Forum Romanum


Subject:	[novaroma] Romans and Scythians
From:	"tasia" <tasia43@attbi.com>
Date:	Sun, 17 Feb 2002 22:00:22 -0800

I am new to this list as of today and had a question to ask.

Was there ever a time where Romans and Scythians would have interacted? If
so, what time frame would that have been?

I am new to this group, but I do currently belong to the SCA. I live in
Washington state.

I really hope to learn a lot from this group.

livia tasia
<><><><><><><><><>
Where ever man has left his footprint in his long ascent from barbarism to
civilization, we will find the hoofprint of a horse beside it.
- John Trotwood Moore


Subject:	Re: [novaroma] Romans and Scythians
From:	qfabiusmaxmi@aol.com
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 06:59:18 EST

In a message dated 2/18/02 3:00:46 AM Pacific Standard Time,
tasia43@attbi.com writes:

> Was there ever a time where Romans and Scythians would have interacted? If
> so, what time frame would that have been?
>

No, The Skythians were in the process of being absorbed by the Sarmations
during the Republic. One could argue since the Partha tribe was influced by
the Sacae, and Dahae Skythians before eliminating the Eastern Selecuid
kingdom, that they were Skythian related but their other ethnic differences,
make such a distinction impossible.

Q. Fabius Maximus

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Subject:	Re: [novaroma] Romans and Scythians
From:	=?iso-8859-1?q?Craig=20Stevenson?= <gaiussentius@yahoo.com.au>
Date:	Tue, 19 Feb 2002 02:32:59 +1100 (EST)

Salvete,

But weren't there Skythians in Atilla's Army? I read
an excerpt the other day by someone called Blossius
(not sure where...think it was a journal) and he
referred to the army being composed of Skythians and
Sarmatians...or could this just be a confusion?

Valete bene,

Gaius Sentius Bruttius Sura

--- qfabiusmaxmi@aol.com wrote:
<HR>
<html><body>

<tt>
In a message dated 2/18/02 3:00:46 AM Pacific Standard
Time, 
tasia43@attbi.com writes: 
 
 
> Was there ever a time where Romans and Scythians
would have interacted? If 
> so, what time frame would that have been? 
> 
 
No, The Skythians were in the process of being
absorbed by the Sarmations 
during the Republic. One could argue since the
Partha tribe was influced by 
the Sacae, and Dahae Skythians before eliminating the
Eastern Selecuid 
kingdom, that they were Skythian related but their
other ethnic differences, 
make such a distinction impossible. 
 
Q. Fabius Maximus 
 
 
[Non-text portions of this message have been
removed] 
 
</tt>

 



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<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC>
<td align=center><font size="-1"


Subject:	[novaroma] Two feelings
From:	"sceptia" <sceptia@yahoo.es>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 11:08:49 -0000

Salve.

As a member of this community and a citizen, I would like to express
my perceptions about the language law and censorial activity.
First of all, although I'm a cives from Hispania, and English is not
my mother tongue, I recognise the value of using a language widely
spread around the world. In this case, it's the English, but maybe
because is the mother tongue of the founders of Nova Roma. Imagine
this project from Brazil, Denmark or Serbia. Should it be then their
own languages the main ones for speaking on their lists?. If the idea
would had rose from these countries, and we consider ourselves as
Roman people, not just their heirs but their re-builders, why not
consider LATIN as the main language? It joins us more than English or
any other mother tongue, just because this is, or should be, one of
the main purposes of Nova Roma.
Now, I'm not a Latin writer or speaker. Why this defense of Latin
then?. As I said, I'm Hispanicus, and my language is very influenced
by Latin. Other languages as Italian, French, Portuguese and English
have the very same influence. As Latin is a brick, build then with it,
not only with an heir of it.
We are not enough fluently here for doing it. Just some people, but,
as an example, imagine in the USA a president elected who just talk in
Norwegian because his fathers are from Norway. English is the official
language in the USA, but was it in Rome?
Secondly, about the subject of censorial activities, I would like to
express another feeling.
Here we have the right to talk, to express our ideas concerning to
Nova Roma. Well, sometimes I have read some issues about things
completely different. As an example, about "Lord of the rings". Well,
good film but has it something to do with the res publica? Just think
we would like to read about roman themes, arts, philosophy, history,
et cetera. In my province we have real interesting discussions about
everything concerned to NR or old Rome, and politics, religion... I
have founded people very valuable (Gn. Sl. Astur, Cl. Sl. Davianus...)
and enthusiastic with real knowledge about old Rome. Here it happened
the same to me with Puteanus or Gryllus. Well, the point is that
everyone has something to offer. About ROME, and around it. Let these
people talk freely, even (specially) when they criticise some
institution or magistrate. Let everyone talk freely because we can
find very interesting point of views and wisdom in their words. Let
them express their feelings and make a debate about them. I just
appreciate the idea of stopping issues when they are written with
anger and gross words, but writing to the offender and asking him/her
to re-write it on a proper manner. Humour, irony or satire messages
should be allowed, because words are for that.
I have tried to set here my ideas, in a language that is not my native
one. Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, I'm Spanish. J

