⚫️ THEODOSIUS, NO COWARD “Those vast Scythian peoples whom all our ancestors and even the famous Alexander the Great had feared and avoided according to the testimony of Pompeius and Cornelius . . . I mean the Alans, the Huns, and the Goths, Theodosius attacked without hesitation and defeated in many great battles.”

🟡 PRISONER OF THE SASSANIDS The Battle of Edessa, a pivotal clash between the Roman Empire and the Sassanid Persian Empire, unfolded in 260 CE near the city of Edessa (modern-day Urfa, Turkey). Emperor Valerian, at the helm of the Roman forces, confronted the Sassanid king, Shapur I. The battle proved to be a resounding victory for the Persians. The Roman army, despite its numerical superiority, was routed. The consequences were catastrophic: the entire Roman army was either slain or captured, and for the first time in history, a reigning Roman emperor, Valerian himself, fell into enemy hands. Shapur I, in a display of his triumph, paraded Valerian through the streets of Ctesiphon, the Sassanid capital, as a humiliating spectacle.

🟤 ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT AND ROME “A rumor having spread abroad that Ptolemy Philopator was dead, Antiochus hastened to Egypt in order to seize the country while bereft of a ruler. While on this journey Hannibal the Carthaginian met him at Ephesus. He was now a fugitive from his own country on account of the accusations of his enemies, who reported to the Romans that he was hostile to them, that he wanted to bring on a war, and that he could never enjoy peace. This was a time when the Carthaginians were leagued with the Romans by treaty. Antiochus received Hannibal in a magnificent manner on account of his great military reputation, and kept him near himself. At Lycia he learned that Ptolemy was alive. So he gave up the idea of seizing Egypt and turned his attention to Cyprus, hoping to take it instead of Egypt, and sailed thither with all speed. Encountering a storm at the mouth of the river Sarus and losing many of his ships, some of them with his soldiers and friends, he sailed back to Seleucia in Syria to repair his damaged fleet. There he celebrated the nuptials of his children, Antiochus and Laodice, whom he had joined together in marriage. Now, determining no longer to conceal his intended war with the Romans, he formed alliances by marriage with the neighboring kings. To Ptolemy in Egypt he sent his daughter Cleopatra, surnamed Syra, giving with her Cœle-Syria as a dowry, which he had taken away from Ptolemy himself, thus flattering the young king in order to keep him quiet during the war with the Romans. To Ariarathes, king of Cappadocia, he sent his daughter Antiochis, and the remaining one to Eumenes, king of Pergamus. But the latter, seeing that Antiochus was about to engage in war with the Romans and that he wanted to form a marriage connection with him on this account, refused her. To his brothers, Attalus and Philetærus, who were surprised that he should decline marriage relationship with so great a king, who was also his neighbor and who made the first overtures, he showed that the coming war would be of doubtful issue at first, but that the Romans would prevail in the end by their courage and perseverance. "If the Romans conquer," said he, "I shall be firmly seated in my kingdom. If Antiochus is the victor, I may expect to be stripped of all my possessions by my powerful neighbor, or, if I am allowed to reign, to be ruled over by him." For these reasons he rejected the proffered marriage.”

🔶 WHO COULD? “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

🔺 RELIGION AND BOOK BURNING “Great also was the care of preserving religion among our ancestors, when Publius Cornelius and Baebius Tamphilus were consuls (182 BC). For the labourers that were digging a field of L. Petillius the scribe, at the foot of Janiculum, delving somewhat deeper than ordinary, found two little stone-chests; in one whereof was some writing, declaring that it was the body of Numa Pompilius, son of Pomponius. In the other were seven books in the Latin language, treating of the law of the pontiffs; and as many books in Greek, discoursing of wisdom. For the preservation of the Latin books they took especial care; but the Greek ones, (for there seemed to be some things therein prejudicial to their religion) Q.  Petillius the praetor by decree of senate caused to be burnt in a public fire made by the attendants of the sacrifices: for the ancient Romans could not endure that anything should be kept in the city, which might be a means to draw the minds of men from the worship of the gods.” Valerius Maximus

