Ancient Rome Refocused

This podcast reviews the book: THE ROMAN GUIDE TO SLAVE MANAGMENT.

Rob interviews the author and reads excerpts from the book.

The Roman Guide to Slave Management, is a sly, subversive guide to the realities of servitude in ancient Rome. Cambridge scholar Jerry Toner uses Falx, his fictional but true-to-life creation, to describe where and how to Romans bought slaves, how they could tell an obedient worker from a troublemaker, and even how the ruling class reacted to the inevitable slave revolts. Toner also adds commentary throughout, analyzing the callous words and casual brutality of Falx and his compatriots and putting it all in context for the modern reader. 

A new book is planned for his protagonist that may include a grand tour of the Roman Empire.

Hayley Russell, producer of Helicon Theatrical Productions, discusses the ancient concept of KLEOS.

Kleos is the Greek word often translated to "renown" or "glory". It is related to the English word "loud" and carries the implied meaning of "what others hear about you".  According to Wikipedia, a Greek hero earns kleos through accomplishing great deeds.

Andrew Hulse, producer of Helicon Theatrical Productions, discusses the scholar of epic poetry, Milman Perry, and his associate Albert

Lord. Hulse promotes Lord's book The Singer of Tales as a "wacky and mind bending…" experience.

Albert Bates Lord was a professor of Slavic and comparative literature at Harvard University who, after the death of Milman Parry, carried on that scholar's research into epic literature. Wikipedia

The Singer of Tales is a book by Albert Lord that discusses the oral tradition as a theory of literary composition and its applications to Homeric and medieval epic. It was published in 1960. Wikipedia

This story is about is interpreting a third century poem that puts Frogs and Mice into the characters of Ancient Heroes.

Yes, this poem actually exists.

Imagine you create a theater company. You decide to bring to life this ancient poem. You hold auditions, and you study the ancient storytellers called the Rhapsodoi. Picking out the best storytellers and musicians you travel to the 21st century version of the Dionysia, The Fringe, one of the world's largest art festivals in Edinburgh, Scotland. Amongst the hubbub of musicians, artists, jugglers, comedians you perform your play in the mayhem of an artistic frenzy.

News Release:

Speech by Michael Bennet of Colorado

Using Rome as an example during a speech in Congress after a mob tried to intervene in the legal and fair election of the President of the United States.

Rob Cain goes on a rant about modern and ancient heroes. He discusses the heroes of literature and reviews the heroes

celebrated on TV as he was growing up. What is a modern hero? What is a classical one? Do heroes pay a price?

18:45 into the podcast a musical tribute is given to Khaled al-Asaad, a Syrian archaeologist and the head of antiquities at the ancient city of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Khaled al-Asaad refused to reveal the location of ancient artifacts to the invaders. He placed the history of his city over his own life.

If I was going to do walking tour of Great Britain I would pack this book with an extra pair of socks.

Roman Britain is a great book, based on a series of lectures given at Oxford University. The book is filled with maps and drawings and insights into the ancient world.

Check out the great map on the inside cover. Go for an old edition. It has a lot more dash. It's relatively small, and easy to put in your knapsack.

An interesting tidbit is that according to Collingwood there was a lot more diversity in Romano Britain that discussed in the modern discourse of today. Considering Collingwood lived during the time of the British Raj, I tend to believe his conclusions.  

If you intend to visit Romano Britain, this is the book. Just make sure there isn't a updated version out there. You may want to bump a modern map up against it.

An original musical piece by Zebulon (aka: Morgan Taubert). The piece was played in Episode 23 (S4) by permission of the artist.

Do you want to hear more of his music? Check out Morgan's website at:https://zebulonstoryteller.bandcamp.com/

Morgan Taubert decides to write a letter to Herodotus, the Father of History.

Check out his blogsite at: http://letterstocicero.blogspot.com/

Rob Cain interviews Morgan Taubert from Adelaide, South Australia. Morgan writes letters to the dead. This includes letters to Marcus Tullius Cicero. What do you say to the greatest orator of the Roman Republic? What would you say?  After you listen to the podcast check out Morgans' blog at: 

LETTERS TO CICERO (AND MY OTHER DEAD FRIENDS).

http://letterstocicero.blogspot.com

Morgan is also a musician. Check out his music at:  Zebulonstoryteller.bandcamp.com.

Music featured on the show include: Dumpster Fire, Garyan, Street Dance Karsilamus