Philip Matyszak > Quotes

“Provided the gods of Rome are given their due, it doesn't really matter to them whether their worshippers believe in them or not. Having taken part in the official rituals, a citizen is free to worship whatever other deities he pleases. Rom'es gods are there to be obeyed and respected, not loved, and they no more mind sacrifices to other deities than the taxman minds people paying other dues elsewhere. Dealing with the gods is an exchange of duties and mutual respect. Confessing a deep love for a particular god is superstitio and the person concerned is probably emotionally concerned.”
― Philip Matyszak, Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day

“lips,”
― Philip Matyszak, The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories

“attached”
― Philip Matyszak, Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual

“Phoenicians pioneered a new style of writing that reproduced not images of the things described but the sounds used for them in speech--the first alphabetic script, As trade developed, writing became more common, for clay tablets had been replaced by an Egyptian technology: papyrus. The thinner more flexible material, made from the pith of reeds growing along the Nile, is the ancestor of the English word 'paper' (now being replaced by The Tablet).”
― Philip Matyszak, Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World

“Sargon grew up as a gardener”
― Philip Matyszak, Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World

“Every time Titus comes to Rome, he feels his sinuses cringe in horror.”
― Philip Matyszak, 24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There

“THE POET FLORUS TO HADRIAN I wouldn’t want to be Caesar, And tramp round Britain, Getting ague in my knees For Scythian frosts later to freeze. HADRIAN’S REPLY I wouldn’t want to be Florus And lurk in pubs, Eating pies and peas And wander round wine-shops Getting infested with fleas. HISTORIA AUGUSTA Hadrian 16”
― Philip Matyszak, 24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There

“He prefers to interact as little as possible with the humans to which it is applied.”
― Philip Matyszak, 24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There

“Grease can be made from pig fat.”
― Philip Matyszak, 24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There

“men tire of wine and dancing before they tire of war.”
― Philip Matyszak, 24 Hours in Ancient Athens: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There

“cornfields”
― Philip Matyszak, Sparta: Rise of a Warrior Nation

“Tell the emperor that the Diadalic Hall has fallen
Phoebus [Apollo] no longer has his chamber.
Gone is the laurel, and in the wellspring of prophecy
The speaking water is still.”
― Philip Matyszak, Ancient Magic: A Practitioner's Guide to the Supernatural in Greece and Rome