Vale,

Lucius Didius Geminus Sceptius.

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Subject:	AW: [novaroma] Forward: Imperial Objects Query
From:	"solinvictus" <caiustarquitius@gmx.de>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 15:28:01 +0100

Salve!
In Late Antiquity, where these items are usually shown on coins, a DIADEM is
a Symbol belonging to the emperors ornate: it is reserved for the Augustus /
Augusta and is a broad purple band with a gemstone on the front, above which
can be a three-leaved ornament made of pearls or jewels. Above the neck it
is closed with a Hercules-knot. Other forms are the pearl-d.and the jewel-d.
A CHLAMYS is a long cloak closed with a fibula, usually on the right
shoulder. A MAPPA is a rectangular piece of cloth with which the games in
the arena were started by the emperor (since Nero). It was thrown into the
arena by the emperor, and when it reached the ground the games began.
Vale, C. Tarquitius Saturninus.

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Matt Haase [mailto:haase@konoko.net]
Gesendet: Sonntag, 17. Februar 2002 20:00
An: novaroma@yahoogroups.com
Betreff: [novaroma] Forward: Imperial Objects Query

Forward, a message received at the Consuls' address.

Please reply to hallie@sas.upenn.edu.

Vale, Octavius.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2002 13:57:56 -0500
From: Hallie Meredith-Goymour <hallie@sas.upenn.edu>
To: consuls@novaroma.org, hallie@sas.upenn.edu
Subject: Imperial Objects Query

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am trying to find some definitions for some basic terms concerning
Late Antique Emperors.

The terms are:

(1) DIADEM (some sort of Imperial head band?)

(2) CHLAMYS (some sort of cloak?)

(3) MAPPA (something symbolically held in the Emperor's hand, seen on
coins?)

I would appreciate it if you could suggest where I could find
definitions for these basic terms.

Many Thanks
Hallie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hallie Meredith-Goymour
hallie@sas.upenn.edu

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/


Subject:	Re: [novaroma] Romans and Scythians
From:	"Lucius Mauricius Procopious" <procopious@attbi.com>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 08:55:14 -0800

Lucius Mauricius Procopious Livi Tasi SPD

Salve Livia Tasia,

It's good to see new cives in our area. If you have not done so yet please
feel free to subscribe to our local email list as well. We may be few and
far between here in America Boreoccidentalis, but we are friendly {and
intelligent and good looking, but I didn't want to brag : ) } If you're
interested you can follow the link at the bottom of this post.

Lucius Mauricius Procopious
Propraetor America Boreoccidentalis
(This is an unofficial post for which I assume full responsibility)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
procopious@home.com
ICQ# 83516618
*America Boreoccidentalis Mail List
http://www.egroups.com/group/AmBor_Waves
* The Gens Mauricia
http://www.geocities.com/procopious

Nam ex parente meo et ex aliis sanctis viris ita accepi munditias mulieribus
laborem viris convenire omnibusque bonis oportere plus gloriae quam
divitiarum esse.
I have learned from my father and other holy men that women are suited to
elegance, while men to work; and that all good people should have more glory
than wealth.
Sallustius Crispus quoting Marius
----- Original Message -----
From: "tasia" <tasia43@attbi.com>
To: <novaroma@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2002 10:00 PM
Subject: [novaroma] Romans and Scythians

> I am new to this list as of today and had a question to ask.
>
> Was there ever a time where Romans and Scythians would have interacted?
If
> so, what time frame would that have been?
>
> I am new to this group, but I do currently belong to the SCA. I live in
> Washington state.
>
> I really hope to learn a lot from this group.
>
> livia tasia
> <><><><><><><><><>
> Where ever man has left his footprint in his long ascent from barbarism to
> civilization, we will find the hoofprint of a horse beside it.
> - John Trotwood Moore
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>


Subject:	Re: [novaroma] Romans and Scythians
From:	Michel Loos <loos@qt1.iq.usp.br>
Date:	18 Feb 2002 14:02:11 -0300

On Mon, 2002-02-18 at 12:32, Craig Stevenson wrote:
> Salvete,
>
> But weren't there Skythians in Atilla's Army? I read
> an excerpt the other day by someone called Blossius
> (not sure where...think it was a journal) and he
> referred to the army being composed of Skythians and
> Sarmatians...or could this just be a confusion?
>

The _name_ skythian was used for a very long time, in order
to designate any tribe from todays Ukrania/ Southern Russia,
but they no more any relationship with the Skythians which
first used horses to ride on.

