ante diem vi idus junias

215 B.C. -- dedication of the Temple of Mens (and associated rites thereafter)

17 B.C.. -- ludi Latini et Graeci honorarii (day 4)

68 A.D. -- recognition of Galba as emperor in Rome (?)

86 A.D. -- ludi Capitolini (day 3)

204 A.D. -- ludi Latini et Graeci honorarii (day 5) [I need more info on this one]

218 A.D. -- the Legio III Gallica, who had declared their loyalty for Bassianus (the future emperor Elagabalus) defeats the emperor Macrinus near Antioch; Macrinus fled

1768 -- death of Johann Winckelmann

5:58:02 AM    

Well, since it is such a slow news day, here's something I find kind of interesting. As a blog owner, I regularly check a service called Technorati, to see which other blogs are linking to rogueclassicism. One that appeared in the past while is something called ccs178 which I tarried at the other day to try and figure out its focus (awk!). I didn't quite do that, but a link there sent me to an item in the Amazing Randi's newsletter (Swift) which, as someone who is familiar with AR might suspect, is devoted to debunking hoaxes. The item is supposedly the archaeological excavation of a giant -- with photographic 'proof' -- which was treated with all seriousness by some news (religious) sources. To its credit, the article has links to the original photo (of the excavation of a mastodon), which has obviously been altered.

So, what does this have to do with rogueclassicism? Well, as some folks might be aware (or soon will be more aware), one of the things I love to do is play with Photoshop myself and I teach it to my Grade Sevens and Eights (when I can!). Because of that, a few months ago I found myself at worth1000.com, which sponsors regular contests using Photoshop to alter photographs.  What the Amazing Randi hasn't picked up on is that this photo was actually an entry in their second "Archaeological Anomalies" contest. Visit the page and look at some of the stuff ... definitely something there to liven up a class (more giants, too!). Their third and fourth contests with the same theme are also worth a look (the first contest has been archived). But what initially drew me to this site was a how to article which arose from that now-archived first contest -- a photo of the excavation of a centaur. Check this out ... it includes a photo, of course.

All this brings me to an item I originally clipped from Cronaca ages ago, but filed away documenting a centaur burial (!) and a showcase of centaur scholarship. There ... that should make up for the lack of other news items this a.m.

5:51:19 AM    

7.00 p.m. |HINT|Masada: The Last Fortress  
Exploration of the mountain fortress where over 900 Jews made a last
stand against Rome in 73 AD. Examines if they committed suicide, and
focuses on the lone survivor of the Roman onslaught who lived to tell
his story.

8.00 p.m. |HISTC| Atlantis
This is the search for Atlantis. In the early 1900s, archaeologist
Arthur Evans uncovered a splendid lost civilization at Knossos, in
Crete. Calling the people “Minoan,” Evans spent the next 30 years
obsessed with finding out why this advanced society disappeared. He
died before he can solve the riddle, but a young archaeologist named
Spyridon Marinatos picked up the trail.

9.00 p.m. |HISTC|The Phoenicians
They were given this name by the Greeks, because they possessed the
secret of producing purple dye. But in the annals of history, their
place is assured as daring voyagers of the ancient times. According
to tradition, 3, 000 years ago they discovered the sea passage from
Palestine to the distant British Isles and to the Azores, far out in
the Atlantic, far beyond the boundaries of the classical world.[etc.]

12.00 a.m. |HISTC| Greece:Journey of the Gods
After worshipping the pagan gods of Antiquity, Greece converted to
the Christian God. The monks built imposing monasteries nestled in
the most remote nooks, rugged coastal cliffs, volcanic islands and
peculiar high-rising rocks. The traveller will uncover traces of the
Byzantine Empire and its heritage through Mount Athos, the awesome
Meteora Mountains and the spiritual island of Patmos.

Channel Guide

4:45:46 AM