Guy de la Bédoyère

#2

"Founded by Augustus around 27 B.C., the elite Praetorian Guard was tasked with the protection of the emperor and his family. As the centuries unfolded, however, Praetorian soldiers served not only as protectors and enforcers but also as powerful political players. Fiercely loyal to some emperors, they vied with others and ruthlessly toppled those who displeased them, including Caligula, Nero, Pertinax, and many more. Guy de la Bedoyere provides a compelling first full narrative history of the Praetorians, whose dangerous ambitions ceased only when Constantine permanently disbanded them. de la Bedoyere introduces Praetorians of all echelons, from prefects and messengers to artillery experts and executioners. He explores the delicate position of emperors for whom prestige and guile were the only defenses against bodyguards hungry for power. Folding fascinating details into a broad assessment of the Praetorian era, the author sheds new light on the wielding of power in the greatest of the ancient world's empires"--

#3

"This book looks at how pottery was made and circulated and how pottery can be useful to archaeologists. It goes on to look at the different types of wares that existed in the four centuries of Roman Britain. These include vessels imported from the most exotic regions of the Roman Empire, products of the samian industries of Gaul and those of local kitchenware industries in Britain. Products were as diverse as bowls, amphorae and lamps, while fired clay was also used to make tiles, figurines and even moulds for metalworking. The wide range of illustrations makes the book invaluable both to students and to archaeologists digging on-site, as well as to those interested in finding out more about a remarkable period of life in the history of Britain."--BOOK JACKET.