“For the mind, when freed from the bonds of the body, being always filled with tireless movement, from the underlying thoughts and worries which torment the minds of mortals, conjures up the nocturnal visions to which we⁠ give the name of phantasies.” Amelianus Marcellinus

Eating lots of fruits and lots of meat works best for me

28🔶 MESSAGE FOR TIGRANES “Appius, however, was not frightened or astonished at all this pomp and show, but as soon as he obtained an audience, told the king plainly that he was come to take back Mithridates, as an ornament due to the triumph of Lucullus, or else to declare war against Tigranes. Although Tigranes made every effort to listen to this speech with a cheerful countenance and a forced smile, he could not hide from the bystanders his discomfiture at the bold words of the young man. It must have been five and twenty years since he had listened to a free speech. That was the length of his reign, or rather, of his wanton tyranny. However, he replied to Appius that he would not surrender Mithridates, and that if the Romans began war, he would defend himself. He was vexed with Lucullus for addressing him in his letter with the title of King only, and not King of Kings, and accordingly, in his reply, would not address Lucullus as Imperator. But he sent splendid gifts to Appius, and when he would not take them, added more besides. Appius finally accepted a single bowl from among them, not wishing his rejection of the king's offers to seem prompted by any personal enmity, but sent back the rest, and marched off with all speed to join the Imperator.” Plutarch

"Talk also unto me of woman," said she; "I am old enough to forget it presently." And I obliged the old woman and spake thus unto her: Everything in woman is a riddle, and everything in woman hath one solution—it is called pregnancy Man is for woman a means: the purpose is always the child. But what is woman for man? Two different things wanteth the true man: danger and diversion. Therefore wanteth he woman, as the most dangerous plaything Man shall be trained for war, and woman for the recreation of the warrior: all else is folly Too sweet fruits—these the warrior liketh not. Therefore liketh he woman;—bitter is even the sweetest woman Better than man doth woman understand children, but man is more childish than woman In the true man there is a child hidden: it wanteth to play. Up then, ye women, and discover the child in man! A plaything let woman be, pure and fine like the precious stone, illumined with the virtues of a world not yet come Let the beam of a star shine in your love! Let your hope say: "May I bear the Superman!" In your love let there be valour! With your love shall ye assail him who inspireth you with fear! In your love be your honour! Little doth woman understand otherwise about honour. But let this be your honour: always to love more than ye are loved, and never be the second Let man fear woman when she loveth: then maketh she every sacrifice, and everything else she regardeth as worthless Let man fear woman when she hateth: for man in his innermost soul is merely evil; woman, however, is mean Whom hateth woman most?—Thus spake the iron to the loadstone: "I hate thee most, because thou attractest, but art too weak to draw unto thee." The happiness of man is, "I will." The happiness of woman is, "He will." "Lo! now hath the world become perfect!"—thus thinketh every woman when she obeyeth with all her love Obey, must the woman, and find a depth for her surface. Surface, is woman's soul, a mobile, stormy film on shallow water Man's soul, however, is deep, its current gusheth in subterranean caverns: woman surmiseth its force, but comprehendeth it not.— Then answered me the old woman: "Many fine things hath Zarathustra said, especially for those who are young enough for them Strange! Zarathustra knoweth little about woman, and yet he is right about them! Doth this happen, because with women nothing is impossible? And now accept a little truth by way of thanks! I am old enough for it! Swaddle it up and hold its mouth: otherwise it will scream too loudly, the little truth." "Give me, woman, thy little truth!" said I. And thus spake the old woman:

🔺 AFTER CANNAE “How much more religious toward the gods did our senate show themselves! After the fatal defeat at Cannae (216 BC), they decreed that no women should mourn longer than thirty days, to the end that the rites of Ceres might be by them performed. For now, the greatest part of the men lying slain upon the bloody accursed earth, there was no family in the city that did not partake of the general calamity. And therefore the mothers and daughters, wives and sisters of the slain were compelled to put off their mourning-clothes, and put on their white garments, and to perform the office of priests. Through which constancy of observing religion, they forced the deities themselves to blush, and be ashamed of raging any more against such a nation, that could not be drawn from adoring them that had with so much cruelty destroyed them.” Valerius Maximus

