nastya ’s Reviews > The First Man in Rome > Status Update
nastya
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Can someone explain me to myself? Why do I love anything Ancient Greece, but whenever it’s Romans, I’ve got nothing? Is it because Ancient Greece is a mythical place, the land where you can meet Athena or horny Zeus in the woods, and Rome feels like a real place? How do I start appreciating Rome at last??
— Nov 11, 2025 11:27AM
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Jan-Maat
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Nov 11, 2025 11:38AM
Read virgil or ovid maybe?
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Jan-Maat wrote: "Read virgil or ovid maybe?"I loved Ovid's Metamorphoses. Not attracted to Virgil for some reason. I am so bad on Rome though, I know nothing outside of what I've learned from hbo's Rome that I barely remember. No idea who's Sulla for example. But I look at this highly recommended 1000 page book about him and it doesn't seem like a good time :(
Sulla is not the kind of guy you'd want to meet.More ovid then, try his art of love, mind you that might make your greece vs rome divide even deeper
Jan-Maat wrote: "Sulla is not the kind of guy you'd want to meet.More ovid then, try his art of love, mind you that might make your greece vs rome divide even deeper"
And now you're intriguing me, Jan!
For most, it seems to be either/or, I've known a grand total of maybe 3 people who love Greece and Rome equally, and I've moved in history buff circles all my life. It's nothing out of the ordinary or something to be concerned about, I think, just enjoy the one that appeals to you the most. :)
Marquise wrote: "For most, it seems to be either/or, I've known a grand total of maybe 3 people who love Greece and Rome equally, and I've moved in history buff circles all my life. It's nothing out of the ordinary..."Well, for what it's worth, Sulla and I had a nice first introfuction!
I'm totally on the Greece side, Rome feels like The Usurper for some reason... Not that there isn't much to love, but as a southern European its grip culturally feels way stronger and close than anything greek. Maybe it's the eventual turn towards Christianity? All I know is that I'm part of the people that fantasize with what might have happened had Carthage won the war. I might need someone to explain me to myself too
I hear you, Anna! I also suspect it doesn't help that, let's say, a particular type of male tends to be attracted to the myth of the Rome. They tend to love their 'Roman salutes'. :)
I hear you on those types. Annoying crowd, they drive many people out, especially female enthusiasts. :(
Greeks are too gay for them. Well, except for Spartans. And no, there's no use to even try to explain to them, they've seen Zack Snyder's movie!
Well, weren't Spartans 300 the epitome of the white, straight man fantasy? Able to appreciate the gayness without feeling gay for it (I teased my male friends about this endlessly back in the day and they're still pissed off that somehow their manhood felt threatened). I also agree that the idea of Rome has been kidnapped and twisted to suit certain people's delusions...
