⚪️ SAVED BY THE SACRED GEESE OF HERA “A certain Cominius Pontius undertook to get the cheerful news to the men on the Capitoline. Starting out alone and swimming the river by night, he got unseen to a cliff of the Capitoline that was hard to climb and, hauling himself up it with difficulty, told the soldiers on the Capitoline about the troops that had been collected in Veii and how they were watching for an opportunity and would attack the Celts. Then, descending by the way he had mounted and swimming the Tiber, he returned to Veii. The Celts, when they observed the tracks of one who had recently climbed up, made plans to ascend at night by the same cliff. Consequently about the middle of the night, while the guards were neglectful of their watch because of the strength of the place, some Celts started an ascent of the cliff. They escaped detection by the guards, but the sacred geese of Hera, which were kept there, noticed the climbers and set up a cackling. The guards rushed to the place and the Celts deterred did not dare proceed farther. A certain Marcus Mallius, a man held in high esteem, rushing to the defence of the place, cut off the hand of the climber with his sword and, striking him on the breast with his shield, rolled him from the cliff. In like manner the second climber met his death, whereupon the rest all quickly turned in flight. But since the cliff was precipitous they were all hurled headlong and perished. As a result of this, when the Romans sent ambassadors to negotiate a peace, they were persuaded, upon receipt of one thousand pounds of gold, to leave the city and to withdraw from Roman territory.” Diodorus Siculus

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

🟢 SERVILIA CAEPIONIS Servilia Caepionis was a prominent Roman woman from a distinguished family. She was the daughter of Quintus Servilius Caepio, a Roman general, and the maternal half-sister of Cato the Younger. Servilia married Marcus Junius Brutus, with whom she had a son, also named Marcus Junius Brutus, who would later become famous for his role in the assassination of Julius Caesar. After Brutus's death, she married Decimus Junius Silanus. Servilia is best known for her affair with Julius Caesar. Plutarch, the ancient biographer, suggests that Servilia was deeply in love with Caesar. This affair adds a layer of complexity to the events surrounding Caesar's assassination, as her son Brutus was one of the conspirators.

Praise God. 🙏🏼

⚫️ SWIMMING WITHOUT BREAKING FORMATION “The Batavians formed part of the Chatti so long as they lived across the Rhine; then, being expelled by a civil war, they occupied the edge of the Gallic bank which was uninhabited, and likewise an island close by, which is washed by the ocean in front but by the Rhine on its rear and sides. Without having their wealth exhausted — a thing which is rare in alliance with a stronger people — they furnished our empire only men and arms. They had long training in our wars with the Germans; then later they increased their renown by service in Britain, whither some cohorts were sent, led according to their ancient custom by the noblest among them. They had also at home a select body of cavalry which excelled in swimming; keeping their arms and horses they crossed the Rhine without breaking their formation.” Tacitus, histories

🟡 MARCIUS, VOLSCI AND ROME “While he was still speaking, she [his mother], in a burst of anger, and holding her hands up to heaven, invoked their household gods. "Two processions of women," said she, "have set forth from Rome in the deepest affliction, one in the time of King Tatius, the other in that of Gaius Marcius. Of these two Tatius, a stranger and downright enemy, had respect for the women and yielded to them. Marcius scorns a like delegation of women, including his wife, and his mother besides. May no mother, unblessed in her son, ever again be reduced to the necessity of throwing herself at his feet. This I must submit to. I must prostrate myself before yours." So speaking she flung herself on the ground. He burst into tears, sprang forward and lifted her up, exclaiming with the deepest emotion: "Mother, you have gained the victory, but it is a victory by which you have lost your son." So saying he led back the army, in order to give his reasons to the Volsci and to make peace between the two nations. There was some hope that he might be able to persuade the Volsci, but on account of the jealousy of their leader Attius he was put to death.” Appian, the foreign wars

