After Theodora’s death, Justinian seems to have trusted no one: his destined successor, Justinus, son of his sister, was kept in the background, and no great minister seems to have possessed his confidence. Continue reading “Flavius Belisarius saves New Rome in his last military act”
The Roman army on the march – The Roman camp
The following is their manner of breaking up camp. Immediately upon the signal being given they take down the tents and every one packs up. Continue reading “The Roman army on the march – The Roman camp”
The last years of Justinian’s reign: Antioch sacked by Chosroes’ Persians – The Plague irreversibly weakens the Empire
The slackness with which the generals of Justinian prosecuted the Gothic war in the period between the triumph of Belisarius at Ravenna in A. D. 540, and the final conquest of Italy in A. D. 553, is mainly to be explained by the fact that, just at the moment of the fall of Ravenna, the empire became involved in a new struggle with its great Eastern neighbour. Continue reading “The last years of Justinian’s reign: Antioch sacked by Chosroes’ Persians – The Plague irreversibly weakens the Empire”
Punishments and rewards in the Roman army
After forming the camp the tribunes meet and administer an oath, man by man, to all in the camp, whether freemen or slaves. Continue reading “Punishments and rewards in the Roman army”
Graeco-Roman and ‘Byzantine’ views on obesity
In this post we present selected parts of the very interesting paper titled “Greco-Roman and Byzantine views on obesity“, by Niki Papavramidou & Helen Christopoulou-Aletra. Continue reading “Graeco-Roman and ‘Byzantine’ views on obesity”
The acculturation of Slavs within the Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) milieu (6th to 9th centuries) – Part 2
In this post we present selected parts of the paper titled “Byzantium, its Slavic elements and their culture (sixth to ninth centuries)“, by Speros Vryonis, Jr. Continue reading “The acculturation of Slavs within the Eastern Roman (‘Byzantine’) milieu (6th to 9th centuries) – Part 2”