#hostilia posting

[thespookywoods]

I am like. Just tipsy enough to ramble about my new favourite beloved blorbo because I think about her all the time she literally lives in my head rent free for all of the day I spin her in my head at terminal velocity HOWEVER when I am completely sober I am just. A little too shy to be like ‘listen to me talk about my niche ttrpg OC baby girl’

[catilinas]

Like, look what you set off, Nasica! So much nefas. All of it. Everywhere. And so much of it.... public? And not just despoiling the priests, when it’s priests, or magistrates, when it’s magistrates, but also sacred PLACES.

@mybookswerealltome yes!!! especially when you count (sacrosant) tribunes as well (and then you start thinking about stuff like sacer meaning sacred but also terrible -> sacrificeable, and the shift from tribunes being the magistrates that should by all rights extremely not be murdered, to being the magistrates that are like. the absolute most murderable) And think like. did the curia hostilia count as a temple? that would make certain murders that happened even more fucked up!

I wonder if [Cicero's] view on political murder changed after 63.

i wonder also! i was thinking about the canon of murders as i remember it from e.g. the first catilinarian, and i think also some of his post-exile speeches? which Also have a canon of Exiles Who Shouldn't Have Been Exiled going on. but i would love to know how the list changes by the time of the philippics (which i. have not read :/)

i just looked up the game and i am so so devastated that it only runs on windows because i would definitely play it if. my computer was able to run it. :((( that's such an interesting period to set it in too like it's so just post-sulla that things don't really make sense unless you are aware of [gestures to the 80s]. which i think is one of the things robert harris' cicero books Do Kind Of Fail At in harris' decision to write that period as if...... it's a long-established political situation and btw who is this sulla guy.

and. now i love merula also <- guy who is normal about roman political suicides. and didn't the temple of jupiter capitolinus burn down not long after as well? The Curse Worked.

it’s such a big thing but I WANT to grapple with it

@ashavah LITERALLYYYYYY a lot of this is like. stuff i have been thinking about for YEARS but never did anything academic with because it's just! so huge! like there's memory politics and mourning but in the context of civil conflict and funerary stuff but also political violence and 'party' politics and CURSES and??? i struggled to even get commemoration/mourning of civil war small enough to fit into a thesis so this whole situation would be. mammoth. and yet i continue to think about it [eye emoji]

Honestly, there's so much unhinged potential just waiting there with the forgotten political murders/deaths in the late Roman republic. Asellio, killed at an alter! Lucius Cornelius Merula (Flamen dialis) using himself as a sacrifice to curse the Marians! So. Much. Potential.

yes!!! i really need to read appian probably because i’m sure there are more in there, especially from that weird period in the 80s! ALSO there’s so much potential in whatever cicero is doing with political murders as exempla in speeches because like. is there a canon of political murders or is cicero trying to create a canon of political murders? and he thinks they were Good murders and there should be more of them. v interested in the murders he omits!!!!!! or the ones he says were bad, actually! marcus marius gratidianus, sacrificed to the ghost of catulus cos102! i am soooooo interested in sacrificial deaths / murders / particularly of priests like merula or quintus mucius scaevola because like. ok the sacrificial undertones of nasica serapio as pontifex maximus killing tiberius gracchus Are disputed but are also something that was In The Ancient Air like people Thought about it. and then the line from pontifex maximus Killing -> pontifex maximus (caesar) Being Killed is soooooo sexy. but even more so when you find these points along it!

(alsooo am i right in recognising you as no.1 lucius cornelius merula poster because he is someone i know next to nothing about and i would be v interested if you want to like. yell)

[elainesknight]

Romance is not dead - but Saturninus is

Once upon a time @catilinas tagged one of my Sullarius posts with these powerful words: “sullarius as a result of stoning saturninus and co to death”. And that inspired me to write this Sullarius fic. So, is it really my fault? I think not. It’s, again, based on Masters of Rome, but it all happens in the alternate timeline of the SWU (Sullarius Written Universe). 

Warnings: Saturninus and friends get killed, unrestrained Sullarius

One by one the remaining 15 people of Saturninus’ would-be revolutionists were paraded in front of Gaius Marius in a ironic caricature of a triumph. Saturninus, walking in front, was the only one who not only kept his head high, but also actively looked at Marius. The consul shook his head slightly and Saturninus glared at his former ally. No, said the half of Marius’ face that was still alive, no I will not help you. The last man in the procession was Lucius Equitius, who looked a lot less like the Gracchi now that he wasn’t standing on the rostra. Stripped of the only power he had ever demonstrated, Equitius was now little more than a trickster who had overused his only stunt. 

“Well!” exclaimed Marius loudly and startled the men around him. Stretching out his arms as if to embrace the men before him, Marius heaved a huge theatralic sigh. “Whatever shall I do with you?” he asked, then turned around on his heels to face Scaurus Princeps Senatus who was standing on his left side. “What shall we do with them?” he asked again but a little more quietly this time. Scaurus took his time, watching the party of young aristocrats that had gathered around the young Metellus and Caepio. “Looking at these young fools over there, I say we must keep Saturninus and his friends somewhere safe, but also secure. No harm must come to them before they were given proper trials as they are still Romans, but we must also make sure that it’s impossible for the crowd to return and free them.” Scaurus massaged his temples and suddenly looked very old.  “Saturninus is not even the problem. Imagine the uproar as soon as some foolish woman starts wailing about Lucius Equitius, it’s a tragedy.” 

