Roman History Books and More

for the olympic year: 'the naked olympics: the true story of the ancient games' by tony perrottet

A little bit late, but still in the Olympic Year: On October 3 & 17 will discuss The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games by Tony Perrottet.

The New Yorker writes:

This lively account of the classical Olympics portrays them as “the Woodstock of antiquity,” and claims that the Games, while taken seriously, were also where Greeks gathered for a five-day debauch. A prostitute could earn a year’s wages in the course of the tournament, Thessalonian peddlers sold love potions made from horse’s sweat and minced lizard, and pentathletes competed to the accompaniment of flutes, perhaps the ancient equivalent of stadium rock. The festival offered beauty pageants and Homer-recitation contests, numerologists and fire-swallowers, and such culinary delicacies as roasted sow’s womb. Athletic events also fuelled a thriving pickup scene: a message etched into the wall of a stadium at Nemea reads, “Look up Moschos in Philippi—he’s cute.”

july 18 chat with albert bell has been moved to july 25

The author chat with Albert A. Bell Jr. about his mystery novel The Blood of Caesar: A Second Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger has been moved to July 25.

Not only is the date more convenient for Albert Bell, it also gives the group more time to read the book as we are discussing the second half of "Caesar's Wives" by Anneliese Freisenbruch on July 11 instead of July 4, a public holiday in the U.S.

Domitian puts pressure on Pliny and Tacitus ... enjoy!

how to split the two chats on "caesars' wives" by anneliese freisenbruch

On June 20 we are having our first of two chats about Caesars' Wives: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Roman Empire by Anneliese Freisenbruch.

"Caesars' Wives" discusses Roman empresses from Livia to Galla Placidia and the development of their position over the centuries, with flashbacks to Roman women during the Republic; as well as some of the formers' relatives, such as in the chapter, "Augustus' Women." But this is not all: the book covers in some depth the status of Roman women, legally and societal. Thorough scholarship and a free and easy prose make reading the book a delight!  The UK title is "The First Ladies of Rome: The Women Behind the Caesars."

Since there are three week between the first and second (July 11) chat because of the July 4th Holiday, we need not split the read 50/50. So let's do the Julio-Claudians through Chapter 3 (page 97 in the hardcover edition), "Family Feud: The People's Princess and the Women of Tiberius' Reign." However, if you all think you can manage through Chapter 4, "Witches of the Tiber: The Last Julio-Claudian Empresses," by all means let's do that.

Also, I am talking with Albert Bell about moving the author chat on The Blood of Caesar: A Second Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger, the last chat before our August recess, from July 18 to July 25 to give us more time and I will keep you posted.

upcoming book chat: "caesars' wives" by anneliese freisenbruch

Caesars' Wives: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Roman Empire by Anneliese Freisenbruch is our next chat project. There will be two chats, June 20 & July 11. The second date is because of the July 4th holiday in the U.S.

"Caesars' Wives" discusses Roman empresses from Livia to Galla Placidia and the development of their position over the centuries, with flashbacks to Roman women during the Republic; as well as some of the formers' relatives, such as in the chapter, "Augustus' Women." But this is not all: the book covers in some depth the status of Roman women, legally and societal. Thorough scholarship and a free and easy prose make reading the book a delight!

The UK title is "The First Ladies of Rome: The Women Behind the Caesars."

N.S. Gill's review. Mine is still in the work ...

author chat with caroline lawrence

We had to cancel the chat with Caroline Lawrence but hope to have one later in the year. We will keep you posted.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF FLAVIA GEMINA