How often do you think about the Roman Empire?

[Nole Lou]

Now that I think of the question...probably more than I realize.

I find their society and political structure fascinating. I always think people from "back in the day" get unfairly judged as not as smart because their technology wasn't "electronic" if you will...but that is not fair or accurate.

To think someone designed and built the colosseum for example like 2,000 years ago is amazing to me.

Not a big podcast person (more of an audiobook guy), but I listened to and really enjoyed Mike Duncan's "History of Rome" podcast. Basically was about 180 episodes, each about 25 minutes and spanned from about 400 BC to 476 AD or there about.

Dan Carlin's Hardcore History did a series about Rome, it's probably like 5 or 6 four-hour podcasts that came out over a couple years. Super awesome, but I'm going to look up this one now.

I agree with you completely about how advanced they were.

This is what gets me about their society, and stays with me from visiting Italy and Rome in particular...it's the raw display of power and wealth of an entity. And when you're traveling around Italy, you're seeing the legacy of two of probably what, five or six most powerful human organization of all time, between the Roman Empire and the late middle age/renaissance Catholic Church.

The sheer scale and amount of what those two entities left behind is staggering when you consider the power and wealth that it signifies to command their creation. There's a lot of "why don't we build wonders any more" rhetoric going around, and the reason is that those things get built as a show of power, and we don't do that anymore.

To see the Roman buildings, and the Catholic Churches, is seeing the residue of a massive execution of power the likes of which the world has only seen a handful of times in the history of mankind, and its all around you. Not one instance here or there to remind you...its everywhere.

There have obviously been a few other societies that leveraged that kind of power, and left remnants of it, from the Great Pyramids to the Great Wall of China, and others. And there were executions of power, like the fast US mobilization for WW2, that didn't leave behind that kind of "stuff".

But to be so surrounded by it just leaves me in awe, because that kind of power doesn't exist in our time, and probably never will again, and its awfully hard to wrap your head around.

 

[fsu1jreed]

I think America is like the Roman Empire right before the collapse.

No, the US is Rome ~50 BCE

 

[Nole Lou]

No, the US is Rome ~50 BCE

Heh, good point.

 

[HawkeyeHitman]

Ever since the Usos left the Bloodline. Roman’s Empire has been weakened.

 

[EagleHawk]

such a beauty. I love going to Udvar-Hazy and it being the first thing you see with the Space Shuttle Discovery looming in the hangar in the background. That place is awesome.

That was the background of my phone for about 5 years until it died.

 

[BrianNole777]

No, the US is Rome ~50 BCE

What was that like?

 

[TheCainer]

Once a week, maybe every other week for me.

I saw kind of an analogue to this going around as well, something like "Ladies, I just found out that every guy has a favorite plane. Go ahead and ask him!" or something like that.

And when I read it, I was like "Well, that's not me, I certainly don't have a favor....OOOOH the SR-71 Blackbird!!!!"

Not sure where you live, but if you ever get near Dayton, OH, you can see an SR-71 in the Cold War Exhibit at the Wright-Patterson AFB museum. They have different exhibits covering the era from the Wright brothers through today, including all of our wars, missiles, R&D, and space craft. This is the largest air force museum in the world and is well worth the visit if you get the chance.

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

 

[HawCory]

What was that like?

Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BCE.

 

[JMNSHO]

Not often unless you count the Byzantine Empire.

I have a bit of an obsession with Aniconism, and there were several iconoclastic waves that spread across Europe during that era. Mobs went from town to town destroying religious icons; smashing the faces and hands of statues in what was sometimes called a Bildenstuurm or “Statue Storm.”

It’s what we need now.

 

[fsu1jreed]

What was that like?

A year before some guy named Julius

 

[BubsFinn]

Whenever I cross the Rubicon?

 

[jawatkins]

A year before some guy named Julius

That’s the guy that invented the smoothie and the mall food court.

 

[BrianNole777]

A year before some guy named Julius

How does that relate to America today?

