The Third Century Crisis was brought about by a number of factors, both external and internal.

The external factors included the rise of more powerful Germanic coalitions on the Rhine-Danube frontiers and Sassanid Persia in the east, while the internal factors included the dominance of the army and rampant inflation caused by the Severans breaking down the (mostly) stable Principate system.

However, something I've been wondering recently is whether or not the edict of Caracalla played a role in bringing on the crisis.

After 212, it became possible for virtually any provincial in the empire to climb the ranks and become emperor now that they had full citizenship, which led to more subjects taking the opportunity to upset the status quo in a grab for power.

What are your thoughts on this?

Cappadocia. Caesaraea-Eusebia. Hadrian, 117-138 AD. AR Didrachm; 21 mm, 5.92g, ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΟϹ Laureate head of Hadrian to right. Rev. ΥΠΑΤΟϹ Γ ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤP Mount Argaios surmounted by Sol-Helios, radiate, standing front, holding globe in his right hand and scepter in his left. Ganschow 169b. RPC III 3087. Sydenham, Caesarea, 263. SNG von Aulock 6416

Constantius II, the middle child of Constantine's three successor sons, massacred his relatives, outlived and outmaneuvered his rivals and brothers and became sole ruler with blood stained of the fighting for control.

Dumb question I know, but obviously Rome didn't have enough legions to man the whole wall, the wall was short enough to climb with a ladder, so how did it keep people out?

To me the Emperor Valens has always been a completely blank slate. Quite a few of the 3rd Century crisis Emperors are similarly unknown quantities but that's to be expected given their ephemeral reigns. But Valens was actually quite a consequential Emperor albeit for a catastrophic reason. In all the histories of Rome I've read I get absolutely no impression of what he was like. I know three things. He was the slavishly loyal and obedient brother of the terrifying Valentinian. No one seems to like or respect him - then or now. Then out of the blue he heroically mounts his steed and charges off to lead the Roman Waterloo with the Goths. Then he quite literally disappears. I have read no account of what he looked like, anything he said or did as Emperor, or even any personal quirks or perversions. Even the useless Honorius loved chickens. But Valens is the Emperor without a face. He was there for a while and then he wasn't. Does anyone here know much more than that about Valens ? His brother fed people who annoyed him to a bear and had a stroke raging at some obnoxious Germans (which is pretty funny imo) but Valens ? Zilch. Please add some detail to this man if at all possible. As the Emperor who arguably broke the back of the Roman Empire it's surprising he's such a cipher.

English Translation: "When, O Catiline, do you mean to cease abusing our patience?"

I'm in the middle of reading I, Claudius (the famous historical fiction, fake autobiography of Emperor Claudius written by Robert Graves in the early 20th century, for those who aren't familar). I had heard about the "Livia kills everyone" view portrayed in the book before I started, but I did not expect that meme to be such an accurate representation of the narrative. I don't think there's a single death or banishment in the first half of the book that Graves doesn't at least hint at being Livia's doing. He even suggests that Julia's adultery was due to Livia giving her a horny potion.

The book doesn't claim to be non-fiction so I don't necessarily have an issue with it taking artistic liberty, but it does make me wonder what a grounded perspective of Livia might be. I have to imagine that this interpretation isn't completely unfounded and Livia must've at least done a little plotting and maneuvering, but how much of that could be backed up?

The auxilia (auxiliaries) were introduced as non-citizen troops attached to the citizen legions by Augustus after his reorganisation of the Imperial Roman army from 27 BC. Despite the prevalance of the legionary in popular imagination during the imperial period the auxilia actually made up the majority of the Empire's troops and almost all of it's cavalary

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What did service in the auxilia look like?

• Were they given standard roman equipment?
• Did they have ranks parallel to the legionaries?
• What was their pay?
• For long did they serve?
• What was their reward if they survived service?

I'm curious what your opinions are about Constantius II.

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Here you have a Latin teacher living in a Nicomedia who just converted to Christianity and is trying to eck out a living trying to find students.

I don't know how he does it but the guy manages to hang in there for a few years and ends up getting appointed to teach Crispus, the son of Constantine.