🟤 AEMILIANUS AND THE NUMANTINES The Numantine War (143-133 BC) was the final and most devastating conflict of the Celtiberian Wars. It centered around the city of Numantia, a fiercely independent Celtiberian stronghold in Hispania (modern-day Spain). The Romans had struggled to subdue the Celtiberians throughout earlier conflicts, and Numantia proved to be an especially formidable challenge. Repeated Roman attempts to conquer the city met with fierce resistance and ultimately failed. In 134 BC, Scipio Aemilianus, a general who had previously triumphed in the Third Punic War, was appointed to command the Roman forces in Hispania. Scipio implemented a plan to isolate and starve the city into submission. He constructed a series of fortified camps that encircled Numantia, cutting off the city's access to supplies and reinforcements. He also limited water access, further restricting the city's resources. Roman engineers utilized battering rams and other siege engines to breach the city walls. The Numantines mounted frequent sorties against the Roman camps, and endured prolonged periods of starvation and hardship without surrendering. After a protracted siege, facing starvation and despair, the Numantines chose a tragic path. They decided to commit mass suicide rather than surrender to the Romans. In 133 BC, the Romans entered the city and found it largely deserted, with many of the inhabitants having taken their own lives. The fall of Numantia ended the Celtiberian Wars and solidified Roman control over Hispania.

🔶 CHRISTIAN PRAYER 5TH OR 6TH CENTURY AD “Greek text: Date:   5th or 6th cent. A.D. O God almighty, holy, true, benevolent, Creator, Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, reveal to me your truth, whether it is your will that I go to Chiout. Shall I find you aiding me and gracious? So be it; Amen!”

🔺 WHAT WAS A SIGNIFER? The signifer was a non-commissioned officer within a Roman centuria (a unit of around 80-100 men). Their primary role was to carry the signum, the standard specific to that centuria. This signum served as a visual identifier for the unit and a rallying point in battle. the signum often consisted of a pole topped with a manus (an open hand) made of bronze or silver. Below the manus, there might be a number of phalerae (metal discs or medallions) awarded to the centuria for valorous deeds or to individual soldiers.
Sometimes, small religious images or other symbolic decorations were also attached. Importantly, the signifer also acted as the paymaster and banker for the soldiers within their centuria, holding their savings. They were typically experienced and trustworthy veterans, earning double the basic soldier's pay.

🔘 THE CHRISTIANS AND JEWS OF RAVENNA “Then Theoderic made Eutharicus consul and celebrated triumphs at Rome and at Ravenna. This Eutharicus was an excessively rough man, and an enemy to the Catholic faith. After this, while Theoderic was remaining at Verona through fear of the neighbouring peoples, strife arose between the Christians and the Jews of the city of Ravenna; accordingly the Jews, being unwilling to be baptised, often in sport threw the holy water that was offered to them into the water of the river. Because of this the people were fired with anger, and without respect for the king, for Eutharicus, or for Peter, who was bishop at the time, they rose against the synagogues and presently set them on fire. And this same thing happened in a similar affair at Rome.” The Anonymus Valesianus

🔵 MAXENTIUS AND CONSTANTINE Constantine married Fausta, the sister of Maxentius, which could be seen as a political alliance or at least a family connection. Both men sought to consolidate their power and control over the Roman Empire, leading to a growing rivalry. This rivalry ultimately escalated into open conflict. The decisive confrontation occurred at the Battle of Milvian Bridge near Rome in 312. Constantine strategically positioned his forces near the bridge, a vital crossing point over the Tiber River. Maxentius established strong defensive positions to guard the bridge. The battle was fierce, with both sides engaging in intense combat. According to later Christian accounts, Constantine had a vision prior to the battle, where he saw a luminous cross in the sky with the inscription "In this sign conquer." Constantine's forces prevailed. Maxentius, attempting to flee across the bridge, drowned in the Tiber River.

