The British Museum is running an exhibition about the Roman emperor Hadrian later on this month and one of the talking heads that I saw on last night's news mentioned the conflicts that the empire had in the Middle East back around 117 AD.
The previous emperor had expanded the empire by invading the Parthian empire (Iraq, Iran and surrounding areas) but Hadrian did not believe that these gains were defensible and withdrew his forces. Probably a wise move as the legions were facing cavalry forces, heavy armour and light horse archers – the archers were renowned for firing backwards as they rode away and some sources claim that this is the origin of parting shot.
He needed the troops to put down a revolt in what is now Israel and that proved to be successful, although there was another revolt 15 years later that required him to move legions from all across the empire to put down.
Is any of this starting to remind you of anything? Nineteen centuries later and the “West” is still embroiled in the region, does nobody read history any more?
Came across this video today and it made me laugh, enjoy.
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1 comment:
I think I've lost my sense of humor when it comes to politics.
Both sides have me very discouraged.
Feels like the '70s all over again.
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