 

[goldmom]

Even the Ben Hur version of a Roman? He was kind of a hunk wasn't he?

A fictional movie character, you mean?
Meh.

 

[fsu1jreed]

How does that relate to America today?

That's when Rome went from a Republic to a Dictatorship

 

[FlickShagwell]

they were a kinky group

That’s gay AF.

NTTATWWT

 

[JWolf74]

Pretty much only when I use the above gif or watch the movie from whence it came.

 

[DogBoyRy]

The Roman Empire seems to be having a moment.

I'd say I'm about an every other day guy.

Why are women asking their husbands, ‘How often do you think about the Roman Empire’ on TikTok?

"Ladies, many of you do not realize how often men think about the Roman Empire..."

www.intheknow.com

Only when i’m in italy.

 

[An Iowa fan]

Rarely.

 

[HawkMachine]

My daughter texted me this question the other morning.

I said “all the time”.

She was like, “wait, are you being for real?????”

She said it was a social experiment.

Thought it was for college or something. Lol

 

[BrianNole777]

My daughter texted me this question the other morning.

I said “all the time”.

She was like, “wait, are you being for real?????”

She said it was a social experiment.

Thought it was for college or something. Lol

Did you tell her you post porn on HROT?

 

[HawkMachine]

Did you tell her you post porn on HROT?

Funny story, I was in bed the other night on here reading a wouldya thread.

My wife took a peek and was like, omg you guys are immature.

Asked if it was a bunch of 14 year olds.

I was like no, the average age is probably 45.

LOL

 

[Chuck C]

Probably every day. The algorithm for my YouTube channel knows me.

 

[Chuck C]

That's when Rome went from a Republic to a Dictatorship

They were many dictators before Julius. I would put the official end of the republic at 27BC, at the beginning of Octavian’s reign. The downfall probably started a hundred years before.

 

[BrianNole777]

Funny story, I was in bed the other night on here reading a wouldya thread.

My wife took a peek and was like, omg you guys are immature.

Asked if it was a bunch of 14 year olds.

I was like no, the average age is probably 45.

LOL

There's gotta be kids here, too; sons and daughters of some posters as well.

 

[Wendy79]

The equivalent for women is murder, fwiw.

 

[BrianNole777]

The equivalent for women is murder, fwiw.

Do you have a link, by chance?

 

[JustSayOV]

Dan Carlin's Hardcore History did a series about Rome, it's probably like 5 or 6 four-hour podcasts that came out over a couple years. Super awesome, but I'm going to look up this one now.

I agree with you completely about how advanced they were.

This is what gets me about their society, and stays with me from visiting Italy and Rome in particular...it's the raw display of power and wealth of an entity. And when you're traveling around Italy, you're seeing the legacy of two of probably what, five or six most powerful human organization of all time, between the Roman Empire and the late middle age/renaissance Catholic Church.

The sheer scale and amount of what those two entities left behind is staggering when you consider the power and wealth that it signifies to command their creation. There's a lot of "why don't we build wonders any more" rhetoric going around, and the reason is that those things get built as a show of power, and we don't do that anymore.

To see the Roman buildings, and the Catholic Churches, is seeing the residue of a massive execution of power the likes of which the world has only seen a handful of times in the history of mankind, and its all around you. Not one instance here or there to remind you...its everywhere.

There have obviously been a few other societies that leveraged that kind of power, and left remnants of it, from the Great Pyramids to the Great Wall of China, and others. And there were executions of power, like the fast US mobilization for WW2, that didn't leave behind that kind of "stuff".

But to be so surrounded by it just leaves me in awe, because that kind of power doesn't exist in our time, and probably never will again, and its awfully hard to wrap your head around.

This is a good post. Agree.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Agree, I love reading about when he was exiled to St Helena. That little island is a bucket list item for me.

Can not find it anywhere online but I watched an episode of Globe Trekker on PBS late one night years ago where a guy visited it, amazing history. It's one of the most remote inhabitanted islands in the world, guy had to get there by cargo ship back then. They put in an airport around COVID time, so it's slightly more accessible now, but I'd still love to sail there.

