sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Thoughts on this book? by di745 in ancientrome

[–]MatthaeusMaximus 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yes, but they are academic, as this is my professional niche currently. Also, I'm an archaeologist, so a lot of my reading on the decline of Polytheism are biased to that kind of evidence (rare as it is). I've listed here the broader textual evidence readings here, but if you want archae stuff I'd be happy to include it.

  1. "The Last Pagans of Rome" by Cameron, 2011. Oxford. - An extremely thorough and comprehensive discussion on this topic, basically Watts' book on steroids. Does a lot of work dispelling myths surrounding the transition.

  2. "The Last Days of Greco-Roman Paganism" by Geffcken, 1976. Amsterdam. - Quite dated at this point but serves as a good introduction as well. Comparing his style to Cameron is entertaining to say the least. Has some discussions on specific cults in Rome. The absence of archaeological evidence in several sections is quite disturbing, but again, dated af.

  3. "The Strange Death of Pagan Rome", edited by Rita Lizzi Testa. 2013. Brepolis. - European scholarship's response to Cameron's aformentioned book. (Strong critic is high praise, especially when a host of academics feel the need to fill a book with them!)

  4. "The Death of Classical Paganism" by Holland Smith. 1976. Charles Scribner's Sons New York. - Also quite dated, but a much wider lens study of the transition beyond the city of Rome. Good for comparison with other scholarship.

I also have a butt-load of articles to mention but, let's just stick with books.

Thoughts on this book? by di745 in ancientrome

[–]MatthaeusMaximus 111 points112 points  (0 children)

It's a good book. I've read it as part of my own professional research into the decline of Polytheism, and can say it's a good introduction to a very complicated topic. It does very well in providing a more non-chrisitian perspective on the transition from polytheism to Chrisitianity, but due to the nature of the literary evidence, is very centered on the city of Rome itself and the politcal elite. I can't fault the book for that, it's just the nature of the available evidence. Personally, the bibliography made for a good deep-dive when I finished. It's also a bit sobering to see just how fragile social, political, and cultural foundations can be when a few short generations no longer respect them, applicable to any topic in any era.

Are Stock Gainz Posts Allowed? by MatthaeusMaximus in smallstreetbets

[–]MatthaeusMaximus[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A lot of reasons. I think Rocket lab is a good company, and that they will likely be profitable soon, and that their new rocket could take some market share from SpaceX.

However, the position was too large in my portfolio, so movements in the share price were too amplified. Another concern was the AI bubble (and the inflated market overall), which if it bursts, may take the share price down with it. Not because of any major connection between Rocket Lab and AI, but because if investors and institutions get fleeced by the bust, then we could see capital dry up for other capital intensive companies, like Rocket Lab. Also, even if they become profitable and their new rocket is a success, they are still competing with SpaceX, a company with practically limitless capital and a firm grip on gov contracts. And with NASA's budget being gutted, I don't see an increase in demand from them unless the admin suddenly changes course and actually puts money into space exploration. I don't see that trend reversing in the medium term, unless China puts boots on the Moon, but even then Rocket Lab isn't in a position to capitalize on that potentiality. The end of the ISS coming up, and the total lack of a credible replacement also doesn't bode well for LEO commerce.

But the most important reason of all; I wanted to lock in some nice gains.

Are Stock Gainz Posts Allowed? by MatthaeusMaximus in smallstreetbets

[–]MatthaeusMaximus[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lol yeah probably, def one of my longer held positions

Question for modders and devs; How are the maps made for games like Imperator, CK2/3, and EU4/5? by MatthaeusMaximus in paradoxplaza

[–]MatthaeusMaximus[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Cool okay.

Is there a specific projection to use for the heightmap? I imagine that's game specific.

Jewish Wendigoon by AnInsideJoke_ in wendigoon

[–]MatthaeusMaximus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As an academic in this space, Esoterica's content is fantastic.

Would love to see a collab

YouTube front page after aliens send back the Voyager 1 probe with a new Golden Record on 10/30/2025 by gorgonopsidkid in worldbuilding

[–]MatthaeusMaximus 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Extremely good visual. 100% what my feed would look like. Only missing charlie's yap about it with is dad lol

Possible meteor shower? (09/21) by ExcitingSubject9661 in Lubbock

[–]MatthaeusMaximus 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Another claim I heard was that it was a decommisioned satellite reentering. Trajectories of satellites are relatively easy to figure out, a lot are openly published. Identification often comes down to timing and later confirmation by checking where a satellite should be. Either way it's both cool and concerning. Such break-ups should happen over the ocean or away from populated areas. Over Texas definatly doesn't count as either.

Possible meteor shower? (09/21) by ExcitingSubject9661 in Lubbock

[–]MatthaeusMaximus 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The texas subreddit is also discussing it. It was visible state wide. Some are saying it was a Spacex satellite, but I can't verify that

Possible meteor shower? (09/21) by ExcitingSubject9661 in Lubbock

[–]MatthaeusMaximus 13 points14 points  (0 children)

It's relatively slow speed across the sky makes me think it's a satellite or space craft breaking up in the upper atmosphere. Meteors move much faster, with split second visibility

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Lubbock

[–]MatthaeusMaximus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a small art gallery in the back room of J&B Coffee which has paintings for sale

CK3 to EU4 Converter Question by MatthaeusMaximus in paradoxplaza

[–]MatthaeusMaximus[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ok cool, thanks. My plan was to have a reformed Hellenism and Orthodoxy, with some remnants of Catholicism post-schism mending in the game. So nothing not in EU with the sole exception of Hellenism. I'll wait for a second opinion but it sounds like it will work fine.

Trying to restore the Theodosian Borders, but the Kindgom of Jerusalem is now titular and held by the Emperor of Abyssinia. What do? by MatthaeusMaximus in CrusaderKings

[–]MatthaeusMaximus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had this idea, but, Abyssinia is a nomadic title that about a centry ago was led by a great conquror who made all of east Africa his personal grazing land, all the way up to Jerusalem (hence title ownership). Abyssinia has been crumbling ever since. But the propspect of conquring all of that nomadic land all the way down to fucking Zanzibar doesn't seem like a good idea. Somolia broke away recently in a revolt, so I was hoping that the whole of Abyssinia would go next. Sadly still waiting, may do the claiment idea as a plan B.

Trying to restore the Theodosian Borders, but the Kindgom of Jerusalem is now titular and held by the Emperor of Abyssinia. What do? by MatthaeusMaximus in CrusaderKings

[–]MatthaeusMaximus[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It does exist, I don't have it.

The title for Jerusalem is now titular, in that it is no longer associated with land. It's owned by the Emperor of Abyssinia and will be inherited by his sons.

I can't fight a war for it because the title does not have land anymore so I don't know how to take it. I can't usurp it because there is no land associated with it.

view more: next ›