Exhibition: How Barbarian Loot Wound Up In The Rhine (German)

Die WElt ^ | 02/15/2008 | Peter Ditmar

[pierrem15]

Exihibition in Bonn concerning loot plundered from Gaul by the Alemanni found in the Rhine (more than 1000 objects). This event is dated fairly exactly to the mid-third century by Roman records of a great defeat of Germans trying to get back to Germany after plundering Gaul. Apparently the Roman Army caught them in mid-stream, burdened with plunder. Bet it sucked to be them that day.

Story in German.

[tarheelswamprat]

Personally I’ve always wondered about the ‘lost eagles’ of the legions of Varros.

I believe Tacitus wrote that two of the eagles were later recovered.

[tarheelswamprat]

Personally I’ve always wondered about the ‘lost eagles’ of the legions of Varros.

I believe Tacitus wrote that two of the eagles were later recovered.

Correction - I should have checked before posting. It was Gibbon's account, and all three eagles were eventually recovered.

[colorado tanker]

Spectacular, isn’t it?

[Cicero]

There's an excellent novel about the lost eagles by Ralph Graves, who also wrote "I, Claudius," on which the BBC series was based:

[Cicero]

Yes, I’d love to see it displayed. Maybe they’ll send it over here at some point.

[colorado tanker]

That's an exhibition I'd travel to see.

One of the highlights of a trip to Rome for me was the Pantheon, because it is a window into how those buildings looked in their prime, before they were ruined. It's the same for me when I see perfectly preserved objects from the ancient world.

[allmendream]

Not much would be left behind except bodies. The Barbarians LOVED to loot Roman soldier corpses of their swords and helmets and armor.

The name William is from Gildhelm (glittering helmet); and was a title of honor for a Barbarian warrior who had taken a Roman helmet.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

[Cicero]

I loved Rome. My daughter was over there on a school trip last summer (she’s an interior design and architecture student), and I was pleased to see she saw almost exactly the same sights as I did, including Hadrian’s Villa on the outskirts.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I, Claudius was by Robert Graves. He also did a fantastic translation of Suetonius' Lives of the 12 Caesars.

[Cicero]

Oh, well. I thought there was something wrong there, because the two books have different styles. Should have checked it. Both books are in our summer house in Maine.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Et tu, Cicero?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

You would absolutely love the Illustrated Lives of the 12 Ceasars. Must see dead tree.

[Cicero]

Already read it, but quite a long time ago, and I don’t know what became of my copy.

[dljordan]

“It’s also possible hat the photo was taken after a water jet was used to excavate.”

I don’t think those plants would be there if they were using a water jet.