🟣 “OUTDONE BY US ROMANS” "[In great buildings] as well as in other things the rest of the world has been outdone by us Romans. If, indeed, all the buildings in our City are considered in the aggregate, and supposing them - so to say - all thrown together in one vast mass, the united grandeur of them would lead one to imagine that we were describing another world, accumulated in a single spot. Not to mention among our great works the Circus Maximus, that was built by the Dictator Caesar - one stadium broad and three in length - and occupying with the adjacent buildings no less than four iugera [about 2 acres] with room for no less than 160,000 spectators seated - am I not, however, to include in the number of our magnificent structures the Basilica of Paulus with its admirable Phrygian columns [built also in Julius Caesar's day], the Forum of the late Emperor Augustus, the Temple of Peace erected by the Emperor Vespasian Augustus - some of the finest work the world has ever seen? [and many others].” Pliny the Elder

The Spanish asked the Aztecs to make em folded bread in the Arabian way. The Aztecs did it but used other ingrediënts and TACO’S were born.

Thank God for God.

⚪️ THE CELTS ENTER ROME “For the Celts spent the first day cutting off, according to their custom, the heads of the dead. And for two days they lay encamped before the city, for when they saw the walls deserted and yet heard the noise made by those who were transferring their most useful possessions to the acropolis, they suspected that the Romans were planning a trap for them. But on the fourth day, after they had learned the true state of affairs, they broke down the gates and pillaged the city except for a few dwellings on the Palatine. After this they delivered daily assaults on strong positions, without, however, inflicting any serious hurt upon their opponents and with the loss of many of their own troops. Nevertheless, they did not relax their ardour, expecting that, even if they did not conquer by force, they would wear down the enemy in the course of time, when the necessities of life had entirely given out.” Diodorus Siculus

🟢 ROME AND THE JEWS “But there was nothing that affected the nation so much, in the calamities they were then under, as that their holy place, which had been hitherto seen by none, should be laid open to strangers; for Pompey, and those that were about him, went into the temple itself whither it was not lawful for any to enter but the high priest, and saw what was reposited therein, the candlestick with its lamps, and the table, and the pouring vessels, and the censers, all made entirely of gold, as also a great quantity of spices heaped together, with two thousand talents of sacred money. Yet did not he touch that money, nor any thing else that was there reposited; but he commanded the ministers about the temple, the very next day after he had taken it, to cleanse it, and to perform their accustomed sacrifices.” Flavius Josephus, The Wars Of The Jews

⚫️ DECLARING FOR VESPASIAN “Before the fifteenth of July all Syria had sworn the same allegiance. Vespasian's cause was now joined also by Sohaemus with his entire kingdom, whose strength was not to be despised, and by Antiochus who had enormous ancestral wealth, and was in fact the richest of the subject princes. Presently Agrippa, summoned from Rome by private messages from his friends, while Vitellius was still unaware of his action, quickly crossed the sea and joined the cause. Queen Berenice showed equal spirit in helping Vespasian's party: she had great youthful beauty, and commended herself to Vespasian for all his years by the splendid gifts she made him. All the provinces on the coast to the frontiers of Achaia and Asia, as well as all the inland provinces as far as Pontus and Armenia, took the oath of allegiance; but their governors had no armed forces, since Cappadocia had as yet no legions. A grand council was held at Berytus. Mucianus came there with all his lieutenants and tribunes, as well as his most distinguished centurions and soldiers; the army in Judea also sent its best representatives. This great concourse of foot and horse, with princes who rivalled one another in splendid display, made a gathering that befitted the high fortune of an emperor.” Tacitus, histories

Freedom of speech means nothing to those who have nothing to say.

🟡 DIGGING TOOLS The Romans employed a range of digging tools crafted from iron or bronze. The sarculum, a versatile hoe-like tool, was used for tasks such as digging, weeding, and cultivating soil. For breaking up hard ground and excavating trenches, the ligo, a heavy-duty tool with a curved blade similar to a mattock, was employed. The dolabra, a type of pickaxe with a curved blade, served the purpose of chopping wood and breaking rocks. For scooping up dirt and other materials, the batillum, a small shovel, was utilized. These tools, along with specialized implements like the falx, a curved sickle used for harvesting crops, were essential for a wide array of activities, from constructing roads and aqueducts to tending fields and gardens.