THIS DAY IN ANCIENT HISTORY

ante diem iii kalendas februarias

• 58 B.C. -- "official" birthday of Livia, wife of Augustus
• 9 B.C. -- dedication of the Ara Pacis
• 133 A.D. -- birth of the future emperor Didius Julianus
• 228 A.D. -- martyrdom of Martina (?)
• 311 A.D. -- martyrdom of Savina of Milan
  

5:52:25 AM    

AWOTV: On TV Today

7.00 p.m. |HINT| Augustus: First of the Emperors
Story of the bloodthirsty leader who was also one of the most able
statesmen in world history. His rule launched the "Pax Romana" (Roman
Peace) that marked the high point of the empire.

8.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: The Republic of Rome
A sweeping chronicle of one of history's most dynamic empires. Part
1 features the city's founding by Romulus and Remus; overthrow of the
Etruscan monarchy; and the republic's formation and ultimate undoing
with the rise of Imperial Rome. Host Joe Mantegna introduces Rome's
great faces--Pompey, Cicero, Caesar, Antony, and Cleopatra

9.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: Age of Emperors
After Caesar's murder, his great-nephew Augustus was victorious in
the civil wars that followed, becoming the first emperor. Host Joe
Mantegna explores this sensational, scandalous age when the
proliferation of palace plots, hostile takeovers, and imperial family
intrigues became humdrum. Features Augustus, Caligula, Claudius, and
Nero, among others.

10.00 p.m. |DTC| Secrets of the Colosseum
Visit the ruins of this massive triumph of Roman building and
engineering for clues to its ingenious design. Built in a remarkably
short span of 10 years, the structure combined travertine stone,
iron, concrete, brick and lava rocks from nearby Vesuvius.

10.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: Building an Empire
Host Joe Mantegna visits the vast territories conquered by the
imperial army--by the 2nd century AD, the empire spanned three
continents. The over-4,000 Roman cities were cultural melting pots,
where diverse customs and beliefs blended. Features life in Pompeii,
the flamboyant Emperor Hadrian, and religious revolts in Judea.

11.00 p.m. |HINT| The Great Empire: Rome: The Enduring Legacy
The final episode reveals the birth of Christianity and how this
religion that the emperors initially tried to destroy ultimately
passed on the empire's legacy. Highlights include: the crucifixion of
Jesus; religious persecutions; rise of Constantine, the first emperor
to embrace Christianity; and Justinian, Rome's last emperor.

HINT = History International

DTC = Discovery Times Channel

5:15:38 AM