Unpaintable — a quality of effectiveness that resists celebration. "Boy, we're unpaintable, aren't we." — Dockworkers finishing a hull repair at midnight, in time for the morning tide. One of 16 idioms from the world of Mare Non Nostrum.

Saltus Pass — a confrontation between parties operating from incompatible assumptions. "I said 'we should talk.' She packed a bag." "Saltus Pass." "I meant about the goat." One of 16 idioms from the world of Mare Non Nostrum.

"It was not, by any conventional definition, a navy. It was a coalition of commercial interests with weapons." on Abdeshman's fleet, Mare Non Nostrum

Carthago capta est — a grand declaration that means nothing because there is no one to hear it. "I win!" "Carthago capta est, little general — your sister stopped playing five minutes ago." One of 16 idioms from the world of Mare Non Nostrum.

"Rome's problems produced violence, which at least had the virtue of clarity. Carthage's problems produced meetings." Mare Non Nostrum

"We are a people who count well and pray badly, and the gods have given us the sea because they knew we would weigh it." Abdmelqart of Ibiza. Mare Non Nostrum

Mare Non Nostrum: an alternate history of the Mediterranean. Carthage endures and thrives. Rome turns north. Neither can destroy the other, and the rivalry transforms them both over 450 years. Paperback & Kindle: marenonnostrum.com