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\\nWe're jumping back into the narrative. The title might be a bit of a giveaway, yes yes, we'll be talking about ... pestilence! But before we get there we need to consider the circumstances.
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\\nRome has been having lots of problems with their neighbours, particularly the Aequians and we've seen a shift in tactics from Aequians engaging in guerilla style raiding to seeking out the Romans in pitched battle. To say that Rome has been vexed by this is an understatement. Livy has offered some portents for the times ahead which, in a narrative history of Rome, can't be good!
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\\nOur
\\nMain Players
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\\n
\\n
\\nThe
\\nConsuls for c. 463 BCE:
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\\n
\\n
\\n*
\\nLucius
\\n\\tAebutius Helva
\\n\\t*
\\nPublius
\\n\\tServilius Priscus
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\\nHARK,
\\nPLAGUE!
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\\nLivy kinds informs us of some dreadful details about a plague that is sweeping through the countryside. We take you through the grisly details from both Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus.
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\\nWhat
\\ninitially seems confined beyond the city though soon moves within and
\\nthis means problems for urban citizens, visitors, and the body
\\npolitic (both figuratively and literally).
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\\n
\\n
\\nAN
\\nOPPORTUNITY?
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\\nWhile Romans struggle just to stay alive, the Aequians and the Volscians consolidate their growing friendship of mutual convenience into a straight up alliance. This places Rome in a difficult spot between needing to keep her own allies - the Latins and the Hernicans - appeased as well as the knowledge that their previous irritations have formally combined forces.
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\\n
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\\nCOME
\\nFOR THE PLAGUE, STAY FOR THE...
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\\n
\\n
\\n...Other
\\nexcitement afoot!
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\\nThings
\\nto look forward to in this episode. We'll
\\nconsider:
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\\n*
\\nThe
\\n\\tfirst acts
\\n\\tof the new Aequian-Volscian alliance
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\\nThe
\\n\\tRoman response to their allies' call for support
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\\nThe
\\n\\tdefence systems of the City
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\\nThe
\\n\\tpower of divine intervention
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\\nSome
\\n\\treasons why Rome doesn't fall in this moment
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\\nAnd
\\n\\tquestions and discussion about the role of the interreges
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\\nEpisode 92 - The Pestilence of 463 BCE
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\\nThe angel of death striking a door during the plague of Rome. Engraving by Levasseur after J. Delaunay Image credit: Wikimedia Commons and Wellcome Images
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