Marius contemplated this, while Sulla shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “Lucius Cornelius, please tell us what’s on your mind. Your making me giddy with your unrest” said Marius not unkindly. Suddenly in the center of attention, Sulla looked at the two men with uncertainty. “I was merely listing to your conversation about where to put our dear friends over there and I might have a solution.” “Then spit it out!” demanded Scaurus who a less patient man than Marius and also did not know Sulla quite as well. “We put them into the Curia Hostilia” said Sulla and Scaurus froze in shock. After a moment, Marius burst out laughing, earning him anxious looks from Saturninus and his allies and an amused one from Sulla. “Brilliant!” cried Marius, flinging one arm around Sulla’s shoulders and squeezing him only a little too tightly. “Brilliant?” echoed Scaurus and looked at them both in disbelief. “You want to keep these..these”- he gestured widely in Saturninus’ general direction-”in the Senate House?” Releasing Sulla, Marius again focused his attention on the Princeps Senatus. “Well, so far you have offered me no alternatives. What do you want? Do you want to keep them in our houses? By all means, if you want to spend a few days with Saturninus, I’ll take Equitius. That should be great fun.” Scaurus grumbled, but knew that he was defeated. He heaved a huge sigh, but his green eyes were alive with something like mirth. 

“Fine, then the Curia Hostilia it will be.” Marius nodded solemnly. “I will leave the honor to tell our fellow senators of our decision to you, Princeps Senatus” said Marius not without some amusement. “Oh, curse you, Gaius Marius.” Scaurus shook his head, but Marius and Sulla could clearly see that he was enjoying the prospect of breaking the news to the likes of Catulus Caesar. 

Now standing alone Marius turned around to face Sulla. “It is a good idea, Lucius Cornelius, and yet I can’t shake off the feeling that you’re planning something.” Sulla gave Marius a half smile, then looked very directly at the young Metellus and his group of aristocrats. Marius watched him with something like admiration. “I think I understand” said Marius quietly, then ruffled Sullas hair. “But by all means be careful, Lucius Cornelius. I would hate to see you get convicted for treason.” Sulla took a pause from rearranging his hair and looked at Marius for a long moment. “I promise I’ll be careful. Which is why I won’t tell you exactly what I plan, just to be safe.” Marius nodded, feeling an odd sensation rising in his chest. Wordlessly he reached out and grabbed Sullas shoulders. This time Sulla gave him a real smile before shaking him off. 

The morning of the day of the inaugural meeting of the Plebeian Assembly was cool with a light blue sky. Gaius Marius woke up a little earlier than usual and went calmly through his morning routine. When Julia asked him how he expected the day to go, he gave her one of his now sad lopsided smiles.  “I think the day will go very differently than what we all expect.” Julia looked at him oddly, then again demonstrated that she knew him very well.   “So, you count on Lucius Cornelius to come up with a solution?” Unwilling to give himself away and betray what he thought he knew about Sulla’s plan, Marius merely shrugged.  “He is an inventive fellow. If he doesn’t come up with something, nobody will.” “Not even you?” asked Julia softly.  “Oh, I could think of a way, that’s for sure. But Sulla is a true fox. His kind of intelligence is different than mine.” When Julia motioned for him to explain himself further, Marius could not put his feelings into words.  “I really don’t know, Julia. It is as if he can see ways I would not even think of.” “Yet you trust him?” “I do.” Julia smiled warmly. “Good.”

When Marius and the other leading senators got to the Curia Hostilia they could only watch as the same bunch of young aristocrats that Marius had noticed before was descending ladders down from the roof of the senate building. When the last one of the group had reached the ground, they just stood there a little defiantly with no one trying to escape. Without exchanging more than a few looks, the senators understood what had happened.

“What shall we do with them?” asked Sulla who had appeared at Marius’ side seemingly from thin air. Marius jumped a little, but quickly regained his composure.  “You’re asking the wrong question, Lucius Cornelius. The right question is: What can we do with them?” 

Scaurus made a helpless gesture, seemingly despairing of the situation. “Our problem has changed, Gaius Marius. As far as I can see, these fools saved us the trouble of trying Saturninus and Lucius Equitius in a public court. But now we have to come up with a suitable strategy to deal with our sorry group over there.” Marius shook his head slowly, his eyes searching Sulla’s and asking a silent question. Sulla gave him a short wink. “Well, Princeps Senatus, we have two options, I would say. Either we declare a general amnesty or we bring these young men to court for murder.” Scaurus hissed. “To do so would destroy a whole generation of us. No, Gaius Marius, amnesty it must be. Give them a speech on how wrong what they did was and then send them home.” “I’m sorry but giving speeches is way beyond my simple Italian self. No, I think I will leave this honor to you, Princeps Senatus” said Marius and tried very hard not to laugh. “Curse you, you plebeian tyrant!” hissed Scaurus and shot both Marius and Sulla one last angry look before he went over to the group of young Romans. Marius sighed. “Well, that was that. Now, let’s make sure that our assassins did their work right. You and me will go inside, Lucius Cornelius. The rest stays here.” ordered Marius showing the exact streak of autocracy that Scaurus had just criticized. 

