Forum Romanum


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] (no subject)
From:	sparkyjoe270@aol.com
Date:	Fri, 12 Jul 2002 12:54:27 EDT

Salve,
Suetoni

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


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: Dianas
From:	MVariusPM@aol.com
Date:	Fri, 12 Jul 2002 14:13:27 EDT

Salve,

While it is true that there is a percentage of the Wiccan population who
follow (or use as models) "Gardnerian witchcraft practices." There is also a
large population who don't have anything to do with that particular
interpretation and use much older spiritual methods for their practices. A
few references for these lines of philosophical thought are:

Marija Gimbutas, "The Language of the Goddess" (in particular)
Joseph Campbell, (the entire series of books)
Riane Eisler, "The Chalice and the Blade" (in particular)
Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer, "Innana, Queen of Heaven and Earth"
(in particular)

There are probably as many variations within the Wiccan community
concerning dogma, practice, interpretation and historical context as there is
in the Christian community (or any religious practice for that matter). No
doubt due to the fact that groups are made of individuals who tend to
interpret things for themselves and may or may not follow all of the
"accepted" precepts regarding their practices and belief systems.
Generalizations are often good for conversations where "short hand" saves a
lot of time (usually when all the members are in agreement regarding the
stereotypes being used). But, they can lead to misunderstandings when used in
a broader forum.

For example: There is a large group of practicing Wiccans who do not
practice in any sort of group ("solitary practitioners") some of them (and
some in groups) work exclusively with herbal medicines (reference: Billie
Potts, "Witches Heal" a very good book, hard to find, out of print). To say
that all Wiccans practice with herbal remedies would be a misnomer. On the
flip side, to say all Wiccan's practice without herbal medicines would be
equally in error. Some do, some don't. The only way to know would be to ask
one.

Also, in the references mentioned at the top of this post are some very
good explorations of the origins for all religious belief systems in use
today. Joseph Campbell is particularly good for this research. His series
"The Masks of God" discusses the foundations upon which Western European
mythology is formed and some of the primitive motifs that would eventually
lead from matriarchal archetypes to patriarchal archetypes. Gimbutas is also
very good and I would recommend her to anyone doing serious study on the
subject. Her work spans not only the formative stages of religion, but the
origins of writing, language and migrations patterns.

Diana (the goddess) was certainly an outcome of millennia of mother goddess
worship. Just as Athena, Venus, Hestia, Hera, etc. were other aspects
(fragments, perhaps). She was certainly based on the Greek Artemis and the
book "Innana" gives good evidence for her foundation in the ancient
Mesopotamian religions (along with Isis and Dana - I have other references
for anyone who is interested).

In my humble opinion, it is a fairly small segment of the Wiccan population
who do the "sparkly robes, pointy hats, and dyed hair" routine. I do know of
some who are quite outspoken in Salem. In fact, the pagan population at large
has that group in particular to thank for opening up "alternative" religious
practices in the United States. Until they pressed their case up to the
Supreme Court some years ago, practicing witchcraft in the US was still
illegal and not recognized as a religious belief. They are most certainly on
the "fringe of the fringe," but their visible presence continues to reinforce
freedom of religion for many others and they were good enough to include
"pagan" in their case so the court covered a much broader practicing base
than their individual group. They are, in my experience, not the "norm" (if
there is such a thing) in Wicca.

Oh, and "wicca" comes from the Old English word for "witch." It has been
given the presentation that it means "wise one." In Anglo Saxon, "wic" meant
"dwelling" and a "wicca" was a "woman's house" (sans men, presumably). In Old
High German "wih" (pronounced like "wic") meant "holy." As with many words
from old languages, the variation of meaning becomes somewhat difficult to
discern from the modern viewpoint. The association of "Wicca" with
"Witchcraft" (in the modern context) has led to even more confusion over what
belief system is being used. While Gardner did join a coven (which was
already in place - he didn't originate it) and eventually persuaded the
members to let him publish a book about their practices, he did his research
using references for older belief systems and rituals. He was certainly
outspoken about his own belief systems and interpretations of traditions, but
he didn't invent the older material he just used some of it and tossed some
of it out.

Most certainly, a majority of the poor people burned by the Catholic Church
and secular authorities in the Middle Ages were not "practitioners of the
black arts." Most of them were simple folk who used traditional remedies and
customs handed down to them for generations (i.e., pouring milk on the field
before sowing to ensure a fertile harvest, for example). I am sure there was
probably a segment of the group who did practice a handed down form of
paganism (the Church had a tough time stamping it out, particularly in
Scandinavia, Friesia, and the Basque community). Fortunately, some of those
traditions even survived that terrible time and anthropologists are beginning
to take a serious look at the roots of pagan Western tradition. In my humble
opinion, Gardner is just a small fragment of a much larger, broader,
community that is as diverse as ever and has a history that spans back to
prehistoric times.

Valate,
M. Varius

In a message dated 7/11/02 12:46:32 PM Central Daylight Time,
diana_aventina@yahoo.com writes:

> Wiccans kept the negative title that she
> was given as if it were a compliment, just like
> many new wiccans dye their hair black and dress
> in witchy clothes like the negative medieval
> stereotype of a witch.

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


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Alternate Histories Of Rome
From:	"miguelkelly15" <mjk@datanet.ab.ca>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 01:24:37 -0000

Salvete Omnes et Sexti Corneli Cottae,

Those alternate history novels can be fun to read. I can recommend a
few more!

1) The Far Arena by Richard Ben Sapir - a story about finding a
frozen Roman soldier in the far North and reviving him in modern times

2) Procurator by Kurt Mitchel - Pilate releases Jesus, Christianity
fizzles out but the Roman Empire lasts 2000 years more; trouble with
the Germanic barbarians reviving witchcraft and spiritualism which
clashes with Roman technology.

3)The New Barbarians by Kurt Mitchel - Rome then expands its Empire
into America and clashes with the growing Aztec Empire.

4)The Casca Series by Sgt. Saddler (who sang The Green Berets) -
Casca is a Roman soldier who slaps Jesus' face in the passion and
Jesus condems him to walk the earth for a few thousand years as a
mercenary (something like highlander).

5)One more to mention that is not alternate history but shouldn't be
ignored. Raptor by Gary Jennings - This is the story of a
hermaphrodite who takes off from a monestary at the end of the 5th
century and travels all over the Western and Eastern Roman Empire a
year or two before Rome falls. Fascinating, 900 pages brilliantly
written. The only warning for some is that Gary Jennings gets quite
sexually and violently graphic in parts of the book but you can skim
over that if necessary. He also wrote Aztec.

Now I realize that its hard to find these 10 - 20 year old books.
Just go to some of the book websites and you'll have no problem to
find them. I do not want to be more specific as Nova Roma justifiably
does not want to promote outside businesses even innocently.

Yours respectfully,

Quintus Lanius Paulinus


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Another Alternate History Of Rome
From:	Centurion M Bianchius Antonius <imperialreign@yahoo.com>
Date:	Fri, 12 Jul 2002 19:47:58 -0700 (PDT)

Agent of Byzantium by Harry Turtledove is a good book
about a secret agent in a Muslum-free world where
Constantinople never falls....I know, to some this is
not really Roman, but it is a good read and I
recommend. It is kind of like a Bond novel in an
alternate setting.

Anyone interested, the ISBN is 0-671-87593-0 (1994)

=====
Marcus Bianchius Antonius
Propraetor, The Great Provincia Lacus Magni

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Literary Contest
From:	jmath669642reng@webtv.net
Date:	Fri, 12 Jul 2002 22:52:45 -0400 (EDT)

Citizens of Nova Roma;

I am very disappointed that I was unable to complete the below work in
time for the writing contest. This is, as you well know, the
reenactment season and, I am committed to show up at different places,
at different times. This takes a lot of preparaion and effort, as you
would imagine and my time got away from me. Below is what I would have
submitted had I been able to complete it by the deadline. The story is
taken from the middle of a larger story, but I thought that I would
share it wth you anyway.

On another note, I will be away for an event (Rev War) at Fort Anne, NY
this weekend.

Respectfully;

Marcus Minucius Audens

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Winds Of Change

The mist drifted by in patches alternately hiding and revealing the
unvarying line of the dreary marsh that bordered this main channel of
the Fluvius Rhinus. It was a cold mist that settled upon every solid
thing and dripped or soaked it's way into every seam, nook and cranny in
the galley. On either side of the channel lay smaller entrances to the
myriad of water ways within the delta that made this area so popular as
a pirate ground. The trackless passages were many, and the high reeds
hid everything beyond just a few feet past the shoreline. The creaking
of the oars seemed to be disembodied in the greyness, and voice of the
faber (carpenter) in the bow of the vessel taking depth soundings was
distant, and muffled in the clinging clammy atmosphere.

"If they are out there we'll find them Sir." The Trierarchus' (captain)
voice beside him made the Praefectus start. The Trierarchus with lank
hair streaming in the wind created by the slowly moving ship, was almost
invisable in his grey cloak except for the his dark cap of felted wool.
He had removed his helmet, and the mist had beaded his cap with
moisture.

The Praefectus looked at the Trierarchus and grunted. "They had better
be out here", he said scathingly, "or we'll all look like fools!"

