Romans – Roman Revolutions

How the Roman Republic is Remembered

By Tommy | April 29, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

I went back home recently to see my family in New Jersey and while I was there I noticed something special about a piece of art that has hung on the wall of our house my entire life. At the base of our staircase hangs a trio of photographs, pictured below. Specifically, out of that trio, the middle image is one of the Colosseum which is found in modern-day Rome, Italy. I have seen this image countless times but, until now, that photo has had no major significance to me so it has gone unnoticed. However, now having a semester of Roman Revolutions behind me, I found myself enraptured by this photo and shocked that I had never noticed it before.

The photo, shown below, is that of the Roman Colosseum, and specifically the side of the Colosseum that highlights the destruction caused by history and time. In reality, a majority of the colosseum is still standing and there is a way to take a photo of the colosseum and capture an image that resembles a body that has survived the battle against time. But instead, the photographer who took this photo decided it would be most fitting to capture an angle of the Colosseum that highlights its destruction and flaws, an image that can help describe the legacy of the Roman Republic as a whole.

As we have learned throughout this course, the Roman Republic was a very prosperous state that grew from a single town with seven hills into a vast Republic that stretched from modern-day Asia to modern-day Europe and down into modern-day Africa. However, as the Republic grew, so did the personal greed of certain individuals and the fragility of the Republic as a whole. Ultimately, the Republic did fall and this fall has been remembered and studied throughout history. The fall of the Republic had a much greater impact than just affecting those who lived in the Republic and their descendants. Instead, the fall of the Republic shaped and defined how history looks back and views Rome and its Republic. Instead of viewing the Roman Republic as a body that was powerful and put together, we now look back on Rome and its Republic as a state that collapsed and failed. Although there was so much greatness to come out of the Republic, all we are left with today is the partially destroyed relics that still stand. As an individual who has never been to Italy or Rome, all I know of Rome is the photo of the Roman Colosseum that has been destroyed.

This photo reminded me that history can be molded and manipulated by the content, stories, and photos that we choose to share. If it weren’t for this course, I would be naive and think that the Roman Republic was a complete failure that fell and left with it evidence of its destruction. I would think that because of the photos that are shared and the stories that are told. However, in reality, this course has taught me how great the Roman Republic truly was. I learned how much their culture still shapes modern-day cultures and traditions, so much so that a photo of the Roman Colosseum found its way into my family’s home. By sharing photos of the side of the Colosseum that was destroyed, we have decided to share the side of history that shows the Roman Republic as a collapsed failure. However, upon further analysis, it can easily be concluded that the Republic was far from a failure. Instead, the Republic should be remembered for its great feats like the advanced engineering of aqueducts and by capturing images of the side of the Colosseum that still stands. With courses like this, the true legacy of the Roman Republic will never be forgotten.

Let’s Cheer, Catiline Has Disappeared!

By Tommy | April 29, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

Oh, how our fellow Romans cheer

From the recent discovery that Catiline is no longer here

We aren’t yet in the clear

As Catiline and his followers are fighting back and are near

But fellow Romans, trust me, you have nothing to fear

As we have a more powerful army due to you who volunteer

Catiline, unprepared, will be trapped in our sphere

And I, myself, hope to finish him off with the tip of my spear

Prosperity is near and definitely not afar

With Catiline out of the Senate, he is likely at the nearest bar

If you don’t believe me, please tell me if I sound bizarre

We can now once again focus on building Rome’s vast reservoir

We have the finest soldiers and men in all of the land

And our beaches are one of a kind, go and feel the sand

We are in this fight together so give me your hand

Oh fellow Romans, I respect you so tell me your greatest demand

Do you desire a bigger army so that our Republic can withstand

Any enemy or foe that fails to understand

That every aspect of our Republic has been planned

So if they dare to challenge us they will fall under our command

Or maybe you wish to reform our policies on debt

Have trust in your government, you’ll have nothing to regret

We see you as a person and not just a silhouette

So when you bring your demands the Senate will not forget

I am so excited to see this Republic continue to grow

We do this for our ancestors who founded Rome some years ago

Because of our hard work our wealth has begun to overflow

And will this wealth Rome will continue to set the status quo

All of this prosperity and success is because of us

Specifically all of the aspects I just discussed

As new enemies arise I know we will adjust

Because when it comes to our great senate I have all the trust

Making Libum: A Roman Cheesecake Popover

By Nate | April 26, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

April 25th, 2022

By Nate Buchanan with Liam Mears, Nile Bayard, and Macy Brooks

For my second ACTA, several fellow Roman friends and I gathered in our friends apartment to cook a Libum, sometimes referred to as an ancient Roman cheesecake. After a nice dinner and a moderate amount of wine (temperantia is so important after all), we set about making our little taste of ancient Rome. In order to fully appreciate the experience of baking a Libum, we decided to look up a little about the dish. Historically, the dish had many variations and recipes varied across Italy, but Libum was often offered as a sacrifice to the gods (ultimately, we did not due this because we were hungry and the gods are far away). The modern recipe for libum stems from findings in an agronomy book of Marcus Porcio Cato (Cato the Elder) that lists many Roman dishes and recipes, preserving them for us to enjoy today! Thanks Cato!