Together Marius and Sulla made their way to the Senate House and Marius unlocked the door. Inside lay a battlefield. The bodies of the would-be revolutionists were scattered all over the room. Where the roof had been striped of its tiles rays of sunshine illuminated the dance of dust giving the building an eerie atmosphere. The Senate House contained no furniture, no places where someone could hide from projectiles. In their desperation the victims inside had fled to the very edges of the room, but to no avail. Where they did not hit a target, the tiles had crashed on the floor, sending sharp pieces in all directions. Marius spotted Lucius Equitius leaning against a wall, a splinter of tile in his throat. Saturninus himself had not even be given the time to seek shelter; his body lay lifeless almost in the middle of the room. With a deep sigh Marius bend down to close his eyes, but the eyeballs were so full of dust that the lids would not move. Marius sighed again and looked back at Sulla. “They were Roman citizens” said Marius slowly. “They were traitors” answered Sulla and placed himself next to Marius. The Great Man gave his trusty legate a terrible lopsided smile.  “You are right, of course. Thank you, Lucius Cornelius.” 

Sulla gave his best impression of confusion. “I have no idea what you are talking about, Gaius Marius.” “No” said Marius. “You don’t.” Once again Marius surveyed the room. “Well, it looks like we don’t have any survivors to deal with. Only time will tell how the people will react to this. But my instinct tells me that the crowd will not return.” “I agree” said Sulla and kept his eyes on Saturninus. And because he did not look at Marius, it came as a total surprise when Marius suddenly pulled him closer by his shoulders and kissed him. Sulla felt the world close in on him, leaving him only with Gaius Marius and the dead Saturninus. Completely out of his depth Sulla pulled back a little and looked into Marius’ dark eyes. Only now did he notice that his arms had wrapped themselves around Marius’ neck. 

“Why did you-” began Sulla quietly but Marius interrupted him. “Do you really want to talk right now?” “Right” breathed Sulla and closed the distance between them again. He felt like a completely different person, as if he was watching himself from a distance. Nothing and everything suddenly made sense. He thought of all the august senators waiting outside, of the Piglet who would probably die of shock if he saw him like this and he thought of the bodies littering the room. Sulla did not close his eyes but continued to stare at Saturninus’ open unseeing eyes over Marius’ shoulder. 

When they finally separated it seemed as if an eternity had passed. Sulla’s breath was shallow as he looked up at Marius. The general found his composure. “They are all dead” he said slowly. “Let’s tell that to our friends outside.” Sulla cleared his throat. “Yes, let’s do that.” 

Later they were sitting in Marius’ study, two glasses of unwatered wine between them on the table. “So” began Sulla cautiously. “Why did you do it?” Marius looked up at him as if he had been deep in thought. He tried to keep a calm expression but his eyebrows betrayed him. “Why did I do what?” he asked weakly. Sulla shot him an exasperated look then turned around to make sure that the door was locked. “Why did you kiss me?” A pause. Marius studied Sulla’s face as if he could read the answer there. Then he shrugged helplessly. “I’m not sure.” “Haven’t you once told me that you didn’t fancy me?” “Fancy you” huffed Marius then shook his head. “No, what I told you was that I’m not inclined towards men.”  “I am a man” said Sulla.  “I realize that.” 

“So?” Marius looked at him and Sulla tried to decipher the movements of his eyebrows but this time whatever Marius communicated was lost in translation.  “I’m thinking, give me a moment” said Marius slowly and Sulla leaned back in his chair trying to appear relaxed.  “I’m really not into men. I’ve never been in all my life. With you it’s something different.”  “In what way?”  Marius made direct eye contact and Sulla readied himself for whatever was to come now. 

“You and I are the only people in Rome who could destroy this city if we chose to.” A strange feeling settled in Sulla’s stomach. “What do you mean?” he asked even though he could guess the answer. He needed to hear it.  Marius smiled one of his sad lopsided smiles.  “You are the only person who is my equal. And that’s why…” Marius visibly fought with himself, then accepted his fate. “That’s why I fancy you, if you want to phrase it like that.” 

This is ridiculous, thought Sulla but he was not laughing. This is madness, thought Sulla but he felt more awake than in a long time. 

“I see” he managed to say while he tried grasp the absurdness of the situation. Here he was, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, getting told by Gaius Marius, six times consul of Rome, that what? That he loved him? Was it really that? Marius took a sip of his wine, then looked at Sulla. “Well then” began Marius slowly, “why did you do it?” Sulla was lost in thought and answered with confusion clear on his face. “Why did I do what?” Marius smiled warmly. “Why did you kiss me back?” 

Sulla stared at him and tried to recall the scene that was oddly blurry in his memory. “Did I?” “Oh yes. What kind of person do you think I am? I would not have done it, if I had been under the impression that you were unwilling.”  “So I appeared willing?”  “You did. Weren’t you?”  Now Marius had the audacity to sound worried. Sulla tried to gather his wits.  “No, no. Don’t worry. I...I was willing, if you want to say it like that..”  “Good.” 

For Marius that seemed to be enough, so Sulla reached for his glass of wine and took a sip. He knew that this was a topic that would keep him up at night, but right now he felt not prepared to talk to Marius about it.  “You know what’s the bad thing about all that?” he asked instead.  Marius lifted an enquiring eyebrow. “What?”  “We missed Scaurus’ speech to my young aristocratic friends.”  And Marius laughed. 

[tesdtfrvgtbhy]

Ideo urbs venerabilis post superbas efferatarum gentium cervices oppressas latasque leges fundamenta libertatis et retinacula sempiterna velut frugi parens et prudens et dives Caesaribus tamquam liberis suis regenda patrimonii iura permisit.

