posted
Recently, I read an article about Roman tria nomina, and it stated that while most Romans had the standard Praenomen, Nomen and Cognomen, a select few had an Agnomen.
Now, does anyone know what the Agnomen signified? I know of only one example offhand of an Agnomen, and that would be the Africanus associated with Scipio. Now, this leads me to believe that there is an association with Scipio's exploits in Africa and his Agnomen. (if indeed that's what it is)
Could the Agnomen symbolize perhaps recognition for honorable deeds or noteworthy events within a Cognomen?
------------------ "Instructed by history and reflection, Julian was persuaded that, if the diseases of the body may sometimes be cured by salutary violence, neither steel nor fire can eradicate the erroneous opinions of the mind."
-Edward Gibbons, The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire.
posted
"...My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, Commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next..."
I submit this thread for consideration for the Officer Lounge's "out-of-the-blue" award.
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[This message has been edited by The_Tom (edited March 19, 2001).]
posted
I can't remember what Scipio Africanus' full name was, but I always assumed that 'Africanus' was his Cognomen.
For those of you not classically educated and going "huh?" it worked like this:
Gaius Julius Caesar - Gaius, of the Julian House, known as Caesar. Or you had Marcus Tullius Cicero, known nowadays as Cicero but sometimes (by the Victorians more than anyone else, I believe) called Tully, because that was his actual "surname. . ."
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posted
Sol: That = good. I = educated. I = almost right about my first assumption.
As much as I enjoyed Gladiator (In fact, it's my favorite movie, in like, ever), they did get Maximus' name a little wonky.
"Maximus Decimus Meridius"
Maximus is a Cognomen, not a Praenomen, meaning 'greatest'.
Decimus was one of the twenty primary Praenomen, and was never a name of any gens. Similarily, Decius and Decumius are both Nomen.
Meridius, and the goggles - THEY DO NOTHING! Actually, I can't find Meridius in a reference of any Roman names.
------------------ "Instructed by history and reflection, Julian was persuaded that, if the diseases of the body may sometimes be cured by salutary violence, neither steel nor fire can eradicate the erroneous opinions of the mind."
-Edward Gibbons, The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire.
posted
Meridius is obviously related to "Meridian", no? Maybe his mommy was in Morocco when he was due? Maybe they could take/make any name they wanted for their child? Then your lists are poor rules for namegiving...
posted
Well, if so, he could be Nicole Kidman's son. I am Val Kilmer!
------------------ "Instructed by history and reflection, Julian was persuaded that, if the diseases of the body may sometimes be cured by salutary violence, neither steel nor fire can eradicate the erroneous opinions of the mind."
-Edward Gibbons, The Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire.
posted
Looking for historical accuracy in Gladiator? You'll probably have more luck searching the movie for references to "all your base are belong to us".
The following analysis contains spoilers, if you haven't seen the movie yet...
Let's see... Marcus Aurelius gets killed relatively near to when the movie starts. So, the movie starts in A.D. 180 or earlier. At the end, Commodus gets killed, so that's A.D. 193. Hence, the movie spans about thirteen years. Funny how that little kid never aged, eh?
Of course, the kid obviously stopped aging long before the movie started. He was already at least nineteen years old when Marcus Aurelius died. He was at least thirty-two at the end of the movie.
How do I know this? The kid was the son of Lucius Verus, who was joint emperor w/ Marcus Aurelius. At least, he was until he died in A.D. 161. Meaning the kid was born either before that, or in the nine months following.
Historical accuracy in Gladiator? I think not.
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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
Just to throw another kink into the works...
Before Maximus battles Tigris of Gaul, he's in the passageway talking with Proximo ("Shadows & DUST, Maximus!!"), you can hear Cassius announcing that he's in the "employ" of Antonius Proximo....
"CAESAR...is PROUD the present...the people's champion, Aelius...MAXimus!!!"
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------------------ The government that seems the most unwise, oft goodness to the people best supplies. That which is meddling, touching everything, will work but ill, and disappointment bring. - The Tao Te Ching
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