The Trierarchus saluted and moved to the helm station when the
duplicarii (quartermaster) stood, directing the helmsman. Trierarchus
Nicia wished that Praefectus Audens would drink his wine and eat the
meal cakes that his servant had laid out for him. The meal wasn't much,
but Audens was always in a better mood after a meal. The man is getting
old and cranky he thought, as he watched the Commander, standing a few
feet away. Good man, actually, but touchy when the tension is high. He
would rather serve with someone touchy though, rather than someone who
didin't have a clue. Audens knew what he was about alright, but he was
fire and brimstone when his people were not on top of the problem. That
was why we are here, Nicia grinned slightly, the problem was a big one
and the powers out here knew that Audens would deal wih it. His men and
ships were said to be the best on this coast, and some said the best in
the seas where the sun set last. Nicia was glad to be here, but he knew
things had to be right. He moved to the side of he duplicarii again and
made a minor correction in the course. The Praefectus was very
particular that the steersman "steer small" as he was fond of growling,
"Steer small, damn your eyes," especially just before his morning meal.

The Praefectus turned to the Centurion and asked again for the second
time, "are your men ready and in place?"

The Centurion (Princeps-primi ordines-Cohors I) Gaius Scaeva Aemilianus
nodded his head in the direction of the bow. The Praefectus could just
see the top of the Optio's helmet as he was directing the placement of
the last of the Legionaries to thier designated positions.

"The lads are all in place sir, and they have thier instructions." This
last was delivered with just the slightest note of satisfaction, and the
Praefect grunted again. The Eighth Legion Augusta had a long and proud
history, and the Second in command of the First Cohort would see to it
that nothing marred that record. The Praefect drew his cloak closer
about him, time to be about it, he thought.

"Trierarchus, bring the division into line," the Praefect said quietly,
directing his orders to the shadowy figure again standing at his right
side.

"Aye Praefect," the officer answered and gestured to the velarii
(sail-men) with Conch shell horns at the masthead. Three long blasts
rang out, but strangely muffled in the fog, and shortly the snouts of
three liburnians loomed out of the thinning fog. They were long and low
in the water, painted a light grey at the Praefect's special order, and
because of that, very difficult to see along this coast in the fog
which was a constant threat here. They were as dangerous as crocodiles,
and nearly as silent. Nicia shivered as he watched them close on the
galley. He was very glad they were not after him!!

"Trierarchus, disburse the division in attack formaton, said Praefect
Audens.

The captain replied again,"Aye Praefect," and gestured to the masthead.
Two long and one short blasts rang out and the liburians changed course,
moving in parallel to the slower Galley on either side, but outward to
the distance of just bare visability. The third liburnian disappeared
seaward in the mist, That ship would maintain a visual contact with her
sister ship, and at the attack signal would move ahead to strike to
target's flanks or to cut off it's escape, if possible.

The Trierarchus turned to Audens for further orders. "Now we wait and
see," said the Praefect. A cry from forward caught the attention of the
three officer's.

"Not for long," said the Centurion peering forward under his shading
hand, "I think we have them!!!"

Two low shapes directly forward came into view, They were painted blue
which identified them as pirate craft, and almost immediately the two
craft ahead quickened thier speed and turned away.

"They've seen us sir," said the Centurion, moving to the ship's rail and
climbing into the shrouds for a better view.

"Have a care Centurion," said Audens referring to the water racing by,
"I don't wish to lose my Marine Commander!!"

Turning to the Triierchus, the Praefectus spoke calmly, "order the
Liburnians to close the ships ahead, and clear away the forward
catapults."

Two Horn Blasts rang out from the masthead and the Liburnians sped
forward closing the range. Each of the long lean ships had a catapult
on the forward deck, and the catapult crews were feverishly pulling away
the coverings which kept the springs dry. The two catapult's on the
galley's foward deck were now manned and loaded. Somebody had
anticipated the order forward, thought Audens, and catching sight of a
grin on the face of the Optio, he was sure he knew who.

"Centurion," growled Audens, "when I say so and not before!!"

"Aye Praefect," said the Centurion ruefully, as he moved forward to
"speak" with his Optio, and chastise him for his eagerness. Damn the
man, he thought, he doesn't miss much!

"Trierarchus Otho, you may sound the attack," ordered Praefectus Audens,
and as four long blasts rang out from the masthead, the Corvus forward
swung forward to the ready position, and the contingent of bowmen lit
thier fire arrows from a small fire in a sand-filled caldron in the
bows. The Optio made a last minute check of his men. When the "crow's
beak" crashed through the deck of the pirate craft ahead it was the
marines that were his strike force, and they had to be focused and ready
to cross that narrow bridge, and get the enemy ship under thier control
quickly and with a minimal loss of life.

Behind the marines was a duplicarii and his extra group of velarii ready
to take control of the pirate vessel and sail her out of the way, when
the marines had taken command. Audens hoped to get at least one of the
two ships now clearly in front of him. One would likely be burned, but
the other ----- if it were in fair shape it might well be bought into
service, and the price spread around the crews and marines as a bonus.
It wouldn't be much he thought, but at least enough for a debauch in the
settlement outside the fortress, a pot of wine, and a night's frolic
with one of the plump german girls in the big red tent. He grinned to
himself, and then thought of his wife in Rome, and a pang struck him as
he realized his loneliness. Get a grip, he told himself sternly, and
moved to the forward rail, which he gripped with both heavy hands.
Perhaps just a bit too hard.

Fire was a dangerous business, but these were pirates, and they deserved
the worst that he could deal out-- "You may fire when you are ready
Centurion," said Audens grimly, watching the closing Liburnians

At the order both catapults launched thier heavy shafts, and a spread of
fire arrows sped to the target. The three officers leaned forward in
anticipation as the liburnians also fired thier cataults and closed for
the kill.

To Be Continued-----

Respectfully Submitted;

Marcus Minucius Audens

Fair Winds and Following Seas!!!

http://community.webtv.net/jmath669642reng/NovaRomaMilitary


Subject:	Re: [Nova-Roma] Re: Dianas
From:	"=?iso-8859-1?q?A.=20Hirtius=20Helveticus?=" <hirtius75ch@yahoo.de>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 08:31:53 +0200 (CEST)

Salve Vare, salvete omnes

--- MVariusPM@aol.com wrote:
<snip>
> Most certainly, a majority of the poor people
> burned by the Catholic Church
> and secular authorities in the Middle Ages were not
> "practitioners of the
> black arts." Most of them were simple folk who used
> traditional remedies and
> customs handed down to them for generations (i.e.,
> pouring milk on the field
> before sowing to ensure a fertile harvest, for
> example). I am sure there was
> probably a segment of the group who did practice a
> handed down form of
> paganism (the Church had a tough time stamping it
> out, particularly in
> Scandinavia, Friesia, and the Basque community).

I know, that this is not the place to discuss
non-related religious matters, so I keep it short. It
wasn't only the Catholic church that burned people for
being witches or whatever (I reckon, that the people
who burned others in the US weren't Catholics at all
f.ex.). Mainly, the Inquisition was concerned with
so-called heretics and the accusation of having
practised witchcraft was *just* an easy way of getting
rid of them. I - as a Roman Catholic myself - have to
point out, that also Martin Luther and other reformers
were very clear on that subject and condemnded
witchcraft, too. It is just simply not true, that only
the Catholic church burned so-called witches and other
*non-believers*.
Actually, the Catholic church did convert a lot of
*pagan traditions* into its system of believe and
therefore preserved them in some way. That's why it
was/still is so successful.

> Fortunately, some of those
> traditions even survived that terrible time [...]

Indeed. But that *terrible time* was mostly not the
middle ages. So-called witches were mostly burned in
early modern times. It is just another stereotype view
of the middle ages.

Valete bene,

=====
A. Hirtius Helveticus
------------------------------
paterfamilias gentis Hirtiarum
http://www.hirtius.ch.tt/
------------------------------
Yahoo!/AIM/MSN: hirtius75ch
icq: 155762490

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Ludi Apollinares - honouring Apollo
From:	=?iso-8859-1?q?Tiberius=20Apollonius=20Cicatrix?= <consulromanus@yahoo.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 08:53:34 +0100 (BST)

Salvete!

I hereby present four hymns to Apollo, with thanks to
Antonia Cornelia Octaviana for providing them.

-----
To Apollo
- Fumigation from Manna -

Blessed Apollo come, and listen to our prayers,
Illustrious Power, revered by the Peoples of Memphis,
Slayer of Tetyus, God of Health, Lycorian Phoebus,
Fertile Source of Wealth,
With Your golden lyre, renew the rich fertility of the
fields,
Giant who dwelt long in the Temples of Grynaeus and
Smynthias,
Hallowed and Rural, Light-Bearer,
Companion of the Muses,
Noble and Beautiful Apollo, armed with dreaded arrows
far-darting,
Bacchian God, Two-Fold and divine,
Far reaching is Your Power.
Upon Your daily course, the souls of all are revealed
under the gaze of Your brilliant eyes.
Golden-Haired One of True Oracles,
You reveal the omens and pure precepts,
Hear me entreating for human kind,
Hear and be present with benevolence,
For You survey the boundless Aether, and every part of
Earth,
Abundant, Blessed, Your piercing sight extends beyond
the darkness, starry and profound,
The stable roots, deep fixed by You,
The World's wide bounds flourish because of You,
You inspire all Nature's music, a symphony in
harmonious array,
Then the last string You turn, to quiver in the sweet
and single melody.
Your immortal golden lyre, sounds the dance of the
seasons.
Your music creates all of Nature's different tribes,
and mixes them in equal parts,
You are Pan in royal guise, Who plays the winds upon
the two-horned pipe,
And with figured seals, stamps the world with forms of
every kind,
Hear me Blessed Power, save Your Mystics, and in these
rites rejoice.