Verum ad istam omnem orationem brevis est defensio. Nam quoad aetas M. Caeli dare potuit isti suspicioni locum, fuit primum ipsius pudore, deinde etiam patris diligentia disciplinaque munita. Qui ut huic virilem togam deditšnihil dicam hoc loco de me; tantum sit, quantum vos existimatis; hoc dicam, hunc a patre continuo ad me esse deductum; nemo hunc M. Caelium in illo aetatis flore vidit nisi aut cum patre aut mecum aut in M. Crassi castissima domo, cum artibus honestissimis erudiretur.

Post emensos insuperabilis expeditionis eventus languentibus partium animis, quas periculorum varietas fregerat et laborum, nondum tubarum cessante clangore vel milite locato per stationes hibernas, fortunae saevientis procellae tempestates alias rebus infudere communibus per multa illa et dira facinora Caesaris Galli, qui ex squalore imo miseriarum in aetatis adultae primitiis ad principale culmen insperato saltu provectus ultra terminos potestatis delatae procurrens asperitate nimia cuncta foedabat. propinquitate enim regiae stirpis gentilitateque etiam tum Constantini nominis efferebatur in fastus, si plus valuisset, ausurus hostilia in auctorem suae felicitatis, ut videbatur.

[saraneumayer]

Roman REPUBLIC COIN Collecting Guide How-To Video & Article

Guide to Collecting Coins of the ROMAN REPUBLIC

The silver Roman coins before the emperors, prior to 27 B.C. Video presentation with how-to article

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ephapZPEGeM

For almost 500 years (510-27 B.C.), Rome was a Republic and not a dictatorship as it turned into after Julius Caesar and the civil wars that followed. Over it’s evolution, Rome had many different coin types issued. This guide is to the silver coins of the Romans from the time of the Republic. Watch the video above for a great explanation on the topic and how to start collecting, along with examples of types available. All of the coins from the Roman Republic have a reference to a standard book on the subject, Roman Silver Coins Volume 1 by David R. Sear which is a must for any ancient coin library that is interested in the topic. Quite frankly it is the only book on you really need on the silver coins of the Roman republic, along with those of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Lepidus and even Augustus. The author, David R. Sear, adopted the standard that Ernest Babelon arranged them in 1885 for the quickest reference purposes.

This area of collecting is one of my personal favorites. There are many important coins dealing with historical events, great generals, important personages, the gods, the goddesses, festivals, architectural works, stories and so much more. However, just like with any topic, it is good to have a guide that will help you learn that it is more simple than you even thought to pursue the collecting of these types. The video you can watch , shows you many types and gets you familiarized with the subject. The list below, allows you to quickly search my store and learn more about the various types of coins according to what I have available at this time.

The coins shown on the video and much more can be seen here: http://bit.ly/republiccoins

The List of the Moneyer Names

This part of the guide is designed to give you an easy way to search my eBay store with advanced search parameters, which search for the specific moneyer names below with the description that are in line with the book: Roman Silver Coins Volume 1 by David R. Sear. As you click each, you will be able to see any examples of that specific moneyer I have available. The goal of this list is to make it easy and fun to explore, learn and even put together a very comprehensive collection of ancient Roman Republican coins.

You can also do a search yourself in my store for by checking off the box that says “in titles & descriptions” and then typing in specifically in quotes “”, the parameter like this: “reference: moneyernamehere”. This way if you are already proficient in the types and are looking for specific examples, you can find them yourself also without having to refer to this guide.

Anonymous

Aburia

Accoleia

Acilia

Aelia

Aemilia

Afrania

Alliena

Annia

Antestia

Antia

Antonia

Appuleia

Aquillia

Arria

Aufidia

Aurelia

Autronia

Axia

Baebia

Barbatia

Caecilia

Caesia

Calidia

Calpurnia

Caninia

Carisia

Cassia

Cipia

Claudia

Cloulia

Coelia or Coilia

Considia

Coponia

Cordia

Cornelia

Cornuficia

Cosconia

Cossutia

Crepereia

Crepusia

Critonia

Cupiennia

Curiatia

Curtia

Decia

Decimia

Didia or Deidia

Domitia

Durmia

Egnatia

Egnatuleia

Eppia

Fabia

Fannia

Farsuleia

Flaminia

Flavia

Fonteia

Fufia

Fulvia

Fundania

Furia

Gargilia

Gellia

Herennia

Horatia

Hosidia

Hostilia

Itia

Julia

Junia

Juventia

Licinia

Livineia

Lollia

Lucilia

Lucretia

Lutatia

Maecilia

Maenia

Mallia

Mamilia

Manlia

Marcia

Maria

Matiena

Memmia

Mescinia

Mettia

Minatia

Minucia

Mucia

Munatia

Mussidia

Naevia

Nasidia

Neria

Nonia

Norbana

Numitoria

Numonia

Ogulnia

Opimia

Papia

Papiria

Pedania

Petillia

Petronia

Pinaria

Plaetoria

Plancia

Plautia

Plutia

Poblicia

Pompeia

Pomponia

Porcia

Postumia

Procilia

Quinctia

Quinctilia

Roscia

Rubria

Rustia

Rutilia

Salvia

Sanquinia

Satriena

Saufeia

Scribonia

Sempronia

Sentia

Sepullia

Sergia

Servilia

Sestia

Sicinia

Spurilia

Statia

Sulpicia

Tarquitia

Terentia

Thoria

Titia

Titiana

Tituria

Trebania

Tullia

Turillia

Valeria

Guide to the Coins of the Roman Republic Video

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For more great articles and videos on ancient coins, visit, http://www.trustedancientcoins.com/articles/

Read More Here: Roman REPUBLIC COIN Collecting Guide How-To Video & Article Cool article about numismatic coins. World-renowned numismatic expert posted this to educate people.

