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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,251 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
I threw in a lowball bid on these three AE's Didn't expect to win them though 3 for $35 ...... such a deal !  Ptolemy II ? 44.28grams 35-6 mm   2 Ptolemy AE's 18-20mm 8.62 grams & 19-20mm 8.57 grams   The big fella is not quite as nice as I had hoped but what the hey. Number 3 is much nicer than the sellers pic showed Number 2 is about what I expected ! As I am feeling very 'munificent' tonight I shall make the offer ...... Whosoever can name for me the favorite emperor of the Great Roman Historian Edward Gibbon may have coin number 2 ! Lets keep this to the newer members who might actually enjoy having the thing to play with. The only clue you have is in the title "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" So you can cross off Augustus and the whole Julio-Claudian line. I realize the time favors some and hinders others. Life isn't fair though .... is it I was supposed to be a Rockefeller ! |
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Nice coins.
While I acknowledge Gibbon's work as milestone, I value others much more - so I abstain from your challenge.
Btw, 'eagle looking back at cornucopia on wing' belongs to Ptolemy III and later as far as I know.
Edited by Medieval
02/19/2015 10:48 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
579 Posts |
I am fairly certain I actually know who Gibbon's favourite emperor is, which is shocking, but I will abstain for newer members.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4964 Posts |
that's pretty cool of you FR! i still have this one..   |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3443 Posts |
Ptolemy III sounds good to me !
Gibbon is far from authoritative and others have had access to better information than Edward had available to him in the 18th century. But no one has ever matched the beautiful prose style he used to describe the distant past. When I think that he sat by candlelight using a quill pen to compile the work ..... I am simply astounded.
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Quote:
But no one has ever matched the beautiful prose style he used to describe the distant past. Have a guess for what reason Mommsen got his Nobel Prize in Literatur - but maybe the English translations don't do his style justice. Postscript: Let me add, that I do not want to devalue Gibbon's style. Just there are others who have written history in a very literary way, one can add Romain Rolland (also a Nobel Prize winner) and quite a few Arabic writers to that. Mentioned Mommsen first because I read both Mommsen and Gibbon in original, the others only in translations. Edited by Medieval
02/19/2015 11:12 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Quote:
Es brillig war. Die schlichte Toven
Wirrten und wimmelten in Waben;
Und aller-mümsige Burggoven
Die mohmen Räth' ausgraben. Sometimes you need to read the original ! Gibbon as a man of his times was knowledgeable in Latin Greek and Hebrew. He apologizes to his readers for his inability to read Arabic ! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
I will need to find a copy of Mommsen !
Unfortunately my German never progressed any beyond the age of 4 !
Once school started I was immersed in the world of English.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
The hour is late and my pillow is calling for me. When I spoke of new members I should have perhaps made that new to ancients collectors ! Many of the members are collectors of US and have only recently learned that the world is older than they learned in Sunday school.
Any 'newbie' may offer an answer !
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Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Quote:
inability to read Arabic I would love to know enough Arabic to read "The Muqaddimah" in original. This is probably the first historic work written with some sort of scientific rather than journalistic approach. |
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Valued Member
United States
129 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Well well well well well
We have finally have a contestant !
I am hoping you didn't cheat !
But as we have no rules prohibiting 'research' all is allowed !
Yes Edward Gibbon practically fawns over Julian and devotes 3 full chapters to the last of the house of Constantine.
PM me with an address and your 'door' prize will be despatched with due diligence.
Did you learn the answer by reading Gibbon ? Perhaps by paying attention in class ?
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Valued Member
United States
129 Posts |
Thanks for posting the contest! I'll PM you tonight.
I've had a soft spot for Julian since reading the Gore Vidal novel. Knowing Gibbon's reputation regarding Christianity, I made an educated guess. I didn't look beforehand, but I couldn't resist checking my answer after I replied to the thread.
There is a lovely, unabridged Gibbon has been sitting on my bookshelf for 2 years, but I haven't cracked it open yet. Some day, when there is time...
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Miss the game, but I'm glad someone got it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
I did it on very much the spur of the moment. The least of the lot did not do much for me although it has a curious sort of look about it. I thought some 'newb' might get a thrill where I would simply be tossing it into a drawer somewhere.
Cracking open the Gibbon is an absolute must ! He is a writer who can bring the past to life and often has a dry sort of "Monty Python" British humor when discussing events.
I cannot remember the Chapter but he goes into some depth concerning a slave revolt. A certain big shot "Biggus" gets 'murdered by his own slaves'. When you check the footnote it reads ".... probably deserved it .....". The man had a sense of humor and certainly was treading some dangerous ground when he discussed the early church.
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Valued Member
United States
129 Posts |
Hi FR,
I tried using the 'Send an Email' section under your profile, but I am too new a member to use it. Not sure how long the waiting period is for that. Any alternatives?
Sorry to drag this post back up for everyone else.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,251 |
Posted 02/19/2015 10:50 pm
