 Stage 35 ~ rus
For many Romans, the daily grind of living and working in Rome stands in stark contrast to the gentle, rural pleasures of rus the countryside. Indeed, city life is all too stressful for Acilius Glabrio, a member of one of the noblest Roman families, who grumbles about it to his friend, Helvidius Lupus. Talk turns from city to rustic matters, and then to military affairs abroad, popular poets and - most dangerously - discontent over the Emperor Domitian's rule. They should be careful... |
| ex urbe | | | Page 2. Acilius Glabrio is hot, harassed and hassled... and hes stuck in the stifling atmosphere of Rome, a hotbed of political intrigue and social unrest. He contacts his friend in the countryside, Helvidius Lupus, to vent his frustrations and to update him on current events. Two thousand years before phone, fax or email, contact is made via the main Roman method of communication a letter. |
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| vita rustica | | | Page 6. Country life isn't all idyllic there's work to be done as well! Lupus replies to Glabrio's letter, touching upon affairs at home and abroad. He ominously warns Glabrio to tread carefully around "a very dangerous man", revealing his family's infamous hostility towards the Roman Emperors. At the moment, however, he's more concerned that all his teenage son can think about is sport and girls. Some things never change! |
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Domitian: Book V cover image| |
A gold "aureus" coin, depicting a wreathed Emperor Domitian. |
Manius Acilius Glabrio: Biography| |
Entry from the Catholic Encyclopaedia. |
Helvidius Priscus the Elder| |
Biography of the father of our fictitious Helvidius Lupus. |
ROMAN IMAGES OF VILLAS
Roman Villa 1: fresco| |
Painting of a grand villa on the sea; from Stabia, near Pompeii. |
Roman Villa 2: fresco
Roman Villa 3: fresco| |
Villas dotting a landscape painting; from the catacombs in Rome. |
Roman Villa 4: mosaic| |
Villa depicted on Stage 35 title-page; in the Bardo Museum in Tunisia. |
Roman Villa 5: mosaic| |
from Carthage in North Africa. |
COUNTRY LIFE
A Country Farm: Boscoreale 1| |
History of the excavations in the area which revealed many small farms. |
A Country Farm: Boscoreale 2| |
Specific information on the Villa Regina, one of the well-preserved rustic country farms at Boscoreale, near Pompeii. Includes five, fine images. |
Farmer's Year: mosaic
Herding: fresco| |
Shepherds and farmers with their animals next to a shrine. From a villa in Rome, 30-20 BC; now in National Museum at the Palazzo Massimo, Rome Another scene. |
Hunting: mosaic 1| |
Images of the famous hunt mosaics from the Imperial villa at Piazza Armerina in Sicily. |
Hunting: mosaic 2| |
from the Bardo Museum in Tunisia. |
Fishing: fresco| |
Perhaps showing fishermen on the seashore. From a villa in Rome, 30-20 BC; now in National Museum at the Palazzo Massimo, Rome. |
Fishing: mosaic 1| |
in National Museum at the Palazzo Massimo, Rome. |
Fishing: mosaic 2| |
from Leptis Magna in Libya. |
Fishing: mosaic 3| |
Cupids go fishing; in situ at Piazza Armerina, Sicily. Detail. |
Mules pulling cart: mosaic
Oxen Ploughing: mosaic| |
from Cherchell in Algeria; c.250 A.D. |
Flora| |
Famous painting from Stabiae of Flora, goddess of flowers; now in Naples Archaeological Museum. |
Fruits: Pomegranates mosaic| |
from Piazza Armerina, Sicily. |
Fruits: Apples fresco| |
from Herculaneum, now in Naples Archaeological Museum. |
Fruits: Figs fresco| |
Glass bowl of figs from the "Villa of Poppaea" at Oplontis, near Pompeii. |
Fruit & Birds fresco 1| |
from the Villa of Livia in Rome. |
Fruit & Birds fresco 2| |
from the "Villa of Poppaea" at Oplontis, near Pompeii. |
Fruit & Birds mosaic| |
in the National Museum at the Palazzo Massimo, Rome. |
Grapes: fresco 1| |
The ceiling mosaics, c.350 AD, of Santa Costanza church in Rome depicting the grape harvest, as shown on page 5. Another view. |
Grapes: fresco 2| |
Famous wall-painting from Pompeii showing Bacchus, god of wine, covered in grapes, with Mount Vesuvius behind. |
Grapes: fresco 3| |
Detail of grapes from a fresco from Vienne in France. |
Roman Wine 1| |
Good, well-designed webpages on Roman wine, with some ancient images. |
Roman Wine 2| |
Short article on wine production. |
Garden fresco| |
Roman painting from the "Villa of Poppaea" at Oplontis, near Pompeii. |
HADRIAN'S VILLA
Hadrian's Villa 1| |
Model of the huge, imperial residence at Tivoli, near Rome. Another view. |
Hadrian's Villa 2| |
Orientate yourself with this plan. |
Hadrian's Villa 3| |
Aerial view of just part of the ruins. |
Hadrian's Villa 4| |
Photos of the main areas of the villa. |
Hadrian's Villa 5| |
Detailed description of the villa, with over 200 photos. |
PLINY'S VILLA
Pliny's Villa 1| |
Model of the poet's seaside villa at Laurentum, near Rome. |
Pliny's Villa 2| |
Plan of his Laurentine villa. |
Pliny's Villa 3: In his own Words| |
In Letter 23, Pliny proudly and lovingly describes his villa to his friend Gallus, around the end of the first century AD. |
Pliny| |
Easy-to-read article on the life of Pliny the Younger. |
HORACE'S VILLA
Horace's Villa 1| |
Introduction to the Roman poet Horace's villa at Licenza outside Rome. The map also locates Hadrian's villa at Tivoli. Take a look at plans, reconstructions and photos of the villa. |
Horace's Villa 2| |
An interactive QuickTime tour of the villa. |
Tenants Paying Rent| |
Marble relief sculpture; as shown on page 15. |
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