we stop communicating.

Satire 1.5

2005-04-03T23:54:00.000-07:00

Watch out for the wiseman. He is rich. He is handsome. He is King. What else does he want?

"no no its deeper than that" cries the peter singers, the words of their theories and beliefs, tumbling to the ground, tripping their bare feet. The cobbler has not come. He inside the wisest of men, all men are in the wisemen. "we are shoemakers, artists, scientist..we are it all.
(how is that?)
"being wise allows for so many paths, we have the ability to be all these things without them realized. wisedom allows us to the master of all jobs and skills. therefore we are the rulers of self."

Watch yourself old man, beat of the young with yours and beliefs, else your will find yourself only friended by words and lost thought. No money, no skill, robbed as your yelped.

And, not to beat a dead horse, Peter, watch yourself as you park your Lexus with no car alarm or walk the "streets" alone, your morals and words will not keep you safe or guarded. Remeber that the common man, the one without your mass of words crowding his thoughts, is happier in his truly simple life.

Satire 1.3. Lines 125-END

2005-04-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

The Wise have it all. Through their all incompossing wisdom, they have riches, and looks, and skills. Therefore they want for nothing.

"No No that's not it. Its deeper than that" Cries Peter Singer, his words tumbling to the ground, were his bare feet hold to the ground, still the shoe maker in him bottled inside. "Being wise allows for man to be all. and all to be man. "

Watch out old man, beat off the young ones with your words and your beliefs else they will mob and rob you, all the while all you can do is yelp out.

Peter Singer,you ass, please keep in mind your royal ways as your park your Lexus with no car alarm, and walk the "streets" with no heed. Wisedom still hasn't made you as happy as the common man who is not full of your words. Living the truly simlple life.

Horace, Satire 1.3, lines 29-54

2005-04-03T22:07:00.000-07:00

So you have a friend who's not exactly a fashion plate. Perhaps he buys his clothes from Goodwill, or has piercings in strange places, or wears a mullet. For all that, though, he's still a good and talented individual, so what difference should his appearance make to his friends? After all, odds are you haven't made anyone's Best-Dressed List either, but you wouldn't want people constantly calling attention to the fact, would you? Remember the old cliche about glass houses.
With this in mind, try to think of your friend's oddities as endearing rather than ridiculous or irritating. Flattering comparisons or affectionate nicknames can make someone less self-conscious about their physical quirks; suppose he squints a lot - well, in that case, say it makes him look kind of like Clint Eastwood. If he's a bit on the short side, mention Dustin Hoffman... You get the idea. And watch the words you use to describe him - try to present him in the best light possible. Call him a prudent spender rather than a tightwad; honest and outspoken instead of loud and boorish; passionate instead of fanatical. Never underestimate the importance of diplomacy - too much honesty can ruin a friendship.

Group 4: Horace Satire 1.3, Lines 76-98

2005-04-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

All people have faults, and no one can really help that. That being the case, then punishments should be determined based on the extent of the crime. For example, a pedestrian crosses the street away from the crosswalk. If an officer were to throw him in jail for life, one might think him nuts. Even further: a friend mistakenly offends you. You could forgive the minor transgression, or you could avoid that friend like the plague, effectively ending your friendship. If your friend totals your car, it is not the same thing as if that friend were to eat your last twinkie. It's easy to have the ideal that all sins are the same, but once you come into a real situation, it's neither easy nor practical to uphold that ideal. In the name of justice and fairness, reason should be used when assigning punishment to a crime.

Horace Satire 1.3 lines 55-75 Modern Interpretation

2005-04-03T20:09:00.000-07:00

We always try to find the negatives aspects of people’s character. If a person is simple and plain, we call him slow. Another is always watching his back making sure other are not making fun of him. Instead of saying he is cautious, we call him paranoid. Also while dinning with you and some friends, a man chews with his mouth open and burps during dinner. We say he is lacking social skills.
How often do we pick on someone for doing something that we probably do ourselves? No one is perfect and everyone has flaws. Your friends will overlook the small flaws. If they do not, they are not your true friends. Also, can you expect someone to treat you as a friend, if you are constantly nagging them about their flaws?

