The Casting, 2007
Sonnet and I went to the Robert Capa opening last week at the Barbican. Capa not the only artist on display - pictured, by Omer Fast.
Erik and I go to the British Museum this afternoon to see Hadrian, whose display ends this week. Hadrian served as Emperor from 117 to 139, succeeding Trajan who weakened Rome's influence through reckless expansion; Hadrian by contrast fortified a defense though Rome's decline already underway. Despite his own great stature as a military administrator, Hadrian's reign was marked by a general lack of major military conflicts, apart from the Second Roman-Jewish War. He surrendered Trajan's conquests in Mesopatamia, considering them to be indefensible.
The Hadrian peace policy was strengthened by the erection of permanent fortifications along the empire's borders, the most famous of these being Hadrian's Wall in GB and the Danube and Rhine borders were strengthened with a series of mostly wooden fortifications, forts, outposts and watch posts, the latter improving communications and local area security. To maintain morale and keep the troops from getting restive, Hadrian established intensive drill routines, and personally inspected the armies. Although his coins showed military images almost as often as peaceful ones, Hadrian's policy was peace through strength, even threat. In other words - talk quietly but carry a big stick. What do they teach these kids at Yale anyway, George Bush?
From uncensored Spartacus (1960)
Licinius: Do you eat oysters?
Antonios: When I have them, master.
Licinius: Do you eat snails?
Antonios: No, master.
Licinius: Do you consider the eating of oysters to be moral and the eating of snails to be immoral?
Antonios:No, master.
Licinius: Of course not. It is all a matter of taste, isn't it?
Antonios: Yes, master.
Licinius: And taste is not the same as appetite, and therefore not a question of morals.
Antonios: It could be argued so, master.
Licinius: My robe, Antoninus. My taste includes both snails and oysters.