🔘 WHY DO THE AMBASSADORS TO ROME, FROM WHATEVER COUNTRY THEY COME, PROCEED TO THE TEMPLE OF SATURN, AND REGISTER WITH THE PREFECTS OF THE TREASURY? “Is it because Saturn was a foreigner, and consequently takes pleasure in foreigners, or is the solution of this question also to be found in history? For it seems that in early days the treasurers used to send gifts to the ambassadors, which were called lautia, and they cared for the ambassadors when they were sick, and buried them at public expense if they died; but now, owing to the great number of embassies that come, this expensive practice has been discontinued; yet there still remains the preliminary meeting with the prefects of the treasury in the guise of registration.” Plutarch, Roman Questions

The shortlived and not well known Frysian Kingdom on the northern borders of the Frankish world.

Frisian Kingdom - Wikipedia

🔵 NO, IT’S HIM, TRUST ME “After this defeat, the remains of the enemy fled into Antioch, Zabdas, the general of Zenobia, fearing that the Antiochians on hearing of it should mutiny, chose a man resembling the emperor, and clothing him in a dress such as Aurelian was accustomed to wear, led him through the city as if he had taken the emperor prisoner. By this contrivance he imposed on the Antiochians, stole out of the city by night, and took with him Zenobia with the remainder of the army to Emesa. In the meantime, the emperor was intent on his affairs, and as soon as it was day called the foot-soldiers around him, intending to attack the defeated enemy on both sides; but, hearing of the escape of Zenobia, he entered Antioch, where he was joyfully received by the citizens.  Finding that many had left the city, under apprehensions that they should suffer for having espoused the party of Zenobia, he published edicts in every place to recall them, and told them, that such events had happened more through necessity than of his own inclination.” Zosimus, New history

Praise the Lord

🟣 A NATURAL CURE “In the country of the Apolloniates is a place called Nymphaeum; it is a rock that gives forth fire; and beneath it flow springs of warm water and asphalt — probably because the clods of asphalt in the earth are burned by the fire. And near by, on a hill, is a mine of asphalt; and the part that is trenched is filled up again in the course of time, since, as Poseidonius says, the earth that is poured into the trenches changes to asphalt. He also speaks of the asphaltic vine-earth which is mined at the Pierian Seleuceia as a cure for the infested vine; for, he says, if it is smeared on together with olive oil, it kills the insects before they can mount the sprouts of the roots; and, he adds, earth of this sort was also discovered in Rhodes when he was in office there as Prytanis, but it required more olive oil.” Strabo

⚪️ DON’T TOUCH EUROPE “Flamininus replied that two possible courses lay open, and that the senate allowed the king his choice of one: if he was willing to keep his hands off Europe, the Romans would not meddle with Asiatic affairs; if, however, he did not elect this policy, he must know that the Romans would go to the aid of their friends who were being enslaved. The ambassadors having then made answer that they would agree to no condition of this nature, whereby they would impair the authority of the throne, the senate on the following day announced to the Greeks that if Antiochus interfered at all in European affairs the Romans would bend every effort to liberate the Asiatic Greeks. After the ambassadors of the Greek states had applauded this statement, the king's envoys called upon the senate to reflect how great was the risk to which they exposed each of the two parties, and to take no immediate action, but rather to give the king time to consider, and themselves to engage in more careful consideration of the case.” Diodorus Siculus

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Jericho:

The Walls of Jericho

When properly interpreted, the archaeological evidence at Jericho confirms the biblical account of Joshua’s conquest, contra Kathleen Kenyon’s ...

