h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Q. What construction, popular in Roman times, prevents modern nations from going to war? And what colour should it be?

I have a couple of klaxons, but I will only respond to a wild guess if you explain what colour it should be.

Icy

Um...

You dont say it's particularly a roman construction, just popular in that era.

And it stops modern nations from going to war. Specific nations or nations in general?

And colour? Construction implies wood/stone/mud... But is it a coluor as in the specific shade of the clothing of some sort of democratic decision-making group who could give permission for war to 'leaders'?

Some good angling there, Robyn.

You're right that it's not originally Roman.

Nations in general.

Specific shade, yes. Clothing, no.

Pax Romana, a roman construction, of earlier concepts

It should be green

Some sort of banner? White to show you don't want to fight?

Pax Romana, the era of peace occurring during the Roman Empire, isn't what I'm looking for here. Neither is the white flag, which is first recorded in China, but was also used in Rome.

Both are worthy of QI bonuses, though.

I'm looking for a more physical construction - something which in this sense you'll see occuring in pairs...

I can think of something that would occur in pairs that would stop modern nations going to war...accidently... those red telephones beloved by end of the world movies.

However I am struggling to remember any references to phones in Roman times.

Soothsayer: Caesar, beware the ides of March, Caesar, Caesar?.....damn I've lost the signal.

What construction, popular in Roman times, prevents modern nations from going to war?....the map!!!

And what colour should it be?...PINK!!!!

Palisades, and they should be painted blue. People would then think they were just blue hordes with nothing worthwhile behind them and would keep out.

Well I think you might be looking for the gates/doors of the temple of Janus

OK, the word I meant is hoardings (but I was close enough. )

just for the heck of it I will guess Olive green.

No correct answers there, but I'm intrigued as to those doors, Bob. How would that work?

What woould be olive-green, Shagbark?

A Roman would wear something.
there would be two shoulder pads, two leggings
perhaps a chariot with two wheels painted olive green.

..and this prevents modern nations going to war?

Is it an actual fact that it prevents modern nations from going to war, or a would-be scenario?

Well, theoretically, but there are exceptions...

Ok if the doors were open Rome was at war if they were closed Rome was at peace.

There were times that the army was so active that the population could sit on the temple steps in the summer and keep cool.

Interesting stuff

January - named after Janus

Embassies? The prevent war by employing diplomacy, and occur in pairs - *they* have an embassy *here* and *we* have an embassy *there*. But the colour? I've got no idea.


Geggs

I suspect this may be a klaxon but I will say it anyway
The Red Cross.