We brought out the simple ingredients and prepared to make the dish. We mixed our egg and store-bought ricotta cheese (since we didn’t want to hand grind our cheese with a mortal and pestle like they did in olden times) in a bowl. We then slowly added the flour. We lack a sieve to mix the flower in, so we tapped our Roman industria, and made due by using a colander to sift the flour into the mixture. We were uncertain about how much flour to add, but we decided the mixture should feel like dough before we put it in the over so we ended up adding significant flour to balance out the soggy ricotta egg mixture. Then we split our dough into two and had two Libum cakes which we placed in the oven. Though at first it was hard to feel like we were channeling the true spirit of Rome while in our tiny dingy apartment kitchen, we soon realized that maybe it was a good thing our rickety oven was missing a door handle and had no temperature gauge so we had no clue how hot it was. The kind of low-tech cooking operation with this oven was much more similar to a Roman cookfire than a properly functioning oven, and promoted a spirit of frugalitas that made us feel especially Roman! We felt so lucky!

Figure 1: Liam mixes the rustic egg and authentic ricotta cheese together for a plain, yet sticky base to the dough!

Once the two libum balls looked a nice golden brown, we removed them from the oven. They had split in nice crosses in the middle. One of my friends noted how much it looked like a popover and I wholeheartedly agreed. We doused the two Libum popovers in honey and added some mango for extra sweetness (a modern twist on the dish) and sat down to enjoy. Overall, pretty good! Not much flavor in the cake but the honey was a nice touch and the texture was interesting. While I won’t be making this again for anyone, it was nice to have the experience and see how the ancient Romans ate. This simple dish was quite filling and certainly a fun experience to make with friends.

Figure 6: Macy salivates over the delicious Libums, fresh out of the janky oven. We can’t wait to eat them!

Week of Living Philosophically as an Epicurean

By Contreras-Ortiz | March 28, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

From the start, Epicureanism gave me the thought that it was a philosophy dedicated to restraint. While seeking pleasure is the main objective, emphasis on a natural and simple path towards securing it counts just as much, if not more. The saying ‘you can’t have it all’ jumped into my head as I read the basic principles of Epicurean philosophy because of the continued repetition of knowing your limits and advising those of the belief to only open oneself to the desires that can be immediately gratified.

My initial perception of the life of an Epicurean was not too positive as I felt that it seemed a constant battle of defending your morals to others that reduced it to hedonism because of them labeling pleasure-seeking as immoral. Adding on, ambition doesn’t appear to be valued in the realm of Epicureanism due to it falling under the category of desires that can be twisted into something more materialistic or greedy, which would overcome anyone and cause them to lose their way. This statement in particular is something I’m not in agreement with because ambition is an important characteristic that pushes people to improve their current situation and not settle for the average case. This works wonders for the overall advancement of society and the progression of technology. Of course, in the time of the Roman Republic, too much ambition in the hands of power-hungry nobles and warlords led to its downfall and countless bloodshed. Still, while I had my reservations about Epicureanism, I was ready to experience its philosophy.

I started my Epicurean experience by noting how the poster of my favorite band (hanging on my dorm wall) along with the cute mushroom light-up charm that my friend gifted me, and my group of cool pens that I’ve collected over the years were beautiful as the scrapbooking activity guided me to write down. To continue the day, I looked more closely at the trees around campus, which have been bare from the winter cold, and observed how the petals have bloomed and brought a splash of color to the otherwise green, rustic scenery I’ve been accustomed to these last couple of months. I’d say that when comparing the two lists, I’d typically let objects that I see everyday fade in the background to the point where I forget they were there until they left. By going through this activity, I took a small moment out of my daily routine to look around and really notice my surroundings and see how they’ve changed or stayed the same since I’ve last paid attention to it. It’s these little moments in life that create reflection and fill me with gratitude for the things we have now. I would definitely say that appreciating the small things that I wouldn’t normally bother sparing a second glance to is a comforting form of mediation that lends credence to Epicureanism philosophy.

