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pointless tangent

PostPosted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:52 pm
by Valerius Claudius Iohanes
Salve, Tiberii -

Forgive this email; it's a pointless tangent!


Tiberius Dionysius Draco wrote: "Pompeji: Geschiedenis, dagelijks leven en kunst van de bedolven stad." (roughly translated: Pompei: history, daily life and art from the buried city): I don't know if an english or german version of this book exists.


Too bad I never learned Flemish or Dutch, cousins of English that they are! Just now, tho, the Flemish title turned readable - what was initially opaque became suddenly transparent:

Geschiedenis = [okay, this one's still opaque, but];
dagelijks = AngloSaxon daegelic = daily;
leven = Germ. leben = life, lives;
en = Middle English an = and;
kunst = Germ. kunst, art;
van de = from the
bedolven = 'be-delved' = be-dug, ie, 'unearthed';
stad = Germ. stadt = city.

Not important, but a satisfying moment.

Vale optime.

Re: pointless tangent

PostPosted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:38 pm
by Tiberius Dionysius Draco
Salve Iohane,

A nice bit of deducting you did there. I think I may be able to help you with "geschiedenis" as wel. I think the roots of the word lie with the verb "geschieden" or "to happen, to occur". Perhaps there is an old English word that is somewhat similar to it?

In any case, it continues to amaze me that Old English has so much in common with Dutch. This is particularly noticeable in West-Flanders where they use a lot of English words in their dialect. Then again, they are closer to the England compared to the rest of us :wink:.

Vale bene,

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:53 pm
by Tiberius Dionysius Draco
Salvete omnes,

Inspired by Pulla's experiences with Roman meals, I've gotten "Rond de tafel der Romeinen" by P.C.P. Faas from the library. Awesome reading material so far and I recommend it to everyone wanting to know more about Roman eating habits.

It's been translated into English as well: http://www.librarything.com/work/208978

Valete bene,

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Sun Feb 08, 2009 12:46 am
by Valerius Claudius Iohanes
Claudius Iohannes Tiberio Dionysio Draconi Quiritibusque Omnibus s.p.d.

I picked up a copy of Grant' s book on Rome, but put it aside for the moment - it seems to be by and large a recapitulation of the conventional ideas of Rome and Roman history, and at this point that's not enough.

To my own surprise, since I don't usually read much fiction, and after enjoying another of Decimus Caecilius's SPQR mysteries, I read a novel aimed at teen readers set in late Roman times in Britain titled Frontier Wolf, by Rosemary Sutcliff, who's apparently written about six Roman-themed books (historical periods yet to be known). I enjoyed it; it's not the great novel of all time, but enjoyable.

As to Latin, well, bits and pieces only. I have a stable of works waiting in the wings....

Optime valete!

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:52 pm
by M Sempronia Pulla
Salvete Omnes!

Just finished reading Romans and their Gods in the Age of Augustus by Robert Maxwell Ogilvie. It's a short book but a really good introduction to Roman religion and practice. It's not as dry as other books, although given its age could be dated with its information.

Currently still reading Greek Religion: Archaic and Classical by Walter Burkert.

Going to be reading Etruscan Roman Remains by Charles Leland next. I seriously have a huge long line of books after this one.

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:39 pm
by Q Valerius
How do you like Burkert?

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:28 pm
by M Sempronia Pulla
I really enjoy it and find it very informative, although it takes me a long time to get through it for some reason. But it's an excellent introduction to Greek religion, and some of the concepts in it help to better understand Roman religion, too.

Also forgot to mention I'm reading Sulla: the Last Republican.

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:40 pm
by Q Valerius
I'm actually reading at the moment Burkert's Homo Necans.

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 12:41 am
by Valerius Claudius Iohanes
Salvete, sive Sodales sive Curiales, sive Socii -

Among the other things I'm reading, these two are pertinent to Rome:

- Seneca: Humanist at the Court of Nero, by Sorensen.

- The Cambridge Companion to the Stoics, edited by Brad Inwood.

Anyone else reading anything of interest?

Valete.

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:27 pm
by Cleopatra Aelia
I'm reading

Tony Wilmott (ed.)
Roman Amphitheatres and Spectacula: a 21st Century Perspective
BAR International Series 1946, 2009

This book contains the papers from the international conference held at Chester in Feb. 2007 which I attended.

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:54 am
by Valerius Claudius Iohanes
Salve, Cleopatra Aelia -

Can the 21st century perspective on the Spectacula Romana vetera be summarized? Did any interesting ideas come out of the conference?

Bene vale, hac in hieme.

Re: I am currently reading...

PostPosted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:02 am
by Valerius Claudius Iohanes
Salvete (quicumque has litteras legas!)

Currently reading:

i. Stoicism, John Sellars.
    Also: If you're partial to Stoicism, you might want to check out "The New Stoa", an association that also has its own course in Stoic study. http://www.newstoa.com/college.php

ii. Belisarius: the Last Roman General, by Ian Hughes. Despite the pop title, this seems to be a critical and serious inquiry into Flavius Belisarius, late-late-late Roman magister belli.


Valete, comites.