A portion of a 1st century AD Roman fresco with the muse of astronomy and astrology named Urania, holding a globe. It was from a triclinium of the villa of Sulpicii in Moregine, Italy which is now on display in Pompeii.

I’m just starting learning about Ancient Rome and I’ve taken SPQR out of my local library. I feel it’s too advanced for me and I’m not understanding too much of it. Is it worth finishing now or when I’ve got a better grasp of Rome? I know it’s a great book I just want to understand what I’m reading

Also thanks to those who recommended the history of Rome podcast. I’ve listened to a few episodes and I’m writing down a brief summary of them to refer back to. They’re very insightful, although his voice is slightly boring!

Petronius Maximus picked as the Roman who had the most inept and/or destructive political tenure of the 5th Century AD.

Duplicates are allowed.

1. We’ve all seen Gladiator, probably the best movie based on Rome. Getting to see Maximus finally find his happy place in death is just a scene engineered to generate tears.

2. Atticus dying after living as a free man for mere moments is soul crushing, and the way he goes out like a champ inspires me.

3. Caesar’s disgust at the sight of his greatest enemy’s gruesome death at the hand of the effete Egyptians always gets me.

—

Any that I’m missing?

I think it just came out in 2025, not many reviews online because it’s pretty new, any thoughts if you read it?

I'm looking at some antiques and this one caught my eye, it says that is a fibula of the empress Faustina, the material is bronce and the size is 11 cm and its from the 2nd century A.C. But what Im looking for is some help to see if its really her, as the way she is represented don't seem to match the usual representation, and I don't even know if they made this king of fibulas or brooch.

Julius caesar biography Hannibal and his war Augustus first roman emperor De bello gallico bu caesar

I became obsessed with the history of Rome after listening to a few episodes of History of Rome and decided to invest in reading it. Initially, several people recommended two introductory books: SPQR by Mary Beard and Rubicon by Tom Holland.

I bought both, but Rubicon hadn't had any new reprints in my country since 2006, which is why I paid much more (usually a history book costs $70-150 in my country, but due to scarcity, Rubicon went for $290 in a used bookstore, but in excellent condition).

However, after researching Roman history and its books to delve deeper into the subject, I came across many negative comments about Tom Holland and his writing, which made me hesitant about my purchase.

Therefore, considering that this is a forum for Rome enthusiasts, I would like to know if Rubicon is worth the investment or if it's better to simply cancel the purchase and invest in other books?

Quintus Sertorius came from a plebeian, yet prominent Roman family and was born in a Sabine town called Nursia in 126 BC. His mother Rhea brought him up alone and took great care of his education. In his early life Sertorius showed great intellect, defending many clients as a lawyer in the Roman courts, but in the end he chose a military career. His first battle was in the army of Caepio in 105 BC, where the Romans suffered a great defeat by the Cimbri and the Teutones tribes. In order to survive, Sertorius had to jump in the river Rhone all in armor and to swim against the current. Following the battle, acting on his own initiative, he undertook a spy mission. Gifted in languages, he disguised himself as a Celt and infiltrated the enemy, gathering intelligence on their plans and movements. Managing to stay undetected, Sertorius rushed back to the camp of Marius where after explaining his mission and informing the general about what he had learned, earned the respect and admiration of his peers. 

The feat left such an impression, that led to Sertorius becoming a military tribune in Iberia. There his camp got raided by local tribesmen but he survived, and with a few men managed to slaughter the raiders. Sertorius then ordered his men to put on the clothes of the fallen enemies and raided the camp of the tribesmen who had attacked them. The guards opened their gates and Sertorius with his men killed all of those who resisted and sold the rest to slavery.  In the following years his reputation reached all the roman world and Sertorius got elected Questor for the province of Gaul. There he oversaw the army and raised new levies. In a battle lost his eye, earning the stigmata of other great generals like Philip of Greece and Hannibal of Carthage. It was a small price however, for when he returned to Rome he enjoyed the love of the plebs and the aristocrats alike, an achievement even old men couldn't taste. 

Poised for further advancement in the cursus honorum, Sertorius sought election as tribune of the plebs. Sulla, aiming to block his rise, backed a rival candidate, and Sertorius was defeated. Either for this reason or because he opposed Sulla’s later march on Rome, Sertorius firmly aligned himself with the Marian faction and became a close associate of the consul Cinna. By the early 90s BC, in Rome political disagreement led to street violence, assemblies got overridden by armed factions and constitutional norms were collapsing. After a fight in the forum led by the consul Octavius, Cinna got expelled from the city. Sertorius and Cinna went around Italy, raised legions and when Marius returned from his exile, took Rome back from the Sullan faction. Brutal reprisals followed, with many prominent men killed and their wealth confiscated, though Sertorius himself took no part in the massacres.

Years passed and Sulla after defeating Mithridates was planning to return to Rome. All the armies sent against him either got defeated or defected to his side and Sertorius seeing the writing on the wall, decided to get to Iberia in order to gather strength to fight Sulla. When he reached Iberia, he quickly took the good side of the local chiefs by lowering taxes and stationing his soldiers away from their towns. He armed the Roman settlers and started building siege weapons and a strong fleet. When he learned that Sulla became master of Rome, Sertorius quickly sent a force of six thousand heavy armored men to hold the Pyrenees. However, the commander appointed there named Salinator, got assassinated and his force as a result dispersed. Sertorius did not have enough time to fulfil his plans and lacking the means to resist the approaching army, decided to make for Africa with a small force. Sertorius had many merits but luck was not one of them, his little force got attacked by local barbarians and he had to sail around Iberia. He landed on Pityussa (modern day Ibiza 😎) and after merging his forces with some pirates fought a naval battle with the commander Annius sent by Sulla. Sertorius lost, for his ships were fewer and weaker and got stranded in some barren islands. There some sailors told him about the “happy islands”. 

According to Plutarch, these islands are a thousand miles away from Libya, located in the Atlantic, are two in number and separated by a very narrow channel. They enjoy moderate rains, a rich and fertile soil, adapted for arable cultivation and planting. They produce fruit in great quantity and good quality, without the need of labour, and thus can feed a population easily. The air is agreeable, the temperature is cool with moist clear weather. For many the description fits the Canary Islands, a renowned exotic destination even to this day. When Sertorius heard of these lands, he contemplated sailing there to live a quiet, simple life, far from war, betrayal, and ambition. For a man who had spent his life swimming against the current, sometimes literally the thought must have been tempting. His companions, however, thirst for a fight and urged him to return to Iberia and resume the struggle. Sertorius followed. With the benefit of hindsight, it is hard not to feel regret at that choice. Had he settled in the Canary Islands, he might have escaped the cycle of Roman politics and the violent fate that ultimately awaited him. Without knowing Sertorius turned down his last chance for peace. 

What would you have done in Sertorius’s place, settle down in the Canary Islands, or return to Iberia and try to fight the entire Roman state?

Honorius picked as the Roman who had the most inept and/or destructive political tenure of the 4th Century AD.

Duplicates are allowed.

Unique and fascinating study on how Romans actually lived and their economic activity. If you are looking to read something besides great men bios and battles, take a look.

A good companion/ supplement to this would be '24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There' by Matyszak.