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Quote:Ron Andrea:p1msa4xj Wrote:Kind of like Scipio Africanus sacking Carthage, then salting the ground (also a claim without ancient authority, so I understand. :roll: )
I think the story behind that myth is really interesting. I was fascinated to learn how that came about: Scipio sowing Carthage with salt.
Interesting. I've done a quick Internet search and have turned up many references to Rome salting Carthage, but no authority to verify it--either ancient or modern. It seems to have passed whole into "received wisdom" AKA urban legend, in an amazing short time, if the 1985 date is correct.
"Fugit irreparabile tempus" (Irrecoverable time glides away) Virgil
Ron Andrea
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Quote:btw The date is 1930, quite feasible as the source of wisdom inherited by anyone currently active on RAT. (Do we have any octogenarians?!)
1930 is certainly old enough both for it to have passed into received wisdom
and for its source to have faded (as its veracity became a "given").
"Fugit irreparabile tempus" (Irrecoverable time glides away) Virgil
Ron Andrea