I would love to travel there myself but it sounds like it would be extremely hard to get to and lets be honest I would only be going there to see Longwood house.

I'd love to visit a few battlefields in Europe although I doubt I would be able to do that either.

 

[The Tradition]

Almost never. Maybe around Easter?

 

[funksouljon]

I laughed when reading OPs link, my no pics wife asked so I told her "there is this tik toc trend about husbands...." She cut me off and said "I know, you are daily".

Yep. She gets me.

 

[DocRambo]

As a student of history, it is interesting to remember
the "Pax Romana". This was the era of peace in the Roman
Empire from 30 BC. to 180 AD. This was a period without
major wars . The serenity and tranquility of daily life was
wonderful for everyone.

As a student of history, it is interesting to remember
the "Pax Romana". This was the era of peace in the Roman
Empire from 30 BC. to 180 AD. This was a period without
major wars . The serenity and tranquility of daily life was
wonderful for everyone.

Not for Christian’s who were horribly persecuted during this period. The despots, Nero and Caligula, also reigned then. Serenity and tranquility might not best describe life in an oppressive dictatorship. It’s all relative, though, and it’s hard to comprehend life in those times.

As a student of history, it is interesting to remember
the "Pax Romana". This was the era of peace in the Roman
Empire from 30 BC. to 180 AD. This was a period without
major wars . The serenity and tranquility of daily life was
wonderful for everyone.

 

[fsu1jreed]

They were many dictators before Julius. I would put the official end of the republic at 27BC, at the beginning of Octavian’s reign. The downfall probably started a hundred years before.

Once he crossed the Rubicon it was over...27BC was when the Constitution was changed

 

[BrianNole777]

Once he crossed the Rubicon it was over...27BC was when the Constitution was changed

It didn't end too well for him...

 

[Randon]

How often - daily. This of course is a result of taking my daily dose of Prevagen! All my friends say I have a memory like an elephant including often providing minute details of the Roman Empire. Hail Ceasar!

 

[ping72]

What is the oldest one you have?

5th century BC

Leu Numismatik | Lot 1034

<b>TROAS. Kebren. 5th century BC.</b> Hemidrachm (Silver, 11 mm, 2.01 g). Head of a ram to left. <i>Rev.</i> Quadripartite incuse square. BMC 2. Klein 311. SNG von Aulock 8735 (as 'uncertain mint'). Rare. Slightly granular<i>, otherwise,</i> about very fine.

leunumismatik.com

I have this one, which i like a lot. It's not as old, but I like it:

Leu Numismatik | Lot 1054

<b>LESBOS. Methymna. Circa 350/30-250/40 BC.</b> Hemiobol (Silver, 7 mm, 0.39 g, 10 h). Facing head of Silenos. <i>Rev.</i> Tortoise within circular border; all within incuse circle. Franke -. HGC 6, 900-901. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG von Aulock -. Slightly porous<i>, otherwise,</i> very fine.

leunumismatik.com

He meant oldest daughter…not oldest coin.

 

[NDallasRuss]

He meant oldest daughter…not oldest coin.

Noooo!!

 

[Bonerfarts]

Really great podcast interview about Rome by Lex Friedman, for those of you still thinking about Rome. Here's a short clip

 

[goldmom]

I realized a lifelong bucket list wish when I was able to spend a day in the British Museum last month.
While I really enjoyed the Egyptian section, I have to admit that I came away with an absolute amazement at the Etruscan and Roman sections.

 

[Nole Lou]

If you are super interested in ancient Rome, as well as technology, you might be interested in this.

Vesuvius Challenge

A $1,000,000+ machine learning and computer vision competition

scrollprize.org

Long story short, teams are using imaging and AI to "unroll" and read burned scrolls from Herclaneum. And it's been set of as a competition, and various teams have made amazing progress.

This technology, if they can read all the burned scrolls, has the potential to massively increase our understanding of the ancient world.

And it's just extremely, extremely cool.