Now, I read some things by Lactantius and his whole argument just boils down to "Look how wanton and abominable these people worshipping false gods are!"

There's not much substance, no familiarity with scripture, it's not Augustine, it's not even Ambrose or Eusebius. He even says that a round earth is ridiculous and rebukes it with paltry sophisms.

I just really feel like this Lactantius was some Latin chap who basically schmoozed his way into the court of Constantinople.

This isn't against Christians or anything because I think that Justin Martyr and Iranaeus are very interesting writers. Origen as well together with Ignatius of Antioch.

In the later generation, there is Augustine.

But it really strikes me how clumsy Constantine must have been to hire Lactantius instead of probably a more experienced Latin teacher, but then again, I don't even know how he would find somebody like that.

A Roman athlete used these objects before and after exercise. The colorful blown-glass bottle held olive oil to lubricate his skin before the workout. Because the oil was expensive, athletes only carried a small amount. The narrow neck makes it nearly spill proof, allowing only a few drops of the valuable liquid to be dispensed at a time. After exercising, the athlete used the scrapers to remove the oil, dust, and sweat from his body. This mixture was collected at the gymnasium and sold to people who believed it would give them the health and strength of athletes.

Any book recommendations? He seems like such an interesting figure.

Thanks in advance 🙂

I just thought about it, but Rome basically worshipped the Greek God's with different names. So if the Romans did decide to have a native God to themselves, is Sol Invictus the right choice?

(I'm wondering if that's what Aurelian was after)

So, I wanted to read more about late Roman / Byzantine / early Medieval Jewellery, especially bronze rings with stones like the ones shown. They were apparently really common and I was wondering if there is more info about them / there are any period depictions of people wearing them. Is there anything like that online? Thank you in advance for your help!

Say you were the emperor of Rome and earned the loyalty of the military, but you were worried about the Praetorian Guard for their history of betrayal, what reforms would you install to best make the Praetorian Guard from what are basically a ceremonial guard, to actually loyal men who fight for the rightful emperor and are basically the most skilled men chosen across the Empire.

(For me, I'm thinking of rotating the troops in a certain time. Is that good?)

English translation "The fate leads the willing and drags the unwilling"

There is another version with the 1st part altered in order: "Fata volentem ducunt, nolentem trahunt"

I’m curious in your opinion what emperor died way too early to actually implement his good/decent reforms. Imo partinax had so much potential, I am very curious what would have become of his reign had he been given a real chance.

Although the purple color of the dress makes the term 'servant' questionable

ave! :)

exactly what says on the tin. any good books out there?

my main interest is more focused on the julio-claudian/early empire era but he seems really interesting, however, most of the authors I like haven't published anything about him so im looking for recs.

thank you very much ^__^

These are two teenagers being guided by their adult managers in a crumbling empire.

Now, I know the Senate and Roman people have been through a lot, they've seen Elagabalus, they've seen Gordian III, but this really seems like a whole new cup of tea for them.

Maria has a Vandal background, her father is Stilicho. I mean we can even see how Claudian, the Roman poet, omits this truth in his celebration of the wedding.

I mean let's keep in mind something like this never happened before. Even with Gratian and Valentinian II, they never got married to a half-vandal magister militum's daughter.

I really think Stilicho was rushing things over here. I know a little bit how the conscript fathers work and something like this would leave a bit of a sour taste in their mouths, I would even argue that some clergy probably didn't vibe too much with this either.

Every time I read one of the imperial writers, they really don't hold back on talking about how crime-infested Rome is. Whether it's Seneca, Juvenal, Horace, Martial, Tacitus, Suetonius, Ovid, Cassius Dio, Ammianus, etc...

They all really find the city of Rome itself to be absolute bonkers.

Another thing they often point out is the chaos that breaks out in the circus maximus and the arenas as well as the high levels of sex trafficking that goes on in Rome. So many pimp references as well.

Was there no public education? I mean how many actual citizens lived in Rome say during the time of Trajan or Hadrian?

I do often picture this city as being hot, noisy, filled with long lines everywhere, and a fight breaking out every now and then in the streets.

Would anyone happen to know the name of this artifact and a date range.