Once You Start Reading about Rome, You Can't Stop. My way of saying "another Rome book"

This is not a representation of Maximinus 

I have mentioned before that I live in an area rich with "second hand", "paperback exchange" and used book stores, as well as a good public library; often, I find interesting, eclectic reading opportunities free for the picking.

Such was the case with "Maximinus Thrax--From Common Soldier to Emperor of Rome" by Paul N. Pearson. (first published by Pen & Sword Books, UK in 2016).

During the 3rd Century CE, Rome switched Emperors every few years, always a bloody mess.
This is the story of one of those.  Maximinus was not Roman. He was from Thrace (Turkey); he was a 7 to 8-ft tall young man (probably with glandular condition), super-strong; discovered by the Emperor during military games in the area. Max. was inducted into the Roman army and trained as security guard (so he was near the center of power).

It's a good story. He advanced; popular with the soldiers and concerned for their welfare. A coup made him Emperor while on campaign in Germany.  His reign was short and he never got back to Rome as Emperor.

We saw the bust in the Capitoline Museum, but was not aware of Max at that time, so no photo of him from my camera.  In the Metropolitan Museum in NY, there is an 8-ft bronze found near the ruins of his troops' barracks in Rome: the Ogre of the Met, so-called. Perhaps Max; there is some evidence.          Rome. The mysteries never cease.