ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many people contributed to the completion of this book. For their advice I wish to thank Tolly Boatwright, Ted Champlin, Christopher Fuhrmann, Jerzy Linderski, and Brent Shaw. Adam Wojcik showed extreme patience in helping me track down a suitable map.

I am grateful to my colleagues in the Department of Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies at the University of British Columbia, who have offered unfailing support and encouragement, particularly Anthony Barrett, who commented upon sections in draft, Jim Russell, and Shirley Sullivan, who has been such an impressive one-woman cheering section that I can think of many a Roman advocate who would have rejoiced to have her on the bench behind him in the courtroom. Julia Armstrong and Lisa Cooper skilfully transformed sketches into proper illustrations.

Also deserving of thanks are my friends Pam Fesmire, John and Erin Gram, Yvonne Greenough, Sandy Riley, Dania Sheldon, Mark Vessey, Maya Yazigi, and my running group, who have kept my feet firmly on the ground with constant teasing about where my book will rank on Amazon's best­selling list.

I give special thanks to Michael Swan and Richard Talbert. I have been so blessed to have worked with these two scholars, who have inspired me through their teaching and their own avenues of research. They both have given freely of their precious time to argue over historical points and provide advice and encouragement.

Lastly, this book is dedicated to my parents Arno and Eileen Bablitz. They have put as much effort (of a different sort) into this endeavour as I, and so I offer it to them as a humble token of gratitude for their boundless support and love.

Leanne Bablitz Vancouver October 2006 viii