idus septembres

• ludi Romani (day 9)
• epulum in honour of Minerva and others (connected to the ludi Romani)
• 509 B.C. -- dedication of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus (and associated rites thereafter; also incorporated into the ludi Romani, it seems)
• 490 B.C. -- another reckoning for the Battle of Marathon
• 16 A.D. -- revelation of the conspiracy of Lucius Scribonius Libo, leading to the first of the maiestas trials which characterized the emperor Tiberius' principate
• 81 A.D. -- death of the emperor Titus; his brother Domitian is acclaimed as emperor

From the Korea Herald comes this intro to a book review:

This is not to pick on historians, but I have come across an interesting anonymous saying, "Historians, it is said, fall into one of three categories: Those who lie. Those who are mistaken. Those who do not know."

Last week, I quoted here what David Wallechinsky said in his book on the Olympics (1992): that no hard evidence has been found in the legendary Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. In other words, nobody knows for sure that Pheidippides, the Greek professional runner, actually did what historians have led us to believe as a fact.

Richard Shenkman's "Legends, Lies, & Cherished Myths of World History" (1993), which is a sequel to his earlier work of the same title but "of American History" (1988), is a goldmine of such interesting unfacts. The author quotes Samuel Butler (1835-1902) as having said, "Though God cannot alter the past, historians can." How true!

Another Greek legend is Homer's story of Troy which Thucydides (c. 460-c. 400 B.C.) is said to have believed as true. But this great Greek historian lived more than 800 years after the Trojan War was supposedly fought, says Shenkman, who goes on to say that "nobody knows who Homer was, where he lived, and even whether he really existed." [more]

Not sure whether the author is picking on historians per se; perhaps 'pop' historians or journalists who pass themselves off as historians ... there is nothing here that you wouldn't hear in a first year ClassCiv class. I wonder if anyone has ever written a history of 'straw men' ...

A report from the fashion pages of the Telegraph suggests that there continues to be a connection between the ancient Roman world and the fashion world. An excerpt:

The Turkish designer, Atil Kutoglu took inspiration from the ancient Roman city of Zeugma, founded in 300 BC, for a collection of robes, cloaks and fresco-printed tunics, worn with flat "centurion" sandals.

Princess Michael of Kent was a surprise front row guest as Naomi Campbell opened Kutoglu's show in a modest, grey silk, pleated toga-dress, which enveloped her from neck to over-the-knee.

Other models appeared in long, silk kaftans, in wide, multi-coloured bands of rose, olive and pink; tunics gilt-printed with details of Romanesque frescoes over raw-hem sarong skirts; hooded cloaks in glittering brocades and floor-sweeping gowns suspended from gold breastplate-necklaces.

There are a couple of photos with the article ... kind of puts a different spin on the old 'your mother wears army boots' thing ...

From Turkish Press:

Antalya Governor Alaaddin Yuksel, who visited the site after the fire was put out, said that the fire didn't cause serious damage on the ancient site.

Yuksel noted that authorities were investigating the claims that the fire was started deliberately.

The fire started in the east and west parts of Perge synchronously, it was stated.

On the other hand, Mustafa Kurtulmuslu, the Director of Antalya Forestry Department, said that the fire damaged two hectares of bushy area.

Meanwhile, Professor Haluk Abbasoglu, the Head of the Classical Archeology Department of Istanbul University, said that they were searching the damage caused by the fire on historical artifacts.

Abbasoglu added, ''we are lucky that sparks did not spread to the Agora. There is not any serious damage in the colonnaded boulevard, city wall ruins, and theater. But, ruins among the bushes were damaged.'' [more]

Strangely, outside of touristy sites with one or two photos, I can't find a decent site on the web devoted to Perge. There are a number of photos (three or so pages' worth) at the ANU site, but it seems that many won't come up (maybe it's just me) ...

4.00 p.m. |DCIVC| Moments in Time: Letter from the Roman Front
dna

6.00 p.m. |HINT|  Pompeii: Buried Alive
Exploration of the archaeological site of the city that was encrusted by incendiary ash when deadly Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Archaeological director Baldasarre Conticello takes viewers on a tour of Pompeii's ruins, and visits Herculaneum, which was destroyed by Vesuvius at the same time.

Channel Guide