Group 2 Horace, Satires and Epistles Book I Satire III

2005-04-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

We are our own worst critics and when viewing our friends, we look at them with the same critical eyes. As a result they look at us with the same critical eyes. That man's a bit hot-tempered, not acceptable to todays politicaly correct people: Someone else makes you smile with his messy hair, his dirty clothes, holey shoes with his dirty feet, and he is a good guy, no better, and your friend, and its not whats on the outside that counts but whats on the inside. In short, wake up and consider if its nature or the bad habit that reeped the seed of wickedness in you. To purge yourself of the wickedness you must find the root and kill it at its roots. Love is blind and does not not sees the faults of the one he loves, but finds the faults charming, I wished we looked at our friends the same way, and gave such faults a better name. We should behave to a friend as father to a son and not grossed out by some fault. If a boy squints his father names him Mike Tyson; Mini Me if he is short like a dwarf, bow legged if he has crooked legs, or if he can barley stand on twisted ankles give him the nick name wobbles. Well then lets call a friend who's cheap thrifty. Another who's cocky he just wants his friends to think he's sociable. Or the man's more out spoken; let's call him frank and fearless. He's a hot head? we'll count him eager that unites friends, and then keeps them united.

Group 3 lines 55-75

2005-04-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

In our attempt to discredit a good person, we turn their good qualities into negative characteristics. Instead of calling a person we know to be gentle and unassuming, we give them the nickname of "pansy" or "know-it-all". Another hides in the shadows and blends into the crowd just to avoid the nicknames that are sure to come. Because envious people are quick to point fingers and "diss" people with qualities they wish they had. When your friend keeps calling you just to talk about some new shoes while your studying for a midterm, we would say he's got absolutely no "savoir faire". How casually we endorse a law that is against ourselves. Because no one is free of sin. And the best man hampered by the smallest amount. A good friend will weight your "goods" against your "bads". A better friend will say you've got more good than bad, As you would for them. Also you would look past his lieing if he looks past your cheating. Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you.

The French Can't Decide

2005-04-01T15:45:00.000-08:00

The trouble with the French is that when their own liberty is at stake they won't fight.

However when liberty is offered to others they howl "NO!!!" as loud as a soldier's scream steeling himself for the charge, and in the U.N. they won't back down.

There is no consistency in them. Under Louis XIV and Bonaparte they marched to war by the hundreds of thousands, and vanquished many old and famous states.

But now when any old German with a stick crosses the Rhine,

They throw up their hands and say "We surrender, take our women and treasure, but leave us the wine and cheese."

Group 6 satire 1.3

2005-04-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

A rich man thinks he is a king.
A rich man buys what he needs instead of having to make it.
The rich man isn't as wise as he thinks he is.
I'll overlook your faults if you will overlook mine.
Sure hope I did this correctly!!!

Redicus Versus Bluevius

2005-03-28T22:31:00.000-08:00

First off, I feel very dumb for forgetting not only my log in name but also my password.

That being said, my brother is a big video game fan and amoung his various subscriptions to gaming magazines, he occasionally gets random demo disks for up coming games. One such Demo disk was for "Halo 2", on which was a brief mechimation by Rooster Teeth from their series Red Verses Blue. (Mechimation is when you take in-game video graphics and make movies with them, and Rooster Teeth is the progenitor of this genre.)

The plot of this five minute long movie was basically the cast of Red Verses Blue explaining to the audience where they got their inspiration for their episodes. The story of Red Verses Blue, they said, could be traced back in time to the greatest of conflicts.

And their first conflict was a humorous re-enactment of the murder of Julius Caesar and involved some interesting conversation about the bath houses and open backed togas.

