🔶 ROME WAS TO BE FEARED "The security of Rome's frontiers was based on dominating her neighbours, very much in keeping with the belief that peace came from Roman victory. Rome was to be feared, which meant that her might was paraded as a constant reminder of her strength, while attackers were dealt with ruthlessly and the communities believed to support them ravaged with fire and sword." (From Pax Romana) Adrian Goldsworthy

It was a good day. GN.

aeolipile, described by Hero of Alexandria in the 1st century AD, is considered the first recorded proto-steam engine. It was a reaction turbine that used steam to create rotational motion. While not a practical power source for the time, it demonstrated the potential of steam and influenced later inventions

🔺 THE POLITICAL LADDER The cursus honorum was the traditional sequence of public offices Roman politicians had to hold to advance their careers. 1 Military Service: Required for senatorial candidates. 2 Quaestor: First official magistracy, managed finances. 3 Aedile (optional): Oversaw public works and games. 4 Tribune of the Plebs (optional, for plebeians): Protected plebeian rights. 5 Praetor: Served as judges and could command armies. 6 Consul: Highest ordinary office, held executive power. The cursus honorum was designed to ensure that individuals gained experience in various aspects of governance and military command before reaching the highest positions of power. It also aimed to create a stable political hierarchy and prevent overly rapid ascensions by ambitious individuals.

🔘 THE HEIRS OF AN EMPIRE “Constantine also put down a certain Calocaerus, who tried to achieve a revolution in Cyprus. He made Dalmatius, son of his brother of the same name, a Caesar; Dalmatius' brother Hannibalianus he created King of Kings and ruler of the Pontic tribes, after giving him his daughter Constantiana in marriage. Then it was arranged that the younger Constantine should rule the Gallic provinces, Constantius Caesar the Orient, Constans Illyricum and Italy, while Dalmatius was to guard the Gothic coastline. While Constantine was planning to make war on the Persians, he died in an imperial villa in the suburbs of Constantinople, not far from Nicomedia, leaving the State in good order to his sons. He was buried in Constantinople, after a reign of thirty-one years.” The Anonymus Valesianus

🔵 ARIANISM, CONSTANTINE, CREED The Council of Nicea in 325 AD was a pivotal event in the history of Christianity. Convened by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, this council brought together church leaders from across the Roman Empire to address crucial theological issues and strive for unity within the young church. One of the primary reasons for the council was the rise of Arianism, a doctrine that asserted Jesus was not fully God, but a creature created by God. Constantine sought a unified Christianity to strengthen the Roman Empire, and the council resulted in the Nicene Creed, a declaration of Christian faith that affirmed the full divinity of Jesus. The Council of Nicea laid the foundation for the Christian doctrine of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God. It marked the beginning of the ecumenical movement, where churches worldwide collaborate to achieve unity. The decisions made at Nicea have had a lasting impact on the development of the church and its doctrine. The council took place in Nicea (present-day İznik, Turkey) in 325 AD. Its primary objective was to resolve theological disputes, particularly Arianism. The outcome was the Nicene Creed and a strengthening of unity within the church.

🟣 HOW TO KEEP A SLAVE IN ANCIENT ROME Cato the Elder (234 BC–149 BC) was a Roman statesman, general and author. In approximately 170 BC he put to paper some advice on the care and handling of slaves. 
“For the actual laborers four pecks of wheat in the winter months, and four and a half in summer. The overseer, housekeeper, foreman and head-shepherd should receive three pecks. The chain-gang should receive four pounds of bread a day in winter, five from the time when they begin to dig the vines until the figs start to ripen, and then back to four again. 
For three months after the harvest, they should drink rough wine. In the fourth month, half a pint a day, or about two gallons a month. For the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth months, the ration should be a pint a day, or four gallons a month. For the remaining four months, give them one and a half pints a day, or six gallons a month. For the feasts of the Saturnalia and Compitalia (December) there should be an extra ration per man of two and a half gallons. The total wine issue per man for a year should be about forty-two gallons. An additional amount can be given as a bonus to the chain-gang, depending on how well they work. A reasonable quantity for them to have to drink per annum is about sixty gallons. 
Keep all the windfall olives you can. Then keep the ripe olives from which only a small yield could be gained. Issue them sparingly to make them last as long as possible. When the olives are finished, give them fish-pickle and vinegar. Give each man a pint of oil a month. A peck of salt should be enough for a man for a year. 
A tunic three and a half feet long and a blanket-cloak every other year. When you issue a tunic or cloak, take in the old one to make rough clothes. You ought to give them a good pair of clogs every other year.”

Picture i took of my fren yesterday.

BATTLE OF BEDRIACUM, 69 AD “A shout was raised on all sides, and the soldiers of the third legion saluted, as is the custom in Syria, the rising sun.” “A vague rumour thus arose, or was intentionally suggested by the general, that Mucianus had arrived, and that the two armies had exchanged salutations. The men then charged as confidently as if they had been strengthened by fresh reinforcements, while the enemy's array was now less compact; for, as there was no one to command, it was now contracted, now extended, as the courage or fear of individual soldiers might prompt. Antonius, seeing that they gave way, charged them with a heavy column; the loose ranks were at once broken, and, entangled as they were among their waggons and artillery, could not be re-formed.” Tacitus

Thank me later.

Hittite Monuments

A list of monuments from Hittite civilization with images and brief information.