Roman REPUBLIC COIN Collecting Guide How-To Video & Article is courtesy of Rare Coin Information Blog

from Authentic Ancient Greek Roman Coins - Feed http://www.authenticancientgreekromancoins.co.technology/2017/10/09/roman-republic-coin-collecting-guide-how-to-video-article/ via http://www.authenticancientgreekromancoins.co.technology

[blogpresso]

New Post on Actualités

Nouveau post sur http://www.blogpresso.com/une-etude-revele-les-secrets-de-fabrication-des-apiculteurs-etrusques/

Une étude révèle les secrets de fabrication des apiculteurs étrusques

Les analyses sophistiquées de vestiges archéologiques rares révèlent, entre autres, que les apiculteurs étrusques faisaient butiner leurs abeilles en bateau.

Danseurs étrusques de la tombe du Triclinium (470 av. J.-C.)

En 1878, un industriel en miel de Chicago a une brillante idée. Les abeilles, raisonne-t-il, ne travaillent qu’une petite partie de l’année, principalement au printemps, lorsque les plantes sont en fleur. Or sur l’immense territoire américain, la saison n’a pas lieu partout aux mêmes dates. L’industriel se propose donc de faire suivre à ces insectes l’avancée du printemps vers le nord, de façon à ce qu’ils butinent beaucoup plus longtemps et produisent une plus grande quantité de miel. Confiant en son inspiration, il achète un bateau à vapeur, des colonies d’abeilles, des ruches, des barges pour les entreposer, et engage un équipage. Il s’embarque sur le Mississippi en Louisiane, direction le Minnesota près deux mille kilomètres plus au nord. Peu lui importe les habitudes calmes des apiculteurs, il ne compte pas traîner en route : le planning ne prévoit généralement pas plus d’une journée dans chaque zone, que les abeilles devront avoir ratissé de tout nectar. Las ! Non seulement avaries et accidents viendront vite retarder l’audacieuse entreprise, mais l’industriel doit faire face à un problème beaucoup plus ennuyeux : les abeilles tombent à l’eau, fauchant les colonies l’une après l’autre. La rentabilité de l’aventure devenant financièrement intenable, l’industriel est bien obligé de jeter l’éponge.

Peut-être ce dernier aurait-il pu s’inspirer utilement de l’exemple de lointains prédécesseurs, les Étrusques. Vers 50 apr. J.-C. l’écrivain romain Pline l’ancien relate dans son Histoire naturelle, sorte de monumentale encyclopédie des connaissances et croyances de son temps, une curieuse pratique chez les populations de la brillante civilisation toscane, passée depuis quelques siècles sous la domination de Rome. « J’ai trouvé sur la nourriture des abeilles un fait singulier, et digne d’être rapporté. Il est un bourg appelé Hostilia, et baigné par le Pô; les habitants, quand la nourriture manque dans les environs, mettent les ruches sur des bateaux, et chaque nuit ils leur font remonter un espace de cinq mille pas; au jour, les abeilles sortent et vont butiner; elles reviennent aux bateaux, et ainsi on les change de lieu jusqu’à ce que, le poids faisant enfoncer davantage les bateaux, on comprend que les ruches sont pleines : on revient alors, et on recueille le miel. » Mais Pline s’en tenant comme toujours à une écriture plutôt laconique, difficile de savoir s’il tenait ses informations de première, seconde… ou cinquième main. Certains de ses commentateurs l’ont parfois soupçonné d’avoir voulu trop embrasser, tout à son projet encyclopédique, en se montrant peu regardant sur la qualité de ses sources. Même s’il se révèle à l’usage un auteur particulièrement scrupuleux, dans trente-sept tomes, il y a bien sûr matière à vérifications, et les savants de toutes sortes et de toutes époques s’y sont essayés, parmi lesquels, bien sûr, quelques archéologues.

De ce point de vue, la découverte d’une équipe italo-américaine représente une occasion assez exceptionnelle. Car déceler les vestiges des activités des apiculteurs reste rarissime (voir encadré). Ceux-ci proviennent du site italien de Forcello, dégagé depuis de nombreuses années par des fouilles. Il s’agit d’un éphémère petit port de commerce étrusque sur l’ancien lac d’un affluent du Pô, très lié au principaux ports de la mer Adriatique par lesquels les Étrusques commerçaient avec les Grecs. Dans ce qui était sans doute la propriété d’un aristocrate, se trouvait une sorte d’atelier ou d’appentis, avec des murs en torchis. Mais vers 500 ans av. J.-C., un violent incendie réduit la pièce en cendres. On ne sait ce que ses occupants ont pu en sauver.

Certaines abeilles, en tout cas, n’ont pu y échapper : les archéologues les ont retrouvées, carbonisées, dans les vestiges. Au vu de leur forme, il s’agissait bien des abeilles domestiques habituelles en Europe. Ce qui n’était pas complètement prévisible, tant la découverte de ces insectes pour des époques anciennes est rarissime (et en Asie, les apiculteurs utilisaient d’autres espèces, cousines de la première, tandis que les Mayas avaient domestiqué un autre genre d’abeille, sans dard).

