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Rome Fodder

Ave Fellow Romans - Introduce Yourself

Ave, fellow Romans.

My name is Cecil Rose, I've been asked to host a blog for Filmfodder network where fans of the show can discuss the action and characters in our favorite HBO series Season 2. This is my first experience at this, so bear with me if I'm a little clumsy at first. This blog was not around for Season 1, but I'll be posting capsule summaries of the 12 Season 1 episodes as a refresher for old timers or an introduction for newcomers.

I created this first article for a place to introduce yourselves, if you desire to do so. Tell us as much or as little as you'd like, use your real name or a screen name, whichever you'd prefer, but tell us a little get-acquainted information about yourself.

I'll begin. Hi, I'm Cecil Rose. I live in North Carolina where I work for the state, programming computers. I have two children and five grandchildren, four of whom live here also, and who keep me pretty busy in my off hours. I like camping and hiking but don't get to do nearly as much of it as I'd like. In my spare time I'm working on some science fiction stories and novels I'd like to get published someday. My original training is in engineering, but I've worked in computers most of my life. I spent seven years in the Air Force during Vietnam, but never served in-country, being an R&D type.

I first became interested in the Roman Empire in Mrs. Sherrod's Latin class in a small town high school in Alabama, way back when small southern towns could still be expected to have a Latin class. I made a Roman soldier's costume for our annual Latin Banquet that was pretty good, if I do say so myself. Wish I could still fit into it (not that I still have it).

I wish I had retained more of that high school Latin. Not that you need it to watch "Rome", but so that I could read more of the classics in their original language. In the first season of "Rome" about the only Latin evident on screen was in Caesar's funeral service for Pompey. Oh, and in the graffiti that was liberally spread around town.

One of the reasons I so appreciate the retelling of the Rome story that HBO's bringing us is the application of the historical lessons to our present day. We hear so often of "The Roman Empire" that we sometimes forget that Rome was a republic for hundreds of years before it became an empire. Indeed Roman citizens jealously guarded that republic, and were proud of the vanquishing of kings and tyrants that had brought it about, and greatly feared the accumulation of power in any one man or institution that might threaten their republic. This is how some good men brought themselves to participate in the assassination of Julius Caesar.

HBO has done us a service in bringing flesh to the bare bones of the historic record, in making history come alive. Not, of course, that "Rome" is primarily a documentary. It's an entertaining drama - sometimes departing from known history - and that's something we can discuss when the episodes begin (Jan 14th). I'll be writing a capsule summary of the events of the first 12 episodes for those who didn't have the pleasure of seeing the first season.

The Fodder Network requires no registration or login to post comments. Just scroll down to the bottom, fill in your email address and a name, and post away.

Vale, and enjoy the new season!

- Cecil


Posted by Cecil on January 5, 2007 1:48 PM
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Sounds interesting!

-- Posted by: John at January 15, 2007 12:39 AM

Ave, fellow Rome fan, you have the honor of being my first commenter. Hope you enjoy the rest of the articles.

-- Posted by: Cecil at January 15, 2007 12:59 AM

Sorry I'm late to join the discussions...

I'm so jealous of the fact that you HAD high school Latin. It was not in vogue when I was in HS, so I didn't have the opportunity to learn it officially, though I did try to teach myself some from an old text book. I studied Spanish, French, and a bit of Italian, but always wish I'd had the Latin for the foundation of the others. It's in my "someday I'll get around to it" list. Wish I could end my comments by tossing off a pithy little Latin phrase as I see some doing. Well, I'm from NY, so maybe I'll just say "Excelsior!"

-- Posted by: Angela at February 8, 2007 1:01 PM

@Angela

>Sorry I'm late to join the discussions...

>I'm so jealous of the fact that you HAD high school Latin.

Well, you have to realize I'm pushing geezerdom, here. I don't think Latin at dear old Sheffield High survived the death of Mrs. Sherrod, which happened in my senior year (I took Latin 1 & 2 my sophomore and junior years.) We were the first graduating class to have more than 100 students - barely. Yes, those Latin roots really build into everything else - wish I'd had an opportunity to study Greek, too (and, oh, maybe Arabic and an oriental language, too - Oh, the roads not taken.)

-- Posted by: Cecil Rose at February 8, 2007 2:14 PM

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