⚪️ TIN ROUTES “Tin also occurs in many regions of Iberia, not found, however, on the surface of the earth, as certain writers continually repeat in their histories, but dug out of the ground and smelted in the same manner as silver and gold. For there are many mines of tin in the country above Lusitania and on the islets which lie off Iberia out in the ocean and are called because of that fact the Cassiterides. And tin is brought in large quantities also from the island of Britain to the opposite Gaul, where it is taken by merchants on horses through the interior of Celtica both to the Massalians and to the city of Narbo, as it is called. This city is a colony of the Romans, and because of its convenient situation it possesses the finest market to be found in those regions.” Diodorus Siculus

I’m tired. GN frens 😴

Man, this must have been something. ⚔️

🟢 EXAMPLE OF AN ORIGINAL SENATORIAL RESOLUTION “WHEREAS THE CONSULS QUINTUS AELIUS TUBERO AND PAULUS FABIUS MAXIMUS BROUGHT FORTH THE SUBJECT THAT CERTAIN PRIVATE PARTIES DRAW WATER DIRECTLY FROM PUBLIC CHANNELS, AND INQUIRED OF THE SENATE AS TO WHAT ACTION MIGHT BE PLEASING ON THIS SUBJECT, CONCERNING THE SUBJECT THE SENATORS RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: IT IS NOT TO BE ALLOWED FOR ANY PRIVATE PARTY TO DRAW WATER FROM PUBLIC CHANNELS, AND ALL PERSONS TO WHOM HAS BEEN GRANTED THE RIGHT TO DRAW WATER ARE TO DRAW IT FROM DELIVERY-TANKS; AND THE WATER COMMISSIONERS ARE TO DETERMINE AT WHAT LOCATIONS WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE CITY PRIVATE PARTIES MAY SUITABLY CONSTRUCT SUCH DELIVERY-TANKS, FROM WHICH THEY ARE TO DRAW WATER WHICH, WITH APPROVAL OF THE WATER COMMISSIONERS, THEY, IN COMMON WITH OTHER PARTIES, HAVE RECEIVED FROM A PRIMARY DELIVERY-TANK, AND NO ONE OF THOSE TO WHOM PUBLIC WATER IS GRANTED IS TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO ATTACH A PIPE LARGER THAN FIVE-QUARTER DIGITS IN DIAMETER WITHIN A SPACE OF FIFTY FEET FROM THAT DELIVERY-TANK FROM WHICH THEY ARE TO DRAW THE WATER.” Sextus Julius Frontinus, De Aquis

“Bitcoin chooses to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” John Fitzgerald Coinnedy

The Pilate Stone is a limestone block inscribed with a dedication mentioning Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea. It was found at Caesarea Maritima in 1961, during excavations of the ancient theater. The inscription reads: "[DIS AUGUSTI]S TIBERIÉUM. [... PONTI]US PILATUS. [... PRAEF]ECTUS IUDA[EA]E. [... FECIT D]E[DICAVIT]". This translates to: "To the Divine Augusti [this] Tiberieum. ... Pontius Pilate. ... prefect of Judea. ...has dedicated [this]".

⚫️ THE LOVE FOR OTHO “After learning that his friends had gone, he passed a quiet night, and indeed, as is affirmed, he even slept somewhat. At dawn he fell on the steel. At the sound of his dying groans his freedmen and slaves entered, and with them Plotius Firmus, the prefect of the praetorian guard; they found but a single wound. His funeral was hurriedly accomplished. He had earnestly begged that this be done, that his head might not be cut off to be an object of insult. Praetorians bore his body to the pyre, praising him amid their tears and kissing his wound and his hands. Some soldiers slew themselves near his pyre, not because of any fault or from fear, but prompted by a desire to imitate his glorious example and moved by affection for their emperor. Afterwards many of every rank chose this form of death at Bedriacum, Placentia, and in other camps as well. The tomb erected for Otho was modest and therefore likely to endure. So he ended his life in the thirty-seventh year of his age.” Tacitus, Histories

🟡 ILLYRIAN SPOILS “The Illyrians were a nation formidable both by land and sea, who felt secure in their strong fortified positions, and Anicius had thoroughly subjugated them in a few days and captured their king and all his family. Many captured standards were carried in the procession, together with other spoils, and the furniture of the palace, 27 pounds of gold, and 19 of silver, besides 13,000 denarii and 120,000 silver pieces of Illyrian coinage. Before his chariot walked Gentius, with his wife and children, Caravantius his brother, and several Illyrian nobles. Out of the booty each legionary received 45 denarii, the centurions twice, and the cavalry three times as much. Anicius gave to the Latin allies as much as to the Romans, and to the seamen of the fleet as much as the soldiers received. The soldiers marched more joyously in this triumph, and the general himself was the subject of many laudatory songs. According to Antias, 200,000 sesterces were realised from the sale of that booty, besides the gold and silver deposited in the treasury, but as it is not clear to me how this sum was realised, I quote his authority instead of stating it as a fact. By resolution of the senate, Gentius, with his wife and children and brother, were interned in Spoletium; the rest of the captives were thrown into prison in Rome. As the Spoletians refused to be responsible for their safe-keeping, the royal family were transferred to Iguvium. The remainder of the Illyrian spoils consisted of 220 swift barques. These Q. Cassius was ordered by the senate to distribute amongst the Corcyraeans, the Apolloniates and the Dyrrhachians.” Livy, history of Rome