Wednesday, April 12, 2006
BLOGS IN TIME - Vol. I
New Revelations Regarding Imperial Reaction to Vesuvius Disaster
December 12, 79 AD
New revelations on the Imperial response to the anger of the God's this last Vulcanalia have given new voice to Senators and survivors critical of Caeser.
Lucius Marcus, an administrator for Seutonius Servidious, Caeser's appointed high priest, revealed yesterday that he and other priests had warned Caeser and Servidius that the God's were angry, and that disaster loomed. In fact, Marcus claimed that a possible eruption of Mt. Vesuvius was specifically discussed during a presentation to Caeser and his staff by Imperial and local priests in early August, just days before the disaster. Such statements directly contradict Caeser's comment shortly after the eruption that "no one thought there would be an eruption."
When the ground began to shake and the water dried-up in and around Pompei, Imperial authorities assured the public that all steps were being taken to adequately appease the Gods. Servidious claimed that "hundreds of lamb, goats and chickens have been sacraficed, and hundreds more are strategically located throughout the area in the event they will be needed." But when disaster struck, many were left without sufficient livestock, and some resorted to sacrificing bugs and plants. "It just didn't work," said Polonius Tuolnius, a local slave trader. "We sacrificed everything that we could, except the slaves, but the Gods were not appeased - hell-fire, ash and brimstone descended upon us! Where were the Imperial Authorities?!"
Imperial reaction to the disaster is widely viewed as having been inadequate in planning and execution. Even several days after the disaster, livestock that could have been sacrificed by local residents had not yet been set in motion from their holding area in Rome. Said one priest mobilized to render assitance during the disaster, "we came to help, but our religious services were hampered by poor logistical planning."
Marcus' comments yesterday place in sharp relief, for some, the degradation in the level of competency from the previous administration to this. Yesterday's revelations also renewed claims by critics that Caeser's plans for reconstruction of Pompei fell short of what was needed. "The aquaduct commission, the vomitorium commission, the legions. . . everyone has been given an assignment, but there are no funds to complete their tasks," claimed Senator Antonium Hervedicus. Others claimed that Imperial reaction was driven in part by prejudice against Campanians.
Senators from the region have requested over $MLLXXVII in reconstruction funding.
December 12, 79 AD
New revelations on the Imperial response to the anger of the God's this last Vulcanalia have given new voice to Senators and survivors critical of Caeser.
Lucius Marcus, an administrator for Seutonius Servidious, Caeser's appointed high priest, revealed yesterday that he and other priests had warned Caeser and Servidius that the God's were angry, and that disaster loomed. In fact, Marcus claimed that a possible eruption of Mt. Vesuvius was specifically discussed during a presentation to Caeser and his staff by Imperial and local priests in early August, just days before the disaster. Such statements directly contradict Caeser's comment shortly after the eruption that "no one thought there would be an eruption."
When the ground began to shake and the water dried-up in and around Pompei, Imperial authorities assured the public that all steps were being taken to adequately appease the Gods. Servidious claimed that "hundreds of lamb, goats and chickens have been sacraficed, and hundreds more are strategically located throughout the area in the event they will be needed." But when disaster struck, many were left without sufficient livestock, and some resorted to sacrificing bugs and plants. "It just didn't work," said Polonius Tuolnius, a local slave trader. "We sacrificed everything that we could, except the slaves, but the Gods were not appeased - hell-fire, ash and brimstone descended upon us! Where were the Imperial Authorities?!"
Imperial reaction to the disaster is widely viewed as having been inadequate in planning and execution. Even several days after the disaster, livestock that could have been sacrificed by local residents had not yet been set in motion from their holding area in Rome. Said one priest mobilized to render assitance during the disaster, "we came to help, but our religious services were hampered by poor logistical planning."
Marcus' comments yesterday place in sharp relief, for some, the degradation in the level of competency from the previous administration to this. Yesterday's revelations also renewed claims by critics that Caeser's plans for reconstruction of Pompei fell short of what was needed. "The aquaduct commission, the vomitorium commission, the legions. . . everyone has been given an assignment, but there are no funds to complete their tasks," claimed Senator Antonium Hervedicus. Others claimed that Imperial reaction was driven in part by prejudice against Campanians.
Senators from the region have requested over $MLLXXVII in reconstruction funding.
