He was named Charles and it is one of the very rare people, I honestly cannot think of another, who had their name and sobriquet actually become their entire name. He was called Charles the Great and in Latin this was Carolus Magnus and this was rendered in English Charlemagne. He was the eldest son of Pepin the Short, King of the Franks and his wife Bertrada of Laon. When his father died in 768 Charlemagne was co-king with his brother Carloman for a brief time.

Books have been written about him and I could not do a biography justice in this small blog. As with other recent entries I will focus solely on what I admire about him. Charlemagne was a man ahead of his times. He would be the first of a list of European rulers to have forged an empire after the fall of Rome. Although some historians debate whether he founded the Holy Roman Empire or Otto of Franconia was the founder, the fact remains his empire would have repercussions throughout Europe for over a thousand years.

Charles ruled the Kingdom of the Franks from 768 until 800 when he was crowned Emperor by Pope Leo III on Christmas day of that year. He was given the title, Emperor of the Romans, and was seen as a revival of that empire that had began with Augustus in 27 BC and it challenged the Byzantine Empire in the east as both empires claimed to be the true Roman Empire.

What is remarkable about Charlemagne is that he seemed to have forged this mighty empire through his own judiciary, executive and military skills. Many of the titles of future monarchs and nobility were created during Charlemagne’s time on the throne. Many of these offices were created in an effort for Charlemagne to have local recognition across his far flung empire. He reformed political offices and well as the church, educational systems and systems of laws.

Charlemagne was also quite the ladies man. He had eighteen children over the course of his life with eight of his ten known wives or concubines. Despite all of the children by the time of his death he had outlived alll of his sons except one of them. In 813, Charlemagne crowned his only surviving son, Louis the Pious, king of Aquitaine, as co-emperor. In 814 after 47 years of rule and at the age of 72, old for that time, Charlemagne died. His foot print on history is immeasurable and many kings and emperor since his time tried to emulate him. His empire covered what would later become modern Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg  Italy and Austria. All of these states count Charles the Great as their leader.

Ferragosto is celebrated in Italy on August 15, a day that marks both the federal holiday and the religious holiday of the Assumption of Mary. With both ancient and Christian origins, many Italians now celebrate it as a part of their month-long summer vacations. Many young Italians see this day as akin to New Year’s with night-long celebrations of dancing, drinking and watching live performances or fireworks.

The holiday was first proclaimed by Emperor Augustus in 18 BC as feraie Augusti and lasted the entire month, according to http://www.italymag.co.uk.  This is where Italians derive the word ferie for holiday. In August it’s common for Italian stores to post signs that say chiuso per ferie (closed for vacation). Romans dedicated the celebrations to gods and goddesses, most notably Diana goddess of the woods, the phases of the Moon and maternity, writes Tuscany-based author Kyle Philips in italianfood.about.com.

During the advent of Christianity, those that once prayed to Diana turned to the Virgin Mary for these matters. In the 18^th Century it became widely believed that August 15 is the day that the Virgin Mary was assunta in cielo or transported directly to heaven. In 1950, Pope Pius XII formally proclaimed August 15 as Assunzione or Assumption Day.

Many Italians head to the coast to celebrate Ferragosto, enjoying a piadina (flat bread sandwich) or a slice of anguria (watermelon). Most offices, shops and restaurants are closed, but the celebrations are abundant.

What are you doing to celebrate Ferragosto this year? Tell us on the Sons of Italy Facebook page!

Written by OSIA National Office Assistant, Carol Cummings.

It is a typical Roman Basilica. It is 160 meters long, and located on the northern part of the state agora and has a nave and three-aisles. The Ionic columns in the basilica are adorned with bulls’ head figures dating to the 1st century A.D.

The basilica was used for stock exchange and commercial business. Meetings of the law courts were also  held there in the basilica. It has three gates opening onto a stoa leading to the Bath of Varius. The statues of Augustus and his wife Livia were found at the east end, and now they are displayed in Ephesus Museum. So we can understand that the Basilica was rebuilt for the last time during the reign of the Emperor Augustus.It was destroyed by an earthquake in the middle of the Fourth Century AD.

http://www.ephesus.us

]]> http://troytours.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/troy-ix/ Fri, 06 Jul 2012 21:03:57 +0000 canakkalehotel http://troytours.wordpress.com/2012/07/06/troy-ix/ Part of the city of Rome, under the ruins, which cover an area much larger than the citadel excavated by Schliemann, recent excavations of Bronze-Age settlement area in addition to the tracks (adjacent to the lower status than the goal), we found defended by a ditch. Troy

Last city on this site, Hellenistic Ilium, was founded by the Romans in the period of Emperor Augustus and the Roman Empire as the capital of the east 4 century until the establishment of Constantinople was an important commercial city. Byzantine period, the city gradually decreased and eventually disappeared. [Citation needed]

Forum Romanum. Photo by Branislav L. Slantchev.

Situated in a valley between the Palantine, the Capitoline and the Esquiline hills, the area was originally a most inhospitable zone, swampy and unhealthy, until surprisingly modern reclamation work was carried out by the king Tarquinius Priscus, who provided the area with a highly developed drainage system (Cloaca Maxima). Once this reclamation work was finished, the Roman forum became a place for trade and barter. Numerous shops and a large square known as the market square were built and a zone was set apart for public ceremonies. It was here that the magistrates were elected, the traditional religious holidays were kept and those charged with various crimes were judged by a real court organization. After the Punic wars, thanks to the extraordinary development of the city, the urban fabric of the Forum took on a new look. As early as the 2nd century B.C., various basilicas, Porcia, Sempronia and Aemilia, were built, the temples of the Castors and of Concordia were rebuilt, and the network of roads connecting the Forum to the quarters of the city continued to grow. After various transformations under the emperor Augustus, the Roman Forum became so large as to be considered the secular, religious and commercial center of the city. After a period in which secular and political interests centered on other parts of the city, the Roman Forum reacquired its orginal prestige under Maxentius and Constantine who ordered the construction of the Temple of Romulus and the great Basilica of Constantine. With the decadence of the Roman Empire, the splendid venerable structures of the Forum were severely damaged by the Barbarian invasions, especially the Goths 410 A.D. and the vandals 455 A.D. The Roman Forum meanwhile became a place of worship for the early Christians who built the churches of SS. Sergio e Bacco (on the Via Sacra), of S. Adriano (on the curia), SS. Cosma e Damiano (Temple of Peace). As time passed, the Forum was completely abandoned. What was left of the antique monuments was used by the people or demolished. During the Middle Ages the Forum became a pasture for sheep and cattle (hence its name of Campo Vaccino). For many centuries the prestige of the Roman Forum was a thing of the past. Not until the early 20th century was there a systematic re-evaluation of the area with excavation campaigns which lasted for various decades and which brought back to light the splendid evidence of the Rome of the kings as well as that of the republic and the empire.

