“All warfare is based on deception”. Sun Tzu

He was born in militairy camp in Germania (cologne) and was wearing a tiny legionaire outfit at like 2 years old, the soldiers really liked this and called him Caligula, meaning Little Boots. He was kind of their mini mascotte. He was the third emperor of Rome but didn’t end well. His actual name was Gaius, a son of the famous Germanicus.

Some people think Rome’s biggest adversary was Carthage, but no, this dude was.

⚪️ ORIGINS OF THE CELTIBERIANS “In ancient times these two peoples, namely, the Iberians and the Celts, kept warring among themselves over the land, but when later they arranged their differences and settled upon the land altogether, and when they went further and agreed to intermarriage with each other, because of such intermixture the two peoples received the appellation given above. And since it was two powerful nations that united and the land of theirs was fertile, it came to pass that the Celtiberians advanced far in fame and were subdued by the Romans with difficulty and only after they had faced them in battle over a long period.” “And a peculiar and strange custom obtains among them: Careful and cleanly as they are in their ways of living, they nevertheless observe one practice which is low and partakes of great uncleanness; for they consistently use urine to bathe the body and wash their teeth with it, thinking that in this practice is constituted the care and healing of the body.” Diodorus Siculus

I prayed today because i’m a sinner.

🟢 AGRIPPA, AUGUSTUS, WATER MANAGEMENT “Marcus Agrippa, after his aedile­ship (a post he held exceptionally, having already been consul), assumed responsibility for the works and benefactions he had himself provided and became thereby, so to speak, the first permanent water commissioner. Now that there was an adequate supply, Agrippa apportioned this water to public works, to streetside basins, and as grants to private persons. He had also a personal work crew for maintaining the conduits as well as delivery-tanksand basins. When Augustus inherited this crew from Agrippa, he transferred its owner­ship to the state. After Agrippa's death [12 B.C.E.], in the consul­ship of Quintus Aelius Tubero and Paulus Fabius Maximus [11 B.C.E.], resolutions were passed in the Senate and a statute was promulgated to deal with the matter of routine administration, for hitherto this had been handled in only a semi-official way and there had been no specific legal basis. Augustus also, by an edict, established what right those persons should enjoy who had water according to Agrippa's records, for the entire scheme of distribution had been left to the emperor's own pleasure. He also established the pipe-sizes of which I have spoken; and to be responsible for a comprehensive and rigorous administration he appointed Messala Corvinus as a chief commissioner, to be assisted by Postumius Sulpicius, an ex-praetor, and Lucius Cominius, a junior senator.” Sextus Julius Frontinus, De Aquis

During the Second Punic War (Rome vs Carthage) in the west, the Greek Empires of the east often fought with each other. This video shows the battle of Raphia, fought at the same time that Hannibal was invading Italy.

⚫️ THE LAST HOURS OF OTHO “His face was calm, his words showed no fear; but he checked the unseasonable tears of his friends. He gave orders that boats and carriages should be furnished those who were leaving. Every document or letter which was marked by loyalty towards him or by abuse of Vitellius he destroyed. He distributed money, but sparingly and not as if he were about to die. Then he took pains to console his nephew, Salvius Cocceianus, who was very young, frightened, and sad, praising his duti­ful affection, but reproving his fear. He asked him if he thought Vitellius would prove so cruel as not to grant him even such a return as this for saving the whole house. "By my quick end," said he, "I can earn the clemency of the victor. For it is not in the extremity of despair, but while my army is still demanding battle that I have saved the state this last misfortune. I have won enough fame for myself, enough high rank for my descendants. After the Julii, the Claudii, and the Servii, I have been the first to confer the imperial rank on a new family. Therefore face life with a brave heart; never forget or too constantly remember that Otho was your uncle." Tacitus, Histories

🟡 THE DOWNFALL OF SEJANUS Sejanus's last days were a dramatic and swift descent from the pinnacle of power. Tiberius, despite initially trusting Sejanus, grew increasingly wary of his powerful prefect. He began to observe Sejanus's actions with suspicion, noticing signs of arrogance and ambition. Tiberius subtly began to undermine Sejanus's power base, appointing Macro, a loyal commander, as prefect of the watch, effectively counterbalancing Sejanus's control over the Praetorian Guard. Sensing his grip on power slipping, Sejanus attempted to consolidate his position. He began to plot against Tiberius, seeking to seize control of the empire. He reportedly sought to marry Livilla, Tiberius's sister, a move that would have solidified his claim to power and further alienated Tiberius. Tiberius, having anticipated Sejanus's move, acted swiftly. He sent a secret message to the Senate, accusing Sejanus of treason. The Senate, relieved to be rid of the oppressive prefect, readily condemned Sejanus. Sejanus, unaware of Tiberius's actions, was summoned to the Senate. Upon arriving, he was immediately arrested and thrown into prison. The Praetorian Guard, now under Macro's command, swiftly suppressed any attempts at resistance. Sejanus was executed shortly thereafter, likely by strangulation. His associates were also arrested and executed, and his family was stripped of their wealth and titles.

