How often do you think about the Roman Empire?

[Mark1966]

I was asked this by a friend recently.

She was inspired to ask by a recent column by Janet Albrechtsen, The Rest is History podcast hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook want us to stop moralising about the past.

From the column -

"How often do you think about the Roman Empire? It turns out lots of men do, and often. Or at least many say they do.

Last month, this random question began circulating on social media, with women doing the asking. The similarity of the responses made headlines around the world in the same week I was speaking with British historian Tom Holland. Surely Holland would think a lot about the ancient world?

I try out the question over pizza and wine with a group of four men on a sunny spring day on the Mornington Peninsula. One asks if Rome is code for sex. No, fellas, I mean Rome as in Augustus, bloodshed, the Colosseum, concrete, the Julian calendar and all that stuff.

All four men say, one way or another, that they think about ancient Rome most days."

So here is the question, and YES, I want your answers in term of Ancient Rome, not sex -

 

[silverlifter]

Only when I read Livy...

 

[Mark1966]

Only when I read Livy...

so it that every day, most days, etc etc

 

[silverlifter]

so it that every day, most days, etc etc

Once a year, if that.

That doesn't count external prompts forcing me to think about it; only turning my mind to it of my own volition.

 

[Nanook]

Not in the slightest.

There are more important things to worry about then that.

 

[SpeedyPC]

Not in the slightest.

 

[Holiday]

It varies over the year and definitely more often in the second quarter when I think of Latin and Roman History every time the months don't align ie: Latin/Month Septem (7/9) through to Decem (10/12) so annoying for a simpleton like myself

Although not really thinking about the empire daily it does influence our daily lives every time we use the calendar

 

[TroyTools]

Hmmm, I wonder if this is all because Netflix has a 3 series program called "Roman Empire"? (which I did watch all 3 seasons of) plus the various other similar programs?

 

[Blackie]

Sometimes I think of Caesar.

 

[Nanook]

Sometimes I think of Caesar.

Boom Boom

 

[SpeedyPC]

Sometimes I think of Caesar.

Hail Caesar, long live Caesar Oops, he’s dead.

 

[Gargravarr]

Hail Caesar, long live Caesar Oops, he’s dead.

Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.


The best thing about the Roman Empire is that all those emperors are dead.

First, we had empires, ruled by emperors.
Then we had kingdoms, ruled by Kings.
Now we have countries...

I ticked once a week, BTW.

 

[Gargravarr]

But if Rome is code for sex, there's no box for several times a day.

 

[Blackie]

Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris

If Caesar were alive you would be chained to a whore (or something like that).

 

[Nanook]

If Caesar were alive you would be chained to a whore (or something like that).

I could think of worse fates.

 

[rbscebu]

If Caesar were alive you would be chained to a whore (or something like that).

Oh ye without a good classical education. "Remum" is "oar", "whore" is "meretrix".

 

[Gargravarr]

Oh ye without a good classical education. "Remum" is "oar", "whore" is "meretrix".

Yay, someone here with an education!

Latin was a compulsory subject for the first 4 years of high school for me. On arrival of the teacher in the classroom, we were expected to intone "Salvete, magister", pronouncing the "v" as "w" in the orthodox fashion.

Now magister mundi sum, but I seem to be making a mess of it...

 

[Blackie]

magister mundi sum

Nah, your pet cat has that job sewn up...as did mine years ago.

 

[SpeedyPC]

First, we had empires, ruled by emperors.
Then we had kingdoms, ruled by Kings and Queens.
Now we have countries...

FTFY

 

[SpeedyPC]

If Caesar were alive you would be chained to a whore (or something like that).

If Caesar were alive, you'll be thrown into a loin pit, or into a gladiator's of death.