Mary Beard is marvellous

[TheYuleLogLady]

i love her. i want to go to pompeii and sare a botle of wine with hr.

MrsBethal You are right. Nobody deserves the attention of AA Gill.

I'm surprised to see a man of his aahhmm high standards being photographed next Jeremy Clarkson.

Who or what is AA Gill? Actually, no one answer that: I can't bring myself to care.

Mary, programme is marvellous. DP and I keep pausing it to discuss.

I wonder if you're aware of the French model of colonialism, to which the Roman model seems closer. In theory, those colonised by the French were "blessed" with becoming French(wo)men and taught French culture because the local culture was deemed not worth keeping. They also had democratic representation in France and supposedly a full part in the life of the nation.

This contrasts with the British colonial model, which to a greater extent preserved local culture - while deeming it inferior and trapping the colonised within it. (Although not actually British, apartheid is the canonical example of this.)

In practice, both imposition of the colonial culture and treating of the colonised as inferior happened in all colonies - but the underlying philosophy of the French seems more like the Roman, as you describe it.

On the bright side... I did not know this programme was on till I heard all the hoo-hah from Adrian Gill. Delighted to discover its on tonight - have told the DC to record it so we can watch together tomorrow - looking forward to a feast!

I like cheddar's link

Agree a webchat would be fab.

Ep. 2 about to start!

Mary, you rock. Hope my daughter grows up to be like you.

I think I've read (don't remember who did the interview - am tempted to say it was Lynn Barber but can't guarantee it) that Mister Gill is convinced he is himself frightfully gorgeous. (You know the sort of man. The ones who patently obviously feel they are doing you a bit of a favour by sharing a spot of their gorgeous presence with you.)

He is, like virtually all of them, wrong in his convictions.

PS Mary, you're fab.

I wish I was at Newnham College, Cambridge and she was my lecturer!

Mary. You are marvellous. What an interesting and absorbing programme. I think dh has a crush on you, regardless of Gill says

what Gill says. Clearly I can't string a sentence together

DP and I are absolutely loving this. Very interesting and informative.

Who gives a shit what AA Gill thinks? Twat!

Just catching up on last weeks episode - its brilliant. I think its always good to see someone who is so passionate about their subject.

she's doing great work bringing Rome to life right now...used to read her blog on timesonline before being blocked out by the big pay wall.

you can still read the blog, it's outside the paywall

ooh thanks. She name-checks my parents old Prof!
(Wiseman: currently emeritus of Exeter)
he used to like their dog in lectures.

Beard really likes filth doesn't she!

Loved this week's episode about street life in Ancient Rome - it's so much more interesting learning about the lives of ordinary people, the bodyguards, the bakers, the midwives and the barmaids.

It's great having a woman's perspective on it too, like Mary's take on the cramped dwelling quarters and women giving birth in those tiny apartments, and the young children who died, the tombstone of the midwife (obstetrix!) - all these are details that a male historian would never really dwell on. It's so important to have that perspective on a highly masculine, macho culture like Rome's.

One question I had though is, why do we assume that the latrines were public and pooping was a shared experience? Weren't these public latrines just the equivalent of our own public conveniences? How do we know that there weren't curtains or wooden structures making each cubicle separate? We only have the stone evidence after all. Surely most Romans used chamber pots to do their business at home like everyone else and used the latrines when out and about as necessary? Also, what would women have done? I can't imagine it would have been acceptable for women to poop side by side with men as many women didn't go out much in public at all, probably because those tiny, dark streets were so dangerous!

[secretly hopes that Mary will be along in due course to enlighten me...]

This is TV at it's absolute very best. I am really loving this series. Interesting, informative, intellectual, funny. Mary Beard is marvellous.

I think i've fallen in love with her. What a woman!

DH and I caught the programme last night for the first time - it was fabulous! How often do you laugh out loud at a history programme?? DH reckons that what makes her so engaging - he works a lot with (scientific) lecturers, and he says the sort of wit and story-telling talent Mary showed is sadly lacking in almost all of them!

Loved the program and counting down till next week's.

Many thanks Tunip - say hi to Captain Barnacles for me

CathynClaire

Edless, Wiseman's Catullus and his world was one of my fave books when I was an undergrad - am inspired by your post and M's programme to dig it out, I haven't read it for 18 years!

You know that socking great wall that M said was partly a fire wall? I never even noticed it before or wondered why it was there....

I was very fortunate in the 80s at my very bog standard comp to be offered Classics in first year and Latin throughout by an amazing teacher who brought the Greeks and Romans to life for me - her teachings are one of the greatest gifts I ever received as they have enriched my life so much. When I finally made it to Rome, I found it rather overwhelming and emotional to see all these things I'd heard and read about.

Mary Beard reminded me very much of her and so ,because of that, I love her too!

Dear Professor Beard,

I just wanted to add my thanks for TWO absolutely marvellous series. I've visited Rome, Herculaneum and Pompeii and you've totally brought them to life. I've now an excuse to return (if I needed one!) as Ostia looks amazing.

My 17 yr old daughter is hoping to study Ancient History at university so we're glued to the tv. Thank you not only for such an interesting programme but giving us something in common to chat about, and without arguing!!

Will there be a book of the show? I've read your book on Pompeii and loved it.
thanks so much for contributing via MN :)

My DD (13) and I really enjoyed catching some of this last night - we were amazed by the ancient blocks of flats - I wouldn't have thought they'd still be standing so many years later. Brought my DDs Latin studies alive for her - she loves history - am thinking that or archeology etc. might be the subject for her !
Horrible histories has got her and younger brother off to a good start too

DD and I also enjoyed watching the wonderful woman palaentologist on TV the other day - who looked at the transition/ evolotion of animals from sea to land in a new way. (Really sorry I'm not good with names)

Great to hear from women historians and scientists alike !
Several other good women presenters on TV ATM - Julia Bradbury and the historian from Hampton Court Palace spring to mind. (BBC - you'll have to tell me their names more often if you want me to remember them !)