-----

Hymn to Apollo

How Apollo's laurel sapling shakes!
How the whole temple shakes! Away, away with the
wicked!
It must be Phoebus kicking at the door with his fair
foot.
Do you not see? The Delian palm nods gently,
All of a sudden; the swan sings beautifully in the
air.
Bolts of the doors, thrust yourselves back.
Keys--open the doors! For the god is no longer far
away.
So, young men, prepare yourselves for singing and
dancing.
Apollo appears not to all, only to the good.
He who sees him is great; who does not is lowly.
We will see you, Worker from Afar, and we will never
be lowly.
Let the cithara not be silent.
Nor your step noiseless with Apollo approaching, you
children,
If you intend to complete the marriage vows and to cut
your hair,
And if the wall is to stand on its aging foundations.
Well done the youths; the strings are no longer at
rest.
Be silent and hear the song of Apollo's glory.
Even the sea is silent, for bards celebrate
The cithara or bow, weapons of Lycoreian Phoebus.
Neither does mother Thetis mournfully lament for her
Achilles
If she hears, "Hie Paian, Hie Paian."
Even the weeping rock forgets its griefs--
The sobbing stone forever fixed in Phrygia,
Marble where once a woman gaped sorrowfully.
Cry, "Hie, Hie"; it is a poor thing to contest the
blessed.
May he who fights with the blessed fight my king,
And may he who fights my king also fight with Apollo.
The chorus which sings to Apollo with his heart
He will honor. He has the power; he sits on the right
hand of Zeus.
Neither will the chorus sing of Apollo for only one
day;
He is worthy of many hymns. Who would not readily sing
of Apollo?
Golden is Apollo's mantle and golden its clasp,
As are his lyre and Lyctian bow and quiver;
Golden are his sandals, for Apollo is rich in gold.
Rich in possessions; you might have proof of this at
Delphi.
Always fair, always young! Never do
Traces of down touch his blooming cheeks.
His hair drips fragrant oils to the ground,
But streaming from the locks of Apollo is not fat.
But Panacaea. In the city where these dew drops
Fall to earth all things are secure.
None is so versatile in skill as Apollo.
He watches over the archer; he watches over the bard;
Phoebus's are both the bow and song.
His are the prophets and prophetesses; from Phoebus
Physicians learn the skill of postponing death.
-Callimachus, "Hymn to Apollo".

-----

HYMN TO APOLLO

Our King Apollo, child of mighty Zeus, When you were
born your father gave you a gold headband and a lyre
of tortoise shell, and more: a chariot drawn by swans.
You were to go to Delphi and the Kastalian spring
whose waters are the gift of broad Kephissos, and
there deliver justice to the Hellenes through the
oracles. But when you seize the reins, You made the
swans sail north to the distant land of the
Hyperboreans, and the Delphans begged you to
return--with paeans of flutes and circles of girls
dancing about the tripod-- Apollo, you remained to
rule that people through the long year. Came the
season when the tripod rings loud and clear in Delphi,
you turned the swans to Parnassos. It was high noon of
summer When you glided back from the far Northlands;
swallows and nightingales were singing; cicadas also
sang about you; silver brooks poured down from
Kastalia, and the great river Kephissos Threw
blue-foaming waves into the bright wind: yes, even the
waters knew a god was coming home.
--Alkaios

-----

JOHN LYLY. Midas, 1592 ; acted1590.
HYMN TO APOLLO.
SING to Apollo, god of day,
Whose golden beams with morning play,
And make her eyes as brightly shine,
Aurora's face is called divine ;
Sing to Phoebus and that throne
Of diamonds which he sits upon.
Io p�ans let us sing
To physic's and to poesy's king !

Crown all his altars with bright fire,
Laurels bind about his lyre,
A Daphnean coronet for his head,
The Muses dance about his bed ;
When on his ravishing lute he plays,
Strew his temple round with bays.
Io p�ans let us sing
To the glittering Delian king !

-----

Honour Apollo and the Muses! These Ludi Apollinares
were dedicated to them!

Valete bene

=====
Tiberius Apollonius Cicatrix
Aedilis Plebis
Coryphaeus Sodalitatis Musarum
Paterfamilias Gentis Apolloniae
civis Novae Romae

***HORUM OMNIUM FORTISSIME SUNT BELGAE***

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: Dianas
From:	"caius_julius_claudianus" <shaun@iseum.org.uk>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 08:48:11 -0000

Salve,

No offence intended to anybody, but I have to offer an alternative
view on this in the interest of history. There is no word in Anglo
Saxon which is the root of "witch" (Check any Anglo Saxon
dictionary). There was no such thing as Wicca prior to it's invention
by Gerald Gardner, it is entirely a modern invention, (with no
disrespect to it intended on account of that). The theories of Marija
Gimbutas and Rhiann Eisler regarding prehistoric matriachal
civilisations have been thoroughly discredited by the academic
community. Most of the victims of the Inquisitions were Jews and
heretical Christian sects.

Vale

C.Iulius Claudianus

--- In Nova-Roma@y..., MVariusPM@a... wrote:
> Salve,
>
> While it is true that there is a percentage of the Wiccan
population who
> follow (or use as models) "Gardnerian witchcraft practices." There
is also a
> large population who don't have anything to do with that particular
> interpretation and use much older spiritual methods for their
practices. A
> few references for these lines of philosophical thought are:
>
> Marija Gimbutas, "The Language of the Goddess" (in particular)
> Joseph Campbell, (the entire series of books)
> Riane Eisler, "The Chalice and the Blade" (in particular)
> Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer, "Innana, Queen of Heaven
and Earth"
> (in particular)
>
> There are probably as many variations within the Wiccan community
> concerning dogma, practice, interpretation and historical context
as there is
> in the Christian community (or any religious practice for that
matter). No
> doubt due to the fact that groups are made of individuals who tend
to
> interpret things for themselves and may or may not follow all of
the
> "accepted" precepts regarding their practices and belief systems.
> Generalizations are often good for conversations where "short hand"
saves a
> lot of time (usually when all the members are in agreement
regarding the
> stereotypes being used). But, they can lead to misunderstandings
when used in
> a broader forum.
>
> For example: There is a large group of practicing Wiccans who do
not
> practice in any sort of group ("solitary practitioners") some of
them (and
> some in groups) work exclusively with herbal medicines (reference:
Billie
> Potts, "Witches Heal" a very good book, hard to find, out of
print). To say
> that all Wiccans practice with herbal remedies would be a misnomer.
On the
> flip side, to say all Wiccan's practice without herbal medicines
would be
> equally in error. Some do, some don't. The only way to know would
be to ask
> one.
>
> Also, in the references mentioned at the top of this post are
some very
> good explorations of the origins for all religious belief systems
in use
> today. Joseph Campbell is particularly good for this research. His
series
> "The Masks of God" discusses the foundations upon which Western
European
> mythology is formed and some of the primitive motifs that would
eventually
> lead from matriarchal archetypes to patriarchal archetypes.
Gimbutas is also
> very good and I would recommend her to anyone doing serious study
on the
> subject. Her work spans not only the formative stages of religion,
but the
> origins of writing, language and migrations patterns.
>
> Diana (the goddess) was certainly an outcome of millennia of
mother goddess
> worship. Just as Athena, Venus, Hestia, Hera, etc. were other
aspects
> (fragments, perhaps). She was certainly based on the Greek Artemis
and the
> book "Innana" gives good evidence for her foundation in the ancient
> Mesopotamian religions (along with Isis and Dana - I have other
references
> for anyone who is interested).
>
> In my humble opinion, it is a fairly small segment of the Wiccan
population
> who do the "sparkly robes, pointy hats, and dyed hair" routine. I
do know of
> some who are quite outspoken in Salem. In fact, the pagan
population at large
> has that group in particular to thank for opening up "alternative"
religious
> practices in the United States. Until they pressed their case up to
the
> Supreme Court some years ago, practicing witchcraft in the US was
still
> illegal and not recognized as a religious belief. They are most
certainly on
> the "fringe of the fringe," but their visible presence continues to
reinforce
> freedom of religion for many others and they were good enough to
include
> "pagan" in their case so the court covered a much broader
practicing base
> than their individual group. They are, in my experience, not
the "norm" (if
> there is such a thing) in Wicca.
>
> Oh, and "wicca" comes from the Old English word for "witch." It
has been
> given the presentation that it means "wise one." In Anglo
Saxon, "wic" meant
> "dwelling" and a "wicca" was a "woman's house" (sans men,
presumably). In Old
> High German "wih" (pronounced like "wic") meant "holy." As with
many words
> from old languages, the variation of meaning becomes somewhat
difficult to
> discern from the modern viewpoint. The association of "Wicca" with
> "Witchcraft" (in the modern context) has led to even more confusion
over what
> belief system is being used. While Gardner did join a coven (which
was
> already in place - he didn't originate it) and eventually persuaded
the
> members to let him publish a book about their practices, he did his
research
> using references for older belief systems and rituals. He was
certainly
> outspoken about his own belief systems and interpretations of
traditions, but
> he didn't invent the older material he just used some of it and
tossed some
> of it out.
>
> Most certainly, a majority of the poor people burned by the
Catholic Church
> and secular authorities in the Middle Ages were not "practitioners
of the
> black arts." Most of them were simple folk who used traditional
remedies and
> customs handed down to them for generations (i.e., pouring milk on
the field
> before sowing to ensure a fertile harvest, for example). I am sure
there was
> probably a segment of the group who did practice a handed down form
of
> paganism (the Church had a tough time stamping it out, particularly
in
> Scandinavia, Friesia, and the Basque community). Fortunately, some
of those
> traditions even survived that terrible time and anthropologists are
beginning
> to take a serious look at the roots of pagan Western tradition. In
my humble
> opinion, Gardner is just a small fragment of a much larger,
broader,
> community that is as diverse as ever and has a history that spans
back to
> prehistoric times.
>
> Valate,
> M. Varius
>
>
>
> In a message dated 7/11/02 12:46:32 PM Central Daylight Time,
> diana_aventina@y... writes:
>
>
> > Wiccans kept the negative title that she
> > was given as if it were a compliment, just like
> > many new wiccans dye their hair black and dress
> > in witchy clothes like the negative medieval
> > stereotype of a witch.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Ludi Venatorii
From:	"pompeia_cornelia" <trog99@hotmail.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 10:05:16 -0000

