memes

Explanation: A rare bit of OC from me modifying the "Just as the Founding Fathers intended" copypasta.

"Mehercules" is "By Hercules!", a common Roman exclamation. A gladius is a Roman shortsword, made for stabbing, but as incidents against Greek troops demonstrate, also very capable of lopping off limbs with hacks and slashes. A pilum is a javelin. "Ubi mel, ibi apes" means "Where there's honey, there's bees!" A scorpio is a small artillery piece generally used for firing bolts, but sometimes used for specialist ammunition like pots filled with flammable material. Vigiles were Roman town watch/firefighters, and in the city of Rome itself, they actually did maintain some catapults for the purpose of quickly demolishing burning buildings in especially fire-prone areas. Better to lose one building than the whole block! A pugio is a Roman military dagger.

"Conscript Fathers" is another name for the Roman Senate, as the idea was that the Senate was comprised of men who were elderly (and thus the fathers in their household) and regardless of whether or not they willed it. In theory. In practice, becoming a Senator was pretty highly desired, but the Romans did love their false modesty regarding power. "No, no, I couldn't POSSIBLY accept a position of authority... unless... you were to insist... 👉👈🥺"