Manius Villius Limitanus

> Valete bene,
>
> Gaius Sentius Bruttius Sura
>
> --- qfabiusmaxmi@aol.com wrote:
> <HR>
> <html><body>
>
>
> <tt>
> In a message dated 2/18/02 3:00:46 AM Pacific Standard
> Time, 
> tasia43@attbi.com writes: 
> 
> 
> > Was there ever a time where Romans and Scythians
> would have interacted? If 
> > so, what time frame would that have been? 
> > 
> 
> No, The Skythians were in the process of being
> absorbed by the Sarmations 
> during the Republic. One could argue since the
> Partha tribe was influced by 
> the Sacae, and Dahae Skythians before eliminating the
> Eastern Selecuid 
> kingdom, that they were Skythian related but their
> other ethnic differences, 
> make such a distinction impossible. 
> 
> Q. Fabius Maximus 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed] 
> 
> </tt>
>
> 
>
> 
>
> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2>
> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC>
> <td align=center> color=#003399>Yahoo! Groups Sponsor</td>
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Subject:	[novaroma] Attention Voters! Invalid voter codes
From:	"Martins-Esteves" <esteves@compuland.com.br>
Date:	Sat, 16 Feb 2002 02:00:43 -0300

Salvete Cives!

The civis with the voter tracking number #12048 have
malformed or invalid voter codes.

If you have a problem, please go to your profile page on the Nova Roma website to get your Voter Code, or contact the Censors.

Valete

Titus Horatius Atticus, Rogator

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Subject:	Re: [novaroma] Romans and Scythians
From:	"tasia" <tasia43@attbi.com>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 11:00:40 -0800

I have read a few articles that speak of Roman/Scythian interaction, that is why I was confused because some people list the Scythian historical timeline ending around the time the Romans were rising, therefore lending to the idea that there could have been some crossover. Even when the Sarmatians became stronger, I have read that there were still remnant societies of Scythians, although they had been pushed far North.

But I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

My whole goal with this question is some research I am doing on Amazons. If the Greeks interacted with the Amazons and the Romans interacted with the Greeks then somehow the Romans should have had some interaction with them. There is some question as to whether the Amazons were Scythians or Sarmatians as far as I can tell, but I have read that the Romans did write about seeing the women warriors.

Any ideas?

tasia

Salvete,

But weren't there Skythians in Atilla's Army? I read
an excerpt the other day by someone called Blossius
(not sure where...think it was a journal) and he
referred to the army being composed of Skythians and
Sarmatians...or could this just be a confusion?

Valete bene,

Gaius Sentius Bruttius Sura

--- qfabiusmaxmi@aol.com wrote:
<HR>
<html><body>

<tt>
In a message dated 2/18/02 3:00:46 AM Pacific Standard
Time, 
tasia43@attbi.com writes: 
 
 
> Was there ever a time where Romans and Scythians
would have interacted? If 
> so, what time frame would that have been? 
> 
 
No, The Skythians were in the process of being
absorbed by the Sarmations 
during the Republic. One could argue since the
Partha tribe was influced by 
the Sacae, and Dahae Skythians before eliminating the
Eastern Selecuid 
kingdom, that they were Skythian related but their
other ethnic differences, 
make such a distinction impossible. 
 
Q. Fabius Maximus 
 
 
[Non-text portions of this message have been
removed] 
 
</tt>

 



<table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2>
<tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC>
<td align=center><font size="-1"


Subject:	Re: [novaroma] An inquiry about the composition centuries
From:	MarcusAudens@webtv.net
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 16:20:09 -0500 (EST)

Hmmmmmmmmmm!! Well, since you are pleased to mention my name in your
"exposure" of the facts, I must admit that I have never reviewed my
century standing. I have been more involved trying to build Nova Roma,
rather than call attention to some possble if improbable faults. In the
first place, I cannot concieve of what anyone would see in the value of
achieving a superiority of voting advantage in an internet organization
which is totally voluntary. Any significant success at such a "plot"
would immediately divest the micronation of her most valued attributes
-- her citizens, leaving any possible victors without anyone to be
victorius over!!!!