Ara Pacis

I often ride the 628 bus which I can catch on the street just behind our flat. It takes you to the City Center past Circo Massimo, Piazza Venetia, Piazza Navona and then turns by the Tiber River to continue going north. I’ve often passed a very modern building that looks a bit out of place in such an old city, and wondered what it was. Now I know.

The building is Museo dell’ Ara Pacis. It was the first modern building to be built in the historic center of Rome since the fall of fascism. Designed by the famous American architect, Richard Meier, it houses the Ara Pacis, an ancient altar that was constructed in 13 B.C. in honor of the Emperor Augustus. It’s original location was on the Campus Martius, a field that lay outside of the City. Due to flooding of the Tiber River and the softness of the earth in this area, the altar eventually sunk and was lost for millennium.

When it was rediscovered in the late 1800′s, it lay under a palace. In 1937-1938 it was finally reconstructed to mark the bi-millenium of Augusta’s birth and a temporary structure was built around it, again on the banks of the Tiber. The War prevented further protection of the altar and over time, it suffered from the effects of weather and pollution.

The Museo is now temperature and humidity controlled to protect the monument. It also houses additional exhibition space which currently has a show of Avantgarde Russian painters that I got to visit. I saw 3 Marc Chagall early paintings, wonderful Kandinsky and many other Russian artists influential in the modern movement in the early 20th century.

It was a lovely afternoon…something old and something new. This city will never cease to amaze and delight me.

Ara Pacis

Close up of relief

Ara Pacis

Close up of relief

My hand on a wall of the Ara Pacis

When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. (Act 13:5 ESV)

It is interesting to note that there are no accounts of conversions at Salamis. The city had a large Jewish population during the Roman period.

Why go to Cyprus? These facts might provide some suggestions.

• Well, it was east of Antioch, and a first step toward going to the Gentiles.
• It was also the home of Barnabas (Acts 4:36).
• After the stoning of Stephen some had traveled to Cyprus preaching to the Jews (Acts 11:19).
• Some men of Cyprus had come to Antioch preaching to the Hellenists (Greeks) (Acts 11:20).

Salamis is now located in the the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or as the folks in the south say, “the occupied territory.” This photo shows some of the foundation stones of the harbor where Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark landed. Breakwaters extend for some distance into the sea.

Ferrell Jenkins at the ancient port of Salamis. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

We visited the gymnasium. Not to workout. Our workout came from walking over the large site. This gym was build in the time of the Roman Emperor Augustus.

Salamis Roman gymnasium built in the time of Roman Emperor Augustus. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

When I see one of these gymnasiums or palestras (exercise areas) I am reminded of what Paul wrote to Timothy:

for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8 ESV)

A short distance from Salamis is the Church of St. Barnabas. The church is now a museum of icons. Many traditions have grown up in Cyprus about Barnabas.

In the afternoon we returned to Nicosia and made a stop at the Cyprus (Archaeology) Museum. They have a nice collection of artifacts, including some of the statues from Salamis, but photos are not allowed. Museum’s often do not allow photographs in hope of selling more books in the gift shop. Allowing photos provides an opportunity for teachers and others to talk about their visit with others. It actually encourages others to visit the museum. Too bad they don’t agree with me.

This photo is a collection of statues from Cyprus in the Louvre.

Cyprus collection from the fifth century B.C. displayed in the Louvre, Paris. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

It was a good day.

Yesterday, I studied the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (or Unforgiving Servant in the ESV) on campus with a bunch of fellow Christians. The theme of the bible study was initially patience – patience for people you don’t like, especially those who have wronged you. It was really encouraging to see everyone sharing honestly about their struggles in the past with scars in their life. But the main thing that moved me was the reality of my cancelled debt with my Lord God.

One of the electives that I’m taking this semester is a detailed study on the complete history of Rome. It may be a coincidence, but this week we just finished the Roman Republic, which is the period right before Emperor Augustus (the Roman Emperor at the time of Jesus’ life). For ancient Romans, there is this concept of debt bondage called the Nexum, which is when a debtor pledges themselves as a collateral to take out a loan. This resulted in generations of debt slaves. Although the Nexum was abolished by the Lex Poetelia Papiria more than 300 years before Jesus was born, debt slavery continued until well into the Empire era because the courts can still rule debtors as bond slaves even if they didn’t contract themselves into the debt agreement.

Why was that important, you might ask? Well let’s focus on how much the first servant owed the master. In the NIV1984 and the ESV, Matthew noted ten thousand talents was the amount owed even though other modern translations sometimes try to simplify that amount into “bags of gold”. From that, we know the amount is 10,000 talents, and the currency is gold. For all history students, the amount is immediately clear. Thinking back to when Rome enters into war with neighbouring Hellenistic kingdoms (such as Macedon, Seleucid Asia etc) and Carthage and the defeated kingdom has to pay war indemnity, the situation is clear that the first servant was meant to be a debt slave. [note: 1 Roman talent is 32.3kg. So the amount is 323,000kg of gold.]

Let’s look at a list of major wars and their indemnities.
Syracuse (264 BC): 100 talents of silver
Carthage (1st Punic War 241 BC): 23,000 talents of silver over 10 annual installments
Carthage (2nd Punic War 202 BC): 10,000 talents of silver
Seleucid Empire (Syrian War 188 BC): 15,000 talents of silver
Carthage (3rd Punic War 146 BC): 10,000 talents of silver over 50 annual installments

Note that these are all city states or empires and often the payments had to be split into installments. Also, they asked for silver not gold because that would be too hard. To make things even more obvious, these war indemnities are of such great amounts that Roman citizens did not have to pay tax for a good few hundred years. Ten thousand talents of gold is an impossible amount for any individual to bare, and it would take a few hundred generations for an average servant family or clan to pay off. The first thing I thought of, was the debt that Adam owed to God. We are still bound by that same debt and we are still trying to pay it off to this day. That debt is so enormous that the only way it would go away, is if God cancelled it – which He did.

