Roman legionary’s oath
Roman legionary’s oath (sacramentum) of a newly recruited legionary after training and assignment of his unit. This oath was repeated every year on the 1st of January. Below the oath:
24 February 2023
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Guest posts
Guest’s entries on topics related to the history of ancient Rome and antiquity. If you would also like to share your work with others I encourage you to send a text.
Plebeians want to get married
Marriages in ancient Rome are a complicated matter, to say the least. For many reasons – suffice it to say that Roman law recognized two forms of marriage, with one of them (in manum, i.e. the woman passed directly under the authority of her husband) divided into three more subcategories. But what in this matter was the merit of the plebeians pushed almost to the end of the fifth century BCE to the background, and who made them finally come out from under the social lampshade after years of disappearing into the shadows?
The Dance
One of the works by Lucian of Samosata, The Dance, is devoted entirely to this entertainment. Nothing more joyful, and yet not well perceived by everyone. Already at the outset, an accusation was made against the dances and the dance itself1.
Apostle Saul, called…
The apostle Saul is a follower of Jesus better known by the name Paul. In Acts of the Apostles 13: 9 the narrative of the text goes from the Semitic name Saul (Greek Σαῦλος, Saulos) to the Latin – Paul (Latin Paulus, Greek Παῦλος, Paulos). Why this sudden name change in the text?
Bold critique of poetry
Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, was madly addicted to poetry1. Unfortunately, his graphomania was reaching its heights, rising above the waves of opinion as the worst human being, ie the flatterers. In a moment of peace, the tyrant devoted himself completely to writing poetry, gathering around him many teachers and even critical commentators.
Panic fear
The mythological god Pan (Latin Faun) was supposed to cause sudden panic, unfounded fear and terror among people and animals with his shout. This panic (θορύβου Πανικοῦ) and confusion could lead to a castling of military units that, under the influence of fear, could misinterpret the enemy’s movements.
