🟡 “A TASK WITHOUT LIMIT” “Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, Commander in Chief, having completed a thirty years' war, routed, scattered, slain or received the surrender of 12,183,000 people, sunk or taken 846 ships, received the capitulation of 1538 towns and forts, subdued the lands from the Maeotians to the Red Sea, duly dedicates his offering vowed to Minerva. This is his summary of his exploits in the east. But the announcement of the triumphal procession that he led on September 28 in the consulship of Marcus Piso and Marcus Messala was as follows: After having rescued the sea coast from pirates and restored to the Roman People the command of the sea, he celebrated a triumph over Asia, Pontus, Armenia, Paphlagonia, Cappadocia, Cicilia, Syria, the Scythians, Jews and Albanians, lberia, the Island of Crete, the Basternae, and, in addition to these, over King Mithridates and Tigranes. The crowning pinnacle of this glorious record was (as he himself declared in assembly when discoursing on his achievements) to have found Asia the remotest of the provinces and then to have made her a central dominion of his country. If anybody on the other side desires to review in similar manner the achievements of Caesar, who showed himself greater than Pompey, he must assuredly roll off the entire world, and this it will be agreed is a task without limit.” Pliny the Elder

“verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.”

🟤 SCIPIO AND SYPHAX “Now Lucius [his brother], having returned from Rome, told Scipio that the Romans were thinking of sending the latter as general to Africa. Scipio had strongly desired this for some time and hoped that events might take this turn. Accordingly he sent Lælius with five ships to Africa on a mission to King Syphax, to make presents to him and remind him of the friendship of the Scipios, and ask him to join the Romans if they should make an expedition to Africa. He promised to do so, accepted the presents, and sent others in return. When the Carthaginians discovered this they also sent envoys to Syphax to seek his alliance. When Scipio heard of this, judging that it was a matter of importance to win and confirm the alliance of Syphax against the Carthaginians, he took Lælius and went over to Africa with two ships, to see Syphax in person. When he was approaching the shore the Carthaginian envoys who were still with Syphax sailed out against him with their war-ships, without Syphax's knowledge. But he spread his sails, outran them completely, and reached the harbor. Syphax entertained both parties, but he made an alliance with Scipio privately, and having exchanged pledges sent him away. He also detained the Carthaginians, who were again lying in wait for Scipio, until he was a good distance out to sea. So much danger did Scipio incur both going and returning. It is reported that at a banquet given by Syphax, Scipio reclined on the same couch with Hasdrubal and that the latter questioned him about many things, and was greatly impressed with his gravity, and afterwards said to his friends that Scipio was formidable not only in war but also at a feast.” Appian, the foreign wars

“He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?”

🔶 AN EDICT OF GERMANICUS Date: 19 AD “Proclamation of Germanicus Caesar, son of Augustus (Tiberius) and grandson of the deified Augustus, proconsul. [Being informed that in view of my visit] requisitions of boats and animals are being made and that quarters for lodging are being occupied by force and private persons intimidated, I have thought it necessary to declare that I wish neither boat nor beast of burden to be seized by anyone except on the order of Baebius my friend and secretary, nor quarters to be occupied. For if it be necessary, Baebius himself will allot the quarters fairly and justly; and for boats or animals which we requisition I command that hire be paid in accordance with my schedule. Those who disobey I desire to be brought before my secretary, who will either himself prevent private persons from being wronged or will report the case to me. And I forbid beasts of burden to be forcibly appropriated by those who meet them traversing the city ; for this is nothing but an act of open robbery.”

"Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, made [this building]". (Credits go to Hadrian)

😂 Gregory of Tours on Clovis: “One day when he had called a general assembly of his subjects, he is said to have made the following remark about the relatives whom he had destroyed: 'How sad a thing it is that I live among strangers like some solitary pilgrim, and that I have none of my own relations left to help me when disaster threatens!' He said this not because he grieved for their deaths, but because in his cunning way he hoped to find some relative still in the land of the living whom he could kill.”

I liked today.

🔺 THE CIMBRIAN WAR The Cimbrian War (113-101 BC) was a significant conflict pitting the Roman Republic against migrating Germanic and Celtic tribes, most notably the Cimbri and Teutones. Their southward movement, possibly due to environmental changes in their northern homelands, brought them into contact and conflict with Roman territories and allies. The initial Roman response was disastrous, marked by heavy losses at battles like Noreia (113 BC) and the catastrophic defeat at Arausio (105 BC). These defeats exposed Roman military vulnerabilities and caused alarm in Rome. However, the migrating tribes' decision to move west into Gaul and Spain provided Rome with crucial time to reorganize and for the emergence of Gaius Marius. Marius's subsequent military reforms proved vital. He decisively defeated the Teutones and Ambrones at the Battle of Aquae Sextiae in 102 BC. The war concluded in 101 BC with Marius and Catulus jointly crushing the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae in northern Italy. This decisive Roman victory eliminated the immediate threat of these migrating tribes to Italy. The war was instrumental in the rise of Marius, whose military reforms had a lasting impact on the Roman legions, and it highlighted the challenges posed by large-scale migrations to Roman security. Interesting video:

