Tag: Rome
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Child Sacrifice, Ancient and Modern
Earlier this week The Guardian ran a story about human sacrifice and ancient Roman history. During the third century BC, the chief rival of Rome was the city of Carthage on the North African coast. Carthage was a Phoenician city, and Roman sources always accused the Carthaginians of sacrificing their own children to their gods. […]
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Rome’s 9/11
No one needs to remind me that Sept. 11, 2001 was a Tuesday. It is one of those details that is lodged in my brain and comes out when people begin to ask, “Where were you when…?” I remember it was a Tuesday, because I woke up that morning and turned the TV on so […]
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The Fall of the American Republic?
Last week my colleague Steven Jones posted a helpful piece comparing the fall of the Roman Republic and America’s contemporary political situation. If you haven’t read it yet, you can find it here. It’s worth your time. While I concur with much of Steve’s analysis, I think his last phrase misses the mark. He ends […]
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America and Rome: Legends of the Fall
When people find out my area of expertise is Ancient Rome, the conversation eventually turns to the similarities between Rome and America usually culminating with some version of the question “Do you think America will fall like Rome did?” Such questions are indeed appropriate. The American Founding fathers borrowed heavily from the Ancient Romans, asking […]
Reflection and Choice 