🟢 THE LEGACY OF LITTLE BOOTS “This was the end of Caius, after he had reigned four years, within four months. He was, even before he came to be Emperor, ill natured; and one that had arrived at the utmost pitch of wickedness. A slave to his pleasures; and a lover of calumny. Greatly affected by every terrible accident; and on that account of a very murderous disposition, where he durst shew it. He enjoyed his exorbitant power to this only purpose, to injure those who least deserved it; with unreasonable insolence: and got his wealth by murder and injustice. He laboured to appear above regarding either what was divine, or agreeable to the laws: but was a slave to the commendations of the populace. And whatsoever the laws determined to be shameful, and punished, that he esteemed more honourable than what was virtuous. He was unmindful of his friends, how intimate soever; and though they were persons of the highest character. And if he was once angry at any of them, he would inflict punishment upon them, on the smallest occasions: and esteemed every man that endeavoured to lead a virtuous life his enemy: and whatsoever he commanded he would not admit of any contradiction to his inclinations. Whence it was that he had criminal conversation with his own sister. From which occasion chiefly it was also that a bitter hatred first sprang up against him among the citizens. That sort of incest not having been known of a long time: and so this provoked men to distrust him, and to hate him that was guilty of it. And for any great or royal work that he ever did, which might be for the present and for future ages, no body can name any such; but only the haven that he made about Rhegium and Sicily, for the reception of the ships that brought corn from Egypt. Which was indeed a work without dispute very great in it self, and of very great advantage to the navigation. Yet was not this work brought to perfection by him: but was the one half of it left imperfect: by reason of his want of application to it. The cause of which was this, that he employed his studies about useless matters: and that by spending his money upon such pleasures as concerned no ones benefit but his own, he could not exert his liberality in things that were undeniably of great consequence. Otherwise he was an excellent orator; and thoroughly acquainted with the Greek tongue; as well as with his own countrey or Roman language. He was also able off hand and readily to give answers to compositions made by others, of considerable length, and accuracy. He was also more skilful in persuading others to very great things than any one else: and this from a natural affability of temper, which had been improved by much exercise and pains-taking. For as he was the grandson of the brother of Tiberius, whose successor he was; this was a strong inducement to his acquiring of learning; because Tiberius aspired after the highest pitch of that sort of reputation: and Caius aspired after the like glory for eloquence; being induced thereto by the letters of his kinsman, and his Emperor. He was also among the first rank of his own citizens. But the advantages he received from his learning, did not countervail the mischief he brought upon himself in the exercise of his authority. So difficult it is for those to obtain the virtue that is necessary to a wise man, who have the absolute power to do what they please, without controul. At the first he got himself such friends as were in all respects the most worthy, and was greatly beloved by them: while he imitated their zealous application to the learning, and to the glorious actions of the best men. But when he became insolent towards them, they laid aside the kindness they had for him; and began to hate him. From which hatred came that plot, which they raised against him, and wherein he perished.” Flavius Josephus

⚫️ ASSEMBLING A BIG ARMY “He found awaiting him in Judea three legions, Vespasian's old troops, the Fifth, the Tenth, and the Fifteenth. He reinforced these with the Twelfth from Syria and with some soldiers from the Twenty-second and the Third which he brought from Alexandria; these troops were accompanied by twenty cohorts of allied infantry, eight squadrons of cavalry, as well as by the princes Agrippa and Sohaemus, the auxiliaries sent by King Antiochus, and by a strong contingent of Arabs, who hated the Jews with all that hatred that is common among neighbours; there were besides many Romans who had been prompted to leave the capital and Italy by the hope that each entertained of securing the prince's favour while he was yet free from engagements. With these forces Titus entered the enemy's land: his troops advanced in strict order, he reconnoitred at every step and was always ready for battle; not far from Jerusalem he pitched camp.” “Since the nature of the ground did not allow him (Titus) to assault or employ any sudden operations, he decided to use earthworks and mantlets; the legions were assigned to their several tasks, and there was a respite of fighting until they made ready every device for storming a town that the ancients had ever employed or modern ingenuity invented.” Tacitus, Histories

🟡 “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