I’ve decided I need to name something Ahenobarbus. It means golden-beard, it’s a Roman name (in fact, anyone named Domitius Ahenobarbus was known to be of a noble family, during the Roman Empire), and it was one of Nero’s names. He was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. Not to be confused with his dad, Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus. Nor to be confused with the name he was given when his mom remarried (she married the emperor, after he executed his third wife, who was Lucius’ cousin, for adultery, and then she arranged to have his aunt, her sister-in-law, the third wife’s mother, killed, too. Oh and before all that, she [the mom, Agrippina the Younger] had been exiled for having an affair after her husband, Nero’s dad, died [cuz he was quite a bit older than her]. But she still managed to marry the emperor, and have him adopt her son. And somehow her son became the next emperor, not the emperor’s son. And then he, Nero, aka Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, had his adopted brother, the emperor’s actual son, killed. And then, supposedly, he might’ve had an affair with his mom [ooh creepy], and later had her executed. Or maybe he didn’t.), which wikipedia claims is Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, but I swear the teacher said it was Tiberius Claudius something Nero Caesar something else. :-/ I’m a little confused* now.
Anyway, doesn’t Ahenobarbus sound like a great name? A-HEE-no-bar-bus. I can’t decide what it should be. Maybe my new climbing rose**? No, it’s a little too manly for a pretty climbing rose. Umm. My cell phone? I dunno, calling it “Ahenobarbus” would take longer than calling it “my phone”. :-/ Any suggestions?
But anyway, you should totally listen to this fabulous class I’ve been listening to, from UC Berkeley. It’s a history class about the Roman Empire from several years ago, and the teacher, Isabelle Pafford, is funny and tells a great story. And you know how I like a good story. http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details.php?seriesid=1906978539 Have I mentioned how Berkeley podcasts classes? I’ve listened to several now, and it’s better than actually taking the class. Mostly because I get to hear the cool stories, don’t have to do any homework, and I can follow along at my own pace. Go check it out!
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* You aren’t confused, are you?
** I got an Autumn Sunset. I thought the flowers looked like pretty skirts. http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/66645-product.html I’ll post a picture as soon as I remember to take one.