Now let’s look at the amount the second servant owed to the first. A hundred silver coins or to be precise, one hundred denarii. Sure, this is no small amount like $2USD, which is why the second servant couldn’t repay it. In fact, a denarius is the common pay for a day’s work in Jesus’ time. Considering that people back then had to spend most of their pay on sustenance, it would be hard to save up 100 days worth of wages. But we know that this is doable, albeit difficult. This is the problem. It is doable, yet even now, we don’t practice the same forgiveness.

In modern day’s standards, the minimum wage in Australia I think is $16AUD/hr. 100 days of standard working hours would mean $12,000 AUD ($12,600 USD). I don’t know the exact numbers, but I am sure there are thousands of law suits over amounts similar to $12,000. We always read the bible thinking, man, that first servant is an idiot. But we are bigger idiots because Jesus showed us the story of the idiot, and we’re still acting in idiocy. Jesus wiped away our debt of life which is impossible to repay, and yet we are still unforgiving to others about minute things such as people owing us money without paying back, or framing us, or being fake. These are all doable forgiveness.

Lately, I’ve been given a lot of lessons through various media about forgiveness. It’s time I put my lessons into application and stop being an idiot who receives mercy but practices malice.

Today is the 5th of May, which means it’s….you guessed it….Michael Palin‘s birthday (and also Cinco de Mayo).

Legendary British comedian, and fellow Python, Eric Idle once said of Palin: “Whenever I’ m mistaken for Michael Palin, I always say “Yes, I am him. Now &#$% off, you ugly old bastard!” Because I want to help destroy his reputation for niceness.”

For those not familiar with Palin, he is best known for his work with perhaps the greatest comic team of all time: Monty Python. As a writer and performer, Palin helped create some of the funniest sketches and films of all time. One of his best characters is that of the lisp-afflicted Pontius Pilate in the classic Python film Life of Brian. Check out this clip (known by fans as the “Biggus Dickus” scene) in which Palin, as Pilate looks eerily like the statue of Emperor Augustus above.

After leaving Monty Python, Palin stayed active in film (click the above link on his name for a full bio and resume) and created and documented Palin’s Travels.

So happy 68th birthday Michael Palin! Cheers for the years of laughs and entertainment and here’s to many more!

This post appears as part of the FOCUS 365 photo blog component of Bastard Type

While our house was being built here, the carpenters set in the windows and patio doors one day; and shortly after, we came up to view the progress….and found a Say’s phoebe had flown in an open door, but was having trouble finding its way out again.  We opened all windows and doors, tried as gently as possible to “shoo” it out; and finally, it flew out a door.

Another day in the construction process, a mature desert tortoise wandered in, got kind of “dead-ended” in the utility room, and needed help getting back out to the desert floor.  It was a bit easier to “rescue” than the phoebe.

Curmudgeonly as I am and still aspire to be in my retirement, I scoff at the sappy ads and commercials that litter the television these days.  But there are some that “get to me,” even causing that occasional tear in the corner of one’s eye.  I confess that one is the coffee company that has the surprise “coming home” of the grown son for Christmas.

The classic “surprise visitors” Christmas story, of course, is much more unwelcome:  the appearance of the Magi – “wise men,” astrologers, from a learned class of men in ancient Persia,  and probably practitioners of the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism – at the court of King Herod the Great in Jerusalem.  The tradition is that there were three “wise men,” but Matthew (the only one of the four gospels in the New Testament to mention the visit) doesn’t specify a number.  The “three” comes from other tradition that identifies three names….although there could have been more who were not named.

They are quoted in Matthew as asking Herod, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?  For we observed his star (the Star of Bethlehem, of course) at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”  (Matthew 2)  The biblical account has the evil, insanely paranoid, Herod all fussed up at these surprise visitors and their quest; for the last thing Herod wanted was the Birth of a claimant to his throne.  He infamously eliminated sons and other relatives to avoid such competition, a fact noted by none other than Emperor Augustus in Rome (“I’d rather be Herod’s pig than his son.”)

But the Wise Men made their visit to the maybe-year-old Jesus and his family, according to Matthew; and then exited to return to “their own country,”  only to reappear in countless “manger scenes,” or creches, all over Christendom every Christmas.  Never mind that they were never at the manger or stable, according to the Bible.

But however contrived the details of the surprise visit attributed to the Magi that first Christmastime, I still like the occasional sign or bumper sticker you see that proclaims:  “Wise men still seek Him.”

Even grade school kids know the problem:  that the big shot Romans Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus pushed in there to have “July” and “Augustus” named after them.  But how hard would it have been to adjust the other months to get back in line?  Sorry, September and October, you know longer fit and while it was nice knowing you, November will now follow August.  It means ninth, so it should be the ninth month.  Them’s the breaks.  Of course, to follow my logic, the month beginning today would become “Duodecimber” (Latin “duodecim” for twelve); which, now that I look at it, seems cumbersome, confusing and tongue-twisting.  As much as it grates someone like me, logic doesn’t always seem to work for the best.  (A fact that Congress seems to live and breathe.)

So, we’re stuck with the inconsistency of December; but the month makes up for it in some great ways!  We are into the first week of the sacred season of Advent – the greatest time of the whole year for anticipation (although opening days of trout season, upland bird hunting, and deer hunting, jostle for the title in my personal life).  And even if I made the powerful case for the world slowing down in its rotation (see post for November 21) and the days lengthening ever so imperceptibly, the time seems to tick away very rapidly as we approach the holiness of Christmas.  Won’t be long now!

December for most of my life meant fun in the snow and ice.  Even though I am now living in the high desert of Southern California when December rolls around, I remember well and fondly making a little sledding course down our hillside in northern Wisconsin for our daughters, cross-country skiing, at least one attempt each year for ring-necked pheasants in the snow, and hunting ruffed grouse in the snow of early December (speaking of which, the winter issue of “Michigan Out-of-Doors” just hit the stands with my published article on winter grouse hunting; buy several, please).

