10-19-2006, 09:25 PM
Well, just now we had Constantine and his Holy Wars!
![[Image: pp_constantine.jpg]](http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/images/pp_constantine.jpg)
It looked well enough, I must say. They attempted to make Intercisa helmets (even if these did not seem to have any neck guards), as well as long hamatas, oval dished shields, spathae. The clothes looked reasonably good too, with attempts at Late Roman fashion. I noticed at least one good draco and there was a plumbata scene in Milvius Bridge battle!
Of course, there were also goof-ups, such as senes from earlier episodes (with early equipment). Or the drowning of Maxentius (no cavalry? Where was the original Milvian Bridge?), the absence of Licinius'cataphracts, the absence of any spears in battle scenes...
The total focus of Constantine on Christianity was also totally over the top, making his conflict with Licinius into a war of Christianity against all other gods. It wasn't.
And, of course, Constantia was not Constantine's sister, but his half-sister, being one of Constantius Chlorus' 6 children with Theodora, and about 20 years younger than Constantine. The child of Licinius (who was in fact killed a year after his father) Valerius Licinianus Licinius and called Licinius. The BBC must have found all these similar names too confusing for the audience...
Well, they are.
Next week the final episode about Honorius and Galla Placidia!
It looked well enough, I must say. They attempted to make Intercisa helmets (even if these did not seem to have any neck guards), as well as long hamatas, oval dished shields, spathae. The clothes looked reasonably good too, with attempts at Late Roman fashion. I noticed at least one good draco and there was a plumbata scene in Milvius Bridge battle!
Of course, there were also goof-ups, such as senes from earlier episodes (with early equipment). Or the drowning of Maxentius (no cavalry? Where was the original Milvian Bridge?), the absence of Licinius'cataphracts, the absence of any spears in battle scenes...
The total focus of Constantine on Christianity was also totally over the top, making his conflict with Licinius into a war of Christianity against all other gods. It wasn't.
And, of course, Constantia was not Constantine's sister, but his half-sister, being one of Constantius Chlorus' 6 children with Theodora, and about 20 years younger than Constantine. The child of Licinius (who was in fact killed a year after his father) Valerius Licinianus Licinius and called Licinius. The BBC must have found all these similar names too confusing for the audience...
Well, they are.
Next week the final episode about Honorius and Galla Placidia!
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
