05 Jun 2017 Achieve Your “15 Minutes of Fame” & Ancient Lessons on How to be Famous: Celebrity Culture in the Ancient World By MartiniF History & Tradition, Politics & Social Structure 0 An early third century CE Greek inscription recovered from the ancient town of Oinoanda in southwest Turkey reveals that the Roman army relied on the services of Lucius Septimius Flavianus Flavillianus, a champion in wrestling and Pankraiton, to... Read More
21 Nov 2016 Seers, Women of Action: The Sibyls of the Ancient World By MartiniF History & Tradition 0 Virgil, in his Aeneid, describes Deiphobe, better known as the Sibyl of Cumae, as coming from “a hundred perforations in the rock, a hundred mouths from which the many utterances rush” (43-5, 163). He further describes “her terrifying... Read More
30 Jun 2016 The Unusual Life and Death of Julia: A Woman Trapped in the Empirical Intrigues of Ancient Rome By MartiniF History & Tradition 0 Although they could not officially hold public offices, there were many women who were able to influence the course of Roman history from a position behind the scenes. Julia, the only daughter of Emperor Augustus, was not one of them. In fact,... Read More
20 Jun 2016 Germanicus and Agrippina: The Golden Couple, Parents of the “Mad” Emperor Caligula By MartiniF History & Tradition 0 Roman Emperor Caligula fell severely ill six months into his rule. When he recovered, he abandoned the toga for silk gowns and often dressed as a woman. He also declared himself as a living god. Caligula’s illness was widely credited by... Read More