But the biggest thing for me – at least time-spent – was ice fishing.  Particularly in Wisconsin, by today, December 1, there was always safe ice to go out on a lake and fish through holes that I would augur down to reach liquid water.  I know, I know, lots of people think that ice fishing is a strange and masochistic kind of misery….and can only think of the silliness and “over the top” antics of “Grumpy Old Men.”  But “early ice” was often the best time of the year for catching walleyes, northern pike, perch and other pan fish – a lot of great, delicious fillets for the table!  And really, a lot of fun, which people of any age could do.  Don’t generally need a lot of experience, expensive tackle, or sophisticated fishing skill to catch good fish through the ice.  You just had to be fine with heavy parkas, long underwear, felt-pack boots…..and have a big insulated thermos for coffee, hot chocolate, or, for some, stronger stuff.

Winter wildlife is very special, too.  There can scarcely be a cuter, more entertaining, seemingly cheerier, little bird than the chickadee.  Native American people enjoyed them tremendously, and believed that they possessed a special wisdom (had to, to thrive so effortlessly when it was 30-below in the daytime, and joyously punctuating the frozen air with their “chick-a-dee, dee, dee,dee” song).  And although most of the raptors – hawks, falcons, many of the eagles – would have migrated south for easier hunting, great horned owls stuck around, picking off an occasional grouse on its perch or a squirrel venturing out for a snack before bedtime.  If there was any open water available where current kept it from freezing – as at a dam spillway – at least some bald eagles would hang around, snatching fish that came near the surface.

And a rare and special treat would be a visit from the diurnal (active in the daytime) snowy owl.  Just about as big as the great horned – fierce “tiger of the skies” – snowy owls drifting down from the Canadian boreal forests were beautiful, white flecked with black, and effective, efficient predators.  It was at least a bit amusing to watch a flock of crows discover and start to harass a perched snowy owl.  The crow would be well familiar with the great horned owls, barred owls, and other usual owl neighbors – all of whom would be largely nocturnal, trying to rest in the daytime, and easy targets for pesky crows to bedevil.  Not so with the diurnal snowy owl, who was actively hunting in the daytime and could see just fine, thank you.  All it took was a crow that ventured too close to those powerful talons for the rest of the flock to react, “Whoa, that’s not what we expected.  Sorry to bother you, buddy.  Have a nice winter stay here in the southland.”

December wildlife is less visible here in the high desert – desert tortoise, the many varieties of lizards, virtually all of the insects, certainly the tarantula that visited awhile back, many of the birds – are nowhere to be seen.  Coyotes and jackrabbits are still around our house; and occasionally a late migrator like the phoebe that flew up to my door this afternoon.

And soon we will observe the winter solstice – December 21, also the full Cold Moon that night.  And then the days will start getting longer again, the nights shorter.  (Actually, the sun will have already started setting a little later by the 12th and a bit before….but that gets us back into rotational tilt and stuff that we don’t have time for now.)  It won’t be long now!

I also mentioned there that the word “advent” literally means “coming into being,” a significant “coming to” you and me and everyone on earth.  But in the original “Coming” that Advent celebrates, what was it that was coming to us?  What was it that was coming into being?  And was it what believers at the end of the “BC” era were expecting, anticipating, looking forward to?

The quick and too-easy answer to these questions is that the original Advent was a centuries-long period of waiting and looking forward to the Coming of God’s Messiah, the Son of God, the Anointed One (“Christ,” in Greek language) of God, the One who would be Lord and Savior for everyone.

I say “quick” because even non-believers – those who are not Christian, that is – know that the New Testament testifies to Old Testament prophets who predicted the eventual coming of the Messiah, who Christians believe is Jesus of Nazareth, God incarnate, in human flesh.  His birth was heralded by the famous Star of Bethlehem….as well as by the angel of the Lord who said to shepherds “keeping watch over their flock by night….’To you is born this day in the city of David (Bethlehem) a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’”  (Luke 2)  Star of Bethlehem, angels, shepherds, the birth of a Savior on Christmas – I dare say virtually everyone knows the bare bones of the story.

I say “too easy” because it is abundantly clear that the Star of Bethlehem was understood by New Testament authors to be announcing far more than the Birth of a Savior who would save people from their sins – that “personal Savior,” that Lord of my life and my heart that conservative, fundamentalistic, evangelical Christians of today understand Christmas to be about.  Those New Testament authors – and people of that first century who encountered Jesus of Nazareth – understood his coming and his life and work to be about establishing a kingdom.

Jesus himself said so:  “Repent,” he proclaimed from the beginning of his ministry and mission, “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  (Matthew 4)  “The time is fulfilled (that generations and centuries had awaited, and the Star had announced), and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.”  (Mark 1)

And despite the fact that the Gospel According to John has Jesus clarifying before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world…” (John 18), it is also abundantly clear that Old Testament prophets, people of Jesus’ day, his own disciples, and New Testament writers, understood the Messiah whose birth was accompanied by the Star of Bethlehem to be King of Judah, King of the Earth, King of kings, and King of Heaven.  If Jesus’ words to Pilate had been his consistent, unwavering message during his years of ministry and mission, I seriously doubt that at the conclusion of his work on earth his apostles would have had as their top-of-the-list question, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”  (throwing off their Roman overlords and oppressors, re-establishing the ideal of Israel’s “Golden Age” in the time of King David)

Matthew’s Gospel certainly represented the Star and the Birth as involving a kingdom on earth, with the wise men from the East asking in Jerusalem, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?”  And King Herod (the Great) responded in paranoid madness and murderous rage,  fearing that a claimant had appeared to threaten his throne and his rule.  Indeed, later in Matthew’s account, Jesus is reported to have entered Jerusalem on what became known to later Christians as “Palm Sunday” – “Look, your king is coming to you, humble and mounted on a donkey….” and he was greeted by a very large crowd, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (the triumphant coronation procession of the king of Israel, in the lineage of David, Matthew 21)

Although it has been debated over the centuries as to what Jesus’ intention was that Palm Sunday, he had to have known that the identification would be clear with the long-awaited, Davidic, Messianic, king of Israel.  If nothing else, it was a highly political act, quickly understood to be a challenge to the ruling establishment….and even to Roman rule.

Indeed, Luke’s Gospel pointedly places the Birth in Bethlehem squarely in the context of the world politics of Jesus’ day:  “…a decree went out from Emperor Augustus….while Quirinius was governor of Syria.”   (chapter 2)  Later, moving forward to the ministry of John the Baptist, Luke specifies that the events leading up to the baptism of Jesus were “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod (Antipas, not “the Great” from the time of the Birth) was ruler of Galilee.”  (chapter 3)

For the New Testament writers, the Birth proclaimed by the Star of Bethlehem – and more specifically, the Life, message, mission, and life’s work of Jesus – was the major event and development in the history of the world, on the world’s stage, in the politics of the world, among the kingdoms of the world.  And despite all of the believers today who would prefer not to believe it and choose to deny it, many of Jesus’ recorded words and acts were, again, highly political and “kingly” for both heaven and earth.

