Elagabalus is back! Obama, return of a historical figure?

While reading a book on roman Emperors, I happened to stumble upon, a little known Roman Emperor named Elagabalus. I began to see some parallels between Varius Avitus Bassianus Elagabalus and the modern day Barack Hussein Obama. Get me clear now, many things are completely different form the modern day situation, and this past example. This is just my musings on the similarities the popped into my head while reading about Elagabalus.

Elagabalus and Barack Obama both share names from the middle east, and a mixed heritage. Obama has white and black heritage, Elagabalus had north African, Syrian, and Roman origins. Many people in the country were they came rule were bigoted against them because of their foreign origins.

Their childhoods are fantastically familiar to one another. Both had to leave the countries they would one day come to rule with their mothers . They were raised in a foreign states Obama in the Philippines and Elagabalus in Syria. Obama and Elagabalus's fathers disappeared from the scene at an early age. Because of the exodus from the comfort of the land of their birth both were raised primarily by both their mother and grandmother.

The former Emperor Macrinus was very unpopular because of his failure to gain victory over an inferior enemy (the Parthians who were from modern day Iraq) caused considerable resentment among the Romans. Sound familiar to Bush? Iraq? Malcontent with a long war with no victory? Macrinus also suffered from bad popularity in the late-summer of 218 A.D when a massive thunder storm caused catastrophic flooding, and Macrinus' appointee as urban prefect proved unable to repair the damage to the satisfaction of the populace and had to be replaced. The Romans became even more enraged when Macrinus never even showed up to comfort his people and oversee rebuilding. I believe this sounds familiar to Katrina and New Orleans, which caused his popularity to fall. One of the greatest early criticisms Obama and Elagabalus was their youth and inexperience. Elagabalus was only 14 when he became the youngest Emperor in Roman history at that time

The Romans said it was time for a change.

Elagabalus and his followers promised change to Macrinus's incompetent leadership and a return to Roman greatness. Macrinus was overthrown and Elagabalus started his reign as a extremely popular and hopeful new leader.

During the beginning of his rule, Elagabalus showed a disregard for Roman religious traditions and sexual taboos. This is similar to the way in which the conservative right views Obamas support of the Gay marriage leaders, and his abortion stance. In Elagabulus's case it was his open acceptance of transsexuals. The conservatives were silenced by the masses of Romans who just wanted to return to government that was not incompetent.

This was the situation at the beggining of the rien of Elagabalus.

Love to hear any questions, comments, feedback, good or bad.

The Classical Warrior

Classical Greece, which lasted roughly from just 500B.C to 336 B.C, was responsible for many of the beginnings of Western civilization. Modern philosophy, astronomy, art, warfare, mathematics, rhetoric, language, history, and all the sciences owe a great deal to classical Greek influence. Why did all this happen in a period lasting little over a hundred and fifty years? One word, Democracy and meritocracy... O.K that was two words.

These are the same reasons that the United States has succeeded. The political and social rights that the common people have, is directly linked to the Political and social success of the society. If a man knows he has no stake in a society, he will not want to contribute to it; he will be selfish. However, if one knows that with a little hard work and determination their voice will be heard; moreover they can even become part of the ruling class, they WILL be more motivated. A society with the most motivated people running it WILL be more successful. The economic, cultural, and intellectual components of a society will be hyper successful, when the persons with the most merit achieve the highest positions.

The more so this is true, the more successful.

Egyptian army

This is my 28mm New Kingdom Egyptian Army, ever since I saw the Ten Commandments (with Charlton Heston) as a child I have had a love of chariots. They were the super weapon of the late bronze age and any respectable army would have had a considerable number of them. The great Hittite, Babylonian, Mitannian Empires were the contemporaries of the Egyptians of the late bronze age; they all had their own distinct designs and functions. The Egyptian light chariot, has to be my favorite, it sleek, fast, and extremely deadly.
The ancient Egyptians created arguably the most stable, long lasting, unchanging, and distinct cultures in history. This culture was built around a vast pantheon of animal/human gods. Some historians and modern people believe that the ancients were ignorant and dim-witted people compared to today's people. I believe that the ancients were just as intelligent as today's people; the fact remains that for well over 2,000 years this advanced civilization worshiped and believed in falcon headed people, hippo-headed ladies. I believe this may have had to do with either habitual and routine use of drugs by individuals in Egyptian society; or demonic worship... or is that too strange? Nevertheless, I believe there is more to the story of the Egyptians worshiping and maintaining belief for over 2,000 years in thier strange Gods.

( all miniatures are 28mm foundry egyptian miniatures)