🔘 WHY MAY NOT THE PRIEST OF JUPITER TAKE AN OATH? “Is it because an oath is a kind of test to prove that men are free-born, and neither the body nor the soul of the priest must be subjected to any test? Or is it because it is unreasonable to distrust in trivial affairs him who is entrusted with holy matters of the greatest importance? Or is it because every oath concludes with a curse on perjury, and a curse is an ill-omened and gloomy thing? This is the reason why priests may not even invoke curses upon others. At any rate the priestess at Athens who was unwilling to curse Alcibiades at the people's bidding won general approval, for she declared that she had been made a priestess of prayer, not of cursing. Or is it because the danger of perjury is a public danger if an impious and perjured man leads in prayer and sacrifice on behalf of the State?” Plutarch, Roman Questions

🔵 PALMYRENE CATAPHRACT “But observing that the Palmyrene cavalry placed great confidence in their armor, which was very strong and secure, and that they were much better horsemen than his soldiers, he planted his infantry by themselves on the other side the Orontes. He charged his cavalry not to engage immediately with the vigorous cavalry of the Palmyrenians, but to wait for their attack, and then, pretending to fly, to continue so doing until they had wearied both the men and their horses through excess of heat and the weight of their armor, so that they could pursue them no longer. This project succeeded, and as soon as the cavalry of the emperor saw their enemy tired, and that their horses were scarcely able to stand under them, or themselves to move, they drew up the reins of their horses, and, wheeling round, charged them, and trod them under foot as they fell from their horses. By which means the slaugther was promiscuous, some falling by the sword, and others by their own and the enemies' horses.” Zosimus, New history

🟣 BEYOND THE RHINE “Now the parts beyond the Rhenus, immediately after the country of the Celti, slope towards the east and are occupied by the Germans, who, though they vary slightly from the Celtic stock in that they are wilder, taller, and have yellower hair, are in all other respects similar, for in build, habits, and modes of life they are such as I have said the Celti are. And I also think that it was for this reason that the Romans assigned to them the name "Germani," as though they wished to indicate thereby that they were "genuine" Galatae, for in the language of the Romans "germani" means "genuine." Strabo

⚪️ HARSH TERMS FOR ANTIOCHUS “Antiochus, abandoning the conflict in despair, dispatched an embassy to the consul, requesting pardon for his errors and the granting of peace on whatever terms possible. The consul, adhering to the traditional Roman policy of fair dealing, and moved by the appeals of his brother Publius, granted peace on the following terms: the king must withdraw, in favour of the Romans, from Europe and from the territory on this side Taurus and the cities and nations included therein; he must surrender his elephants and warships, and pay in full the expenses incurred in the war, which were assessed at 5,000 Euboean talents; and he must deliver up Hannibal the Carthaginian, Thoas the Aetolian, and certain others, together with twenty hostages to be designated by the Romans. In his desire for peace Antiochus accepted all the conditions and brought the fighting to a close.” Diodorus Siculus

I have run out of sats here. Anyone have some? I spend them here anyway. Most will probably go to @FLASH to support his work. Thanks frens! 🟣🟠

"Sin acherib" translates to "Sîn has replaced the brothers" and is the Akkadian name for the Assyrian king Sennacherib. The name refers to the Assyrian moon god Sîn, and the meaning reflects a belief that the god replaced lost brothers for the king.

🟢 CAMPANIA WALKTHROUGH In the early Roman Republic, Campania was a vibrant region, a crossroads of cultures and a land of plenty. A Landscape dotted with cities, each with its own distinct character. Capua, with its Etruscan heritage, was a bustling center of trade and luxury, its people enjoying a reputation for refined living. Along the coast, the Greek colonies of Cumae and Neapolis thrived, their harbors filled with ships carrying goods and ideas from across the Mediterranean. Neapolis, in particular, was strategically important, its location making it a key player in maritime commerce. Inland, Nola and other Oscan cities, influenced by their Etruscan neighbors, added to the region's rich tapestry. The fertile volcanic soil of Campania was a blessing, supporting a flourishing agricultural economy. Vineyards carpeted the hillsides, producing wines that were already becoming renowned. Fields of grain swayed in the breeze, providing sustenance for the growing population. Olive groves dotted the landscape, yielding oil that was essential for cooking and lighting. And the rich soil nurtured a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, ensuring a plentiful supply of food for the inhabitants. The people of Campania were a diverse mix, Etruscans, Greeks, Samnites, and Oscans mingled in the cities and countryside, each group contributing to the cultural mosaic. While they retained some of their distinct identities, they also interacted and influenced each other, creating a unique Campanian identity. Religious practices in Campania were equally diverse, a blend of different traditions. Etruscan deities were still honored in cities like Capua, while the Greek colonies maintained their own pantheon of gods and goddesses. The Samnites and Oscans, with their own local deities often associated with nature and fertility, added to the religious mix. It was a world where different beliefs coexisted, reflecting the open and cosmopolitan nature of Campanian society. As the early Republic progressed, the influence of Rome began to grow in Campania. While the cities initially maintained their independence, they gradually came under Roman control. This period marked the beginning of a long process of Romanization, which would eventually see Campania integrated into the expanding Roman state.

