Arch of Tĭtus 1976

[empacae]

Wish I had the videos I took of the Mayan ruins in the Yucatan. It was terrific fun climbing the pyramids and temples where all those human sacrifices took place. Our tour guide was amazing although she was from Aztec ancestary. But sadly, I went snorkelling and forgot to take my video camera out of my pocket, and the sea water destroyed my camera and microchip which had over 9 hours of video. Hope you made some vids from your tour. I'm going to do Rome next year, but I would love to see...

[empacae]

The Vatican and the churches first, and then maybe cruise through the Greek islands. If I had more time I would love to check out the pagan monuments too. You're a great story teller... veen if you are an atheist ;-) lol

[MikeOfKorea]

Then Rome it is! I need to see Europe again. Has it really been 31 years?

[JeremyMilne]

Is mr watson a scottish fellow?

[sp4zzer]

Yeah.. We had a splednid trip to Japan, huge travel blog at biginjapan dot tchr dot no. You may also do a youtube search for "kjellsen - tokyo" to find the music video trubute we made when we were there :)

[ooglebydoogleby]

His first name wasn't bigus was it? Sorry couldn't resist. Always a pleasure.

[tenneral]

@ooglebydoogleby I was hoping that someone would suggest this!!

[ooglebydoogleby]

@tenneral You do realise this could descend into pythonesque nonsense Incontinentia pantsia etc!

[RobNorthampton]

Last time you were climbing a tower, and this time you were yomping around Rome! It's one hell of a way of keeping fit, Michael! I'm pleased you had a good time.

[tenneral]

@RobNorthampton Yes, but now I need a long 'sit down' to recover from the holiday. Keeping fit is a bugger of a game at my age!!

[midas41]

Your videos are delightfully charming and uplifting. Hope it is not to long before you can travel there again.

[farvision]

google "John A Farnsworth" picks up folks in the usa - probably not the right one.

"Roderick Richmond Watson" gives Oxford, Thames Valley, OX7 5. Might be it!

[tenneral]

@farvision  With a name like that, it must be he!!

[KiaOra53]

Taking bets those two clever boys became architects.

I do hope they contact you; don't mind even if I'm proved wrong regarding their choice of career.

Best museum prize for me is the one in Crete. Stuffed with jaw- dropping exhibits.

[nilbud]

Christopher Walter Monckton, 3rd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley?

[tenneral]

@nilbud Same spelling, different person. Check out Christopher J Monckton on Wikipedia.

[nilbud]

@tenneral Sorry, sorry I just saw polymath7's outburst and almost had the same embolism. I hadn't pegged you as a UKIP supporter.

[killroy42]

The greatest joy I had in Rome was to follow really knowledgeable people (I believe they were graduate students of Roman history) around the city, while receiving an in-depth background on all things, people and event. It really made the city come to life. It is a delightful contrast to spending time with friends in the here and now in the same marvellous places. I feel privileged to have experienced Rome from both perspectives.

[stratusmind]

I laughed, a bit, to myself when you recounted walking in the sun for hours during a tour. I had a similar experience in Trier, Germany during a "Roman Tour" of the local structures and museums. Our guide seemed extremely well versed in the history of Romans in Germany and, as your tour was, our walking tour lasted for hours in the mid-summer heat. It was a lovely and cherished experience of mine. I don't know if you've been there or not, but Trier is definitely worth a visit.

[tenneral]

@stratusmind Trier is on my 'to do' list : thanks.

[veteran87s]

I just watched some more of his videos, and this guy is great!

[kidskillconscience]

How do we know how the Romans pronounced Titus? Surely we don't know the pronounciation of any Latin words, no?

[tenneral]

@kidskillconscience Fortunately we can tell exactly how every word was pronounced and accented thanks to the precise rules of Latin poetry and the tedious details of the Roman grammarians who discussed these with considerable unanimity. Mind you, I was at first taught to pronounce Latin as if it were English, but that was in the 1950s: I know better now!

[Gaawachan]

Ah, my grandfather has a very nice photo of the arch of Titus in one of his travel albums.

[hgryphon]

They really did do a splendid job!

[flyingfisbeefilms]

I'm always on holiday - I live in central France!!

Though my favourite destination is Greece. Favourite Roman city? - Rome - nope - Ephisus in Turkey.

[flyingfisbeefilms]

I'm always on holiday - I live in central France!!

Though my favourite destination is Greece. Favourite Roman city? - Rome - nope - Ephisus in Turkey.

[glasshammer52]

Another winning video. Well done and cheers, Tenneral!

[RustyTube]

Do you remember the exact year you bought most of your books, or is there a story behind this particular one?

[tenneral]

@RustyTube This one had just been published by Readers Digest and the date is, as usual, printed inside. It's well-worth getting if ever you see a copy.

[polymath7]

"In every age, the vilest specimens of human nature are to be found among demagogues."

-Thomas Macauly.

Monckton is vile specimen indeed, and to hear him praised as a scholar in a pleasant, placid tone while leaving his patent and incontrovertible demagogy unremarked -or, perhaps even more ignominiously, unnoticed- leaves a foul taste in my mouth.