The list is long, but certainly includes his contention that God has anointed him (The Christ, the Anointed One) and sent him to “proclaim release to the captives” (those held prisoner), his strident condemnation of scribes and Pharisees and rulers of Israel, his open defiance of King Herod Antipas, his famous rampage through the tables of commerce in the courtyard of the temple in Jerusalem (directly challenging and attacking the profitable business of not only the governing elite of Israel, but also perhaps half the population of Jerusalem), and even his advice that, yes, one should pay taxes to the Roman emperor.

So, I don’t hesitate to contend that Advent, the Star of Bethlehem, even the shepherds’ angel, actually, all heralded kingdom both heavenly and earthly; that the Birth was a pivotal event in world history, affairs, and politics; and that the Christian movement that eventually became the major religion in the world has from its very beginning been inextricably intertwined with politics and kingdoms and government…which has been both blessing and curse, but unavoidable and undeniable.

remains of past glory on the Palatine hill

It stands there imposing and undisturbed, like a giant ghost watching us running around. I get that feeling every time I drive past it: the eery feel of a ghost looking down at me from its historical height, making an impression.

All of the Oklahomans that are at the North American College went on a road trip to the birthplace of St. Bonaventure.  The town of Bagnoregio, Italy is located about a two-hour drive north of Rome, near Orvieto.  The morning began with a private Mass and then we hopped in a car and headed out of the City of Rome.  It was the first time being in a private car (not a taxi) since I left Oklahoma in July!  The City of Rome doesn’t seem so big when driving in a car!  Within just a few minutes we were on the Northwestern outskirts of Rome.

Just on the drive out of Rome, we drove by a few pretty cool things.  We first drove by the Ara Pacis, Altar of Peace, erected by the Roman Emperor Augustus after his victories in Hispania and Gaul.  It is now encased in a large glass building.  I couldn’t grab a picture of it, but it looked pretty cool from the street.  We also drove by the Olympic Stadium in Rome that was constructed by Mussolini and was home of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 1960 Olympic Summer Games.  (For those of you who do not know, I am a huge fan of the Olympics!)  Within minutes, we were out of the city and in the country.

Living in a city that consists of mostly concrete, stones, and buildings, it was a breath of fresh air, literally, to get out into the country.  To the north of Rome there are many rolling hills of grass, vineyards, and trees.  Since the weather has been getting colder here in Italy, the leaves have begun to change colors into the classic autumn colors of yellow, orange, and red.  The landscape reminded me a lot of the stretch of highway that connects Kansas City, Missouri to St. Joseph, Missouri.  It was great to feel like I was back in my element.  The experience also gave me more incentive to learn how to drive a standard transmission car, so I will be able to rent a car and just drive in the country.

After passing several medieval cities, like Orte, we finally arrived in the New City of Bagnoregio.  The newer part of town had narrow streets and buildings with shops on the bottom floors and apartments in the upper floors.  It was great and it seemed like everyone was so happy to live there.  The weather was nice and crisp and we figured that it was perfect weather for a hot chocolate.  No big deal, right?  WRONG!  “Italian Hot Chocolate” is nothing like I have ever had before now.  It has the consistency of unset, milk chocolate pudding.  It was somewhere between a liquid and a solid and it reminded me of my mom’s famous chocolate meringue pie.

We then walked just about a block and came upon an amazing overlook of the medieval town of Bagnoregio.  The overlook was built on a cliff and it almost appeared to be a large, tree-filled crater, with a tall spire of a plateau in the center with the town of Bagnoregio resting on the top of it.  Just a few years ago, the only way to reach the town was by using a rope bridge, but now there is a small pedestrian bridge that allows people to come visit this quiet Italian town.  After taking in the breath-taking view, we walked down some stone steps to the area where the pedestrian bridge connects to the new town.  There was a vendor selling fresh fruit, nuts, and other natural snacks.  We bought some caramelized almonds and then we began the ascent on the bridge.

When we walked through the city gate, we were transported to a town that seems to have been frozen in time.  There were rich vines clinging to the ancient stone buildings and we saw a few of the locals enjoying a Saturday afternoon at a small café.  We then came to a small town square, with the center building being a small church and several little restaurants.  Ultimately, the town was eerily quiet.  Even the few tourists that were there were quiet.  We ate at a Bed and Breakfast that was run out of the old rectory connected to the Church and we were lucky to be greeted by the owner, Franco.  He told us that Rick Steves spent three months living at the B&B, seventeen years ago, as he wrote his book, Europe through the Backdoor.  After the excellent pranzo, we wondered around the rest of the small town.  There is only on main street that is lines with some condemned stone buildings, hidden restaurants, a wine press, and a few other hidden money-makers.  There were also an uncommon abundance of cats!

It was a great chance to get out of Rome and experience a part of Italy that I will probably never be able to visit again, unless I learn how to drive a car with standard transmission.  I think cars are pretty easy to rent here, but they do not have cars with automatic transmission available for rent or they are really expensive.  Anyway, I hope to learn soon!

Sculpted from Egyptian limestone, the bust bears more than a passing resemblance to the recently deceased ‘King Of Pop’, Michael Jackson in his latter years:

A curator of the museum said Jackson has never visited there and insists the bust is a sculpture of an Egyptian woman.

Now, when I first saw the headline, I was ready to blow this off as people seeing only what they want to see, but I have to admit there’s an undeniable likeness there (and I’ll avoid the cheap joke about how it’s accurate even down to the missing nose).

The only possible (and logical) explanation I can see is that Michael Jackson is, in fact, an immortal shapeshifting timelord and this is nothing more than a prop from an early stage show.

Let’s look at the facts…

In 2002 historians passed off as ‘undecipherable’ hieroglyphics found in a previously undiscovered secret chamber inside the third pyramid of Giza. With some research I’ve discovered that in reality these ancient carvings were deciphered the previous year and translated directly into the lyrics of ‘Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough’, ‘Rock With You’ and ‘Girlfriend’.

With further examination, the entire ‘Off The Wall’ album lyrics have been deciphered from the intricately chiseled symbols on the chamber walls.