Salvete Omnes!!!

The vii/xii live coverage of the Ludi Venatorii was PREMPTED by the
Musarum Television Network, due to the news explosive story which has
dominated the interests of viewers world wide!!!!

As you have no doubt heard, the largest country of the world has
decided to become a provincia of Nova Roma!!!

The Consuls received word yesterday!!!

After due proponderance, it was decided by the leader of this
country, that Rome had it altogether in the first place, and why
didn't they do this a long time ago!

Well, better late than never!!!

Delayed broadcast of yesterdays spectacles shall be aired later today.

Also, please stay tuned to Musarum for further developments in this
unexpected political turn of events.

*****************


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: Dianas
From:	MVariusPM@aol.com
Date:	Fri, 12 Jul 2002 18:31:14 EDT


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] NR scenario for Civ2 ready!
From:	"gcassiusnerva" <gcassiusnerva@cs.com>
Date:	Fri, 12 Jul 2002 23:09:45 -0000

Salvete,

The Nova Roma scenario for Civilization 2 is now finished and ready
for play. My attempt to upload it was not successful, so if you want
it, email me and I will send you the zip file.

Several changes have been made since I started work on this. The
Roman factions are no longer named after Nova Roma gens. This was
done so no one would feel strange playing as a different gens.
Instead, these are the Roman nations with their default leaders {you
can still choose to use your own name!}

Nova Roman Empire---M. Cassius Julianus, capital Nova Roma.

Byzantine Roman Empire---L. Cornelius Sulla, capital Byzantium.

Hellenic Roman Empire---Lucius Equitius, capital Alexandria

Federation of Roman States---T. Labienus Fortunatas, capital Londinium

Independent Roman Empire---Quintus Fabius, capital Carthago.

There are also several new units, new graphics, and new Wonders
of the World you can build, such as Pompeia's Tower and Auden's Dam.

Email me at gcassiusnerva@cs.com if you want the game scenario. Just
unzip it in C:\...civ2\scenario and you are off and running.

G. Cassius Nerva


Subject:	Re: [Nova-Roma] Alternate Histories Of Rome
From:	jo mama <minervalis02@yahoo.com>
Date:	Fri, 12 Jul 2002 19:20:37 -0700 (PDT)

--- miguelkelly15 <mjk@datanet.ab.ca> wrote:
> Salvete Omnes et Sexti Corneli Cottae,
>
> Those alternate history novels can be fun to read. I
> can recommend a
> few more!
>
> 1) The Far Arena by Richard Ben Sapir - a story
> about finding a
> frozen Roman soldier in the far North and reviving
> him in modern times
>
> 2) Procurator by Kurt Mitchel - Pilate releases
> Jesus, Christianity
> fizzles out but the Roman Empire lasts 2000 years
> more; trouble with
> the Germanic barbarians reviving witchcraft and
> spiritualism which
> clashes with Roman technology.
>
> 3)The New Barbarians by Kurt Mitchel - Rome then
> expands its Empire
> into America and clashes with the growing Aztec
> Empire.
>
> 4)The Casca Series by Sgt. Saddler (who sang The
> Green Berets) -
> Casca is a Roman soldier who slaps Jesus' face in
> the passion and
> Jesus condems him to walk the earth for a few
> thousand years as a
> mercenary (something like highlander).
>
> 5)One more to mention that is not alternate history
> but shouldn't be
> ignored. Raptor by Gary Jennings - This is the story
> of a
> hermaphrodite who takes off from a monestary at the
> end of the 5th
> century and travels all over the Western and Eastern
> Roman Empire a
> year or two before Rome falls. Fascinating, 900
> pages brilliantly
> written. The only warning for some is that Gary
> Jennings gets quite
> sexually and violently graphic in parts of the book
> but you can skim
> over that if necessary. He also wrote Aztec.
>
> Now I realize that its hard to find these 10 - 20
> year old books.
> Just go to some of the book websites and you'll have
> no problem to
> find them. I do not want to be more specific as Nova
> Roma justifiably
> does not want to promote outside businesses even
> innocently.
>
> Yours respectfully,
>
> Quintus Lanius Paulinus
>
>
Salvete!
Well i never ever read many modern fiction
writers.......dont really read much fiction at
all(does roman poetry count?:) BUT, ive been told i
frown alot and have a wearied countenance. The
suggested therapy: read more fiction! Well, you see,
the problem is that stories that involve contemporary
or recent past(1800's) just dont "do it" for me....and
my critical side kicks in when some ancient stuff is
attempted(admit it folks, we all loved gladiator as a
movie, but who of us couldnt keep their mouths shut
about how BAD most of the details were?). SO i was
wondering if there was some new roman/greek fiction
authors that are accurate and entertaining. Can any
citizens inform me as to which authors to
avoid/embrace? Anything pre constantinian and post
Mycenaean is fine with me.
Mille grazie,
Minervalis

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Autos - Get free new car price quotes
http://autos.yahoo.com


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Greetings from a newbie..
From:	Raven <golanv1@yahoo.com>
Date:	Fri, 12 Jul 2002 20:32:22 -0700 (PDT)

Salve, I am Magia Sententiosa, aka Raven..

I have just become a citizen, and am very excited
about learning...*everything*! :-)

Looking forward to getting to know some of my fellow
citizens;

Magia Sententiosa
Aka Raven

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Autos - Get free new car price quotes
http://autos.yahoo.com


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Ludi Apollinares literary contest (large email!!)
From:	=?iso-8859-1?q?Tiberius=20Apollonius=20Cicatrix?= <consulromanus@yahoo.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 12:18:43 +0100 (BST)

Tiberius Apollonius Cicatrix aedilis plebis omnibus
S.P.D.

I am proud to present you the participating works in
the literary contest of the Ludi Apollinares. The
winner will be announced as soon as possible, when all
judges have completed their (heavy) task. We received
four wonderful contributions, and I am glad to present
them all here in one email in chronological order:
first received is posted first, and so on). They can
also be found on the Ludi website:

http://www.geocities.com/mcserapio/aediliscicatrix.html

----------
**1**
----------

THE RETREAT OF HANNIBAL
by Lucius Arminius Faustus

When you had seen the Brutio�s poor coasts moving
away,
And Italy you governed as a Warlord per most of one
decade
I do not doubt you cried and moaned, Hannibal...

In the Temple of Lacinian June still it is
The shrine you erected for your victories
How many consulars deceased, how much Latin blood
split,
How many wives in forum you left, Hannibal...

The badly paid anger of Carthage in Canas� fields,
The she-wolf of knees expecting your grace
But in robberies you lost your chance
And now you see that you lost the war, Hannibal...

Nor before the cut head of your brother you gave up
Nor losing Capua and Tarento, betrayers cities,
Nor in guerrilla of Marcellus in the siege of Nola
Nothing dissuaded you of your encampment, Hannibal!

The Samnius paid you tribute,
Was bent over you the Alps
The Capitolius saw your spears
And the gods had trembled before you, Hannibal...

But...

They all had been gone: Spain, Sicily and now is gone
Italy,
Saves the Africa! Defeated Asdrubal!
Captured Sifax, Masinissa is a traitor
And the carthaginian Penates come back to you,
Hannibal!

Bad taste of bigger force,
Full the sails of your ships,
Not the wind, but sorrow of the abandonment of the
conquest
Save the forgotten Homeland, Hannibal.!

Mother Carthage that little you remember,
For insidious attack of the youngster Scipio
Cries out for you, trembles as never!
The walls of Didus will fall, Hannibal!