I'm debating whether to unsubscribe from tenneral for this alone.

Yes, for this alone.

[tenneral]

@polymath7 No, no, no - not THAT Christopher Monckton, but a thoroughly nice & different person. Look for Christopher J Monckton on Wikipedia.

[amazingbollweevil]

I wish you were my neighbor. I'd have tea with you on a regular basis just to listen to your stories..

[neil73]

Try a search on Facebook and Friendsreunited. They may be there

[kalsolarUK]

Thats a excellent little model, in such good condition too. Interesting stuff as always!

[robthesamplist]

if i made that i would of wanted to keep it.

[nilbud]

@robthesamplist No, you would have wanted to keep it.

[polymath7]

Please tell me you're not referring to the same Christopher Monckton I'm thinking of.

[DohsOfReality]

@polymath7

Doesn't he refer to himself as "Lord" Monckton?

[polymath7]

@DohsOfReality

Amusingly, yes. He also likes to imply that he's served in the house of Lords. He hasn't and has no official title of any kind.

Bizarrely, the though he has no formal credentials in any branch of science, he served as science adviser under Margaret Thatcher, who was herself quite scientifically literate -especially by the pitiful standard of politicians.

[DohsOfReality]

@polymath7

Oh yeah - I've heard a lot of this stuff before, and it's rather amusing xD

I pointed it out, because I doubt he would refrain from using his "title" in any speaking situation.

[antonc81]

@polymath7 I'm relatively sure he is a hereditary peer (Viscount of Benchley) which does carry an official title. But you are right he does like to give people the impression that he sat in the House of Lords which is completely false. I agree with you completely he is a demagogue of the worst kind, intellectually dishonest and generally vile.

[LordProfBear]

@polymath7 No, not the UKIP guy.

[polymath7]

@LordProfBear

Ah. That is a relief.

[tenneral]

@polymath7 No, absolutely not. This one is the erudite and scholarly founder of a cultural travel company, not the lunatic of the same name! Look up Thomas Martlet Cultural Tours for his picture & biography.

[polymath7]

It did seem to stretch the bounds or credulity that you would mention the more (in)famous Monckton in such an innocent, insouciant, unironically laudatory tone.

On the other hand, how many Christopher Monckton's with a background in classics does the world contain?

This reminds a bit me of an anecdote told by Isaac Asimov, about how in the course of writing a book on the history of physics, he confused two Indian physicists named something-or-other Bose, who were almost exact contemporaries.

[polymath7]

@polymath7  * reminds me a bit

[polymath7]

@tenneral

While I'm here, just out of curiosity, which English translations of Homer do you prefer?

Or do you even bother with reading translations?

[tenneral]

@polymath7 Pompously I try to stick to the original. But E V Rieu's version is about as good as you can get in English. It was his version of the Iliad that did so much for Penguin Books when it first appeared.

[zenmonk420]

tenneral,

I enjoy your videos so very much and look forward to more. I wish there were more people like you on YouTube that made videos about educational topics and interesting subjects like your videos.

I just wanted you to know I appreciate the work you do and enjoy your videos, so keep them coming.

[dewinthemorning]

Amazing, remembering the names of pupils from so many years ago!

[ryonalionthunder]

@dewinthemorning

not to be a bastard but even if he made them up you would have no way to tell that he did.

[dewinthemorning]

@ryonalionthunde I know how it is with remembering pupils names. :) He probably had them written down. Or the students might have put their names on the arc they made.

[tenneral]

@dewinthemorning Fortunately their names were on a little label that goes with the model, otherwise oblivion would have taken their identity long ago!

[dprjones]

Ah, Rome. My second favourite city.

[dstabi]

Sir, you are awesome! I wish i had teacher like you.

[lampyman101]

What a beautiful model. I hope I get to see those sights myself someday, I've been lucky enough to see many sights throughout my life but never Rome. Great video as ever

[johncrwarner]

LOL

I went to Norway, Sweden, Finland and Estonia and have only put up the first few videos of my trip - the stunning stuff was in Northern Norway and I will be getting to that in a week or two - look forward to your Roman holiday snaps.

[invisblchzbrgr]

I first went to Italy last summer, a lifelong dream of mine. Rome was fantastic, so many eras stuffed into one place, my mind scrambled to keep up. Also difficult due to the heat rash I got because we too walked miles and miles in the midsummer humidity. Florence was more my cup of--actually, bottle of wine :)

[qerguil]

I love the stories about your students. They always make me glad that I decided to study education.

Great video, and impressive model!

[Nalae1978]

Thanks for having made me remember my own trips to the eternal city :-). I look forward to learning more about your "adventures"...and sincerely hope you visited the Etruscan National Museum...my absolute favourite in a city of wonderful museums!

[KillermaTV]

One day I shall go to Rome, after Paris.. And Germany.. And Japan.. Oh OK, I'll visit sometime during my world trip! (wish me luck on getting the money for that ha)

[jimmypubeface23]

christopher monkton...........oh dear

[tenneral]

@jimmypubeface23 Fortunately not the notorious man of the same name : but you can see Christopher and Simon Monckton on the web-site of Thomas Martlet Tours.