Abeille carbonisée retrouvée par les archéologues, prise dans une gangue de miel et de cire brûlés (L. Castellano)

Détail de la tête et des yeux de l’abeille, au microscope électronique à balayage (A. Rizzi)

Mais qui dit abeille ne dit pas forcément apiculture. Or l’immense majorité des vestiges, brûlés, étaient bien difficiles à identifier. C’est pourquoi les chercheurs les ont soumis à une batterie d’analyses chimiques. Celles-ci ont révélé que de petites concrétions noires retrouvées en abondance étaient probablement des gouttes de cire et de miel ayant fondu et s’étant mélangés avec la terre du sol en tombant.

Cette cire et ce miel provenaient vraisemblablement des rayons d’une ruche. En effet, en un endroit, la carbonisation avait miraculeusement conservé leur forme hexagonale caractéristique (voir photo). Une ou plusieurs ruches étaient-elles présentes dans la pièce ? Sans doute pas, car la pièce avait plusieurs fonctions : les archéologues y ont retrouvé des restes de métiers à tisser et d’un important artisanat du corail. L’équipe estime donc plutôt que les artisans y entreposaient les rayons pour en extraire la cire et le miel. Grâce à un patient relevé de la répartition des charbons de bois dans la pièce, les chercheurs ont en tout cas pu montrer que la ruche ou le meuble sur lequel se trouvaient les rayons était en figuier, tandis que les poutres ou piliers étaient probablement en frêne et en chêne.

Les restes de rayons carbonisés, dont la forme hexagonale est à peu près préservée. (L. Castellano)

Fouilles du site de Forcello (T. Quirino / Université de Milan)

Toutefois, l’enquête n’était pas finie. Il restait encore quelques indices à exploiter : les pollens. Leurs spécialistes, dans les laboratoires d’archéologie, analysent leurs différents types, caractéristiques de telle ou telle espèce d’arbre ou de plantes. Habituellement, cela leur permet d’évaluer quelle pouvait être la végétation autour de tel ou tel site ancien. D’après leurs analyses, le site de Forcello était entouré des mêmes vastes forêts qui recouvraient la plaine du Pô à l’époque. Celles-ci étaient l’un des éléments de la puissance des Étrusques, en leur fournissant les quantités considérables de bois en général nécessaires à l’obtention du fer, plomb, cuivre, argent dont les gisements parsemaient le territoire.

Mais avec les pollens, il y avait mieux, la possibilité d’étudier les habitudes des abeilles et donc des apiculteurs étrusques. Or les chercheurs avaient pu distinguer deux types de restes carbonisés : ceux constitués par le miel et la cire mêlés à la terre, et ceux composés par le « pain d’abeille ». Ce dernier est une mixture fermentée, principalement constituée de pollen, que préparent les abeilles. Réserve de nourriture, c’est une importante source de protéines pour les larves et les jeunes abeilles. Les types de pollens qui s’y trouvent reflètent donc les fleurs dans lesquelles butinaient ces insectes.

Étrangement, les abeilles du site étrusque semblaient raffoler des fleurs d’une plante aquatique aujourd’hui très rare dans la plaine du Pô, le faux-nénuphar. De mémoire d’apiculteur européen, on n’a pas vraiment souvenir de ce goût prononcé des abeilles pour une telle fleur, même s’il est compréhensible : parfum intense, facilité d’accès du nectar, longue période de floraison, le faux-nénuphar a tous les attraits pour séduire les butineuses. Un potentiel qui n’avait pas échappé aux Étrusques, visiblement. Seulement, comment faisaient les apiculteurs pour y faire butiner leurs abeilles ? Car en 500 av. J.-C., il n’y en avait pas partout : les carottages réalisés par les chercheurs sur les rives du lac n’en ont pas retrouvé.

Par conséquent, le plus simple, pour y amener les ruches n’était pas le transport à dos d’âne, mais vraisemblablement par bateau, comme le décrivait Pline. Certes, celui-ci traite de pratiques postérieures de quelques siècles au site étrusque, mais celles-ci se déroulaient tout près, dans la ville d’Ostiglia à une vingtaine de kilomètres en aval.

Dans les pollens relevés par les chercheurs, il y a aussi, en moindre quantité, d’autres fleurs qui poussent souvent aux abords des villages dans les friches et les décombres (grande mauve, ambrette, pas-d’âne, menthe, etc.) L’équipe suggère que c’est en revenant au village que les abeilles les butinaient, tandis que les apiculteurs récupéraient miel et cire dans des ateliers comme celui qui a brûlé.

Bref, il y a de bonnes chances que les Étrusques aient pratiqué l’apiculture par bateau. Un scénario qui paraît tout à fait plausible à Bernard Vaissière, spécialiste de pollinisation à l’Inra, qui note que la pratique perdure aujourd’hui « dans certaines régions en Europe, comme dans le delta du Danube en Hongrie. »

L’histoire ne dit pas en revanche, comment les Étrusques évitaient de perdre des abeilles par noyade. Mais sur ce point, comment ne pas se référer au poète Virgile, précisément originaire de cette région étrusque, qui recommandait au lecteur de ses Géorgiques, un siècle et demi avant Pline : « Au milieu de l’eau, soit qu’immobile elle dorme, soit qu’elle coule, jette en travers des troncs de saule et des grosses pierres, comme autant de ponts, où [les abeilles] puissent déployer leurs ailes au soleil d’été, si d’aventure, travailleuses attardées, elles ont été mouillées ou précipitées dans Neptune, par l’Eurus [le vent d’est]. »

Compléments

La publication scientifique

L. Castellano et al., JAS, 83, 26.

Du miel de vigne ?