And if from evil we also have the good
Fighting against you Rome trained herself
And after become the ruler of the World
More than Romulus or Camillus, you refounded Rome,
Hannibal!

----------
**2**
----------

A Roman Pilgrimage to Delphi
by Lucia Valeria Secunda Ianuaria

It is dark and the way is steep, with slippery stones
lining the path to the sacred precinct. The small
temple stands in the clearing ahead with a glowing
smoking brazier. The baby kid in your arms struggles
as you prepare to set it down for the dim figure of
the waiting priestess. It is to be the first
sacrifice, given to the Goddess of Wisdom. May She
grant you the ability to phrase your question well and
be ready to receive and interpret its answer.

The goat�s panicked keening is suddenly cut short as
its throat is slit, the blood draining into a bowl for
the sacrifice. The entrails are taken by the auger who
accompanies you and after a few minutes of frowning
and poking at them he pronounces the signs good. The
priestess thanks you for your generous offering and
steps to the brazier to offer prayers and meat on your
behalf. Clouds of heavy incense rise in the pre-dawn
gloom. The heavy sweet smoke makes you a bit light
headed as you return up the mountain where your slaves
wait with the magnificent ox, flowers encircling his
stately neck.

The dark is beginning to lighten to the deep gray that
first signals the change from day to night as your
little group stumbles up the steep slope to the
brightly babbling brook. You plunge your head into the
icy waters, coming to life with the shock of the
sudden cold. A slave hands you a cloth to wipe with
and you pat the worst of the damp from your hair and
face. As you do so you spy a bit of an older woman
hastening toward the spring above you on the mountain,
moving so quickly it might be just a vision. It must
be she, the Pythia, who comes to bathe.

You trudge back down the steep slope once more to the
well-traveled road and begin the long climb. As you
climb the veil of night begins to part. Part way up
the treacherous road you see a cluster of shops with
the beginnings of a throng of travelers buying
religious goods. You pass a seller of honey, honey
cakes and wine, a seller of Frankincense, and a seller
of laurel bundles. Stopping to buy some incense, the
crowd parts at the sight of your ox leading the
procession up the sacred way. The ox has difficult
footing up the steep new paving stones. You pass a
glorious statue of the God holding his lyre in one arm
and raising the other as if he has just been
interrupted in the middle of a song.

The sun peaks over the horizon and a golden shaft
strikes the tall temple just above you, turning it to
gold. As you turn, arriving at the temple, the majesty
of the mountain dawn fills you with awe, the new sun
dazzling with new brilliance. Two elderly priests come
toward you from the temple. They lead your ox to the
altar and pour water on it. The magnificent beast
shakes and shivers violently as you look on. Your
auger announces that the omen is good and the Pythia
will answer your question. Your best friend Lucius
reminds you to pull down your toga from your head and
thrusts a ring of freshly purchased laurel leaves into
your hand. Dazedly you watch as the ox is slaughtered
and placed upon the altar, a large brazier burning the
Frankincense you purchased. A priest leads you to the
mouth of the temple and you tell him your question.

The priest disappears into the temple as you look out
over the sun dappled mountains, olive groves and rocks
stretching as far as you can see. An eerie sing-song
comes faintly from the mouth of the temple. The sun
has moved partly overhead when the priest re-emerges
from the temple. He tells the answer to you in low
tones. You nod and, drawing your toga back over your
head you signal the rest of your group to follow as
you begin to pick your way down the tight curves of
the temple complex. Lucius catches up with you and
asks if there was success with your question. �Yes,�
you, say slowly, � I believe I will leave my business
in Rome.� Then you turn and head back down the road
that leads to the village where your carts and mules
wait.

----------
**3**
----------

The Vandals and the Western Roman Empire to 427
by Gaius Sentius Bruttius Sura

Who were the Vandals?

The Vandals were a tribe of Germanic peoples that, in
their time of ascension in history, created havoc
throughout Europe, and were a part of the constant
barbarian threats which hounded both Empires, but
especially hounded the Western Empire after the split
to its eventual demise. They were peoples labeled as
demons, and seen as barbarians. Savagery, brutality
and wanton destruction are all that is left of a
hostile tradition to identify them with, much as is
the case with the Huns under Atilla. And seen in this
light, they are often simplified into this category
and any sort of background is dismissed. But as will
be seen, they are more complicated than that.

Background of their origins

The Vandals were East German peoples, who came from a
region now known as Jutland, which is in modern
Denmark. Their actual origins and race, as with most
of their rulers, are an enigma, lost as much to
mythology and folk-tale as they are to history. The
few fragments of Cassiodorus� Getica that still exist
illustrate this fact. Cassiodorus asserts that the
existence of the Goths began in 1490 BC, when the
beginnings of the tribe embarked upon boats to reach a
new homeland. He then goes on to assert that before
being allowed to settle on European lands, they fought
an epic struggle with the Vandals under the rule of
the dual kings Ambri and Assi, who were already
settled there along with the Rugians. If this is true,
and the Vandals were in fact settled and had to
contest for the land with the Goths, then it can be
said that the Vandals origins could date back into the
1500�s BC or before. Indeed, the Vandals become a
target for epic struggles in the Getica, as he names
great struggles between the Vandals and the Goths, and
between the Langobards and the Vandals. While these
events are unlikely, it is interesting to note that
the Vandals appear prominently in both tribes�
beginnings.

There have been signs that the Vandals were in fact a
settled tribe during the time of the Roman Republic,
and in fact �archeology indicates similarities between
the material found in Vendsyssel and that found in
Silesia, the first attested settlement of the Vandals
at the end of the first century BC. It is possible
therefore that the Vandals followed a route parallel
to those of the Cimbri and the Goths� . The tribe
later on in history, at an unknown date, migrated, and
settled in the Danube river, presumably in the East
German region, suspected to be some time in the first
century AD. The source for this is found in an account
of the peoples of Germania, written by Tacitus and
published in 98 AD, which is the first written record
of the Vandals (though they are referred to as
Vandilii). The Vandals lived between the Elbe and
Vistula rivers, and although their racial background
is unknown, Tacitus claims that they were (according
to Germanic legend) sons of Mannus (a Germanic god).
During the period of the first and second centuries,
the Gutones seperated from their dependence on the
Vandals, who, along with their Lugian comrades,
�expanded southward from what is today central Poland,
The Sudeten Mountains became the �Vandal Mountains�
and demarcated the land of one of the Vandal
subtribes, the Silesian Silings� . During the
Marcommanic Wars, under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius,
they were settled in the region of what is regarded in
modern terms as Silesia, as a way of buying them off
from their invasion of the Roman territories.

The Vandals were actually two separate tribes, though
whether they were always separate is an unknown. The
tribes were known as the Silingi and the Hasdingi, and
their clan systems were based on a dual monarchy
linked by this fact. Eventually, however, under the
consolidation of the two tribes in Spain, the Hasdingi
tribe provided rule through their dual monarchs.
However, this too was eventually abandoned upon the
ascension of Gaiseric as the sole ruler, and this
eventually set the trend for the remainder of the
existence of the Vandal kingdom in Africa.

Early events and history of the Vandals

The Vandals made the first entry into recorded history
during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius, where he
repelled an invasion of Germanic tribes of which a
small group was Vandal. The first real major contact
the Vandals had with the Empire was with two kings,
Raus and Rapt (their names meant �beam� and �reed�),
in 171 AD. They had attacked the Empire, but their
attacks had been repelled, and in a last attempt they
sent a request for peace to the Romans. The nature of
this was a peace request sent to the Emperor Marcus
Aurelius to request that the Vandals be allowed to
settle in the area of Dacia that had been marked out
during Trajan�s reign. Surprisingly, this request was
granted and those of the Vandals who had survived were
settled in regions of Dacia. They appeared again
during the first year of the reign of the Emperor
Commodus, in which they joined an invasion of the
Roman provinces along with the Quadi, Dacians,
Iazyges. The invasion was short-lived, however, as
they were soon defeated by the combined efforts of the
governors of the Rhine and Danube provinces. A peace
treaty was quickly organized, in which the Quadi gave
13,000 of their men for service in return for the
promise of no conflict between the Quadi and the
Dacians, Iazyges, Buri and Vandals. Perhaps this was a
prelude to the future use of Germans in the Roman
army?

