Latest / The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep1148: Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. The Ritual of Combat and Modern Delusions. Germanicus argues that for the Roman
Guests in Londinium, 92 AD: Gaius and Germanicus. The Ritual of Combat and Modern Delusions. Germanicusargues that for the Romans, war and ceremony were inextricably linked, using triumphs and gladiatorial spectacles to forge a shared identity between the people and the military. These rituals were "incarnations of the spirit of Rome" triumphing over "barbaric" enemies, providing a form of "ecstatic participatory" fulfillment. He notes a parallel in modern America, which uses "ecstatic vicarity" through high-tech war footage and video games to maintain a similar bond. However, he warns that…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.