Then, in 2005 the ‘Thriller Room’ was discovered & deciphered inside the Temple OF Thebes.

First draft of the lyrics for the song 'Billie Jean'. Note the extra verse in the middle, absent from the final version, where Jackson talks about the importance of contraception. It was thought to be 'too preachy' and could possibly offend any religion in the future that happened to not believe in it.

While lyrics from any subsequent album are yet to be found, archeaologists believe they will uncover the ‘Bad Room’ in 2010 as the pattern of discovery has so far (mysteriously) exactly matched that of the time between the 20th century release dates of Jackson’s albums.

Carbon dating of carvings in the ‘Thriller Room’ has lead historians to believe writing for the ‘Bad’ album started around the same time ‘Thriller’ was released and either during or just after the Roman invasion & conquest of Egypt in 30-31 BC. This accounts for the angrier, more rocky direction of the album. It is also believed to account for the fact the album hasn’t aged as well as previously thought due to the unstable nature of the time.

Speculation, while unconfirmed, has stemmed from a particular carving on the ‘Thriller Wall’ (as it’s become known) where possible names for songs were jotted down for the ‘Bad’writing sessions. There is deliberate, distinctive damage to the hieroglyphs spelling out the title ‘Smooth Lover’ where the symbol for ‘Lover’ has been scratched out and replaced with the ‘Criminal’ symbol.

This suggests that, while the song title was thought up way before the lyrics themselves were written, it was later changed to ’Smooth Criminal’ after Jackson’s Liberian girlfriend, ‘Anniethea’ (or ‘Annie’ for short), was murdered by Romans during the invasion and subsequent conquest. It is also believed the song ‘Liberian Girl’ from the same album pre-dates ‘Smooth Criminal’ and was written during the early stages of their relationship.

The 1993 music video, ‘Remember the Time’ adds further weight to the theory…

This song is clearly biographical of his time spent in the ancient world and is in remembrance to his murdered love. It is considered the concluding part of the ‘Anniethea Trilogy’ after ‘Liberian Girl’ and ‘Smooth Criminal’.

The implications of the discoveries, known as the ‘Michael-Gyptian Mysteries’ are far reaching and can lead in several interesting directions.

The first, and most important, is that Paul McCartney is clearly a fellow shapeshifting immortal time travelling companion of Jackson and early evidence suggests the so-called ‘Tombs Of The Pharoahs’ are merely burial chambers for the Egyptian version of The Beatles (Jumoke, Paul, Geb & Ramses), who were pretty huge back then. Archaeologists know this based on surviving sales statistics of sheet music papyrus and various carvings of band member names on rooms known to be inhabited by hormonally unbalanced teenage girls.

Lyrics for the song 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' by The Beatles. Note the original title 'I Wanna Hold Your Cat' at the the top left. An early indicator of the importance of cats to the Egyptian culture.

This information is being kept from the public for two main reasons. The first is the inevitable religious uproar, but the second is the implications of the law; overnight the legal world would find itself arguing the most complicated case of copyright ownership ever known.

While this could potentially shed light onto the mysterious relationship between Jackson and McCartney and exactly why Jackson thought it so important to own the rights to the Beatles back catalogue, it could also mean the rights ownership battle between the two pre-dates the invention of recorded music itself and therefore the creation and retroactive enforcement of new copyright legislation would have to implemented to provide protection for other time travelling semi-deities masquerading as contemporary musicians.

Keith Richards and Cliff Richard are currently being eyed suspiciously by copyright lawyers looking to make a name (and a fortune) for themselves.

Scientists and archaeologists have speculated a worst case scenario in which the very same Roman invasion that resulted in the conquest and occupation of Egypt could have been nothing more than a particularly aggressive tactic by Jackson’s lawyer, Emperor Augustus, to wrest control of the Beatles back catalogue away from McCartney. If this is discovered to be true it could redefine the Roman empire as the first army to successfully invade a country with nothing but lawyers and A&R men and not, as previously thought, hardened professional killers.

This, while only speculation at the moment, is hoped to be proved one way or the other upon the discovery of the ‘Please Please Me’ room, the search for which is planned to begin in 2011.

While the search began with an accidental discovery of the ‘Off The Wall’ album lyrics, the possibility of there also being similar discoveries relating to Jackson’s earlier works (‘Got To Be There’, ‘Ben’, ‘Music & Me’ and ‘Forever, Michael’) has been discussed but subsequently shelved as nobody seems to care about anything pre-dating ‘Off The Wall’.

Scientists have confirmed the search for these albums is not out of the question, but will only commence after the later works have been plundered and exploited until every last drop is squeezed from them.

Finally, Archaeologists have finally agreed that The Rosetta Stone is not, as previously thought , a single passage carved in three different languages (Hieroglyphic, Demotic and classical Greek), but rather a mis-translated sketchpad idea for a concept album that was abandoned due to waning interest in his music.

Indeed, discoveries of various small sized stone tablets, believed to have been the Egyptian equivalent of ‘The Sun’ (or ‘The Ra’ as it was called back then), feature increased scrutiny of his bizarre personal life including multiple surgeries to ‘Egyptianise’ his appearance, various ’tell-all’ interviews with ex-household security slaves alleging mandrake addiction (an ancient Egyptian painkiller only available on prescription at the time) and dangling his cat out of a pyramid window.

So, in conclusion, let’s take another look at that image again:

Sculpture of an ancient Egyptian woman or one of the earliest surviving pieces of music memorabilia?

Shapeshifting immortal time traveller? The only logical conclusion, given the evidence.

What makes a visit to Cordoba such an unforgettable experience is precisely this melting pot of the cultures which once inhabited the city. Stepping out of one period of history and into another is as easy as turning the corner into another street or passing from the rows of columns in the Mosque into the Christian cathedral.

One of the most interesting sigh-seeing routes in Cordoba is the Route of Seneca’s Cordoba. The route of Seneca’s Cordoba takes the visitor back to the first century AD, one of the most fascinating eras in the history of Cordoba, when Roman rule in the city was in its full splendour, and when the Patrician city of Corduba, the capital of Hispania Ulterior and later the capital of Betica, underwent a period of large scale urban expansion and monument building under the auspices of the Emperor Augustus.

