Lindsay Powell

I think you're right. There are certain things that stand out because they, in a sense, typify or embody some of our stereotypes, what we think we know about ancient history. And the word itself, Praetorian, somehow hits you in the face as being really powerful and important. And we use the expression Praetorian Guard.

I think you're right. There are certain things that stand out because they, in a sense, typify or embody some of our stereotypes, what we think we know about ancient history. And the word itself, Praetorian, somehow hits you in the face as being really powerful and important. And we use the expression Praetorian Guard.

I think you're right. There are certain things that stand out because they, in a sense, typify or embody some of our stereotypes, what we think we know about ancient history. And the word itself, Praetorian, somehow hits you in the face as being really powerful and important. And we use the expression Praetorian Guard.

as if it's somehow like, I don't know, dare I say, like the Waffen-SS standing outside the Reichstag or something. But in a sense, that's what the Praetorian Guard, if we use the modern expression, did in ancient Rome. Except, of course, they were called the Cohortes Praetoriae, so they were actually cohorts. Praetorian cohorts.

as if it's somehow like, I don't know, dare I say, like the Waffen-SS standing outside the Reichstag or something. But in a sense, that's what the Praetorian Guard, if we use the modern expression, did in ancient Rome. Except, of course, they were called the Cohortes Praetoriae, so they were actually cohorts. Praetorian cohorts.

as if it's somehow like, I don't know, dare I say, like the Waffen-SS standing outside the Reichstag or something. But in a sense, that's what the Praetorian Guard, if we use the modern expression, did in ancient Rome. Except, of course, they were called the Cohortes Praetoriae, so they were actually cohorts. Praetorian cohorts.

So we, in fact, in our translation, have even changed some of the imaging, if you like. We think of them as being a bit like the horse guards. They just stand there looking pretty. But their function was much broader than that. They weren't just a security detail. They did other things. But you're absolutely right. I think that they're one of the very iconic aspects of Roman history, particularly.

So we, in fact, in our translation, have even changed some of the imaging, if you like. We think of them as being a bit like the horse guards. They just stand there looking pretty. But their function was much broader than that. They weren't just a security detail. They did other things. But you're absolutely right. I think that they're one of the very iconic aspects of Roman history, particularly.

So we, in fact, in our translation, have even changed some of the imaging, if you like. We think of them as being a bit like the horse guards. They just stand there looking pretty. But their function was much broader than that. They weren't just a security detail. They did other things. But you're absolutely right. I think that they're one of the very iconic aspects of Roman history, particularly.

I think you're right. It's important to understand where we get our information from. So a lot of the time, we rely very much on classical sources. And depending on the period you're studying, it might be Appian, for example, talking about the late Roman Republic and into Augustus. Or it might be Tacitus, it might be Cassius Dio, who are writing...

I think you're right. It's important to understand where we get our information from. So a lot of the time, we rely very much on classical sources. And depending on the period you're studying, it might be Appian, for example, talking about the late Roman Republic and into Augustus. Or it might be Tacitus, it might be Cassius Dio, who are writing...

I think you're right. It's important to understand where we get our information from. So a lot of the time, we rely very much on classical sources. And depending on the period you're studying, it might be Appian, for example, talking about the late Roman Republic and into Augustus. Or it might be Tacitus, it might be Cassius Dio, who are writing...

quite a lot later than some of the events we're going to be describing. And you have to understand that they're writing, one, they have an agenda. They're telling the stories to convey a particular narrative that they've structured for their book.

quite a lot later than some of the events we're going to be describing. And you have to understand that they're writing, one, they have an agenda. They're telling the stories to convey a particular narrative that they've structured for their book.

quite a lot later than some of the events we're going to be describing. And you have to understand that they're writing, one, they have an agenda. They're telling the stories to convey a particular narrative that they've structured for their book.

And in Tacitus' case, it's basically the abuse of power and how powerful men corrupt and corrupt the society which was before them essentially a good society. And he was trying to get back to a republic. So he's writing about, in the 90s, AD. So already Augustus is a century behind him. And he would not have known people who lived probably in his day.

And in Tacitus' case, it's basically the abuse of power and how powerful men corrupt and corrupt the society which was before them essentially a good society. And he was trying to get back to a republic. So he's writing about, in the 90s, AD. So already Augustus is a century behind him. And he would not have known people who lived probably in his day.

And in Tacitus' case, it's basically the abuse of power and how powerful men corrupt and corrupt the society which was before them essentially a good society. And he was trying to get back to a republic. So he's writing about, in the 90s, AD. So already Augustus is a century behind him. And he would not have known people who lived probably in his day.

So he was getting his, if you like, anecdotal information from second or third sources. The written sources that he was relying on were going to be things like official documents, Acta Diorna, this type of thing, the Proceedings of the Senate, or other chronicles that were available. And so we have some of those in the case, as I say, that's Tacitus.

So he was getting his, if you like, anecdotal information from second or third sources. The written sources that he was relying on were going to be things like official documents, Acta Diorna, this type of thing, the Proceedings of the Senate, or other chronicles that were available. And so we have some of those in the case, as I say, that's Tacitus.