That this has happened in some measure to date in NR because of
personality problems, is probable, however, your anology and data, I
must confess make little sense to me. I trust implicetly both of our
current Censors, and our Honored Senior Consul. I have been closely
associated with a former Censor, Senator Merrulus whom I also trust
explicitly, and I am confident that if any of the above named
individuals had seen anything strange in the assignment of citizens to
the Century List, such would have been corrected long since. I. myself,
do not have any detailed experience in citizen assignment to Centuries,
since I have never been able to have the honor to serve as Censor, since
I do not possess an adequate computer for the task, however, the Censors
I have referred to you have the experience and expertease, as well as
the integrity to insure that such a happenstance as you suggest, is not
in fact, accurate.

I would remind you at this juncture that all NR Citizens, presently have
the same rights and privaledges regardless of their involvement with NR.
The only differences being that Patricians may not vote in a Plebian
election and those citizens who do not vote at all are placed in a
lesser position of influence. This situation is presently under
discussion, bit nothig has been formally decided. The Tax Rules will
take effect at the end of the anual tax gathering which will effect the
situaton of some further citizens, but I do ot believe any of those
venues is related to your "revalations."

In case my words do not impress you, (and there are some in Nova Roma
who are inclined in that way), I refer you and your "revealing data" to
our two Praetors for review. I trust both of them, as well, and I am
sure that they will be pleased to review your data, and provide you with
an honest and straightforward response.

Until such time as you have recieved such a review, perhaps it would be
better all around, were you not to bring Magistartes or Senators names
before the Main List, unless you have a more significant reason to do
so. I am not pleased to see serving officers who have given of their
time, effort, and willingness to serve NR, brought to the edge of
accusation by someone both new, and without any of the previously
mentioned attributes.

In closing, however, I must tell you that I am impressed by one facet of
your message. In the determination, review, gathering and posting of
your information you must have spent some hours of labor. My impression
is that had you spent your time and effort a little more wisely, some
Province would now be in possesion of some very valuable new laws.
proposals, a volunteer for needed activities or any one of many other
useful and productive efforts. Too Bad , really!!!!!!!!!!

Marcus Minucius Audens


Subject:	Re: [novaroma] An inquiry about the composition centuries
From:	Marcus Octavius Germanicus <haase@konoko.net>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 15:31:46 -0600 (CST)

Salve Claudi Salix,

> The stranger to me in these centuries is that at least in the three
> first next to citizens with but of 100 points, they hardly appear citizen
> with 30 points.

I performed the century assignment last year, with permission of the
Censores (I am a scribe of the Censores).

The citizens were divided evenly into classes, as required by law.
(In some cases citizens with the same number of century points would
be in different classes - this is unavoidable, when upwards of fifty
people would be "tied" with the same point level).

As the voting system works properly only when a large number of
centuries actually vote, we did the allocation in such a manner as to
maximize the number of votes. Citizens who had voted in recent
elections were first scattered as widely as possible across the
centuries of their class (for example, in the first class there were
about 40 "habitual voters" to be placed in 55 centuries; each thus
was placed in a different century). Next, those persons who are
unlikely to vote were placed in the centuries alongside the likely
voters.

Thus, you will find in each century one name of an active citizen,
often someone high-profile and recognizable, and several names
of persons who are no longer with us. In the fourth and fifth
classes there are often multiple "likely voters" in each century -
this was unavoidable, due to the legal requirement that each class
be the same size.

The size of centuries within a class never differed by more than
one when the allocation was first made. Since then, that has
changed somewhat due to resignations. New citizens have been placed
in either the fourth or fifth class depending on century points,
but existing citizens have not been reassigned yet -- that will
likely take place after the tax collection period ends, if the
Censores choose to do so then.

Vale, Octavius.