Again in the reign of the emperor Trajanus Decius the
Vandals appear once again, though not as an
independent entity. Instead, they are groups which,
c.250, are a part of the invasions of Roman territory
by the Gothic military ruler Kniva of the Carpic
Goths. During the reign of Claudius II Gothicus, the
future emperor Aurelian was sent to deal with the
Goths, while Gothicus himself turned his attention to
the invasions of the Danube region by the Juthungi and
Vandals, where he eventually died of the plague. After
a brief interlude when there was a dispute over who
the Emperor would be, Quintillus or Aurelian, Aurelian
succeeded to the throne, and immediately in the year
271 he went to the Danube where he defeated the
invading Vandals. When this victory had been achieved,
Aurelian posed the question of whether the defeated
Vandals should be allowed to return to their homeland
to his troops, who agreed that they should be allowed
to go home. After this gesture, the Vandals returned
home, but they were required to furnish 2,000 horsemen
to act as Roman cavalry. In the year 278, two years
after the ascension of the Emperor Probus, the
province of Rhaetia had to be secured in order that an
attack could be launched against Burgundian hordes
that had been joined by groups Vandal marauders who
were invading the province of Illyricum. This group of
marauders was mostly slaughtered, but some were taken
prisoner, such as their leader Igil. These prisoners
were later transported to different regions of the
Empire. The Vandal section of the group was sent to
the island of Britain, where they were settled and in
an obscure insurrection rendered good service to their
conqueror against the revolt. In the year 279 a battle
against the Vandals again occurred on the river Lech
again under the Emperor Probus. It was reported that
he had killed 400,000 Germans, but that enough of the
invading forces were left over to supply Probus with
16,000 troops. In the process of defeating the Vandals
and Franks, Probus had liberated sixty cities. In the
year 330, the Emperor Constantine decided that it
would be a prudent course to placate the hostile
Vandals, and so granted them lands on the right bank
of the Danube river, in Pannonia. Not more than two
years later, in the period 331 to 334, Constantine
received a plea for help from his newly settled
federates the Vandals and the Sarmatians. This was not
the entire tribe, however, but rather �a settlement of
individual Vandal groups as subiecti. It is quite
certain that an entire Vandal tribe was not admitted
into the empire at that time. Instead, the greater
part of the Hasdingi remained at the upper Tisza, with
the tribe�s sphere of influence possibly extending to
the middle reaches of the river� . The Hasding Vandals
(presumably under their king Wisumur) were being
attacked by hordes of Tervingians of the Danubian
Gothic confederation under their king Araric, which
were driving westward. The Vandals met the Goths on
the banks of the Maros River in modern Hungary, and
came out of the clash as the losers, and began to move
towards the borders of the Empire. This started to
cause difficulties, as it brought pressure to bear on
the Sarmatians to migrate. Eventually the appeal for
help was heeded, and just over the Danube they were
caught in a trap that had been set by Constantius II,
who was a Caesar under Constantine the Great. A great
many of them were slaughtered, and few survived. After
a short period of time, the Sarmatians attacked the
remnants of the Goths and encroached on the Empire.
Constantine in turn allowed the Goths under their
king, Geberic, to fight back against the Sarmatians
and Vandals, during which the Vandal king Wisumar was
killed (this probably occurred somewhere around 340).
The next recorded presence of the Vandals occurred in
the year 376, where a large Gothic army that was
composed of groups of Franks, Alammani and Vandals
(not to mention the Goths) invaded the Empire and
began to show the decline of the West. The immediate
successor of Wisumar was unknown.

Around the time of late 300�s, the Hasdingi Vandals
began to migrate due to increased pressure from the
Huns, and along the way it would seem that there was a
meeting between them and the Silingi, during which an
alliance was cemented . After this, the next major
event in Vandal history occurred in 401, when
Radagaisus and his forces invaded Rhaetia and Noricum,
and the migrating Vandals were just across the Danube
from the province of Raetia. Stilicho and his forces
marched to meet them and defeated them while they were
besieging modern Florence, but at a cost. Radagaisus
retreated back to the Vandal homelands. In 405, the
Vandals were in the midst of numbers of tribes trying
to breach the Empire�s borders, probably joined by a
group of underprivileged Roman classes known as the
�Pannonian enemies�. His son Godigisclus, who
eventually tried to re-enter the Empire in 405
succeeded him, but he was killed in the attempt and
the Vandals suffered quite a defeat at the hands of
the Franks. His son Gunderic succeeded him. He then
took the Vandals back across the Rhine�but only
temporarily. While Stilicho was absent, Alaric marched
over the Italian Alps and captured the city of
Aquileia. Not much more was heard of from the Vandals
until the year 406 AD.

Beginning of Vandal Migrations: Crisis in 406 AD

On December in the year 406 AD, the Vandals under
their king, Gunderic, began to migrate across the
Rhine River frontier in hordes, along with the Suevi
(who were once the Quadi and Marcomani, as well as
various tribes that were much smaller) and the Alans
of the Turanian branch under their kings Goar and
Respendial. The reasons given for this migration are
that there were external pressures from the other
Germanic tribes being threatened by the wave and the
threat of Hunnic conquests. There are also further
suggestions of a widespread famine, which would be
given some basis as a factor in the migration in that
many Gothic leaders (as indeed is true of the Vandals)
tried to make their way to Africa. The Vandals and
allies met no resistance at the crossing point at the
frontier fortress town of Moguntiacum, and Wolfram
suggests that �they were joined by Roman underclasses,
the �Pannonian enemies�� , and that �Pannonian
provincials might have �become Vandals� also because
they felt threatened from the outside, that is, by the
Huns� . However, it can be seen that �the Vandals and
Suevi attacked at the same time, but over such a wide
area (most of the length of the Rhine) that
co-operation is an unlikely possibility� . At first
they met no resistance for the Romans, and crossed a
frozen Rhine on a freezing cold night. According to
the historian Isidore of Seville, the Vandals were
provoked into this action by the Vandalic Roman
general Flavius Stilicho. It is more likely that the
Vandals took advantage of the frontiers in their area
being denuded of troops by Stilicho for the campaign
against Alaric, who at this time had been marauding
around the Balkans for many years at this point.
According to the historian, during the migration they
also �crushed the Franks, and with a direct onset
reached the Pyrenees� . This battle was fought between
the Vandals and their allies, and the Romans and those
tribes of the Franks that were allied to Rome. It
seemed that everything favored the Romans and their
allies due to the fact that �the Romans had succeeded
in winning over an Alan king [Goar] who abandoned his
Vandal allies. According to one source, the Franks
manage to slaughter 20,000 of the Vandals before the
battle turned . But another Alan prince [Respendial]
remained loyal to the Vandals, he entered the fray in
the nick of time and the Franks suffered a crushing
defeat. After that the floodgates were open� . It is
more than likely that the prince was in fact a king,
as the Alans seem to have followed the Vandal
tradition of two kings. The migration was eventually
�driven back from Spain by Didymus and Veranianus, two
most noble and powerful Roman brothers� .

After this defeat, the Vandal\Seuvic\Alan host
wandered Gaul for the next two years. After the
conflict with the Romans and Franks, the Vandals and
their Alan allies began to ravage Gaul. In milling
masses, they �fell on Trier, sacking it before moving
on to Reims, Amiens and Arras� . Many people believed
that, according to the historians, these cities were
completely demolished, whereas archeological evidence
has shown (along with documents found) that there was
little physical damage done . The question of whether
human fatalities and brutality were true is not so
clear. In the year 407, the army of Constantine III
invaded Gaul, and set up an empire there, and
established his capital at the city of Arles. In the
year 408, he absorbed Spain into his Gallic Empire and
treacherously murdered the kinsmen of Honorius,
Didymus and Veranianus. This left the frontier open
and vulnerable, and in the year 409, from 28th
September to the 13th October, the Vandals, Alans and
Suevi passed through the Pyrenees, and entered Spain
after many years of wandering and being harassed by
both the Goths and the Franks. The newly established
Gallic Empire could not handle this sort of pressure
and began to crack and dissolve. This region had been
a point of conflict for decades previously, and as a
result �it was not only defenseless, but divided by a
civil war. The result was total disaster: only a few
towns were defended� . This was the beginning of the
end of Spain as a province of the Western Roman
Empire, and was also a time of much violence,
destruction and pillaging.

Constantine�s general proclaimed a new emperor, and
the Vandals and those troops in Spain who supported
the usurper marched on Constantine and laid siege to
him inside his capital of Arles. Constantine had
already sent for reinforcements, but it was too late,
and the Spanish forces surrounded him. At the same
time, an expedition against Constantine, which had
been delayed since 408, was set in motion. This force
arrived (along with tribes of the Franks and
Alammani), and not only defeated Constantine, but also
drove off the besieging Spanish\Vandal forces and the
reinforcing Rhine region forces. In the year 411, the
various tribes who had set out on the migration
decided to end the years of pillaging, and settle down
(perhaps they realized that a return home was now too
risky a venture). They divided up Spain between them,
where the Hasdingi Vandals and the Suevi took the
region known as Galicia, the Silingi Vandals the
region known as Baetica, and the Alans took the
regions known as Lusitania and Cartagena. But during
this period of peace, the Vandals broke the treaty
they had signed with the Seuvi, �and besieged the
nation of the Suevi in the Erbasian mountains; he then
abandoned the siege of the Seuvi and plundered the
Balearic Islands of the province of Tarraco. Then,
after overthrowing Cartagena, he crossed to Baetica
with all the Vandals and destroyed Seville� .

