Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire in Literature and Film: "The Odyssey"

I dont know exactly what the Evocati is. Im assuming its some kind of elite guard in the Roman Army or something.

And yes, Octavian eventually takes the name Augustus and becomes the first Emperor of Rome.

 

^Yeah, that's what I thought. Now if only Atia could see the future, she would stop giving poor Octavian a hard time.

 

Oh man now I really want to see this episode.

Last episode when Pullo walked in on Niobe and Evander he looked PISSED then. I think he kinda clings to Vorenus a little more the other way around as of now in the show.

Why does Caesar break it off with Servila?

Will the show come on HBO main tonight?

 

^Because Atia had a bunch of bad graffiti that portrayed Caesar and Servila being intimate put up throughout Rome. It upset Caesar's wife greatly and she hinted at divorce which would have been bad for Caesar, politically.

Rome comes on HBO2 at 10pm, tonight (monday).

 

The irony of Servillas curse is, while in the long run serves its purpose ( Julius assasinated, the Republic falls ), it actually comes to her and her family first.

 

Yea, I was thinking the same thing during those scenes. I couldnt help but smirk as she cursed Caesar and Atia and their family.

 

Im not sure if they can end the show with the Ides of March. Doesnt Julius stay around for a couple of years before the conspirators get to him? And dont you think Servilia is taking it a bit far with the curse, considering her son ( whose fathers family were the creators of the Republic by the way, hundreds of years earlier, which is why Brutus is the conflicted character that he is - in both Shakespeares and HBO's versions of the story )? According to history she meets quite the gruesome end, ironically, and the guilt of Brutus does him in, also. Im mean its not like Ceaser doesnt say to her its not what he wants but what he must do - and in those times stuff like that wasnt just lip service.

 

Yea, Im not so sure about the Ides of March, either. They'd have to jump at least a couple of years before the season ends to get to that point, right ?

 

Yeah, thats what I thought. Like two or three years or something. The show ( not the season ) SHOULD end with Augustus as the Emporer, because he stays Emporer until he dies at a very old age, or at least old for then ( 78 or something ).

 

Maybe that's the plan now that the show has been renewed for a second season. I remember reading that the first season was going to end with Caesar's death, but this was way back when it was still being called a twelve episode miniseries and the possibility of it coming back as a regular part of HBO's lineup was 50/50 at best. Things may have changed for the long term now that the show's a hit and its obviously coming back, you know ?

 

It looks like Pullo and Vorenus will face against each others in the future, when Antony and Ocatavian battle each others for the control of Rome. Just a guess.

 

I agree. Ive always had the feeling that their friendship was doomed from the start.

 

Looks like I will finally be able to watch it tomorrow at 9pm on HBO main.

If the family is going out to eat this time I will just have to say the hell with it and get my wife to just bring me some food back to the hotel.

I need my Rome fix!

 

Good luck with it. Let us know what you think of it.

One question... I know that Vorenus got promoted. Would he got more promotions through the series? Same question for Pullo. Considering how close he seems to be with Octavian, maybe that will happen.

 

Well, from what I read a while back concerning Vorenus and Pullo, it said that one rises in Roman society while the other falls. At first it would seem obvious that Vorenus would rise and Pullo would fall, but after Sunday's episode Im not so sure anymore.

 

Where did you read that?

Maybe that statement is right, since Vorenus will fall when Antony lost, and his family may fall apart, when he finds out the truth.

Pullo, no surprise because of his connection with Octavain, the future Emperor.

Maybe he'll become the leader of the Praetorian Guard, and the bodyguard of the Emperor? Just an idea.

 

Ive read so many articles on the show since before it started that I cant remember exactly where it was where I read it. Part of me thinks it was at the HBO site itself but that could very well be wrong. Ill try and rack my brain and come up with it if I can, though.

 

Oh man... one bad thing about being Canadian is seeing commercials for awesome shows like this but not being able to get the channel it's on. I can't get HBO... I'm really hoping it'll somehow be on another channel sometime cause I'm really interested in ancient Roman history.

