"But wait, there's more!"

Before we leave the "Ancients" a few recommendations:

read "POMPEII" by Robert Harris, one of the best books ever! I was interested in the engineering, having seen some Roman aquaducts (and bridges) in southern Europe and in the possibility of another eruption of Vesuvius, having seen documentaries about the eruption in A.D. 79. But, what also intrigued me is that the author treats his characters as acquaintances, "warts and all". Some passages were very graphic - the pregnancy of the protagonist's wife - and I found myself skipping over them whenever I reread the book. And, some good books are even better the second/third time.

Also, Petronius, "THE SATYRICON" and Seneca, "ON BENEFITS". If you are feeling particularly frisky, try them in Latin. Both writers as well as hundreds of others can be found at www.gutenberg.org where they can be downloaded or copied. You might want to consider being a proof-reader. It's fun.

And, while you're at it, check out "THE UNWILLING VESTAL", originally published ca. 1919. It was one of my grandmother's favorite books which she read to me at bedtime.

Bedtime was never my favorite time unless I had a book, a flashlight and no adults upstairs. The deal was: she would read 15 minutes and I would put out the light and ditch the flashlight. We both kept our promises because somehow she managed to make each evening like an episode in a "cliff-hanger". I was so anxious to know what would happen next that I was in bed before I had to be. Clever woman, in many ways.