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From the UK's Radio Times, a review of tonight's episode:
Quote: 3/4 - The Brainy Barbarians
"It wasn't the Romans that were the brains of the ancient world; it was the barbarians," thunders Terry Jones, as another brick tumbles from the colosseum of received wisdom. Thus begins the third episode of this marvellous history-debunking series, with Jones huffing and puffing his way across Greece and Iran in his latest attempt to big up those civilisations whose achievements were effectively squashed by the sandal of Roman self-aggrandisement. Far from being a godless rabble of swarthy bruisers in tiny skirts, it seems the barbarians of Greece and Persia were peaceable boffins whose innate humanity saw them develop what were, in essence, welfare states. It's enormously entertaining stuff, with Jones's unique presentation style (explosive hand gestures, jowls flapping like excited curtains) providing the perfect visual accompaniment.
RT reviewer: Sarah Dempster
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
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"the barbarians of Greece and Persia"
Interesting...
In fact:
"...the Parthians commanded deference, the only outside
civilisation with which Rome had direct contact and the only
neighbour of whom they never used the word barbaricum.
Above all they were respected as enemies:
Those smash-and-grab peoples, who have been such
a bane to us, I would count rather as thieves than enemies.
Alone among men the Parthian bears the name of
'enemy of the Roman people' in a manner we must never
hold in contempt; as is well illustrated by the defeats of
Crassus and Mark Antony..."
from Derek Williams in his book The Reach Of Rome quoting a letter from Cornelius Fronto to Lucius Verus (AD 165) Correspondence, 7.
Once again Mr. Jones follows the 1st Rule Of Show Business: Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story. :wink:
Narukami
David Reinke
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Quote:a godless rabble of swarthy bruisers in tiny skirts
I beg your pardon, I hope the Macedonians are not included in that description.......... :evil: :evil:
swarthy bruisers in tiny skirts - maybe..... :roll:
D
Cristina
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The enemy is less likely to get wind of an advance of cavalry, if the orders for march were passed from mouth to mouth rather than announced by voice of herald, or public notice. Xenophon
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Couldn't find the thread. Last two posts quoted to the other thread.
Can someone lock or delete this one please?
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
