Oweynagat ('Cave of the Cats'), Co. Roscommon

Caves of Ireland ^ | prior to July 25, 2022 | unattributed

[Beowulf9]

I did not know that the Circus Maximus dated from the Etruscan monarchy period. Interesting. I wish they’d find some more on Rome’s golden age and the Etruscans as well in those charred rolls being figured out in Pompeii.

I always wonder what Caligula would’ve thought of John Hurt’s interpretation of him. Certainly Hurt was loveable, (not so much ole’ Gaius Caligula).

[SunkenCiv]

Calig-boy came down with some kind of infection, was in a coma apparently, and was a different guy when he came to. Prior to that he was ruthless, and that continued, until he'd finished off or exiled his close family. After that he didn't have anyone he could even remotely trust in adminstrative roles, and scared the crap out of everyone with reign of terror style summary killings and such. John Hurt would have been toast. :^)

The Roman games are said to have grown out of Etruscan funeral games, but since we don't have Etruscan literature, it's probably not a leap to conclude that the Etruscans enjoyed/tolerated brutal contests and such. The Tomb of the Augurs has a wall painting showing a man with a bag covering his head trying to fend off a vicious dog.