Hormis le pain d’abeille, l’autre grande source de nourriture des ruches est bien sûr le miel, obtenu à partir du nectar. Sur le site étrusque, l’analyse des pollens semble claire : il s’agirait d’une spécialité culinaire peu banale, du miel de vigne. Y avait-il des vignobles à proximité, à une époque où les Étrusques exportaient abondamment leur vin, notamment en Gaule ? Ou les abeilles allaient-elles butiner de la vigne sauvage, vraisemblablement suspendues en treille dans les arbres aux abords des forêts, dont d’après l’équipe, elles préfèrent en général les fleurs. Difficile de trancher, car les pépins retrouvés sur le site étrusque sont mi-domestique mi-sauvage, et des recherches ont montré il y a quelques années que les populations cultivaient ensemble tout un continuum entre ces deux types de raisins durant l’Antiquité. Vue depuis l’époque actuelle, l’hypothèse de l’équipe semble en tout cas pour Bernard Vaissière plutôt osée : « en général, les abeilles européennes butinent rarement les différents types de vigne, et ne le font que pour y chercher du pollen. » Difficile pour lui d’imaginer qu’à l’époque des Étrusques, elles soient venues y chercher du nectar en quantité suffisante pour y faire du miel.

Très peu de traces des débuts de l’apiculture

Que les hommes préhistoriques aient consommé du miel depuis au moins des centaines de milliers d’années, cela ne fait guère de doute, ne serait-ce qu’en observant les trésors d’ingéniosité que déploient nos cousins les chimpanzés pour chiper aux abeilles leur fruit de leur production. En Europe occidentale, il est resté pendant des millénaires, jusqu’à l’introduction de la canne à sucre à partir de la fin de l’Antiquité, le principal moyen de sucrer facilement la nourriture. Que les hommes aient utilisé la cire d’abeille comme ingrédient dans diverses colles, impermabilisants, etc, cela est attesté et remonte au minimum à 7000 ans av. J.-C. d’après des analyses de tessons de céramiques publiées il y a deux ans. Elles montrent que son utilisation était largement répandue au Proche-orient, en Europe de l’ouest et en Afrique du nord il y a quelques milliers d’années. En revanche, que les hommes soient allés jusqu’à fabriquer des ruches et domestiquer des abeilles, c’est beaucoup plus difficile à établir : les ruches étaient souvent en matériau périssable, et insectes et micro-organismes se font une joie de débarrasser rapidement les lieux de toute trace de miel. Heureusement, il existe une peinture égyptienne de 2400 ans av. J.-C. qui montre indubitablement des apiculteurs face à des ruches. Côté archéologie, la récolte était bien mince avant l’Antiquité, jusqu’à la très belle découverte il y a dix ans de ruches en Israël datées d’environ 1000 ans av. J.-C. Elles témoignent d’une apiculture quasi-industrielle dès cette époque. Pour les siècles qui suivent, les archéologues ont retrouvé, en Grèce et en Espagne notamment, des ruches en céramique, en forme de gros vases couchés et striés. Mais cela ne représente qu’un petit échantillon des nombreux modèles existant pendant l’Antiquité en écorce, bois, bouse, etc. dont les mérites étaient abondamment discutés par les auteurs antiques.

Commentaire sur l’article

Pour Hervé Richard, du CNRS, spécialiste de l’analyse des pollens anciens au laboratoire Chrono-environnement, des sites archéologiques sur les débuts de l’apiculture aussi bien préservés sont « exceptionnellement rares ». Il souligne l’approche multidisciplinaire « excellente » suivie par l’équipe. Il trouve leur interprétation « très solide », même s’il aurait préféré que soient véritablement explorées des hypothèses alternatives.

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[ialanjohnson]

Roman REPUBLIC COIN Collecting Guide How-To Video & Article

Guide to Collecting Coins of the ROMAN REPUBLIC

The silver Roman coins before the emperors, prior to 27 B.C. Video presentation with how-to article

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ephapZPEGeM

For almost 500 years (510-27 B.C.), Rome was a Republic and not a dictatorship as it turned into after Julius Caesar and the civil wars that followed. Over it’s evolution, Rome had many different coin types issued. This guide is to the silver coins of the Romans from the time of the Republic. Watch the video above for a great explanation on the topic and how to start collecting, along with examples of types available. All of the coins from the Roman Republic have a reference to a standard book on the subject, Roman Silver Coins Volume 1 by David R. Sear which is a must for any ancient coin library that is interested in the topic. Quite frankly it is the only book on you really need on the silver coins of the Roman republic, along with those of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, Lepidus and even Augustus. The author, David R. Sear, adopted the standard that Ernest Babelon arranged them in 1885 for the quickest reference purposes.

This area of collecting is one of my personal favorites. There are many important coins dealing with historical events, great generals, important personages, the gods, the goddesses, festivals, architectural works, stories and so much more. However, just like with any topic, it is good to have a guide that will help you learn that it is more simple than you even thought to pursue the collecting of these types. The video you can watch , shows you many types and gets you familiarized with the subject. The list below, allows you to quickly search my store and learn more about the various types of coins according to what I have available at this time.