In the year 416, Constantius marched against the
Silingi Vandals and by cunning and strategy he managed
to capture their king, by the name of Fredibal, whom
later walked in a triumphal parade for Honorius. The
year 417 saw an attempt to control them from Ravenna,
when the Emperor Arcadius granted both the Silingi and
Hasdingi branches of the Vandals the titles and legal
recognition as allies. But this did not preclude
action by the Visigoths. In the year 418, Wallia
attacked the Silingi Vandals in the region of Baetica
and virtually wiped out the Silingi tribe, but many
escaped the carnage of the battlefield. The remnants
of the leaderless Silingi scattered, and were
virtually eliminated by the Visigoths, excepting those
few who fled and merged with the Hasdingi. Wallia then
turned against the Alans, with much the same result as
had been seen with the Silingi Vandals. During the
conflict, the Alan king Ataces was killed. The
remaining Alans who had fled from the capture of their
lands by Wallia joined with the Vandals. This was when
Gunderic assumed the title of �King of the Vandals and
Alans�. The Vandals, with their new influx of
manpower, took up arms against the Seuvi and their
king Hermanric in the year 419. During a battle at an
unknown place, the Vandals under Gunderic gained a
victory and drove the remainder of the Seuvi into the
upper parts of Spain, in the region of Asturias.
During the year 420 they enforced a blockade around
the Seuvi in order to prevent supplies from reaching
them. This blockade was broken up in 421 under
pressure from the Roman governor of Spain, Asterius.
It is probable that the Vandals were threatened with
violence if they did not withdraw, and if this were
indeed the case, it would make sense that Gunderic
would not be willing to get entangled in conflict on
two fronts. The year 422 saw the Vandals conquer the
region of Baetica, which gave them the cities of
Seville and Cartagena. From here, the Vandals began
the maritime training and raids that would eventually
make them one of the most feared peoples. With
maritime bases in such regions, they began to raid and
plunder the Balearic Islands, which from this point
probably remained under Vandal control right up until
the fall of the Vandal Empire. However evidence is in
existence of the Vandals being in possession of a
fleet before this time. In fact, �an edict from
Constantinople shows how serious such a threat
appeared: in 419 a Crimean bishop had asked pardon for
some of his flock �who have betrayed to the barbarians
the art of shipbuilding, hitherto unknown to them�� .
The emperor agreed, but decreed that repetition of the
offense would be a capital crime. But this year (422)
also saw another retaliation from the central
government in Ravenna, in the last year of Honorius�
reign. A Roman army was sent to Spain under the Master
of the Soldiery Castinus in order to retake the Roman
lands now under the Vandal control. He first effected
a junction in the hostilities between the Romans and
the Goths, and then entered upon his task. This force
had some initial successes against the Vandals, but it
was thought that these victories would be short-lived,
as the general consensus was that Castinus was inept.
The Vandals had been besieged in a city in Baetica and
were being starved. Thinking that the starving Vandals
would be no challenge, he offered battle with little
thought and was defeated. The hunger and sheer
desperate situation of the Vandals brought them
incentive to win the battle. He was also the victim of
desertions by the Germanic federates who were serving
in his army. After the battle, he was so disconcerted
by the loss that Castinus that he fled back to
Tarragona.

In the year 427, the real problems began, as Gunderic
died shortly after capturing the city of Seville, and
was succeeded in the throne by his bastard
half-brother Gaiseric (he was born of an unknown
concubine). The death of Gunderic was recorded by the
Christian authors as the work of a demon sent by God
to punish Gunderic for harming the church of the
city�s patron saint. It is more than likely, however,
that he was struck down by a fever (which was a common
occurrence among the barbarians in Spain),
subsequently went mad and died soon afterwards. One
thing that has been often mentioned from this period
is that the Vandals were offered peace treaties by
Ravenna. This is not true, and in fact �when the
barbarians did in fact approach Ravenna to secure
their conquests by treaty, the answer from the
imperial government was war� . In the same year as
this, the problem that arose due to the generals
Bonifatius and Aetius occurred in Africa and brought
the fatal eclipse of Africa as a province of the West
to its start.

----------
**4**
----------

Minerva
by Patricia Cassia

No gentle motherly figure, she.
Between the scrolls and spindles,
the ointments and the flutes,
she�s not one to tell her followers
it�s all right, just bathe in my radiance
and everything will be better.

Get out there. Spin. Weave. Write.
Play your music where everyone can hear.
Build temples. Teach the young.
Heal the sick. For she does care,
Even to restoring the hair
Of those who suffer fever.

There are battles to be won, you see.
Books to be written, great philosophies
Yet to be discovered and given names.
For those whom she claims today,
More technology, yet still the same
Work of learning, teaching, thinking it through.

She lives -- in the names of Web servers,
high-tech watches, groups of women soldiers
college databases, science labs,
a string quartet, academic journals
even a cartoon mink, who flirts
in a way a goddess shouldn�t.

Who is she? When you feel the urge
To heal yourself, your friends, your world
When you cannot stop yourself creating,
Crafting in metal or music or wool,
She is there, and in the pages of your books
And at your back, propelling you forward.

----------

May the best win!

Results will be announced very soon...

Valete bene

=====
Tiberius Apollonius Cicatrix
Aedilis Plebis
Coryphaeus Sodalitatis Musarum
Paterfamilias Gentis Apolloniae
civis Novae Romae

***HORUM OMNIUM FORTISSIME SUNT BELGAE***

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Everything you'll ever need on one web page
from News and Sport to Email and Music Charts
http://uk.my.yahoo.com


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: Alternate Histories Of Rome
From:	Kristoffer From <from@darkeye.net>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 13:20:56 +0200

jo mama wrote:
> [...] I was wondering if there was some new
> roman/greek fiction authors that are accurate
> and entertaining. Can any citizens inform me
> as to which authors to avoid/embrace? Anything
> pre constantinian and post Mycenaean is fine with me.

Salve, Minervalis.

Well...you've probably already read these, but since you're asking for
roman fiction...did you read the McCullough series, I think the english
name would be "Masters of Rome"? First Man in Rome, The Grass Crown et
cetera...if not, try them. They're really quite good and, or so I'm
told, at least quite accurate.

Vale, Titus Octavius Pius.


Subject:	Re: [Nova-Roma] Greetings from a newbie..
From:	"Cl. Salix Davianus" <salixdavianus@terra.es>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 13:55:03 -0500

Salue Magia Sententiosa,
[a very curious name, certainly!]

Where are you from Magia? Speak about your interests, please. There are a
lot of things to learn at Nova Roma. For example, at the end of August there
are programmed some course in the Academia Thules (a kind of Nova Roman
University: http://www.insulaumbra.com/academiathules/)

Another interesting thing, at least for non-USA cives is to contact with the
Provincia Mailing List of his own province. Really there are at least one
Provincial List more active and with more postings that this Mailing List.
The are are also thematic mailing lists: such Latinitas (for the discussion
about Latin Language) and different Sodalitates such as S. Athletica, S.
Militariaum, S. Musarum ....

Cl. Sl. Davianus
================================
Legatus Internis Rebus Hispaniae
Tribunus Plebis Novae Romae
Praceptor Linguae Latinae Academia Thules


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] LUDI VENATORII VII/XII (DELAYED BROADCAST)
From:	"Susan Brett" <trog99@hotmail.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 08:53:30 -0400

(The following is a delayed broadcast of the events of the Ludi Venatorii of
July 12...)

AMICII ROMANI PEREGRINII, AVE!!!!!!!!!

ONCE AGAIN MORE COMBAT HERE AT THE LUDI VENATORII OF THE LUDI APOLLINARES,
IN HONOUR OF FAIR APOLLO!!!

WE ARE CURRENTLY LISTENING TO QUINTUS FABIUS MAXIMUS, PONTIFEX, CELEBRATING
THE OPENING RELIGIOUS RITUALS. THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WILL
FOLLOW, PERFORMED BY THE CHORUS CENTURIUS MILITARIUM ROMANUM, DIRECTED BY
GALLIUS VELIUS MARCALLUS!!!

THE SPECTACLES BEGIN!!!

Artorius Avius Sarmaticus appears with his Venator....fancy that, his name
is Victor (how original), from Numidia and the Ludus Pentasium.
Bought by Avius at a price for 9,000 sestertii, and the Ludus Fees are
1,000. This leaves our dear Avius with narry a sestertii to his name, at
present. Ahh, there is something about a gambler!!!

Victor has a strenth of 43 and a res of 47.

He is battling a Rhino, with a strenth of 40 and a res of 39. Fancy this!
An African Rhino, to boot.

Avius begins his pursuit of our Rhino armed with a pilum and net.

Victor races toward the rhino, muzzling him with the net, and poking his
pilum into the large beastly gluteus maximus!
Victor resistence 44 and the beast 33

Suffering from a major 'butt ache' no doubt, our Rhino makes a comeback, and
misses butting our Victor, preoccupied in part by the net he's peering
through

Victor resistence 41, and Rhino 29.

Another pilum poke in the you know where by you know who!

Victor reistence 39 and the beast, 21

(lends a whole new meaning to the phrase "Victor is out for his butt!!")

Hee hee

The Rhino is whining, and gets a fist blow from Victor to the side of his
abdomen....ouch!

victor resistence 37, the Rhino 11

The Rhino is weakening, and Victor decides 'it is time'...

A jab from the pilum to the side of the Rhino.....

Victor resistence 35, our beast, 2

Another blow from the pilum......

Victor resistence 33, and the Rhino has succumbed.....

Our sponsor is a lucky man!!

VICTOR VICTOR!!! (Hey, I saw that movie, hee hee)

May Avius spend his winnings wisely, and we wish Victor a host of many other
victories.

AND NOW, A NETWORK TIME OUT.......