--
Marcus Octavius Germanicus
Consul of Nova Roma, MMDCCLV a.u.c.
Curator Araneum et Senator


Subject:	[novaroma] The Space Shuttle and Roma
From:	Centurion M Bianchius Antonius <imperialreign@yahoo.com>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 13:00:16 -0800 (PST)

> > Ever wonder where engineering specifications come
> from?
> > The US standard railroad gauge (distance between
> the rails)
> > is 4 feet, 8. 5 inches, an exceedingly odd number.
> Why was
> > that gauge used? Because that's the way they
> built them in
> > England, and Englishmen built the US railroads.
> Why did the
> > English build them like that? Because the first
> rail lines were built
> > by the people who built the pre-railroad tramways,
> and that is
> > the gauge they used.
> > Why did they use that particular gauge then?
> Because the people
> > who built the tramways used the same jigs and
> tools that they
> > used for building wagons, which used the same
> wheel spacing.
> > Okay! Why did the wagons have that particular odd
> wheel spacing?
> > Well, if they tried to use any other spacing, the
> wagon wheels would
> > break on the old, long distance roads in England,
> because that's the
> > spacing of the wheel ruts in the granite setts.
> > So, who built those old rutted roads? Imperial
> Rome built the first
> > long distance roads in Europe (and England) for
> their legions. The
> > roads have been used ever since. And the ruts in
> the roads? Roman
> > war chariots formed the initial ruts, which
> everyone else had to match
> > for fear of destroying their wagon wheels. Since
> the chariots were made
> > for (or by) Imperial Rome, they all had the same
> wheel spacing. The
> > United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet,
> 8. 5 inches is derived
> > from the specification for an Imperial Roman war
> chariot. Specifications
> > & bureaucracies live forever.
> > The Imperial Roman war chariots were made just
> wide enough to
> > accommodate the back ends of two war-horses.
> >
> > Cut to the present. . .
> >
> > The Space Shuttle, sitting on its launch pad, has
> two booster rockets
> > attached to the sides of the main fuel tank. These
> are solid rocket
> > boosters, or SRBs. Thiokol makes the SRBs at its
> factory in Utah. The
> > engineers who designed the SRBs wanted to make
> them a bit fatter, but
> > the SRBs had to be shipped by train from the
> factory to the launch site.
> > The railroad line from the factory happens to run
> through a tunnel in
> > the mountains. The SRBs had to fit through that
> tunnel, which is
> > slightly wider than the railroad track, and the
> railroad track is about
> > as
> > wide
> > as two horses' behinds.
> >
> > So. . . .
> >
> > a major design feature of what is arguably the
> world's most advanced
> > transportation system was determined two thousand
> years ago by a
> > horse's ass. Which, after all, is pretty much how
> most government
> > decisions
> > are made.
> >

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Sports - Coverage of the 2002 Olympic Games
http://sports.yahoo.com


Subject:	[novaroma] Detailed election results
From:	Michel Loos <loos@qt1.iq.usp.br>
Date:	18 Feb 2002 18:35:40 -0300

Salve,

In the view of the recent communication on the centuries composition,
and in the interrest of transparency in the democratic process in NR,

I think that it would be most interresting if we could have a detailed
report for the elections:

A by circonscription (tribe or century) result for all items.

This would be consistent with both the actual democratic process in
other nations
and the ancient process in Roma. The results were known century by
century or tribe by tribe, it would only be normal to have this here in
NR

Vale,

Manius Villius Limitanus


Subject:	Re: [novaroma] Romans and Scythians
From:	"Cl. Sl. Davianus" <davius_sanctex@terra.es>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 22:38:28 +0100

Salve Livia Tasia,

In fact Scythians are an old stage of Sarmatian peoples. Herodotus lived among the Scythian and we have certain information about this. We also know that Scythians during century 4th BC have a powerful kingdom North of Black Sea and reached its greater economic development at this time. It is very probable the exitence of contacts at this time. Many escitians turned into sedentary agriculturists in this kingdom with capital in Panticapeus (act. Kamenskoe Gorodishche). We have a handful of words in scythian that clearly related this people to actual ossetic language (the unique modern descendant of scytho-sarmatian dialects). You can find a lot of information about Scythian history and language in my page:

http://www.geocities.com/linguaeimperii/Iranian/scythian_es.html#lang

>From century 2nd BC onwards, the descendant of scythian were named Sarmatians and they were divided in various tribes: Alans, Roxolans and Yazygian. The Alans, although being an iranian tribe, were extremely important in century 3th when they were unified with goths. In fact emperor Maximinus (250 AD) were of Alanic origin (after his mother). These sarmatian Alans conquered parts of Hispania in 409 AD (this speaks about the large presence of sarmatian peoples in Rome). You also can find a lot of information about Sarmatian History and language in my page:

http://www.geocities.com/linguaeimperii/Iranian/sarmatian_es.html

Cl. Sl. Davianus
Candidatus Tribunatu Plebis

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Subject:	[novaroma] All Comitia Now Open
From:	Marcus Octavius Germanicus <haase@konoko.net>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 16:05:40 -0600 (CST)

Salvete Quirites,

Elections are now in progress in all three Comitia. The election
in the Comitia Plebis Tributa began two days ago; the elections in the
other two began about five minutes ago. Please proceed to the Cistae
and cast your votes at your convenience.

