Sorry ... I meant to do this before 'This Day ...'

Today's 'Word of the Day' pages (all Words of the Day will be Latin/Greek based):

redolent @ Dictionary.com

tergiversation @ Merriam-Webster

... while over @ travlang, the phrase of the day is "Where's the bathroom? Where's the toilet?", rendered into Latin as  Ubi sunt loca secreta? Ubi est conclave necessarium? (the audio version is terrible)

[disclaimer: if you are accessing this via the archives, the above links won't necessarily take you where they claim they will]

::Wednesday, November 03, 2004 6:07:01 AM::

ante diem iii nonas novembres

• 39 A.D. -- birth of the poet Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus)
• 250 A.D. -- martyrdom of Germanus at Caesarea

::Wednesday, November 03, 2004 5:57:05 AM::

The latest headlines from Akropolis World News (news in Classical Greek):

Beheaded Japanese hostage found - Scottish town to pardon witches

::Wednesday, November 03, 2004 5:49:56 AM::

::Wednesday, November 03, 2004 5:47:46 AM::

::Wednesday, November 03, 2004 5:40:38 AM::

An account about school exams from the Sydney Morning Herald has this little incipit:

Even a straightforward exam such as yesterday's may not be enough to convince students that Hitler is more fascinating than Hannibal.

For the first time in the Higher School Certificate's history, there were fewer students sitting yesterday's modern history exam than those who will sit ancient history tomorrow. But teachers are hoping the NSW Board of Studies' decision to prune the HSC modern history syllabus may even up the numbers again.

Tina Kenny, a modern history teacher at Trinity Catholic College in Auburn, said her students were very happy with the exam.

"All of the questions very clearly addressed the syllabus, they were clearly worded, but at the same time invited argument from students," she said. "So those at the top of the class could do more than just regurgitate a whole lot of historical information."

Mark Spooner, of Penrith's Jamison High School, agreed. But as a teacher of both HSC modern and ancient history - and an exam marker for the latter - he understands why increasing numbers of students are opting for the fall of Pompeii over the fall of the Iron Curtain.

"There has been too much content [in HSC modern history] which doesn't grab the kids," he said. "It's a very political course, and they prefer the social aspects [of history]. The preliminary course in ancient history is just more exciting, it lures the kids in." [more]

Now if only bookstores would realize this ... I'm not sure what obtains in other parts of the world, but most of what passes for 'history' in the history section of bookstores here in Canada doesn't go much past World War II. Oh, there'll be a few recent 'popular' books (e.g. Barry Strauss or Thomas Cahill), but usually 'ancient history' only involves Egypt and very often UFO's or other pyramidiocies.

::Wednesday, November 03, 2004 5:32:39 AM::

::Wednesday, November 03, 2004 5:26:13 AM::

CARTOGRAPHY IN ANTIQUITY AND THE MIDDLE AGES:
FRESH PERSPECTIVES, NEW METHODS

     The Committee for Medieval Studies of the University of British Columbia invites paper proposals for this conference to be held on October 28-29, 2005 on the UBC campus in Vancouver.  The scope of the conference will match that of J. Brian Harley and David Woodward (eds.), The History of Cartography, vol. 1.  Eighteen years after the publication of that seminal work this conference will offer a unique forum to highlight, distill and reflect upon the remarkable progress made in so many areas since 1987, thereby honouring the memory of the joint editors, and in particular David Woodward, deceased August 25, 2004.  Looking to the future, the conference is also specifically designed to foster closer interaction between scholars of antiquity and of the Middle Ages who engage with maps.

     Proposals are especially welcome which discuss recent discoveries, the value of fresh perspectives and methodologies, insights gained from the exploitation of new technology, relationships between ancient and medieval cartography, and significant current work in progress. Graduate students in Canadian institutions and elsewhere are welcome to submit proposals.  Papers are not to exceed 20 minutes.  All proposals, including an abstract of 500 words maximum, should be sent by e-mail to the organizers, Richard Talbert (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) <talbert@email.unc.edu> and Richard W. Unger (UBC) <richard.unger@ubc.ca> to arrive no later than 20 March, 2005. Proposers whose papers are selected will be notified by 15 May, 2005. Some financial support may be available to assist participation in the conference.

... seen on the Classics list

::Wednesday, November 03, 2004 5:22:05 AM::

8.00 p.m. |HISTU| Spartacus, Part 1  
Movie. By 72 BC, the Roman Empire had swept across the European continent, conquering countries and selling the people into slavery. But one slave dared to take a stand. This is the story of Spartacus (Goran Visnjic), from the country of Thrace, who, after witnessing his father's brutal death and enduring being sold into slavery, swears to one day live again as a free man. Based on Howard Fast's acclaimed novel, the miniseries was filmed in Bulgaria and directed by Robert Dornhelm. The cast includes Alan Bates, Assen Blatechki, Ben Cross, Henry Simmons, Angus MacFadyen, and Rhona Mitra.
 
8.00 p.m. |HINT| Sailing with the Phoenicians
Sail with a Phoenician captain along the trade routes of the Mediterranean to the ancient ports of Byblos, Rhodes, Tharros, Motya, and the famous Roman naval base at Carthage. Phoenicians, the ancient inhabitants of modern-day Lebanon, were known to be expert sailors. State-of-the-art technology and 3-D graphics allow viewers to see through the eyes of one these seaworthy Phoenicians, and insights from leading archaeology experts enhance the reality. 
 
8.30 p.m. |HINT| The Roman Empire in Africa
During the 2nd century AD, Roman war veterans were granted land in Northern Africa as a sign of gratitude from the politicians. This arid climate proved beneficial in the planting of vast olive groves and wheat fields. The area was prosperous and began to take on many aspects of Roman culture. We'll take a virtual tour through some of the numerous wealthy provinces, including the amphitheatre at El-Djem and the ingenious villa built to escape the hot African climate, and aided by state-of-the-art technology and 3-D graphics, see them as only the original inhabitants could have.

10.00 p.m. |HISTU| Spartacus, Part 2 
Movie. The gladiator Spartacus leads the largest uprising of escaped gladiators and slaves in Roman history and nearly leads to the downfall of Rome. During the battles against the Romans during the Third Servile War, Spartacus became a legend. Based on Howard Fast's acclaimed novel and directed by Robert Dornhelm. The cast includes Alan Bates, Assen Blatechki, Ben Cross, Henry Simmons, Angus MacFadyen, and Rhona Mitra.

HISTU = History Channel (US)

HINT = History International

::Wednesday, November 03, 2004 4:58:29 AM::