For some reason this bike never gets me to the pub.

GN 🟠🟣

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

🟢 AGRIPPINA THE YOUNGER Agrippina the Younger was a prominent figure in the Julio-Claudian dynasty of Roman emperors. Born Julia Agrippina Minor in 15 AD, she was the daughter of the celebrated general Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, making her a great-granddaughter of Emperor Augustus. This illustrious lineage positioned her at the heart of Roman power. Agrippina's life was marked by both tragedy and ambition. She witnessed the rise and fall of her brother, Caligula, who succeeded their uncle Tiberius as emperor. After Caligula's assassination, Agrippina played a pivotal role in securing the throne for her uncle, Claudius. This involved navigating treacherous political waters and overcoming societal norms by marrying Claudius, her uncle, in 49 AD. As empress, Agrippina wielded considerable power. She effectively promoted her son, Nero, as Claudius' heir, ensuring his succession to the throne. However, her influence did not diminish after Claudius' death. Agrippina continued to exert significant control over her young son, often meddling in his affairs of state. Ultimately, Nero, fearing his mother's growing power and interference, ordered her assassination in 59 AD.

"I sing of arms and the man, who, forced by fate, and haughty Juno's unrelenting hate, expell'd from Troy, brought war to Italy"

⚫️ THE 14TH AND THE BATAVIANS “Vitellius decided to send them back to Britain, from which Nero had withdrawn them, and in the meantime to have the Batavian cohorts camp with them, because the Batavians had had a difference of long standing with the Fourteenth. Peace did not last long among armed men who hated one another so violently. At Turin a Batavian charged a workman with being a thief, while a legionary defended the workman as his host; thereupon their fellow-soldiers rallied to the support of each and matters soon passed from words to blows. In fact there would have been a bloody battle if two Praetorian cohorts had not taken the side of the soldiers of the Fourteenth and inspired them with courage while they frightened the Batavians. Vitellius directed that the Batavians, as being trustworthy, should join his train, while the Fourteenth was to be conducted over the Graian Alps by a circuitous route to avoid Vienna, for the people of Vienna also gave him alarm.” Tacitus, Histories

It iiiiiis what it iiiiiiiis.

🟡 TRIBUNE OF THE PLEBS “But it was the speech of his colleague, Tiberius Gracchus, that produced the greatest effect. He said that for a man to use his official position as the instrument of his own personal animosities was in any case setting a bad precedent, but for a tribune of the plebs to become the agent of another man's vindictiveness was a disgraceful proceeding quite unworthy of the power and inviolability of the college of tribunes. Each man ought to judge for himself whom to love and whom to hate, what actions to approve of and what to disapprove of; he must not wait upon another man's look or nod, nor must he be driven hither and thither by the motives which sway another man's mind. A tribune who becomes the tool of an angry consul and is careful to remember what M. Aemilius entrusted to him privately, forgets that the tribuneship was entrusted to him publicly by the people of Rome, and entrusted to him for the protection and liberty of private citizens, not for the defence of an autocratic consul.” Livy, history of Rome

🟤 IN THE MOUNTAINS OF SCOTLAND "He [Agricola] sent his fleet ahead to plunder at various points and thus spread uncertainty and terror, and, with an army marching light, which he had reinforced with the bravest of the Britons and those whose loyalty had been proved during a long peace, reached the Graupian Mountain, which he found occupied by the enemy. The Britons were, in fact, undaunted by the loss of the previous battle, and welcomed the choice between revenge and enslavement. They had realized at last that common action was needed to meet the common danger, and had sent round embassies and drawn up treaties to rally the full force of all their states.” Tacitus, Agricola (XXIX)

🔶 ROME WAS TO BE FEARED "The security of Rome's frontiers was based on dominating her neighbours, very much in keeping with the belief that peace came from Roman victory. Rome was to be feared, which meant that her might was paraded as a constant reminder of her strength, while attackers were dealt with ruthlessly and the communities believed to support them ravaged with fire and sword." (From Pax Romana) Adrian Goldsworthy

It was a good day. GN.

