Lindsay Powell
Author of Marcus Agrippa: Right-Hand Man of Caesar Augustus
About the Author
Lindsay Powell writes for Ancient Warfare magazine and his articles have also appeared in Military Heritage and Strategy and Tactics. He is author of the highly acclaimed Marcus Agrippa: Right-Hand Man of Caesar Augustus and Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of show more Germania, published by Pen Sword Books. His appearances include BBC Radio and the History Channel. He divides his time between Austin, Texas and Wokingham, England. show less
Works by Lindsay Powell
Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania (2011) 50 copies, 3 reviews
Germanicus: The Magnificent Life and Mysterious Death of Rome's Most Popular General (2013) 48 copies
The Bar Kokhba War AD 132–135: The last Jewish revolt against Imperial Rome (Campaign) (2017) 36 copies
Cleopatra Queen of Egypt: Tales of Heroes, Myths & Legends (Flame Tree Collector's Editions) (2026) 1 copy
Germanicus 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Aston University
- Relationships
- Archaeological Institute of America
Classical Association of Great Britain
Historical Writers' Association
Society of Authors
Writers' League of Texas
Ermine Street Guard - Short biography
- [from Greek Ancient Origins (Flame Tree Press)]
Lindsay Powell is a historian and author who writes about the conflicts, commanders and campaigns of the Ancient World. He edited, and wrote the introductions for, the volumes Hannibal and Julius Caesar for Flame Tree Publishing. His critically acclaimed books include the biographies Marcus Agrippa, Eager for Glory, Germanicus and Bar Kokhba, as well as the military histories Augustus at War, Roman Soldier versus Germanic Warrior, 1st Century AD and The Bar Kokhba War, AD 132-136. Lindsay is news editor of Ancient History and Ancient Warfare magazines and his articles have also appeared in Military History, Strategy and Tactics and Desperta Ferro magazines. A regular guest on the Ancient Warfare and History Hit podcasts, he is also a ten-year veteran of the Ermine Street Guard, the world's leading Roman army re-enactment society. Lindsay has a BSc (Hons) in managerial and administrative studies from Aston University, England, and divides his time between Austin, Texas and Wokingham, England. - Birthplace
- Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, UK
- Places of residence
- Austin, Texas, USA
Wokingham, Berkshire, England, UK - Map Location
- USA
Members
Reviews
An exploration into the personalities and afterlife of the Second Jewish War, or the bar Kokhba rebellion, of 132-135.
The author explores the history in terms of a travelogue: both his own in visiting various sites and speaking with various authorities on Hadrian, bar Kokhba, and others, and in terms of the historical account. He frames the history well by describing Hadrian and his travels in great detail. He explains what can be known about Simon bar Kosiba (bar Kokhba) from a few short show more discussions in some Roman historians, a few memories perhaps recorded in the Talmud, and from the recently discovered letters in caves above the Dead Sea, many of which he likely wrote.
It's hard not to be struck by the relative paucity of what can be said about the story; this is not the author's fault, of course, but a consequence of what has been handed down regarding the Second Jewish War. Jewish Christians condemned bar Kohkba because he persecuted them; thus we do not have Christians handing down stories about it the way that Josephus' testimony about the First Jewish War was preserved. The rabbis after Akiba denounced the way of rebellion and went a very different direction afterward; they would therefore have little reason to preserve much about the story of bar Kokhba's rebellion. The Romans were successful in prosecuting their war, but at great cost, and perhaps even with much embarrassment, considering they had just fought a war in the same place 60 years earlier; we can understand why there would not be a lot of detail preserved from them about this rebellion.
The author does well at tracing the afterlife of bar Kokhba, especially his rehabilitation as the strong, muscular, Jewish male and freedom fighter for Israel in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the mythological lore that now surrounds him in the state of Israel.
A good read if one is interested in the history and afterlife of bar Kokhba.
**--galley received as part of early review program show less
The author explores the history in terms of a travelogue: both his own in visiting various sites and speaking with various authorities on Hadrian, bar Kokhba, and others, and in terms of the historical account. He frames the history well by describing Hadrian and his travels in great detail. He explains what can be known about Simon bar Kosiba (bar Kokhba) from a few short show more discussions in some Roman historians, a few memories perhaps recorded in the Talmud, and from the recently discovered letters in caves above the Dead Sea, many of which he likely wrote.
It's hard not to be struck by the relative paucity of what can be said about the story; this is not the author's fault, of course, but a consequence of what has been handed down regarding the Second Jewish War. Jewish Christians condemned bar Kohkba because he persecuted them; thus we do not have Christians handing down stories about it the way that Josephus' testimony about the First Jewish War was preserved. The rabbis after Akiba denounced the way of rebellion and went a very different direction afterward; they would therefore have little reason to preserve much about the story of bar Kokhba's rebellion. The Romans were successful in prosecuting their war, but at great cost, and perhaps even with much embarrassment, considering they had just fought a war in the same place 60 years earlier; we can understand why there would not be a lot of detail preserved from them about this rebellion.
The author does well at tracing the afterlife of bar Kokhba, especially his rehabilitation as the strong, muscular, Jewish male and freedom fighter for Israel in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the mythological lore that now surrounds him in the state of Israel.
A good read if one is interested in the history and afterlife of bar Kokhba.
**--galley received as part of early review program show less
Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania (English Edition) by Lindsay Powell
Una interesante biografía sobre un personaje poco conocido hoy en día (Por lo menos, fuera del círculo de los aficionados a la historia romana) Powell completa las (escasas) fuentes sobre la vida del protagonista con información sobre la administración y política de las provincias romanas de forma que podemos hacer una idea de como pudieron ser sus actor de gobierno. Con todo esto forma una biografía bastante completa y bien escrita a la que sólo se puede reprochar que por momentos show more roza la hagiografía (Aunque, esto es comprensible dado el recuerdo que la breve vida de Druso dejó en sus contemporáneos)
Muy recomendable. show less
Muy recomendable. show less
Una interesante biografía sobre un personaje poco conocido hoy en día (Por lo menos, fuera del círculo de los aficionados a la historia romana) Powell completa las (escasas) fuentes sobre la vida del protagonista con información sobre la administración y política de las provincias romanas de forma que podemos hacer una idea de como pudieron ser sus actor de gobierno. Con todo esto forma una biografía bastante completa y bien escrita a la que sólo se puede reprochar que por momentos show more roza la hagiografía (Aunque, esto es comprensible dado el recuerdo que la breve vida de Druso dejó en sus contemporáneos)
Muy recomendable. show less
Muy recomendable. show less
First book of the series that Ive read. I enjoy the authors work on Ancient Warfare Magazine podcast, definitely someone who knows his ancient Rome. Overall the book was good, standard Osprey fare, good overview not too much detail but digestible none the less. The commissioned artwork is excellent.
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Statistics
- Works
- 16
- Also by
- 2
- Members
- 346
- Popularity
- #69,042
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 6
- ISBNs
- 35
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