Following my week as an Epicurean, I’d say that while there are some true benefits in following this belief, I can’t help but lean more toward the Stoic philosophy (which I practiced first). My own beliefs and perspective of life align closely with that of Stoicism because the implementation of self-discipline and faith in fellowship are virtues I highly value. Of course, both stoicism and Epicureanism preach for the same simple, good life, yet they diverge in how to get there. While a Stoic is about balancing yourself with nature, an Epicurean will believe in living in the moment and meeting your necessary needs in a manner that will leave you content and without more want. Overall, I would try the experience of being an Epicurean once more if given the opportunity because of the moments of gratitude and positive outlook on life one receives.

Romans

Libum: Ancient Roman Cheesecake

By Severtson | March 20, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

For my Roman dish, I decided to make Libum which is described as “ancient roman cheesecake”. Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts; however, this cheesecake is more like bread with a splash of cheese (ricotta) than our now ‘traditional’ take on cheesecake. Overall, I thought the process of creating the dish was quite simple as you mixed the ingredients to make a soft dough that was then baked. I did, however, go slightly rogue as the amount of flour detailed in the recipe was a slight underestimate of what would be needed. It became a little bit of just doing what feels right, even though my baking experience is vastly limited. I was concerned that adding too much flour may make the final product of the wrong consistency, but I asked one of my roommates for assistance (she is an avid baker) and she confirmed that more flour was indeed needed. Additionally, I was unable to find bay leaves at the grocery stores I stopped at, so I had to omit them from the recipe. Luckily, I do not think either of these self-implemented renditions to the recipe impacted the final taste of the Libum.

Once the Libum had finished backing and the aroma had filled our tiny on campus kitchen, my roommate came back out of her bedroom noting how amazing it smelled. While we both agreed the ancient cheesecakes smelled quite devine, I was hesitant to taste test as the ingredients seemed like an odd pairing. While I love bread and ricotta. Ricotta baked into my bread was something I was unfamiliar with. And after the extra addition of more flour, I was also worried the consistency would be a little messed up. Unfortunately, the final taste was a little bit less of a wow than the aroma, but the consistency of the bread was quite nice (kudos to my roommate). We all agreed that the ancient roman cheesecakes were a little bland and were overpowered by the amount of honey that the recipe called for. If I were going to make this dish again, I think I would serve it with ice cream of some sort, maybe vanilla and then drizzle with caramel.

https://delishably.com/world-cuisine/ancient-food-rome

“Rome”: Topics from CSTS 121 to HBO Max

By May | March 19, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

I began watching the first season of Rome, which is streaming on HBO Max. In this historical drama, Lucius Vorenus (played by Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pollo (played by Ray Stevenson) navigate an ever changing ancient Rome while fighting in the Roman army. Rome takes place during the downfall of the Roman republic and the uprising of the Roman empire. In the first episode, Caesar and Pompey are co-consuls of Rome and dear friends to one another. However, by the end of the episode, Caesar and Pompey are enemies. As Caesar returns from Gaul, a war between himself and Pompey becomes frighteningly realistic.

I enjoyed watching Rome for many reasons. The main reason is because the tv show helps me to remember Roman historical figures and their contributions to Roman society. Sometimes, it is difficult to retain all the different Romans and their connections to one another through only readings. Although they are actors, the tv show also helps by connecting the names to faces. Additionally, I loved the set and costume design. To my knowledge, the costumes were accurate and reflective of the time period. The sets were highly detailed and engaging to the audience. It was especially fascinating to see aspects of Roman life in the show that I learned in class. In week six, we discussed Roman friendship. In the first episode, Pompey and Caesar both use the word “friend” to describe each other. However, their definition of “friend” is not the same definition used in modern practice. Pompey and Caesar call each other “friend” as a form of loyalty and allyship. However, once that loyalty is broken, so is their friendship. In the following episodes, Pompey and Caesar are not friends anymore.

I did not enjoy watching the high degree of violence portrayed in the show. However, I do understand there was a purpose behind the depiction of all the bloodshed. Romans were not afraid to use violence against an enemy or as a punishment for citizens who have broken the law. In one scene, Vorenus uses torture to obtain information from people in Gaul. He uses the method of nailing people to a cross until they disclose useful information. I was not prepared for the vivid imagery of violent actions.