⚫️ THEODOSIUS, NO COWARD “Those vast Scythian peoples whom all our ancestors and even the famous Alexander the Great had feared and avoided according to the testimony of Pompeius and Cornelius . . . I mean the Alans, the Huns, and the Goths, Theodosius attacked without hesitation and defeated in many great battles.”

🟡 PRISONER OF THE SASSANIDS The Battle of Edessa, a pivotal clash between the Roman Empire and the Sassanid Persian Empire, unfolded in 260 CE near the city of Edessa (modern-day Urfa, Turkey). Emperor Valerian, at the helm of the Roman forces, confronted the Sassanid king, Shapur I. The battle proved to be a resounding victory for the Persians. The Roman army, despite its numerical superiority, was routed. The consequences were catastrophic: the entire Roman army was either slain or captured, and for the first time in history, a reigning Roman emperor, Valerian himself, fell into enemy hands. Shapur I, in a display of his triumph, paraded Valerian through the streets of Ctesiphon, the Sassanid capital, as a humiliating spectacle.

🟤 ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT AND ROME “A rumor having spread abroad that Ptolemy Philopator was dead, Antiochus hastened to Egypt in order to seize the country while bereft of a ruler. While on this journey Hannibal the Carthaginian met him at Ephesus. He was now a fugitive from his own country on account of the accusations of his enemies, who reported to the Romans that he was hostile to them, that he wanted to bring on a war, and that he could never enjoy peace. This was a time when the Carthaginians were leagued with the Romans by treaty. Antiochus received Hannibal in a magnificent manner on account of his great military reputation, and kept him near himself. At Lycia he learned that Ptolemy was alive. So he gave up the idea of seizing Egypt and turned his attention to Cyprus, hoping to take it instead of Egypt, and sailed thither with all speed. Encountering a storm at the mouth of the river Sarus and losing many of his ships, some of them with his soldiers and friends, he sailed back to Seleucia in Syria to repair his damaged fleet. There he celebrated the nuptials of his children, Antiochus and Laodice, whom he had joined together in marriage. Now, determining no longer to conceal his intended war with the Romans, he formed alliances by marriage with the neighboring kings. To Ptolemy in Egypt he sent his daughter Cleopatra, surnamed Syra, giving with her Cœle-Syria as a dowry, which he had taken away from Ptolemy himself, thus flattering the young king in order to keep him quiet during the war with the Romans. To Ariarathes, king of Cappadocia, he sent his daughter Antiochis, and the remaining one to Eumenes, king of Pergamus. But the latter, seeing that Antiochus was about to engage in war with the Romans and that he wanted to form a marriage connection with him on this account, refused her. To his brothers, Attalus and Philetærus, who were surprised that he should decline marriage relationship with so great a king, who was also his neighbor and who made the first overtures, he showed that the coming war would be of doubtful issue at first, but that the Romans would prevail in the end by their courage and perseverance. "If the Romans conquer," said he, "I shall be firmly seated in my kingdom. If Antiochus is the victor, I may expect to be stripped of all my possessions by my powerful neighbor, or, if I am allowed to reign, to be ruled over by him." For these reasons he rejected the proffered marriage.”

🔶 WHO COULD? “For who could keep his hands off Libya, or Carthage, when that city got within his reach, a city which Agathocles, slipping stealthily out of Syracuse and crossing the sea with a few ships, narrowly missed taking?” Plutarch

🔺 RELIGION AND BOOK BURNING “Great also was the care of preserving religion among our ancestors, when Publius Cornelius and Baebius Tamphilus were consuls (182 BC). For the labourers that were digging a field of L. Petillius the scribe, at the foot of Janiculum, delving somewhat deeper than ordinary, found two little stone-chests; in one whereof was some writing, declaring that it was the body of Numa Pompilius, son of Pomponius. In the other were seven books in the Latin language, treating of the law of the pontiffs; and as many books in Greek, discoursing of wisdom. For the preservation of the Latin books they took especial care; but the Greek ones, (for there seemed to be some things therein prejudicial to their religion) Q.  Petillius the praetor by decree of senate caused to be burnt in a public fire made by the attendants of the sacrifices: for the ancient Romans could not endure that anything should be kept in the city, which might be a means to draw the minds of men from the worship of the gods.” Valerius Maximus