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🔘 WHY DID THEIR ANCIENT COINAGE HAVE STAMPED ON ONE SIDE A DOUBLE-FACED LIKENESS OF JANUS, ON THE OTHER THE STERN OR THE PROW OF A SHIP? “Is it, as many affirm, in honour of Saturn who crossed over to Italy in a ship? Or, since this might be said of many, inasmuch as Janus, Evander, and Aeneas all landed in Italy after a voyage by sea, one might rather conjecture thus: some things are excellent for States, others are necessary; and of the excellent things good government is the chief, and of the necessary things facility of provision. Since, therefore, Janus established for them an ordered government by civilizing their life, and since the river, which was navigable and permitted transportation both from the sea and from the land, provided them with an abundance of necessities, the coinage came to have as its symbol the twofold form of the lawgiver, as has been stated, because of the change he wrought, and the vessel as the symbol of the river. They also used another kind of coinage, stamped with the figures of a bull, a ram, and a boar, because their prosperity came mostly from their live stock, and from these they also derived their affluence. This is the reason why many of the names of the ancient families are such as the Suillii (belonging to pigs), Bubulci (herdsman of oxen), Porcii (pig), as Fenestella has stated.” Plutarch, Roman Questions

🔵 ROMAN ENVOYS ARRIVE AT ANTIOCH “After the completion of the festival, the envoys with Tiberius Gracchus arrived, who had been sent from Rome to investigate the state of affairs in Syria. Antiochus received them with such tact and with so many expressions of kindness, that Tiberius not only had no suspicion that he was meditating any active step, or cherishing any sinister feeling on account of what had happened at Alexandria, but was even induced by the extraordinary kindness of his reception to discredit those who made any such suggestion. For, besides other courtesies, the king gave up his own hall for the use of the envoys, and almost his crown in appearance; although his true sentiments were not at all of this kind, and he was on the contrary profoundly incensed with the Romans.” Polybius, histories

🟣 DALMATIAN CUSTOMS “The Dalmatians have the peculiar custom of making a redistribution of land every seven years; and that they make no use of coined money is peculiar to them as compared with the other peoples in that part of the world, although as compared with many other barbarian peoples it is common.” Strabo

⚪️ THE SECOND PUNIC WAR BEGINS “Since after the assassination of Hasdrubal the Carthaginian there was no one in command, they chose as general Hannibal, the elder son of Hamilcar. The people of Zacantha, whose city was under siege by Hannibal, collected their sacred objects, the gold and silver that was in their houses, and the ornaments, earrings, and silver pieces of their women, and melting them down put copper and lead into the mixture; having thus rendered their gold useless they sallied forth and after an heroic struggle were all cut down, having themselves inflicted many casualties. The women of the city put their children to death and hanged themselves. The occupation of the city, therefore, brought Hannibal no gain. The Romans requested the surrender of Hannibal to be tried for his lawless acts, and when this was refused embarked on the "Hannibalic" War.” Diodorus Siculus

🟢 CALIGULA’S GERMAN EMPLOYEES “The Germans were the first who perceived that Caius was slain. These Germans were Caius’s guard; and carried the name of the countrey whence they were chosen, and composed the Celtick legion. The men of that countrey are naturally passionate: which is commonly the temper of some other of the barbarous nations also; as being not used to consider much about what they do. They are of robust bodies, and fall upon their enemies as soon as ever they are attacked by them: and which way soever they go, they perform great exploits. When therefore these German guards understood that Caius was slain, they were very sorry for it, because they did not use their reason in judging about publick affairs, but measured all by the advantages themselves received. Caius being beloved by them, because of the money he gave them; by which he had purchased their kindness to him. So they drew their swords, and Sabinus led them on. He was one of the tribunes; not by the means of the virtuous actions of his progenitors; for he bad been a gladiator: but he had obtained that post in the army by his having a robust body. So these Germans marched along the houses in quest of Cesar’s murderers: and cut Asprenas to pieces, because he was the first man they fell upon: and whose garment it was that the blood of the sacrifices stained, as I have said already: and which foretold that this his meeting the soldiers would not be for his good. Then did Norbanus meet them; who was one of the principal nobility of the city; and could shew many generals of armies among his ancestors. But they payed no regard to his dignity. Yet was he of such great strength, that he wrested the sword of the first of those that assaulted him out of his hands, and appeared plainly not to be willing to die without a struggle for his life. Until he was surrounded by a great number of assailants, and died by the multitude of the wounds which they gave him. The third man was Anteius, a senator; and a few others with him. He did not meet with these Germans by chance, as the rest did before; but came to shew his hatred to Caius: and because he loved to see Caius lie dead with his own eyes, and took a pleasure in that sight. For Caius had banished Anteius’s father, who was of the same name with himself: and being not satisfied with that, he sent out his soldiers and slew him. So he was come to rejoice at the sight of him now he was dead. But as the house was now all in a tumult; when he was aiming to hide himself, he could not escape that accurate search which the Germans made: while they barbarously slew those that were guilty, and those that were not guilty, and this equally also. And thus were these [three] persons slain.” Flavius Josephus

⚫️ LAST DINNER “The most warlike of his cohorts was still unharmed, which, made up of Chauci and Frisii, was stationed at Tolbiacum on the borders of the territory of the people of Cologne: he was, however, turned aside by the depressing news that this cohort had been destroyed by a stratagem of the inhabitants of Cologne, who, after stupefying the Germans with an elaborate dinner and abundant wine, had closed the doors, set fire to the building, and burned them all.” Tacitus, Histories

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”