How was Roman democracy different from American democracy? Robin Levin, The Roman Republic was not a democracy. It was a plutocratic oligarchy. And the U.S. Republic is also not a true democracy, it is also a plutocratic oligarchy. The Greek historian Polybius, lived in the second century B.C. and spent seventeen years as a hostage […]
How Does the Political System in Ancient Rome Differ from That of Modern Day America
September 1, 2019 By Leave a Comment
The Battle of Trasimene: Excerpt from WIP In the Wake of Hannibal
June 21, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Today, June 21st, is the anniversary of the Battle of Lake Trasimene in 217 B.C. in which Carthaginian forces under Hannibal trapped a Roman Army under the command of Gaius Flaminius in a defile and slaughtered some 15,000 Romans. It was to be the third of four set-piece victories for Hannibal as he moved down […]
Exerpt From In the Wake of Hannibal-A Work in Progress
April 16, 2015 By Leave a Comment
I felt the baby kick today for the first time. I am excited but also afraid. Many women do not survive childbirth; so much can go wrong, and I’ve heard that it is exceedingly painful. But I really do want this baby; it will be so wonderful see at his little face, his tiny hands. […]
Did the Carthaginians Actually Practice Child Sacrifice?
March 6, 2015 By 2 Comments
In my work in progress, The Death of Carthage, my protagonist, Gisco, is informed by Indibal, the priest of Tanit and Ba-al Hammon that he must surrender his five month old son, Hanno, to be sacrificed to the gods. Aghast, Gisco seeks to avoid the sacrifice by taking his wife and three children to Roman […]
The Book of Joshua
October 1, 2014 By Leave a Comment
One of the most disturbing parts of the Old Testament is the Book of Joshua. It is the story of the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites led by Joshua son of Nun around 1400 B.C. The topic is timely given the religious violence we see in the world today, and I plan to write […]
Excerpt #4 From my Work in Progress, In the Wake of Hannibal
May 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment
In order to save his infant son from being sacrificed as a burn offering, Gisco has fled to the Romans and has offered his services as a traitor: After a few weeks I was summoned to the tablinum of the owner of the domus. Lucius was there and alongside him sat two stern-looking middle-aged men […]
Excerpt #3 My Work in Progress The Last Carthaginian Part 1:In The Wake of Hannibal
April 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Hannibal’s brother Mago is not pleased that Indibal the priest of Tanit and Ba-al Hammon has demanded the sacrifice of his bast friend Gisco’s child, compelling Gisco to desert to the Romans. It had been a week since Gisco had gone to Khart Hadasht and he had still not returned. This was not like Gisco. […]
Another Excerpt from My Work In Progress The Last Carthaginian. Part 1, In the Wake of Hannibal
April 18, 2014 By 2 Comments
To avoid having his infant son sacrificed as a burnt offering to the Goddess Tanit and the God Ba-al Hammon, Gisco has fled New Carthage with his wife, three small children and two freed slaves. He faces down a delegation from New Carthage intending to persuade him to return, and travels safely to Roman territory. […]
Excerpt from My Forthcoming Book The Last Carthaginian
April 12, 2014 By 3 Comments
From The Last Carthaginian, part one: In the Wake of Hannibal. Gisco is told by the high priest of Tanit and Baal-Hammon that his infant son must be sacrificed as a burnt offering to the gods. In winter I returned to Khart Hadasht to find Sansara big with child. Within a month she had our […]
Follow Us!