Cato’s Bread

By Scott Sussman | March 17, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

Introduction

What I attempted to do here is to recreate Cato’s recipe for kneaded bread from De Agri Cultura. Cato wasn’t very specific about his directions; he didn’t include times, proportions, or any real directions. The directions read as followed: “Recipe for kneaded bread: Wash your hands and a bowl thoroughly. Pour meal into the bowl, add water gradually, and knead thoroughly. When it is well kneaded, roll out and bake under a crock.” As you can see, I wasn’t really going off of much here, so I took some liberties creating my bread. I also enlisted the help of my girlfriend, who is a much better cook than I am and has actually made bread before. Between the two of us, I hoped to make Cato proud.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 packet of yeast
Pinch of salt
Olive Oil
1.5 cups of water
Pinch of sugar
Seasonings of choice

Directions

Add flour, salt, and seasonings to large mixing bowl (also wash your hands like Cato)

In a separate bowl, add yeast,warm water, and sugar together. Although the sugar part isn’t very Roman (or the packet of yeast), it helps with the activation of the yeast. You’ll know if your mixture is activated when you see frothy bubbles rising to the surface of the mixture
Gradually add yeast-water mixture to the large mixing bowl, kneading the dough then adding a little more water. When you’ve added about half the mixture, add olive oil to the big bowl.
After the dough has been kneaded, cover the bowl and let rise in a warm place for about half an hour
After the dough has risen, form the dough into a circle and place on a parchment paper lined baking tray. It should look like this.
Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the bread on the middle rack. Cook for a minimum of 45 minutes. When finished, the bread should look golden brown and feel crispy. Here is the finished product! Feel free to dip in olive oil or whatever you like.

Reflections

I’m not sure how proud Cato would have been with our work. I had a lot of fun making the bread, and when I was taking turns with my girlfriend kneading I felt like a true Roman. The recipe was pretty simple, and the bread turned out alright. The outside was very hard, and the inner bread part was very soft, albeit kind of tasteless. However, it was delicious when dipped in olive oil mixed with salt and pepper. If I were to make this again, I’d try and find a crock (which is an earthenware lid) to make it more authentic. I also would have let the bread rise for much longer and let it sit for longer as well to help develop the flavors better. If I was Cato, I’m not sure I’d be eating this. However, as a peasant who had to cook his own food, I would have definitely made this with grain allotted to me by the Gracchi brothers. My girlfriend told me that she was grateful that she wasn’t a Roman, but she did have fun making it and said she saw how a Roman would make and eat this. After all I’ve learned so far, I’m grateful that I’m not a Roman too.

Pompeii: The Volcanic Eruption Heard ‘Round the World!

By Michelle Kaplan | March 15, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

Pompeii begins with a young boy named Milo witnessing the Romans murder his family and people. Milo is captured and enslaved. The movie jumps to the boy as a young man who is now a gladiator called Celt. His impressive gladiator skills result in him being sent to Pompeii to fight. On his transport to Pompeii, he crosses paths with a noble lady named Cassia whose horse is in pain. Celt comes from horse people and helps Cassia put the horse out of its misery. The two connect instantly. Cassia comes from a wealthy family in Pompeii, and she is returning from a year in Rome.

Celt arrives in Pompeii and is cellmates with a gladiator champion named Atticus. If Atticus wins one more battle in the arena, he will earn his freedom. Celt is paired to fight Atticus in his final match. Simultaneously, Cassia reunites with her parents. Her father, Severus, is looking to start a new business venture in Pompeii and is hoping for investment from the Emperor. Senator Corvus, also a leader in the Roman army, comes to Pompeii to investigate the business opportunity. The Roman Emperor is not investing, but Senator Corvus would like to invest on his own. Corvus’ intentions are not pure because he has been pursuing Cassia romantically, but the feelings are not mutual. Senator Corvus also happens to be the leader of the army who killed Celt’s people.

At this time, there was resistance and unrest among the people of Pompeii towards Rome. On the eve before the gladiator event, Cassia and Celt cross paths again, and he helps her calm her horse down. Celt rides the horse with Cassia up into the mountain and is punished for his actions. Corvus requests a change in the gladiator event, ensuring that Celt will be killed. This provides an opportunity for Celt and Atticus to work together and both win.

As the film reaches the climax, Mount Vesuvius is nearing its eruption. Milo and Atticus win the battle, and when Corvus can call for them to be killed, Cassia jumps in and signals for them to live. Corvis punishes Cassia by locking her up. Then the volcano begins to erupt, and everyone in Pompeii is trying to get to the harbor to sail away to safety. Milo goes to save Cassia and plans to meet back up with Atticus. In the process, there are more fights. Atticus wins and becomes a free man, and Milo saves Cassia and defeats Corvus. In the end, they all die as the magma from the volcano burns them all alive.