aeolipile, described by Hero of Alexandria in the 1st century AD, is considered the first recorded proto-steam engine. It was a reaction turbine that used steam to create rotational motion. While not a practical power source for the time, it demonstrated the potential of steam and influenced later inventions

🔺 THE POLITICAL LADDER The cursus honorum was the traditional sequence of public offices Roman politicians had to hold to advance their careers. 1 Military Service: Required for senatorial candidates. 2 Quaestor: First official magistracy, managed finances. 3 Aedile (optional): Oversaw public works and games. 4 Tribune of the Plebs (optional, for plebeians): Protected plebeian rights. 5 Praetor: Served as judges and could command armies. 6 Consul: Highest ordinary office, held executive power. The cursus honorum was designed to ensure that individuals gained experience in various aspects of governance and military command before reaching the highest positions of power. It also aimed to create a stable political hierarchy and prevent overly rapid ascensions by ambitious individuals.

🔘 THE HEIRS OF AN EMPIRE “Constantine also put down a certain Calocaerus, who tried to achieve a revolution in Cyprus. He made Dalmatius, son of his brother of the same name, a Caesar; Dalmatius' brother Hannibalianus he created King of Kings and ruler of the Pontic tribes, after giving him his daughter Constantiana in marriage. Then it was arranged that the younger Constantine should rule the Gallic provinces, Constantius Caesar the Orient, Constans Illyricum and Italy, while Dalmatius was to guard the Gothic coastline. While Constantine was planning to make war on the Persians, he died in an imperial villa in the suburbs of Constantinople, not far from Nicomedia, leaving the State in good order to his sons. He was buried in Constantinople, after a reign of thirty-one years.” The Anonymus Valesianus

🔵 ARIANISM, CONSTANTINE, CREED The Council of Nicea in 325 AD was a pivotal event in the history of Christianity. Convened by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, this council brought together church leaders from across the Roman Empire to address crucial theological issues and strive for unity within the young church. One of the primary reasons for the council was the rise of Arianism, a doctrine that asserted Jesus was not fully God, but a creature created by God. Constantine sought a unified Christianity to strengthen the Roman Empire, and the council resulted in the Nicene Creed, a declaration of Christian faith that affirmed the full divinity of Jesus. The Council of Nicea laid the foundation for the Christian doctrine of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God. It marked the beginning of the ecumenical movement, where churches worldwide collaborate to achieve unity. The decisions made at Nicea have had a lasting impact on the development of the church and its doctrine. The council took place in Nicea (present-day İznik, Turkey) in 325 AD. Its primary objective was to resolve theological disputes, particularly Arianism. The outcome was the Nicene Creed and a strengthening of unity within the church.

🟣 HOW TO KEEP A SLAVE IN ANCIENT ROME Cato the Elder (234 BC–149 BC) was a Roman statesman, general and author. In approximately 170 BC he put to paper some advice on the care and handling of slaves. 
“For the actual laborers four pecks of wheat in the winter months, and four and a half in summer. The overseer, housekeeper, foreman and head-shepherd should receive three pecks. The chain-gang should receive four pounds of bread a day in winter, five from the time when they begin to dig the vines until the figs start to ripen, and then back to four again. 
For three months after the harvest, they should drink rough wine. In the fourth month, half a pint a day, or about two gallons a month. For the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth months, the ration should be a pint a day, or four gallons a month. For the remaining four months, give them one and a half pints a day, or six gallons a month. For the feasts of the Saturnalia and Compitalia (December) there should be an extra ration per man of two and a half gallons. The total wine issue per man for a year should be about forty-two gallons. An additional amount can be given as a bonus to the chain-gang, depending on how well they work. A reasonable quantity for them to have to drink per annum is about sixty gallons. 
Keep all the windfall olives you can. Then keep the ripe olives from which only a small yield could be gained. Issue them sparingly to make them last as long as possible. When the olives are finished, give them fish-pickle and vinegar. Give each man a pint of oil a month. A peck of salt should be enough for a man for a year. 
A tunic three and a half feet long and a blanket-cloak every other year. When you issue a tunic or cloak, take in the old one to make rough clothes. You ought to give them a good pair of clogs every other year.”

Picture i took of my fren yesterday.