Rome versus Pyrrhus

[antiochus]

D. Campbell wrote
Wow, you Antipodeans have been beavering away while I enjoyed the sleep of the just.

Beavering!! We Antipodeans call it original research. D

D. Campbell wrote
I hope that, when you refer to "your theory" (etc.), you are not imputing these views to me. In fact, in defending (so vociferously) Hannibal's knowledge of siege techniques, you are (as it were) preaching to the converted.

Sorry not referring to you Mr. Campbell. To quote you, “a slip of the keyboard.”

D. Campbell wrote
I'm not sure why you have directed your criticisms of this book to me. Naturally, I am not (and cannot be expected to be) an apologist for Gregory Daly.

I used Daly as an example to show you the academic world is not as saintly as you seem to portray, being, as you wrote, driven by humility and neutrality.

D. Campbell wrote
You disappoint me, Steven. I thought you'd found an Ovid reference relating to the organisation of the legion! Now that would have disturbed my peaceful slumbers.

Actually, I have found something even better! D So I haven’t disappointed you. I have found an Ovid reference that outlines the whole Roman modus operandi, which governs both the political and military. Ovid is the only person whose works survive to have touched on the subject. After his digression on the maniple, Ovid (Fasti III 107) writes

“Hence through ignorance and lack of science they reckoned lustres, each of which was too short by ten months. A year was counted when the moon had returned to the full for the tenth time: that number was then in great honour, whether because that is the number of the fingers by which we are wont to count, or because a woman brings forth in twice five months, or because the numerals increase up to ten, and from that we start a fresh round.”

The most important factor of Ovid is his statement “because the numerals increase up to ten, and from that we start a fresh round.” Therefore, whenever they reach a numerical point the Romans start again. This numerical point is one hundred centuries. Now this process is found by comparing the number of centuries in Class I of the Servian constitution of 530 BC, which amounts to 80 centuries, and those of Cicero that amount to 70 centuries. It appears they have been reduced. What the figures show is somewhere between Servius and Cicero, the Romans have started a new cycle. When the 80 centuries of Class I reach 100 centuries, the cycle starts again. This is also found in the Tabula Hebana, which describes the voting method. The 33 tribes (2 exempt) cast their votes into 15 urns, representing the 15 voting centuries. This means 33 votes are reduced to 15 voting centuries. The Tabula Hebana document states there was originally 10 voting centuries but another 5 voting centuries are added in honour of Germanicus. The original 10 voting centuries represent the 90 to 100 centuries band of one cycle of 100 centuries. When the number of centuries becomes greater than 100, as Ovid states, the Romans start a fresh. With the additional 5 voting centuries, the 15 voting centuries is the beginning of a new cycle. In the previous cycle it was 30 centuries (the Romulean three tribes), then doubled to 60 centuries (King Tarquin Priscus as mentioned by Livy and Festus). What Priscus does is add to the original 30 centuries (prior), another 30 centuries (posterior). The next increase takes the centuries to 75 centuries (which is the period of Polybius), then to 90 centuries, then to 100 centuries. Therefore, the increments are 30-60-75-90-100. However, the Tabula Habena tells us the Romans are starting in increments of 15, increasing to 30 then 45, then 60 then 75, then 90 then 100. It is in this late cycle of the Tabula Habena that the legion Hyginus describes will occur. Now a cycle also ties in with the military. Legions are 4000 in number, increase to 5000, then up to 6000 men, then drop to the 5000 man mark, then 4200 as stated by Polybius, then up to 5200 men and finally reach 6000 men again.

The system is one of both simultaneously contracting and expanding. Notice also with the Tabula Hebana how two tribes are exempt from voting. Tribes like legions are paired. The tribal history shows tribes are created in increments of two. This is not mathematical coincidence, but a carefully orchestrated system, based on two formulae’s. Also, look at the pairing of two legions of 5000 men, which equates to 10,000 men, which equates to 10 months of the old Roman calendar. Following this is two legions of 6000 men, which equates to 12,000 men, which equates to the 12 months of the new calendar.

In both examples the 10,000 men of 10 months equates to each century numbering 1000 men, and 12,000 men of 12 months equates to 12 centuries of 1000 men. The figure of 1000 men is the maximum number allowable in a century, before like Ovid states, they start a fresh. The figure of 1000 men has its origin in each of the Romulean tribes having 1000 men per tribe. Therefore, we have a maximum of 100 centuries and a maximum of 1000 men per century. This means each century of 1000 men has ten votes, one per century. As I have already stated, the Romans incorporate any new systems into the old. Take the 12 regions in the reign of Domitian. A figure of 12 regions is a tripartite division therefore divisible by three, which represent the original three tribes and three regions of Rome.

I do hope the above Mr Campbell, does not disturb your peaceful slumbers. I just wanted to make you aware that there is other methods of studying and interpreting the primary sources more powerful and rewarding than many of the popular methodologies applied today, which centre on criticising the primary sources or debunking the conjecture of another academic with their own personally perceived superior conjecture. What Ovid has to say is as important as Livy, Caesar, Appian or any other ancient writer. Instead of casually disregarding them, we should first learn to respect them, and thereby in doing so, we will come to understand what it is they are telling us.