Umberto Broccoli, head of the archaeology team on Rome's city council, says 2009 will bring the return of the gladiator to the Colosseum, according to MSNBC:

According to Broccoli's plan, modern-day gladiators will engage in realistically choreographed mock fights, wearing original costumes and the same combat gear — swords, tridents, nets and daggers — that was used 2,000 years ago.

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Stele 51 from Calakmul on display at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.
Thelmadatter

Wordless Wednesday and About.com's Wordless Wednesday

Did you know that for most of the year forum co-host Irene Hahn hosts a Roman history online book chat? You can find out more about the general parameters of the chat in the Ancient/Classical History Forum.

The chat is held on the first and third Wednesdays (although I suppose in some areas of the world it may already be Thursday). Books are usually available at public libraries. Sometimes it's historical fiction and sometimes it's straightforward Roman history. Right now it's history as we return to reading T.J. Cornell's dense and often iconoclastic The Beginnings of Rome. The first chapter for Wednesday's chat is 11, which is on the 12 Tables and the Decemvirate.

Please join us. Remember to look for details here: Ancient/Classical History Forum.

The Decemvirate and the Conflict of the Orders

• Conflict of the Orders
• Mommsen on the Decemviri
• Abduction of Verginia
• Livy on the Decemviri

More from T. J. Cornell

• Samnite Wars
• 3 Wars Between Ancient Rome and Veii
• Who Were the Etruscans?

On this day in 106 B.C., the Roman orator and statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero was born in Arpinum, the son of an equestrian. Cicero was a major figure in politics during the age of Caesar. He became consul in 63 during which year he put down the Conspiracy of Catiline. He was later exiled for his heavy-handedness in executing the Roman conspirators without trial. He ran into trouble again after the assassination of Julius Caesar by supporting the losing side against the triumvirate, Mark Antony, Octavian (Augustus), and Lepidus. He was executed in 43.

Read more about Cicero:

• Cicero the Patriot
• Cicero Resources
• Why Did Cicero Have to Die?
• Cicero Timeline
• Cicero, by Evertt