[Epona]

Garnet and Fable, I agree with most of what you are saying - but I do have a thing about Gibbon which is the main reason I jumped in. IMO he is not 'all-that', and yes, I would rather go back to the Latin (or in many cases Greek) documentation for a more accurate assessment, cutting out the middle-man.

And actually it was Fable who mentioned Rome (I am an archaeologist, my main area of interest being Roman Britain/Europe so it was that that caught my eye - and I haven't seen too much evidence of pagan temple burning that early - later is a different matter and I accept that point) I hope no-one took offence!