This film was a great watch, and it was interesting to see the negative feelings that the people of Pompeii had toward Rome. I would like to know more about the history and what occurred that made them feel that way. Additionally, it was intriguing to see the mock design for Severus’ business plan of the new chariot racing arena and other new infrastructure plans. The Romans had extremely extravagant designs, and it is very shocking to see what they built with the technology of the time.

Gladiator: The Great Roman Game Hits the Big Screen!

By Michelle Kaplan | March 1, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

Gladiator is about a Roman General Maximus, and it begins with him fighting a war for the dying and beloved Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. After Maximus leads the Romans to a triumphant victory against Germania, Marcus Aurelius tells Maximus that he wishes for him to succeed the throne and help the Roman senate transition the empire back to a republic. Marcus Aurelius also shares his wishes with his son Commodus. Commodus, angered and jealous that he would not be the emperor, kills his father and orders Maximus to be killed as well. Maximus escapes the soldiers that were ordered to kill him and then rides home to see his wife and son having been murdered also by Commodus’ orders.

Maximus is then captured and sold as a slave and referred to as the Spaniard, being that his true identity is unknown. He is trained as a gladiator and eventually is taken to Rome to compete in the coliseum. Maximus’ owner teaches him to win the crowd by entertaining them, and he successfully achieves this in his first match in the coliseum. After the game, Maximus’ identity is revealed, and the new emperor, Commodus, knows he is alive. Another person who is shocked to see Maximus alive is Commodus’ sister, Lucilla. She has a romantic past with Maximus.

At this time, many characters in the film have negative feelings towards Commodus: the Roman senators are angry with dictatorial ways in which Commodus is leading Rome, specifically Gracchus, Lucilla lives in fear of her brother, and Maximus is looking to seek revenge on Commodus for the death of his family. As Maximus continues to compete in gladiator games with Commodus stacking the odds against him, Maximus, Lucilla, and Gracchus create a plan to overthrow Commodus. Through Lucilla’s son Lucius, Commodus learns of the organized coup. He thwarts it by sending Gracchus to prison, threatening Lucilla with her son’s death, and imprisoning Maximus after stopping his escape.

In the final scene, Commodus plans to fight Maximus in the arena only after he stabs him in the back to gain an advantage. Even after sustaining the injury, Maximus prevails over Commodus and kills him. Although Maximus is victorious, the stab wound is too much to overcome. Maximus tells the senators to take back Rome and make it a republic as it was Marcus Aurelius’ dying wish, and then Maximus dies too.

I enjoyed watching this film, and although it is historical fiction, it was fascinating to see many of the things we have learned about in class on the screen. One detail that stood out was Maximus’s SPQR tattoo, standing for Senatus Populusque Romanus, which means the Senate and the Roman People. It was also interesting to see the gladiator game come to life, including its effects on the fans and how Maximus’ success was so inspiring to them. Additionally, as we are soon heading into “the game,” it was intriguing to see the differing viewpoints of Rome as an empire and a republic.

The Grammar of Sanctity: Reading Gender in the Greek, Latin and Syriac versions Lecture Review

By JT Turner | February 1, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

The lecture that I attended, The Grammar of Sanctity: Reading Gender in the Greek, Latin and Syriac versions of the Life of Euphrosyne who was called Smaragdus, showcases the impact that Roman culture and storytelling had on the later Mediterranean world. Much like the story of Perpetua, this story, which was written between 1000-1100 AD, focuses on religion and the Patria Potestas. The main character in this tale was going to be married to a man in an arrangement that the father made. However, when the character visits a monastery, they fall in love with it. The character, just like Perpetua, defies the power of the Patria Potestas with their feet by changing their appearance to appear masculine and running away to the monastery and live the monastic life. The parallels between the Roman story and its more modern counterpart showcase that Roman morals such as power of fathers and and emphasis on religion still impact the thoughts of other and more modern societies.

This story also follows another Roman storytelling tradition, exploring what happens when there is a violation of social norms. While it is unclear if this is a rule, the fact that the main character (who’s given name was Euphrosyne but later went by Smaragdus) went out of the way to appear masculine was uncomfortable and confusing to both readers and translators alike. Throughout various written versions of the story, it’s hilarious to me to see that there isn’t even pronoun agreement within the same text. This symbolizes that across the mediterranean, people are uncomfortable with change, but they also embrace it. This is the same mentality that their roman forerunners possessed. Even the new name the character picks for themselves hints that they might be uncomfortable with change: Smaragdus sounds like a masculine name, but it is actually feminine. However, the fact the character went by Smaragdus for some parts of the story indicates that the authors were willing to be flexible about gender for at least a temporary period. This implies that the people of the mediterranean are willing to discuss revolutionary ideals just like their roman ancestors.