After I finished laughing, I started thinking what would the Roman Empire have been like had Julius Caesar not been murdered. For one, we would not have had the Golden Age of Augustus to give us Virgil's Aenied, Ovid's Erotic Poems, Livy's History or Horace's Satires.

Or would we?

If Julius Caesar had lived, it might have been the Golden Age of Caesar we'd be learning about and the great literary and cultural movement of that time would have a very different flavor to it. Instead of the focus being on family and the creations of a Great Empire, we might have had a focus more on military might and the re-creations of the Roman Republic with something similar to our modern system of government.

Augustus' appeance on the political stage would not have been one of establishing new systems, but sustaining them. Heir to his uncle's positions and wealth, he would have been molded and trained to be a support of the Republic in public but a weilder of power in the shadows. He might not have become the Generous Augustus that we are learning about today, if his uncle had lived beyond the Ides of March.

Or would he have?

Women's status

2005-03-19T16:30:00.000-08:00

I agree that in Virgil's poem and Livy's book that the only purpose for women (excluding the gods, of course) is to aide the men on their journey's, or destinies. Love appears to be a small or insignificant purpose for the life of any woman in the view of these men. Servents to the end, with no purpose but to be a creature there to serve, guide and to be willing to give up everything in the end.

Virgil and livy's take on women.

2005-03-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

It is interesting to me the different opinions that these two men have of women. Most of the women in Virgil' poem appear weak and vindictive, Goddesses excluded. Their desires and wants take cues from the men. Everything about them is directed by the wishes of the men. In Livy's writing the women seem to be the shapers of destiny, using their strength of character to move men as pieces on a game board. The women in Livy turn the tides of history shaping the future of the Roman people.

freedom / libert

2005-03-05T12:41:00.000-08:00

basically, since we didn't really have time to comment on this during the last week of class, i just want to throw a few thoughts out there about liberty and freedom, cause a large part of what we view as freedom, and rights of individuals, comes from basic ideas in ancient Rome. as we discussed, livy seems to emphasize liberty as being a concept above and more important than the individual. freedom is being free from an individual, and having some say in the collective group of rulers limited under the same law. hence, brutus carried out the death sentence on his sons because the law was more important than his own wishes or feelings. this speaks volumes to the Roman ideal, saying the state and the laws are more important than people. (in actuality, this is the only way for a government to work, outside of a monarchy, dictatorship, or morally absolutist environment, because individuals crying out for their specific wants would eventually grow the confusion till nobody would ever get heard, nothing would ever get done, and nobody would end up with any power) so here is my real point. in our culture today, we claim to value individual freedom and rights. that's what the bill of rights, and other portions of the constitution express emphatically. so really, which is true freedom? freedom to have some choice over the government that rules you? or freedom to rule yourself? and finally, how much freedom should be given up, to enjoy the security of a government?

I'm in

2005-02-26T16:38:00.000-08:00

I was fairly easy to set up the blog account.

Literacy Rate Question

2005-02-25T12:07:00.000-08:00

In studying this stuff, I became curious as to the literacy rate of Rome. Particularly in the case of the Aeneid I was wondering if illiterate Romans had means of gaining access to the story. Did they have public readings or even performances? I am just curious how the average illiterate would have received the material. Was it common to take popular literary works or poems and recreate them on stage for average folk?

I am logged in

2005-02-25T08:19:00.000-08:00

Thank God I got logged in without any complications!!!! Yea!!

Welcome

2005-01-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

This is the weblog for CCI 325 The Age of Augustus at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, in the spring semester of 2005.

This blog is intended as a place for civil and informed communication about the readings, lectures, and discussions in the class. Students should feel free to write questions, reactions, commentaries, analyses, and interconnections between what we do in the course and the world at large.

Blogs are also a good medium for posting links to related websites, blogs, or electronic media. For example, here's a website with a lot of great links to Augustan information.