🔶 ANTONIA FORTRESS “Alexandra now falling ill, her younger son Aristobulus seized his opportunity and with the aid of his followers - a numerous body, every one or whom was devoted to him because of his fiery nature - took possession of all the fortresses and, with the money which he found there, recruited a mercenary force and proclaimed himself king. The complaints of Hyrcanus at these proceedings moved the compassion of his mother, who shut up the wife and children of Aristobulus in Antonia. This was a fortress adjoining the north side of the temple, which, as I said, was formerly called Baris, but afterwards took this new name under Antony's supremacy ; just as Augustus and Agrippa gave their names to the cities of Sebaste and Agrippias. But before Alexandra could take action against Aristobulus for his deposition of his brother, she  expired, after a reign of nine years.” Flavius Josephus

"For who could keep his hands off Libya, or Carthage, when that city got within his reach, a city which Agathocles, slipping stealthily out of Syracuse and crossing the sea with a few ships, narrowly missed taking?" Plutarch

🔺 THE BATTLE OF CYNOSCEPHALEA BEGINS (The second Macedonian war) “Towards morning on the following day, after a mild and damp night, the clouds turned to mist, the whole plain was filled with profound darkness, a dense air came down from the heights into the space between the two camps, and as soon as day advanced all the ground was hidden from view. The parties sent out on either side for purposes of ambush and reconnaissance encountered one another in a very short time and went to fighting near what are called the Cynoscephalae, or Dog's Heads. These are the sharp tops of hills lying close together alongside one another, and got their name from a resemblance in their shape. As was natural on a field so difficult, each party sending out aid from their camps to those who from time to time were getting the worst of it and retreating, until at last, when the air cleared up and they could see what was going on, they engaged with all their forces.” Plutarch Interesting video:

🔘 WHY DO THE ROMANS REGARD ALL THE CITY WALL AS INVIOLABLE AND SACRED, BUT NOT THE GATES? “Is it, as Varro has written, because the wall must be considered sacred that men may fight and die with enthusiasm in its defence? It was under such circumstances, it seems, that Romulus killed his brother because he was attempting to leap across a place that was inviolable and sacred, and to make it traversable and profane. But it was impossible to consecrate the gates, for through them they carry out many other objectionable things and also dead bodies. Wherefore the original founders of a city yoke a bull and a cow, and mark out with a plough all the land on which they intend to build; and when they are engaged in tra­cing the circuit of the walls, as they measure off the space intended for gates, they lift up the ploughshare and thus carry the plough across, since they hold that all the land that is ploughed is to be kept sacred and inviolable.” Plutarch, Roman Questions

Incredible to think that the Han Chinese fought a Greek city in Afghanistan around 100 BC. This city was called Alexandria Eschate, Meaning Alexandria The Furthest (from Greece).

2,900-year-old carving of Assyrian soldiers using inflatable goat skins to cross a river.

The name is Bond, Junk Bond. 🍸

A city called Carthago Nova was founded by a sea power called the Phoenicians. Today this city is called Cartagena and is the main Spanish naval base in the Mediterranean.

🔵 THE SENATE HONORS PROBUS “Likewise the decree of the senate: On the third day before the Nones of February, in the Temple of Concord, Aelius Scorpianus, the consul, said during his speech: "Conscript Fathers, you have listened to the letter of Aurelius Valerius Probus; now what is your pleasure concerning it?" Thereupon they shouted out: "Probus Augustus, may the god keep you! Long since worthy, brave and just, a good leader, a good commander, an example in warfare, an example in command. May the gods keep you! Deliverer of the commonwealth, may you be happy in your rule, master in warfare, may you be happy in your rule! May the gods guard you and yours! Even before this the senate chose you. In years inferior to Tacitus, in all else superior. For having accepted the imperial power we give you our thanks. Protect us, protect the commonwealth. Rightly do we entrust to your keeping those whom you formerly saved. You are Francicus, you are Gothicus, you are Sarmaticus, you are Parthicus, you are all things. In former years, too, you were ever worthy of command, worthy of triumphs. Happily may you live, happily rule!" Historia Augusta, the life of Probus

Do at least your 10.000 steps a day.

🟣 EVERY BODY IS DIFFERENT “But above all things everyone should be acquainted with the nature of his own body, for some are spare, others obese; some hot, others more frigid; some moist, others dry; some are costive, in others the bowels are loose. It is seldom but that a man has some part of his body weak. So then a thin man ought to fatten himself up, a stout one to thin himself down; a hot man to cool himself, a cold man to make himself warmer; the moist to dry himself up, the dry to moisten himself; he should render firmer his motions if loose, relax them if costive; treatment is to be always directed to the part which is mostly in trouble.” Cornelius Celsus, De Medicina

⚪️ THE FIRST PUNIC WAR ENDS, THE MERCENARY WAR BEGINS. “Though the Carthaginians had endured great struggles and perils over Sicily and had been continuously at war with the Romans for twenty-four years, they experienced no disasters so great as those brought upon them by the war against the mercenaries whom they had wronged. For as a result of defrauding their foreign troops of the arrears of pay that were due, they very nearly lost their empire and even their own country. For the mercenaries thus cheated suddenly revolted, and thereby brought Carthage into the direst distress. Those who had served in the Carthaginian forces were Iberians, Celts, Balearic Islanders, Libyans, Phoenicians, Ligurians, and mongrel Greek slaves; and they it was who revolted.” Diodorus Siculus

🟢 IMAGINES The Romans did not create what we would consider traditional death masks. Instead, they produced wax effigies called "imagines" during their lifetimes. These weren't made after death, but rather during a man's lifetime, usually around the age of 35-40 when he achieved a certain political status. These imagines served a dual purpose: they were displayed at funerals to honor the deceased and connect the family to its illustrious past, and they signified a man's social and political prominence. Wax was the primary material used to create these lifelike portraits. This practice differs significantly from modern death masks, which are typically plaster or wax casts taken directly from the deceased's face. Roman imagines were created during life and served a different social and cultural purpose, focusing more on celebrating a lifetime of achievement and maintaining family lineage than preserving a likeness after death.

“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven; And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.”

⚫️ GENEROUS OFFER FROM THE PARTHIAN ENVOYS “Envoys also came from King Vologaesus with an offer of forty thousand Parthian horse. It was glorious and delightful to be courted with such offers of assistance from the allies and not to need them: he (Vespasian) thanked Vologaesus and instructed him to send his envoys to the senate and to be assured that the empire was at peace.” Tacitus, histories

The amount of abortions in the western world would make the Phoenicians blush as worshippers of Baal Hammon.

Not Kosher, nor Halal, but delicious above all.