For the curious, the term for 'clever trick in war' is a 'strategem' and multiple ancient writers wrote books listing them, most notably Frontinus and Polyaenus, whose works are both titled Strategemata ('Strategems').
Read those, pick one that fits the situation and go for it.
Read those, pick one that fits the situation and go for it.
August 4, 2026 at 5:18 AM
For the curious, the term for 'clever trick in war' is a 'strategem' and multiple ancient writers wrote books listing them, most notably Frontinus and Polyaenus, whose works are both titled Strategemata ('Strategems').
Read those, pick one that fits the situation and go for it.
Read those, pick one that fits the situation and go for it.
And it's not clear we should trust the earlier of those instances (Livy 2.59). Polybius (6.38) reports the punishment but not any instance of it actually occurring. That leaves Frontinus (Front. Strat. 4.1.35) for the other instance.
And before the civil wars...that's it.
Almost never done.
And before the civil wars...that's it.
Almost never done.
March 24, 2025 at 12:24 AM
And it's not clear we should trust the earlier of those instances (Livy 2.59). Polybius (6.38) reports the punishment but not any instance of it actually occurring. That leaves Frontinus (Front. Strat. 4.1.35) for the other instance.
And before the civil wars...that's it.
Almost never done.
And before the civil wars...that's it.
Almost never done.
If I were teaching undergraduates or high schoolers I’d assign this game with readings from “De Aquis” by Julius Frontinus aftermath.site/nova-roma-is...
#gaming #latin #ancientrome #classics
#gaming #latin #ancientrome #classics
Nova Roma Is A Game About Rome But Also It's Mostly A Game About Water
The aqua must flow
aftermath.site
April 2, 2026 at 11:09 PM
If I were teaching undergraduates or high schoolers I’d assign this game with readings from “De Aquis” by Julius Frontinus aftermath.site/nova-roma-is...
#gaming #latin #ancientrome #classics
#gaming #latin #ancientrome #classics
Reminds me of the old joke about Roman water supply engineering, 'If it's not in Frontinus, it's not worth knowing about'.
LacusCurtius • Roman Waterworks and Hydraulic Engineering
Orientation to a large site on Roman aqueducts, baths, cisterns, pipe, etc. Includes the complete texts of Frontinus and Vitruvius.
penelope.uchicago.edu
March 30, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Reminds me of the old joke about Roman water supply engineering, 'If it's not in Frontinus, it's not worth knowing about'.
Hierapolis (Pamukkale in Turkey) was founded c200 BC on the site of hot mineral springs. The area was bequeathed to Rome by Attalus III in 133BC. 1) travertine terraces; Frontinus St with the Frontinus/Domitian Gate; 3) theatre; temple remains. #RomanSiteSaturday
November 23, 2024 at 8:13 AM
Hierapolis (Pamukkale in Turkey) was founded c200 BC on the site of hot mineral springs. The area was bequeathed to Rome by Attalus III in 133BC. 1) travertine terraces; Frontinus St with the Frontinus/Domitian Gate; 3) theatre; temple remains. #RomanSiteSaturday
#WorldToiletDay🚽
The beautiful latrines along Frontinus Street in Hierapolis (Turkey). The room was divided by a row of columns that supported a roof composed of travertine blocks.
followinghadrian.com/2013/05/09/h...
The beautiful latrines along Frontinus Street in Hierapolis (Turkey). The room was divided by a row of columns that supported a roof composed of travertine blocks.
followinghadrian.com/2013/05/09/h...
November 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
#WorldToiletDay🚽
The beautiful latrines along Frontinus Street in Hierapolis (Turkey). The room was divided by a row of columns that supported a roof composed of travertine blocks.
followinghadrian.com/2013/05/09/h...
The beautiful latrines along Frontinus Street in Hierapolis (Turkey). The room was divided by a row of columns that supported a roof composed of travertine blocks.
followinghadrian.com/2013/05/09/h...
"Inventions have long-since reached their limit--and I see no hope for further developments." -- Julius Frontinus, world-famous engineer (Rome, 10 AD)
January 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
"Inventions have long-since reached their limit--and I see no hope for further developments." -- Julius Frontinus, world-famous engineer (Rome, 10 AD)
My first Loeb was Frontinus. I realized that if I liked reading about ancient aqueduct pipe dimensions & arrangements, who knows what other excitement is out there!
