Historic Replicas

Although few of his writings have survived, Tiberius Claudius was one of the most influential historians of ancient Rome—not to mention the fact the he became Emperor. It can often be difficult to humanize these ancient figures who have reached mythical proportions, but that’s exactly what Robert Graves does in his fictional autobiography of Tiberius, “I, Claudius.”

The book, which is consistently voted as one of the best of the 20th century, gives a vivid, personalized picture of the miraculous rise to power of Tiberius Claudius. During the story, it’s often easy to forget that the book is an act of fiction due to its historical consistencies and distinct voice. Much of the book deals with the politics of the time—including the reigns of Julius Caesar, Augustus and Caligula—but there are also graphic accounts of soldiers and gladiators battling in Roman armour.

Since his iconic role in Gladiator, Russell Crowe has been cast in a variety of roles, none of which, however, have garnered the acclaim of his portrayal of Maximus. Many of these subsequent films have been more dramatic, putting Crowe into humanizing roles, which many feel are out of his range. However, Crowe has traded in the Roman helmet for a bow and quiver and teamed up with director Ridley Scott once again.

Their new version of Robin Hood opened to lukewarm reviews last weekend, and couldn’t even earn the top spot at the box office. While audiences showed a tepid reception for the film, many critics and moviegoers alike agreed that the role was more inline with Crowe’s personality than his recent theatrical endeavors. Although he may lack the thespian aptitude of more refined actors, when it comes it grit and guts, audiences tend to cast Crowe in an approving light.

When people think of the ancient western world, the two societies that come to mind most often are Greece and Rome. This association makes sense, as much of the culture and traditions between the two civilizations were quite similar. While the Greeks are often considered the founders of modern thought thanks to Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the Romans also contributed greatly to the world that we live in today.

From our art and literature to our vary language, much of what we take for granted today was made possible via these cultures. These societies also made significant advances in math, science and various other technologies and areas of study. Most of the original artifacts from these cultures have been destroyed, but there are still accurate Greek and Roman replicas to be found.