The coins shown on the video and much more can be seen here: http://bit.ly/republiccoins

The List of the Moneyer Names

This part of the guide is designed to give you an easy way to search my eBay store with advanced search parameters, which search for the specific moneyer names below with the description that are in line with the book: Roman Silver Coins Volume 1 by David R. Sear. As you click each, you will be able to see any examples of that specific moneyer I have available. The goal of this list is to make it easy and fun to explore, learn and even put together a very comprehensive collection of ancient Roman Republican coins.

You can also do a search yourself in my store for by checking off the box that says “in titles & descriptions” and then typing in specifically in quotes “”, the parameter like this: “reference: moneyernamehere”. This way if you are already proficient in the types and are looking for specific examples, you can find them yourself also without having to refer to this guide.

Anonymous

Aburia

Accoleia

Acilia

Aelia

Aemilia

Afrania

Alliena

Annia

Antestia

Antia

Antonia

Appuleia

Aquillia

Arria

Aufidia

Aurelia

Autronia

Axia

Baebia

Barbatia

Caecilia

Caesia

Calidia

Calpurnia

Caninia

Carisia

Cassia

Cipia

Claudia

Cloulia

Coelia or Coilia

Considia

Coponia

Cordia

Cornelia

Cornuficia

Cosconia

Cossutia

Crepereia

Crepusia

Critonia

Cupiennia

Curiatia

Curtia

Decia

Decimia

Didia or Deidia

Domitia

Durmia

Egnatia

Egnatuleia

Eppia

Fabia

Fannia

Farsuleia

Flaminia

Flavia

Fonteia

Fufia

Fulvia

Fundania

Furia

Gargilia

Gellia

Herennia

Horatia

Hosidia

Hostilia

Itia

Julia

Junia

Juventia

Licinia

Livineia

Lollia

Lucilia

Lucretia

Lutatia

Maecilia

Maenia

Mallia

Mamilia

Manlia

Marcia

Maria

Matiena

Memmia

Mescinia

Mettia

Minatia

Minucia

Mucia

Munatia

Mussidia

Naevia

Nasidia

Neria

Nonia

Norbana

Numitoria

Numonia

Ogulnia

Opimia

Papia

Papiria

Pedania

Petillia

Petronia

Pinaria

Plaetoria

Plancia

Plautia

Plutia

Poblicia

Pompeia

Pomponia

Porcia

Postumia

Procilia

Quinctia

Quinctilia

Roscia

Rubria

Rustia

Rutilia

Salvia

Sanquinia

Satriena

Saufeia

Scribonia

Sempronia

Sentia

Sepullia

Sergia

Servilia

Sestia

Sicinia

Spurilia

Statia

Sulpicia

Tarquitia

Terentia

Thoria

Titia

Titiana

Tituria

Trebania

Tullia

Turillia

Valeria

Guide to the Coins of the Roman Republic Video

Download this article by right-clicking here and selecting save as

For more great articles and videos on ancient coins, visit, http://www.trustedancientcoins.com/articles/

See Full Article Here: Roman REPUBLIC COIN Collecting Guide How-To Video & Article Fascinating blog post about ancient coins. An expert numismatist published this for educational purposes.

from WordPress https://ialanjohnson.wordpress.com/2017/01/12/roman-republic-coin-collecting-guide-how-to-video-article-8/

[thespookywoods]

Love realizing I accidentally gave a character some very consistent symbolism because it means I can just lean into it and have a through line through her whole life and the metaphor and symbolism I use around her.

[thespookywoods]

Cannot believe that the silly little detail I put into my tabletop oc’s appearance has actually become connected to pre-existing in universe lore that I’d just. Never heard of because I was unfamiliar with the lore when we started.

Yes I’m very proud of myself

[thespookywoods]

Me, making a tabletop character: time to get a little silly with it

Me, five minutes later: sobbing because she has a good luck charm that was a good bye gift from her order that everyone pitched in to get her, as she left the people she’d known and loved and argued with for the better part of fifteen years to go take on a family legacy that was never supposed to be hers in the first place

[thespookywoods]

*head in hands* she should have been a knight. Instead shes forced to be head of the family but she should have been in armour getting tokens of affection from the princess shes beloved of and competing in tournaments. But instead shes the king and has Responsibilities <- me thinking about my own OC

[thespookywoods]

Idk wgat my gf put in these characters but i love farah vaux so much i want to eat her. Or at the very least chew on her like a chew toy

[thespookywoods]

Me: This character only exists as she is because of the circumstances of her life and the the fact that the inciting incident happened. Who she is in the narrative is entangled with all of the tragedies in her life.

Also me: Okay but here me out. What if there was an alternate universe where instead of the inciting incident she got to actually reunite with her family and form bonds with her siblings as adults and not have perfect relationships with them all but realize her childhood conceptions of them might have been wrong.

A third me: Oh. This would lead to tragedy for some of the other characters in the main story. Huh.

[thespookywoods]

Me: This character only exists as she is because of the circumstances of her life and the the fact that the inciting incident happened. Who she is in the narrative is entangled with all of the tragedies in her life.

Also me: Okay but here me out. What if there was an alternate universe where instead of the inciting incident she got to actually reunite with her family and form bonds with her siblings as adults and not have perfect relationships with them all but realize her childhood conceptions of them might have been wrong.

A third me: Oh. This would lead to tragedy for some of the other characters in the main story. Huh.

[thespookywoods]

Sick and twisted that the characters from my tabletop game only exist in my and my gm’s minds. I want to scroll through my characters ship tags

[thespookywoods]

Screaming and crying and throwing up because my beloved character only exists in my head and I can’t just see her or listen to her whenever I want