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RE: The Centurion: Hero of Ancient Rome
great article with excellent bibilography! the fact that Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus are historical figures is really interesting.
Roman society and system were truly flexible and opened in some way for non-nobility so extraordinary people always had chance to prove themsleves
Absolutely, the Romans learned and prospered, when they became a more decadent and inward looking society, they were overtaken by disaster. I like the Pullo/Vorenus story, because it shows the strength of the legions, each man was capable of rising by the strength of his arm and the courage in his heart. This is why the Gladiatorial games were seen as civilizing by the Romans, they demonstrated for all to see: courage, strength and honour.
I rembeber one sentece, I think that I've read it in plutarh's biography of Gaius Marius when he said in senat'' All of you have noble ancestors but I belive that they wish that I am theirs descendant-not you '' Real picture of how much an ordinanry man could achive with his talents and personality.
They were open-minded for all good stuff that they were founding in cultures of other nations, just look the Ancient Greeks influence in early Roman religion and the influence of the Greek literature after they conquered the Greeks
There are many Greek influences, but my favourite is the influence of the comedy Lysistrata and how the women of Rome took action when the Senate was trying to outlaw jewelry after the end of the Punic Wars. Women had little power in Roman society, unless of course they actually wanted it. Well perhaps not a direct influence, but the parallel amuses me.