January 2, 2025 at 1:30 PM
My first Loeb was Frontinus. I realized that if I liked reading about ancient aqueduct pipe dimensions & arrangements, who knows what other excitement is out there!
Crossing Under Fire: River Operations in Early Medieval Warfare www.medievalists.net/2026/01/cros... #militaryhistory #medievalwarfare
Crossing Under Fire: River Operations in Early Medieval Warfare - Medievalists.net
Early medieval commanders knew that rivers could stop an army as effectively as walls. Using Frontinus alongside case studies from Otto I and Henry II, this article explores feints, bridge-building,…
www.medievalists.net
January 10, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Crossing Under Fire: River Operations in Early Medieval Warfare www.medievalists.net/2026/01/cros... #militaryhistory #medievalwarfare
imagine one shotting Frontinus by telling him we use 3 trillion gallons of water a year on grass
June 5, 2026 at 5:17 PM
imagine one shotting Frontinus by telling him we use 3 trillion gallons of water a year on grass
Julius Frontinus I will not ashame you. Aquaeduct it is
Asking myself if I'm enough of an annoying person to spell aqueduct as aquaeduct like how I say encyclopædia
February 28, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Julius Frontinus I will not ashame you. Aquaeduct it is
Okay between that and some of the articles on their website I am audibly going "what"
September 25, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Okay between that and some of the articles on their website I am audibly going "what"
April-May 97, if we trust Frontinus’ De Aquis.
September 10, 2026 at 8:30 AM
April-May 97, if we trust Frontinus’ De Aquis.
Eventually settlements were founded in AD75 (Caerwent & Caerleon) under Sextus Julius Frontinus.
Tacitus recorded that the Silures "non atrocitate, non clementia mutabatur" – they were "changed neither by cruelty nor by clemency".
We have a trait of us 'doing our own thing'.
Tacitus recorded that the Silures "non atrocitate, non clementia mutabatur" – they were "changed neither by cruelty nor by clemency".
We have a trait of us 'doing our own thing'.
September 15, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Eventually settlements were founded in AD75 (Caerwent & Caerleon) under Sextus Julius Frontinus.
Tacitus recorded that the Silures "non atrocitate, non clementia mutabatur" – they were "changed neither by cruelty nor by clemency".
We have a trait of us 'doing our own thing'.
Tacitus recorded that the Silures "non atrocitate, non clementia mutabatur" – they were "changed neither by cruelty nor by clemency".
We have a trait of us 'doing our own thing'.
I refer you to Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.9.5 for more effective catapulting of (part of) a person.
December 17, 2024 at 2:58 PM
I refer you to Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.9.5 for more effective catapulting of (part of) a person.
Crossing Under Fire: River Operations in Early Medieval Warfare www.medievalists.net/2026/01/cros... #militaryhistory
Crossing Under Fire: River Operations in Early Medieval Warfare - Medievalists.net
Early medieval commanders knew that rivers could stop an army as effectively as walls. Using Frontinus alongside case studies from Otto I and Henry II, this article explores feints, bridge-building,…
www.medievalists.net
May 1, 2026 at 1:17 PM
Crossing Under Fire: River Operations in Early Medieval Warfare www.medievalists.net/2026/01/cros... #militaryhistory
Preparing for national service with Frontinus et al, Scriptores Rei Militaris, Bologna: Plato de Benedictis, 17 Jan. 1496,
@QueensCollegeOx
sel.a.263 #incunable
With some type moving in close formation
data.cerl.org/istc/is00345...
@QueensCollegeOx
sel.a.263 #incunable
With some type moving in close formation
data.cerl.org/istc/is00345...
May 27, 2024 at 11:45 AM
Preparing for national service with Frontinus et al, Scriptores Rei Militaris, Bologna: Plato de Benedictis, 17 Jan. 1496,
@QueensCollegeOx
sel.a.263 #incunable
With some type moving in close formation
data.cerl.org/istc/is00345...
