08-22-2002, 11:22 AM
Hello,<br>
<br>
Actually I wouldn't recommend this volume to anyone. It is chock full<br>
of glaring errors. Some of them are even really funny. My favourite is<br>
the bit where he mentions a gladiator "fighting a wild bear" although<br>
the Latin [which the author evidently doesn't understand] clearly says<br>
the bear is playing a flute! He also puts Caligula in "the Colosseum"<br>
[presumably as a ghost], which made me smile too. In all I compiled<br>
a 12 page document listing all the mistakes in this volume. I get the<br>
feeling it was all done to a very tight deadline after minimal research.<br>
Quite the worst Osprey has ever done, in my opinion. Forget it.<br>
<br>
For a good basic intro to gladiators [and chariot racing, boxing, theatre<br>
and other Roman entertainments] I would suggest you get "Gladiators<br>
and Caesars". For an honest attempt at reconstruction [but beware<br>
of some of the "creative stories" presented as supporting theory],<br>
together with nice illustrations and an ace catalogue of surviving<br>
armour get "Das Spiel mit dem Tod" by Junkelmann.<br>
<br>
-- Susan ["Ferrum est quod amo"] <p></p><i></i>
<br>
Actually I wouldn't recommend this volume to anyone. It is chock full<br>
of glaring errors. Some of them are even really funny. My favourite is<br>
the bit where he mentions a gladiator "fighting a wild bear" although<br>
the Latin [which the author evidently doesn't understand] clearly says<br>
the bear is playing a flute! He also puts Caligula in "the Colosseum"<br>
[presumably as a ghost], which made me smile too. In all I compiled<br>
a 12 page document listing all the mistakes in this volume. I get the<br>
feeling it was all done to a very tight deadline after minimal research.<br>
Quite the worst Osprey has ever done, in my opinion. Forget it.<br>
<br>
For a good basic intro to gladiators [and chariot racing, boxing, theatre<br>
and other Roman entertainments] I would suggest you get "Gladiators<br>
and Caesars". For an honest attempt at reconstruction [but beware<br>
of some of the "creative stories" presented as supporting theory],<br>
together with nice illustrations and an ace catalogue of surviving<br>
armour get "Das Spiel mit dem Tod" by Junkelmann.<br>
<br>
-- Susan ["Ferrum est quod amo"] <p></p><i></i>