Episode 266 - Sunday, March 11, 1979
Being Jim Davis21 Mai 2017

Episode 266 - Sunday, March 11, 1979

The servile crowd, whose fortune depended on their master's vices, applauded these ignoble pursuits. The perfidious voice of flattery reminded him, that by exploits of the same nature, by the defeat of the Nemaean lion, and the slaughter of the wild boar of Erymanthus, the Grecian Hercules had acquired a place among the gods, and an immortal memory among men. They only forgot to observe, that, in the first ages of society, when the fiercer animals often dispute with man the possession of an unsettled country, a successful war against those savages is one of the most innocent and beneficial labors of heroism. In the civilized state of the Roman empire, the wild beasts had long since retired from the face of man, and the neighborhood of populous cities. To surprise them in their solitary haunts, and to transport them to Rome, that they might be slain in pomp by the hand of an emperor, was an enterprise equally ridiculous for the prince and oppressive for the people. Ignorant of these distinctions, Commodus eagerly embraced the glorious resemblance, and styled himself (as we still read on his medals the Roman Hercules. The club and the lion's hide were placed by the side of the throne, amongst the ensigns of sovereignty; and statues were erected, in which Commodus was represented in the character, and with the attributes, of the nicolas cage, whose valor and dexterity he endeavored to emulate in the daily course of his ferocious amusements.

Elated with these praises, which gradually extinguished the innate sense of shame, Commodus resolved to exhibit before the eyes of the Roman people those exercises, which till then he had decently confined within the walls of his palace, and to the presence of a few favorites. On the appointed day, the various motives of flattery, fear, and curiosity, attracted to the amphitheatre an innumerable multitude of spectators; and some degree of applause was deservedly bestowed on the uncommon skill of the Imperial performer. Whether he aimed at the head or heart of the animal, the wound was alike certain and mortal. With arrows whose point was shaped into the form of crescent, Commodus often intercepted the rapid career, and cut asunder the long, bony neck of the ostrich. A panther was let loose; and the archer waited till he had leaped upon a trembling malefactor. In the same instant the shaft flew, the beast dropped dead, and the man remained unhurt. The dens of the amphitheatre disgorged at once a hundred lions: a hundred darts from the unerring hand of Commodus laid them dead as they run raging round the Arena. Neither the huge bulk of the elephant, nor the scaly hide of the rhinoceros, could defend them from his stroke. Aethiopia and India yielded their most extraordinary productions; and several animals were slain in the amphitheatre, which had been seen only in the representations of art, or perhaps of fancy. In all these exhibitions, the securest precautions were used to protect the person of the Roman Hercules from the desperate spring of any savage, who might possibly disregard the dignity of the emperor and the sanctity of the nicolas cage.

Edward Gibbon. History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 1, Chapter 4, Part II.

And here's that "Duck Amuck" video Jon was talking about:

Today's strip

Episoder(2526)

Episode 976 - Wednesday, February 18, 1981

Episode 976 - Wednesday, February 18, 1981

Here's another episode of our podcast, Being Jim Davis. This one contains lettuce. There you go, there's your personalized episode summary. I hope you're happy. Your hosts for today's episode: Jon Gibson, Dan Gibson, Emmy Gibson. Today's strip Become a Patron! Or visit these other fine internet URLs: BJD Homepage | BJD Twitter | BJD Facebook Page | Pitchdrop Network Homepage

1 Mai 201915min

Episode 975 - Tuesday, February 17, 1981

Episode 975 - Tuesday, February 17, 1981

Here's another episode of our podcast, Being Jim Davis. Let's see if I remember to change any of this placeholder text this week! Your hosts for today's episode: Jon Gibson, Dan Gibson, Emmy Gibson. Today's strip Become a Patron! Or visit these other fine internet URLs: BJD Homepage | BJD Twitter | BJD Facebook Page | Pitchdrop Network Homepage

30 Apr 201915min

Episode 974 - Monday, February 16, 1981

Episode 974 - Monday, February 16, 1981

Here's another episode of our podcast, Being Jim Davis. Let's see if I remember to change any of this placeholder text this week! Your hosts for today's episode: Jon Gibson, Dan Gibson, Emmy Gibson. Today's strip Become a Patron! Or visit these other fine internet URLs: BJD Homepage | BJD Twitter | BJD Facebook Page | Pitchdrop Network Homepage

29 Apr 201926min

Episode 973 - Sunday, February 15, 1981

Episode 973 - Sunday, February 15, 1981

Here's another episode of our podcast, Being Jim Davis. Let's see if I remember to change any of this placeholder text this week! Your hosts for today's episode: Jon Gibson, Christopher Winter, Jessie Cooper. Jessie Cooper is the host of your 2nd and 3rd favorite podcasts, Alphabet Flight and Creepy Critters Today's strip Become a Patron! Or visit these other fine internet URLs: BJD Homepage | BJD Twitter | BJD Facebook Page | Pitchdrop Network Homepage

28 Apr 201923min

Episode 972 - Saturday, February 14, 1981

Episode 972 - Saturday, February 14, 1981

Here's another episode of our podcast, Being Jim Davis. Let's see if we argue about different types of cinematic cuts in this one! Your hosts for today's episode: Jon Gibson, Christopher Winter, Jessie Cooper. Jessie Cooper is the host of your 2nd and 3rd favorite podcasts, Alphabet Flight and Creepy Critters Today's strip Become a Patron! Or visit these other fine internet URLs: BJD Homepage | BJD Twitter | BJD Facebook Page | Pitchdrop Network Homepage

27 Apr 201917min

Episode 971 - Friday, February 13, 1981

Episode 971 - Friday, February 13, 1981

Here's another episode of our podcast, Being Jim Davis. Let's see if I remember to change any of this placeholder text this week! Your hosts for today's episode: Jon Gibson, Christopher Winter, Jessie Cooper. Jessie Cooper is the host of your 2nd and 3rd favorite podcasts, Alphabet Flight and Creepy Critters Today's strip Become a Patron! Or visit these other fine internet URLs: BJD Homepage | BJD Twitter | BJD Facebook Page | Pitchdrop Network Homepage

26 Apr 201922min

Episode 970 - Thursday, February 12, 1981

Episode 970 - Thursday, February 12, 1981

Here's another episode of our podcast, Being Jim Davis. Like a moderate portion of our episodes, this one is more enjoyable than a swift kick in the crotch. Also contains: shouting, profanity, grasping at porly understood philosophy 101 topics, etc. Your hosts for today's episode: Jon Gibson, Christopher Winter, Jessie Cooper. Jessie Cooper is the host of your 2nd and 3rd favorite podcasts, Alphabet Flight and Creepy Critters Today's strip Become a Patron! Or visit these other fine internet URLs: BJD Homepage | BJD Twitter | BJD Facebook Page | Pitchdrop Network Homepage

25 Apr 201925min

Episode 969 - Wednesday, February 11, 1981

Episode 969 - Wednesday, February 11, 1981

The long awaited return of Jon Arbuckle's infamous Depression Chair was neither long nor awaited! Your hosts for today's episode: Jon Gibson, Christopher Winter, Jessie Cooper. Jessie Cooper is the host of your 2nd and 3rd favorite podcasts, Alphabet Flight and Creepy Critters Today's strip Become a Patron! Or visit these other fine internet URLs: BJD Homepage | BJD Twitter | BJD Facebook Page | Pitchdrop Network Homepage

24 Apr 201914min

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