@QueensCollegeOx
sel.a.263 #incunable
With some type moving in close formation
data.cerl.org/istc/is00345...
Meanwhile Frontinus just keeps banging on about apple trees.
January 29, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Meanwhile Frontinus just keeps banging on about apple trees.
🧵/6
you then reach the absolutely irresistable Frontinus Gate, built in c1 AD and flanked by 2 hellenic towers
#RomanSiteSaturday
you then reach the absolutely irresistable Frontinus Gate, built in c1 AD and flanked by 2 hellenic towers
#RomanSiteSaturday
December 7, 2024 at 10:12 AM
🧵/6
you then reach the absolutely irresistable Frontinus Gate, built in c1 AD and flanked by 2 hellenic towers
#RomanSiteSaturday
you then reach the absolutely irresistable Frontinus Gate, built in c1 AD and flanked by 2 hellenic towers
#RomanSiteSaturday
In my course on Roman social relations, one of the most useful texts is the handbook on managing Roman aqueducts by the curator Frontinus. Hardest part of his job was exposing & stopping elites who illegally siphoned public water into their villas for private baths, fishponds, gardens etc. 1/2
A metaphor for our current China discourse.
A thing I find interesting about the way non historians talk about the Romans is how they will say stuff like "The Romans had indoor plumbing" which makes it sound like all Romans did, which non-experts probably think is true.
Rich people having something doesn't mean "Romans" did.
Rich people having something doesn't mean "Romans" did.
January 17, 2025 at 2:45 PM
In my course on Roman social relations, one of the most useful texts is the handbook on managing Roman aqueducts by the curator Frontinus. Hardest part of his job was exposing & stopping elites who illegally siphoned public water into their villas for private baths, fishponds, gardens etc. 1/2
You'll need to scroll down the page to section 9 para 5.
Trigger warning: involves what would be categorised as a war crime in modern times.
penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Rom...
Trigger warning: involves what would be categorised as a war crime in modern times.
penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Rom...
LacusCurtius • Frontinus — Stratagems, Book II
Book 2 of a complete English translation of the Stratagems of Frontinus, linked to the Latin text.
penelope.uchicago.edu
December 17, 2024 at 4:21 PM
You'll need to scroll down the page to section 9 para 5.
Trigger warning: involves what would be categorised as a war crime in modern times.
penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Rom...
Trigger warning: involves what would be categorised as a war crime in modern times.
penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Rom...
Context: Frontinus was a Roman governor of Britain and military commander who is best known for writing *the* seminal work on aqueducts, "De Aquaeductu".
Julius Frontinus I will not ashame you. Aquaeduct it is
Asking myself if I'm enough of an annoying person to spell aqueduct as aquaeduct like how I say encyclopædia
February 28, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Context: Frontinus was a Roman governor of Britain and military commander who is best known for writing *the* seminal work on aqueducts, "De Aquaeductu".
The Roman built Frontinus Gate and main street of Hierapolis, Turkey. Hierapolis is the site of a much earlier Phrygian settlement and later a Greek city. The city was home to the first known water powered saw mill. City was also known for its hot springs and wool production. #RomanSiteSaturday 🏺
December 21, 2024 at 11:41 AM
The Roman built Frontinus Gate and main street of Hierapolis, Turkey. Hierapolis is the site of a much earlier Phrygian settlement and later a Greek city. The city was home to the first known water powered saw mill. City was also known for its hot springs and wool production. #RomanSiteSaturday 🏺
I'm pleased to be writing about the bearer of my favourite Roman name: Quintus Pompeius Senecio Roscius Murena Coelius Sextus Julius Frontinus Silius Decianus Gaius Julius Eurycles Herculaneus Lucius Vibullius Pius Augustanus Alpinus Bellicius Sollers Julius Aper Ducenius Proculus ...
September 23, 2023 at 11:23 AM
I'm pleased to be writing about the bearer of my favourite Roman name: Quintus Pompeius Senecio Roscius Murena Coelius Sextus Julius Frontinus Silius Decianus Gaius Julius Eurycles Herculaneus Lucius Vibullius Pius Augustanus Alpinus Bellicius Sollers Julius Aper Ducenius Proculus ...