by Gnaeus Dionysius Draco on Tue Feb 08, 2005 1:09 pm
Salve Cleopatra,
I also read this book! I found it an enjoyable read, but I'm not a proponent of the Oriental theory. I should dig deeper into the material again to tell why precisely, but, at any rate, I'm not convinced of the Oriental origin. Another gripe I had with this excellent book was that Heurgon seems to draw the influence of Etruscans on Rome a bit too far when he starts suggesting that Maecenas's odd poetry and dressing habits were inherited from his Etruscan forebears. It would be like blaming all president Roosevelt's oddities on his Dutch ancestry, while afaik he spoke only English.
Optime vale,
Draco
Gn. Dionysius Draco Invictus