There is no better way to bring that period of Cordoba’s history closer to the general public than through that universal citizen of Cordoba, Lucius Anneus Seneca, philosopher and politician, who held a number of important positions, including that of tutor to the young Emperor Nero. Seneca, together with Plato, Aristotle and Socrates, is one of the fathers of classical thought, and his work has inspired philosophers and thinkers throughout the ages.

Another very interesting route in Cordoba is the route of the patios. But what is exactly a patio?

Córdoba has a hot, dry climate and the city’s inhabitants, first the Romans and later the Moslems, adapted the design of their houses to their needs, with the rooms all arranged around a central courtyard (patio), which normally had a fountain in the middle and often a well which collected rainwater. The Moslems adapted this plan further by having an entrance from the street via a hallway and adding a large number of plants to try and create a fresh, cool atmosphere.

There are two distinct types of patios. The first type is in a house belonging to one family where all the rooms give out onto the central courtyard. They usually have arches around them and either a tiled floor or a mosaic of pebbles. The second type is found in the so-called casas de vecinos (neighbours’ houses), where the ‘patio’ acts as a small central square which all the houses look out onto. This type of building usually has two or more floors, and there are balconies overlooking the courtyard, with bannisters and a tiled roof. The floors are usually pebble-dashed and often have a well in the middle.

USA’s Love for Ancient Rome. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times: “We like stories of Rome, I think, because in spite of the intervening centuries we can recognize ourselves there: a technologically superior mercantile and military superpower pressing an enormous thumb upon the Western world, its bustling cities full of bars and restaurants and hot-drink shops and theaters. Positively Dickensian in the way it trains an eye on both the powerful and the poor, Rome [the HBO BBC Tv Series] wants us to see the present in the past — offering cocktail parties, rich girls smoking hemp (“I brought back two sacks from Macedonia sooooo much better than the Italian kind”), a criminals’ den that looks like nothing so much as a 1st century BC [The Sopranos’] Bada Bing.”

Read the entire article by Robert Lloyd.

Above, an image from Rome‘s set, at Rome Cinecittà studios: source.

The German slave. Getting back to a typical Sex and the city (of Rome) topic, I read in a blog that a US high school teacher used to describe Ancient Rome’s history as a sequence of sex, battle, sex, battle, which seems a little bit too limited a view to me. In any case, for you (now disappointed and bored) sex weirdos, a brief quote from the Boston Globe that will make you happy:

“Take, for instance, this cozy domestic scene in the ‘Rome’ première. It’s the morning of Caesar’s funeral, and the ever-lusty Mark Antony (James Purefoy ) refuses to get out of bed unless Atia [Polly Walker, see smal picture above,] dressed in her funeral garb, agrees to have sex. Impatient and unsure of her social status now that her uncle Caesar is gone, Atia coldly refuses him. Ever practical, though, she then barks an order at her slaves: ‘Fetch that German slut from the kitchen’. “
Read the entire review by Matthew Gilbert.

Funny, although a bit on the masculist side, this comment from a fan of the ‘Rome’ series: “Oh, would that we all had these convenient German sluts around. But, you know, now they’re all union and hard to keep on staff”.

Watch now this trailer from the TV series regarding Roman different moral code (which is not to be seen by minors, who are thus warned.)

Spanish Cousins Success. “One secret of Spain’s success has been its links to Latin America – an excellent testing ground for Spanish foreign investment and a useful source of Spanish-speaking immigrants.
Spain’s immigration policy has been more liberal than in most European countries, adding some 4m to the 40m population in the past decade. Those from Latin America, in particular, have proved swift to integrate. The proportion of children from mixed marriages increased from 1.8 per cent in 1995 to 11.5 per cent in 2005.”

Read the entire Ftimes article.

Paul came to Thessalonica on his second journey (A.D. 50-53; Acts 17). He wrote two letters to the church at Thessalonica while he was at Corinth. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica accompanied Paul on the voyage to Rome (Acts 27:2). When Demas forsook Paul he went to Thessalonica (2 Timothy 4:10).

I went to the Archaeological Museum of Thessalonica thinking I would jump in, make a few shots of some items I had need of and then move along. In fact, I found a new (since my last visit in 2001) museum with wonderful educational exhibits, nice displays, and great lighting.

There is an impressive full-length statue of the Emperor Augustus (30 B.C. to A.D. 14). Augustus was emperor at the time of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1). Here is a photo of the top portion of the statue. This gives some indication of the wonderful lighting in the museum. This photo was made without flash.

On the display around the statue of the emperor there is a statement about the cult of the emperor. In our travels in Asia Minor (western Turkey) we saw many evidences that the admiration of the emperor grew into worship of the emperor as a divine being. This placed a real burden on the Christians of the time. It is this type of tribulation that the book of Revelation addresses.

The cult of the emperor was both an instrument of imperial policy progaganda and a means for the transmission of Roman culture. The image of the emperor gives a concrete form to the abstract idea of the Empire. Whether a full-lenth statue [as this one] of a bust, it makes his presence felt everywhere; in outoor and indoor spaces, in fora, in villas, and in libraries.

Elizabeth and I walked down by the harbor to see the colossal statue of Alexander the Great on his horse, ready to go into battle with sword drawn. We must put Alexander of Macedon among the most influential people of world history. His conquest of the areas we know as the Bible world continue to influence us till this day. He left his mark with the introduction of the oikumene concept of one world and the introduction of Greek culture and language. The Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek in Alexandria beginning about 280 B.C. The New Testament was written in Greek. Even Paul, the Hebrew of Hebrews (Philippians 3:5), could speak Greek (Acts 21:37).

We visited the Arch of Galerius on the modern Via Egnatia, one of the main streets of Thessalonca. I made a few photos in the Roman agora before we rushed to get our bags packed to fly back to Athens.

By the time we arrived at our hotel, near the airport we had both decided that we were too tired to try to go to Delphi today. From our hotel room we are enjoying the beautiful view of a small town surrounded by mountains draped by blue sky with white clouds.

Roman Subura, New and Old

Suburra (Italian name for Latin Subura) refers to the slums district of ancient Rome, full of “disreputable locals and brothels” (sort of a red-light district, if you prefer) and inhabited by low-class Romans together with people, mainly poor immigrants, from all over the Empire (quoted from here where you get infos on location of Subura in modern Rome). Modern rione Monti corresponds to a part of it. Julius Caesar “grew up in a home in the Subura district (Wikipedia) even though he came of the most aristocratic origins.” I won’t talk of ancient Subura though. I will bring up instead what seems to me the New Subura, namely the area around Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, not far from Termini Railway Station (see picture below from Google Maps).