Say hello to my little fren. GN

All the people in my inner circle who have the fanciest cars all have money problems. All of them.

🟤 ULPIA NOVIOMAGUS BATAVORUM Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands, boasts a rich Roman history dating back to around 16 BC. The Romans established a military camp and later a full-fledged city called Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum. Situated on the Waal River, Nijmegen controlled a vital crossing point and trade routes. The city housed Legio X Gemina, a Roman legion, and served as an administrative center for the region. The Romans built a well-planned city with a forum, temples, a theater, and a bathhouse. The impressive aqueduct of Nijmegen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, supplied water to the city from a distance. Evidence of Roman Nijmegen can be found in the Valkhof Museum, which houses artifacts from the Roman era, and in the scattered remains of Roman structures throughout the city.

I want a dog.

Humans don’t deserve dogs.

🔶 PARTHIAN CULTURE “Each man has several wives, for the sake of gratifying desire with different objects. They punish no crime more severely than adultery, and accordingly they not only exclude their women from entertainments, but forbid them the very sight of men. They eat no flesh but that which they take in hunting. They ride on horseback on all occasions; on horses they go to war, and to feasts; on horses they discharge public and private duties; on horses they go abroad, meet together, traffic, and converse. Indeed the difference between slaves and freemen is, that slaves go on foot, but freemen only on horseback. They dispose of bodies by leaving them to be torn apart by birds or dogs; the bare bones they at last bury in the ground.” “In their superstitions and worship of the gods, the principal veneration is paid to rivers. The disposition of the people is proud, quarrelsome, faithless, and insolent; for a certain roughness of behaviour they think becoming to men, and gentleness only to women. They are always restless, and ready for any commotion, at home or abroad; taciturn by nature; more ready to act than speak, and consequently shrouding both their successes and failures in silence. They obey their princes, not from humility, but from fear. They are libidinous, but frugal in diet. To their word or promise they have no regard, except as far as suits their interest.” Justinus

🔺 HISTORICAL EXAMPLE OF DECIMATION “On learning of this, the Senate angrily ordered the consuls to keep quiet, and chose Crassus to conduct the war, and many of the nobles were induced by his reputation and their friendship for him to serve under him. Crassus himself, accordingly, took position on the borders of Picenum, expecting to receive the attack of Spartacus, who was hastening thither; and he sent Mummius, his legate, with two legions, by a circuitous route, with orders to follow the enemy, but not to join battle nor even to skirmish with them. Mummius, however, at the first promising opportunity, gave battle and was defeated; many of his men were slain, and many of them threw away their arms and fled for their lives. Crassus gave Mummius himself a rough reception, and when he armed his soldiers anew, made them give pledges that they would keep their arms. Five hundred of them, moreover, who had shown the greatest cowardice and been first to fly, he divided into fifty decades, and put to death one from each decade, on whom the lot fell, thus reviving, after the lapse of many years, an ancient mode of punishing the soldiers. For disgrace also attaches to this manner of death, and many horrible and repulsive features attend the punishment, which the whole army witnesses.” (Crassus 115-53 BC was a wealthy Roman politician and general. Defeated Spartacus, part of the First Triumvirate, died in a disastrous Parthian campaign). Plutarch

Man, My e-girlfriend…. She has put cyber Manhattan on fire to get rid of the cyberhornets. She is immaterial property. Next week i will scatter her into a thousand peaces, send her across the globe and possibly recompose her again on a saturday night. Can’t do that with an analog girlfriend. I never sleep on the couch because I use intelligent leverage.

🔘 THE CONSTANTINOPLE PROJECT “In commemoration of his splendid victory Constantine called Byzantium Constantinople after his own name; and as if it were his native city, he adorned it with great magnificence and wished to make it equal to Rome. Then he sought out new citizens for it from every quarter, and lavished such wealth on the city, that thereon he all but exhausted the imperial fortunes. There he also established a senate of the second rank, the members of which had the title of clari. Then he began war against the Goths, rendering aid also to the Sarmatians, who had appealed to him for help.” The Anonymus Valesianus

🔵 THE BATHS OF CARACALLA The Baths of Caracalla were one of the largest and most impressive public bath complexes in ancient Rome. Construction began around 206 AD under Emperor Septimius Severus and was completed by his son, Emperor Caracalla, in 216-217 AD. This enormous complex, covering about 33 acres, was more than just a place to bathe; it served as a vital social center for Romans of all classes. Visitors could enjoy a variety of activities, including exercise in the palaestra (an open-air area), relaxation in the caldarium (hot room), tepidarium (warm room), and frigidarium (cold room), and social interaction in the central hall. The baths also featured libraries, shops, gardens, and extensive changing rooms and latrines. The Baths of Caracalla showcased the impressive engineering and architectural skills of the Roman Empire, with innovative features like the hypocaust system (underfloor heating) and the use of concrete. They influenced the design of later bathhouses and public buildings throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the baths fell into disrepair and were looted for building materials.