Total Badasses: Hannibal Barca

Hannibal of Carthage is my favourite historical general. Dude is a total legend. He lived in the 2nd century BC, and is known for actually standing up to the greatest power in the ancient world at that time -- Rome.

The dude led a smallish army, including war elephants (yeah!) across the European Alps, at the time thought to be uncrossable. Even though he emerged on the other side with about half of the force he set out with initially, he still amassed several impressive victories behind enemy lines, in Roman territory.

To put it in better words, he "marauded" around Rome for a while, being a total badass and kicking Roman arse for a while. In Italy. Roman territory. Him and his elephants. So cool.

Eventually he was driven out by Romans, who were getting desperate, sending general after general against him in hope of defeating him. The dude who eventually did so was Scipio Africanus. Cool name.

Here is a Hannibal quote I think we can all agree is totally badass:

"We will either find a way, or make one."

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Himmler's Ring

Totenkopfring. English: "Deaths Head Ring". We're off to a good start now...

Put this song by Lowell George on, while you read the rest.


[mp3]

So yeah anyways - here's Heinrich Himmler's Ring - it was awarded to the best, most skilled and most loyal of the SS, during World War 2.


Chilling. Fuck.

The greatest thing about these rings, is that they weren't necessarily sanctioned by the state, like a military medal - these were instead more like "gifts" from Himmler himself. Apparently alot of the remaining rings (the ones still in public circulation serve as incredibly expensive collectors items) have been "blast sealed" inside a mountain. Imagine "finding one"... would that be cool? I think so.