Valete, Octavius.

--
Marcus Octavius Germanicus
Consul of Nova Roma, MMDCCLV a.u.c.
Curator Araneum et Senator

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Subject:	Re: [novaroma] An inquiry about the composition centuries
From:	"Cl. Sl. Davianus" <davius_sanctex@terra.es>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 23:03:24 +0100

Salvete cives Novae Romae,

>Since you chose to use me as your "example", I would like to comment.
>>(It results strange that century 20 that is of single 3 members!
precissely that in wich our brilliant <curatrix sermonis> is inscribed, that
means that she has 0.17% of the total votes.>>

>>Interesting. Until you posted this I had never taken the time to look at
how many were in my century. When you say 17% of the total votes, do you
mean total votes in my century or overall? Oh, and thank you for the
compliment about my brilliance. I am somewhat unsure if you are being
sarcastic, so I will take it face value.<<

A 0.17% in overall (not a 17% this would be an abouse ;-) only an 0.17% in overall.

> would control about 1% of the total votes!!!! (In order to
> comparation, I am in nova Roma only about 0,04% of the votes,
> that is I have about 1/25 of the decissory power of the Vedians!).>>

>>Oh, never mind, I get it now. You are seeking to uncover some deep sinister
plot that gives some <you conveniently chose me and my husband> in NR more
power than others.<<

No cara Priscilla I have said it is just an hypthesis not an actual fact.

>>Vale,
Priscilla Vedia Serena
Curatrix Sermonis
Lictor<<

Better Lictrix than Lictor ;-) it is extremely difficult for a woman to be a <lictor> not just a <lictrix>!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Subject:	Re: [novaroma] An inquiry about the composition centuries
From:	"Cl. Sl. Davianus" <davius_sanctex@terra.es>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 23:09:48 +0100

Salve nobilis M Octavius Germanicus,

>>The citizens were divided evenly into classes, as required by law. (In some cases citizens with the same number of century points would be in different classes - this is unavoidable, when upwards of fifty
people would be "tied" with the same point level).<<

My complaint ... better my surprise is not that citizens with the same number of century points were assigned to different centuries. no. My surprise is that citizens with great differences in the number of century points were assigned to centuries 1-5 (and others).

The actual system:
(a) terribily favours certain prominent persons.
(b) undervalore the vote of some active citizens (these allocated in superpopulated centuries)

Why citizens with the same century points have very different deccissory power?

Cl. Sl. Davianus

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Subject:	Re: [novaroma] An inquiry about the composition centuries
From:	Marcus Octavius Germanicus <haase@konoko.net>
Date:	Mon, 18 Feb 2002 16:46:28 -0600 (CST)

Salve Claudi Salix,

> (a) terribily favours certain prominent persons.

The top one fifth of all citizens (by century point total) are in the
first class. Only about 30 century points were required to get into
the first class... someone with 30 points, who might have been inactive
for years, has the same voting power (1/3rd or 1/4th of a century)
as L. Equitius or F. Vedius.

> (b) undervalore the vote of some active citizens (these allocated in
> superpopulated centuries)

The active citizens will quickly move out of the fourth or fifth
classes as they accumulate points. We are also planning to change
the law defining century points so that actual contributions
to our political or cultural efforts will count for more than
simple longevity (thus causing citizens who disappeared years
ago to lose points, while new-yet-active citizens will gain points).

> Why citizens with the same century points have very different
> deccissory power?

Citizens with the same point value have voting strength as equal
as possible. Someone with 25 points at the time of the allocation
might be in the first class (with 1/3rd or 1/4th of a century),
or in the second class with (with 1/4th or 1/5th). The allocation
was done as fairly and evenly as possible considering the requirements
of the law.

Note that, since the centuries were allocated (in early December),
nearly everyone's century point totals have changed. Newly elected
or appointed magistrates had their values go up considerably;
and everyone who has a six or 12-month anniversary of citizenship
received more points. The centuries have not yet been reassigned,
though, so one person might have a better century ranking than someone
with more points. That will be fixed when the next global
reallocation is done.

Vale, Octavius.

--
Marcus Octavius Germanicus
Consul of Nova Roma, MMDCCLV a.u.c.
Curator Araneum et Senator

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