While cutting across the rione almost every morning in order to catch the subway line-A train I feel this intoxicating aura of exoticism pervading the area and reminding me of some corners of Bombay, the city of wonders and my favourite Indian city. Indians, Chinese, Pakistanis, Africans, Eastern-Europeans etc. crowd these orthogonal streets making them tremendously vibrant. Mafias, prostitution and illegal activities of course flourish in here (thence the analogy with ancient Subura) but on the whole the place and Rome are starting to profit from all this, especially now that the big money is arriving. So Piazza Vittorio Emanuele is right at the centre of new multi-ethnic Rome. Piazza Vittorio is actually the New Suburra.

New found Pride

One month ago, while I was desperately trying to catch my train to my office, I saw some Chinese youngsters maybe doing their Tai Chi Chuan gymnastics on the grass in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele Gardens, a magnificent park which occupies the greatest part of this huge rectangular porticoed piazza, the biggest in Rome, built after the unity of Italy by architect Gaetano Koch between 1882 and 1887. These Chinese faces looked very self-assured, I couldn’t but notice. They were concentrating on their activity, with curious passers-by gathering around them.

To the history-addicted the place is somewhat ghostly because it used to be the place of witches, assassins and slaves’executions during ancient Roman Republican times. The piazza is in fact located at the top of the Esquiline Hill, the highest of the Seven Hills, a no man’s land at the edge of Subura until emperor Augustus redeemed it and which revealed its horrors more than 2000 years later during the public works conducted by architect Gaetano Koch who found vast carnage pits dating back to the Republican Roman era. The park also contains the famous Porta Alchemica or alchemic door (XVII century AD) which, according to some alchemists, could reveal the secret of the philosopher’s stone in its engraved symbols (so, Harry Potter‘s fans, open well your eyes: you might discover the secret of secrets. See the alchemic door picture below – Wikimedia Commons. Same image at a higher resolution here).

Totally unaware of all this spooky past these young Chinese faces seemed to me a totally new generation. Many Romans in their uncaring attitude have not noticed the difference, useless to say. Chinese people are all over the place in New Subura, attending customers in shops and stores, working energetically in restaurants and at bar tables or having some relax at open-air cafes. Trendy-clothed teenagers – pretty high-heeled girls with weird-coloured hair and macho-looking T-shirted boys – meet in the evening at renowned Fassi’s Palace of Ice(cream) close-by (Palazzo del Freddo), one of the most ancient ice-cream shops in Italy, located in 65, Via Principe Eugenio.

How all this is changing so fast. Customers at Fassi are changing and how terribly hard-working these Far-Eastern people seem compared to us and even to some Honk-Kong Chinese friends who are westernised and really admire this incredible hardiness of the unspoiled mainland Chinese. They do not seem keen to show their feelings though (mainland and HK, equally). It is the reason why they look so enigmatic to Romans, or marble-faced (this is how I tease my HK friends, not deprived of some nice UK sense of humour). The simple truth I think is that they are just shy.

It is now three-four years that the Roman Chinese and Indians have sort of come out of this psychological ghetto every immigrant initially finds into (Italians know too well, being as immigrants scattered all over the world), their eyes less elusive and their facial expressions franker (and prouder). Indian faces are more expressive, being more similar to us in their non-verbal communication (we have blood in common, after all). Chinese are marble-faced instead lol, whatever HK guys may say

Is Rome Adapting to the Future?

Caught out by a swiftly growing immigration phenomenon the Romans are starting to overreact every now and then, although on the whole they preserve this good-natured, I-couldn’t-care-less type of behaviour (called menefreghismo bonario) which indeed characterizes them and which is typical of a folk who really saw everything in the course of their history. Is such menefreghismo (or chissenefrega attitude) anachronistic today, not providing a sufficiently powerful barrier against Roman possible mounting decline (and Italian & European)?
I don’t remember who said: “I wish we will not live in an interesting age”.

What has to be understood is that multi-ethnicity is something recent in here compared to cities like London or Paris (not to mention America). Rome, we believe, is nevertheless trying to adapt to the future, her somewhat economic success providing evidence of this reaction capacity (local economic figures are growing faster than the GNP annual increase). To this success residing foreigners are contributing, it is hard to deny.

PS
More on Rome and immigration in Rome. Stepmother or Alma Mater?.
I know it is high time for Sex and the City of Rome part 2 (Permanences IIIb). I didn’t forget, to tell you the truth. I was only horribly busy. Actually I am working on this post so that Roman sex num. 2 should be published within 4-5 days, if Roman Gods allow. Thence you weirdos pls don’t worry. I’ll try my best so that your exuberant (I’ll assure you) dose of ancient-Roman sex will GET to you no matter what. You have to rejoice you perverted and maniacs although I pity you all, since it is not your fault if you are perverted, perversion (and kink) being the result of …

Of what, my dear readers? Up to you to guess, since this is not a porn site, this is an educational site, even though I feel the eyes of WordPress frowning at me more and more ah ah ah. Ok, let us behave and stick to the point then, which is next-post anticipation to intensify the thrill (and hopefully the hits lol).

Drunken girls

We will then talk about many things in the next post, this being though a non-mandatory and not-necessarily-in-this-order list: a) drunken orgies for girls, which were such sacred rituals in Rome that even just one man who dared to secretly join them (and was caught) made a women-only Goddess so damn angry and the Senate and all Rome so damn angry as well; b) other weird sexy things found in the buried Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum; c) remnants of pagan attitudes regarding sex today in our country and of course in Rome; d) weird sexual permanences in the Italian Gallic region (wasn’t Gallia only in France? No, no, wrong. It was in Italy as well, this being why Man of Roma has some Gallic or Celtic blood); e) Italian (and Roman) Renaissance and how Northern Europeans and English pre-Victorians who came here at that time were shocked as hell. They really were, this being one of the reasons of reformation and of Christianity splitting, not the main reason though. These people are still shocked today, like poor (but great) Milton was when he came to Rome during twilight Renaissance (I have to check this better). Shocked by what? Well, by us, by some habits we have and that they just seem not capable to understand; f) many other things, problem being I have to mercilessly prune 30 pages of materials or I’ll flood my readers. It might be better to both prune and scatter all in different posts, we will see.