 

Yea, its a really great show that shows even more promise for the future down the road. Sucks that you dont get HBO up by you, but perhaps you can buy it or rent the DVD set when it eventually comes out ?

 

You see Pullo fighting in the gladiator pit in the " Making Of ... ". That may be a red herring - but it may not be.

 

I can probably rent it, yeah. I hope so, anyway! I especially find Julius Caesar's time period interesting, and I read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius quite frequently.

Oh, and there's a really good historic fiction series out too, based on the life of Julius Caesar. It came out fairly recently so there's only three books so far. They're by Conn Iggulden. The three books so far are:
Emperor: The Gates of Rome
Emperor: The Death of Kings
Emperor: The Field of Swords

 

Interesting. Mind posting a brief synopsis on what those books are about ?

Yea, I saw that scene with Pullo in the gladiator pit. Who knows what it really means, though, with clever editing and all ?

 

Well the stories are all a bit different, but I'll post what the publisher says about the first book, The Gates of Rome:

Rarely, if ever, does a new writer dazzle us with such a vivid imagination and storytelling, flawlessly capturing the essence of a land, a people, a legend. Conn Iggulden is just such a writer, bringing to vivid life one of the most fascinating eras in human history. In a true masterpiece of historical fiction, Iggulden takes us on a breathtaking journey through ancient Rome, sweeping us into a realm of tyrants and slaves, of dark intrigues and seething passions. What emerges is both a grand romantic tale of coming-of-age in the Roman Empire and a vibrant portrait of the early years of a man who would become the most powerful ruler on earth: Julius Caesar.

On the lush Italian peninsula, a new empire is taking shape. At its heart is the city of Rome, a place of glory and decadence, beauty and bloodshed. Against this vivid backdrop, two boys are growing to manhood, dreaming of battles, fame, and glory in service of the mightiest empire the world has ever known. One is the son of a senator, a boy of privilege and ambition to whom much has been given and from whom much is expected. The other is a bastard child, a boy of strength and cunning, whose love for his adoptive family?and his adoptive brother?will be the most powerful force in his life.

As young Gaius and Marcus are trained in the art of combat?under the tutelage of one of Rome?s most fearsome gladiators?Rome itself is being rocked by the art of treachery and ambition, caught in a tug-of-war as two rival generals, Marius and Sulla, push the empire toward civil war. For Marcus, a bloody campaign in Greece will become a young soldier?s proving ground. For Gaius, the equally deadly infighting of the Roman Senate will be the battlefield where he hones his courage and skill. And for both, the love of an extraordinary slave girl will be an honor each will covet but only one will win.

The two friends are forced to walk different paths, and by the time they meet again everything will have changed. Both will have known love, loss, and violence. And the land where they were once innocent will be thrust into the grip of bitter conflict?a conflict that will set Roman against Roman...and put their friendship to the ultimate test.

Brilliantly interweaving history and adventure, Conn Iggulden conjures a stunning array of contrasts?from the bloody stench of a battlefield to the opulence of the greatest city in history, from the tenderness of a lover to the treachery of an assassin. Superbly rendered, grippingly told, Emperor, The Gates of Rome is a work of vaulting imagination from a powerful new voice in historical fiction.

Oh, and I just found out the fourth book is out! It's called The Gods of War.

 

Oh man... one bad thing about being Canadian is seeing commercials for awesome shows like this but not being able to get the channel it's on. I can't get HBO... I'm really hoping it'll somehow be on another channel sometime cause I'm really interested in ancient Roman history.
Uh, it is on TMN every Sunday, which is avaiable Canada-wide as far as I know (as long as you pay extra of course ).

It now seems a more likely end to season one is the death of Pompey and a victorious Caesar growing more erratic and tyrannical in season two and ending with his death.

 

Yeah but I dont even have cable... although I knew it wasn't on cable up here from trying to find it at my mom's. Crap, I wish I had the movie network now...