THIS IS THE MUSARUM TELEVISION NETWORK........

**********WE ARE BACK!!!!***************

Approaching our arena center is Amulius Equitius Germanicus, filius of the
Censor of Nova Roma, and Commander of the Chortes Equitates....

Ave Equitius, his admirer's chant, as he waves back!

Equitius has paid 7,000 sestertii to buy Hilarinus, his Venator who
accompanies him!! Hilariunus from Partia, trained at the Ludus Mtutuinus,
for a tidy sum of 2,500.

How much money does Equitius have??? Well, the whole gens has a fortune, I
do believe, hee hee, but this lad has 500 sestertii left over, after this
transaction.

Hilarinus has a strengh of 34 and a res of 36

AND OUT COMES THE BEAST......UGGGHHH, GROWLING.....ONE OF THOSE STRIPED
CATS......A TTTTTIIIIGERRRR, a Tiger who went to town mercilessly on some
citizens of Syria, who were rescued of this beast by the brave legions of
Rome!

Our feline has a strenth of 37 and a resistence of 29

WHY, I say *WHY* do people insist on fighting these cats???....nine out of
10 times they end up being a big cat feast......ahhh I dunno, I will never
understand the gladiatorial mind.

By the way Ladies, I have my latest book out..."The Complete Guide to
Understanding the Roman Man".......it's actually a diary...you fill in the
pages :) :)

Oh common, guys, 'where' is your sense of humour?? You know who 'complex'
you are and how 'difficult' it is to fully fathom you ahh 'depths' of
logic...what's the harm in writing down a few tips, hmm?

The action begins......Hilarinus is armed with scutum and gladius.

Well, dah, the tiger pursuies our man and basically, is trying to eat him
alive....

Hilarinus resistence 30 and the Tiger a resistence of 38

Another huge bite into our fighter from the tiger with those fang-like
teeth. The crowd is noisy here, and so is our fighter, I'm afraid...

Hilarinus resistence 24 and the tiger, 27

Hilarinus is weakening and bleeding. He delivers two hard blows to the head
of the tiger with his scutum, and a 'love jab' with his gladius...the tiger
swipes him with his left paw and bites him again

Hilarinus resistence 20, and the tiger 22.

Hilarinus cannot get up, and his defending his person from the ground, the
tiger continuing his carnivoral assault....

Hilarinus resistence 14, the tiger 21.

More of the same.....

Hilarinus resistance 8, the beast 20

Hilarinus manages to stab the tiger twice and punt him lightly with the
scutum, but he has lost much blood, and will not give up.

This is no good........

Hilarinus resistence 4, the beast 5

Alas, our fighter, Hilarinus is deceased. The tiger is left victorious with
a final resistence of 4.

Not the outcome we want, but the usual outcome when these cunning, quick
felines are pursued in battle amicii.

LATER TODAY, ON THE MUSARUM TELEVISION NETWORK, P. CORNELIA RETURNS TO GIVE
LIVE COVERAGE OF THE GRANDE FINALE OF THE LUDI VENATORII, IN THIS, THE LUDI
APOLLINARES NOVA ROMA 2755 AUC

UNTIL THEN, BENE VALETE ET BUONA FORTUNA

STAY TUNED FOR MARCUS AUDENS M.D.....THE SEASON FINALE

.

_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Venationes, 6th day - comments
From:	"mcserapio" <mcserapio@yahoo.it>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 12:59:44 -0000

AVETE QVIRITES

Another defeated venator yesterday..., it means that his colleagues
will receive more sestertii as an award!
I obviously am sorry for our Hilarinus, by Amulius Equitius
Germanicus. That tiger wasn't so easy to defeat, and we all saw it...
alas!

My congratulations to Victor, that with his excellent result will
make his sponsor, Artorius Arius Sarmaticus, win a good pile!

You know that today is a special day! It is the last one of the Ludi
Apollinares, and it means that we will have the great finale!!!!!
9 COMBATS IN THE ARENA OF THE COLOSSEUM! 9 VENATORES THAT WILL BATTLE
AGAINST 9 WILD ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!
Romanus, Mamertinus, Licentiosus, Iaculator, Callimorius, Purpureus,
Astacius, Astivus, Entinus....... GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!

and after all these combats....... THE LONG-AWAITED PRIZE-GIVING!!!!!!
Some of you already did his calculations.... Today you will exactly
know how much every winner will receive from the Ludus his venator
trains in!!!!!!!

HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH THE LAST GREAT DAY OF THE LUDI
APOLLINARES!!!!!!!! MAY APOLLO BE WITH US!!!!!!!!

OPTIME VALETE
MANIVS-CONSTANTINVS-SERAPIO
***LVDI APOLLINARES***
http://www.geocities.com/mcserapio/aediliscicatrix.html


Subject:	RE: [Nova-Roma] Ludi Venatorii vii/ix
From:	tiberius.ann@bluemail.ch
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 15:39:43 +0200

Salvete omnes, salve Pompeia Cornelia,

>(Swiss bank accounts are not very effective when they have no
>balance......hee hee!!!)

Did you know, that my realworld, macronational passport makes me a swiss
citizen, with a real Swiss bank account?? If so, the joke is very good!!
If not, even better.

Unfortunately, I was away during the last week, and can only now read of
my success, but I am very pleased by the way in which my double managed
to make the crowds believe it was me!!!!!!!!

Curate ut valeatis, Tiberius Annaeus Otho


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: Ludi Venatorii vii/ix
From:	"pompeia_cornelia" <trog99@hotmail.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 13:47:19 -0000

---Salve Tiberi:

Thanks for your kind words...

And indeed, I knew you were a macronational citizen of Switzerland,
and probably had a Swiss bank account :)

In amicitia,
Pompeia

In Nova-Roma@y..., tiberius.ann@b... wrote:
> Salvete omnes, salve Pompeia Cornelia,
>
> >(Swiss bank accounts are not very effective when they have no
> >balance......hee hee!!!)
>
> Did you know, that my realworld, macronational passport makes me a
swiss
> citizen, with a real Swiss bank account?? If so, the joke is very
good!!
> If not, even better.
>
> Unfortunately, I was away during the last week, and can only now
read of
> my success, but I am very pleased by the way in which my double
managed
> to make the crowds believe it was me!!!!!!!!
>
>
> Curate ut valeatis, Tiberius Annaeus Otho


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] everyone in Ludo Venatione
From:	"Am. Equitius Germanicus" <tyrael_equitius@hotmail.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 10:45:34 -0500

Omnibus salutem multam dicit Amulius Equitius Germanicus
I hate loosing. I hate giving up, too! Thus, for the next games, I would like to ask everyone with a kind heart, *grin*, to lend me some money. If I get enough, I will buy the biggest champion I can find with the best training money can buy. Of course with my first win will come with full reimbursement. But I will give everyone who loans me, an extra S 50 for the next win. You have nothing to loose, and everything to gain! So what are you waiting for!
DI VOS INCOLVMES CVSTODIANT

CIVIS NOVAE ROMAE
GENTILIS PATRICIAE GENTIS EQVITIAE
PRAEFECTVS ET SCRIBA MAIOR TERRITORIORVM
-------------------------------------------------------------
Salus populi suprema est lex.
The welfare of the people is the supreme law.

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


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] LUDI VENATORII: FINALE!!!!
From:	"Susan Brett" <trog99@hotmail.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 12:20:07 -0400

AMICII, ROMANII, PEREGRINII:

LIVE FROM THE AMPHITEATRUM FLAVIUM.....ROMA!!!!

THE GRANDE FINALE OF THE LUDI VENATORII, OF THE LUDI APOLLINARES NOVA ROMA
2755 AUC

IN HONOUR OF FAIR APOLLO....THE FAR-SEEING ONE WITH MANY, MANY NAMES!!!

Welcome to this, the live broadcast. I am Pompeia Cornelia giving you the
play-by-play action.

THIS FINALE WILL HAVE NO NETWORK TIME-OUTS AND NO COMMERICIAL
INTERRUPTIONS!!!

THIS FINALE WILL HAVE NO BOOK PLUGS!!!

.........NO SNIPPY GUEST COMMENTATORS!!!

........NO STAMMERING AND HIMHAWING BY UNORTHODOX MONEY HANDLERS!!!

Isn't that nice??

Just the nittigritti of the combat action..........

THE LIVE CROWD IS GOING WILD!!!! SHOUTING AVE AVE AVE!!!....MAKING WAVES,
CHEERING, SCREAMING!!! A FRENZIED AUDIENCE WE HAVE HEAR TODAY.

A LOUD CHEER AS MARCUS ARCADIUS PIUS, PONTIFEX NOVA ROMA MAKES HIS WAY TO
ARENA CENTER TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING RELIGIOUS RITUALS.

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WILL BE PERFORMED BY ANTONIUS BENNATUS!!!

********************

Let the games begin!!

Tiberius Popillius Iulianus makes his way to the arena with his
Venator...none other than Romanus, of Roma herself!!!, with a strength of 29
and a resistence of 21!!!

Wow! THIS FIGHTER COST BIG BUCKS!! Popillius (filias of our beloved
Consular Quaestor) has paid 3,000 big ones for this fellow, plus a ludus fee
of 1500!! And our young Popillius Iulianus has a whopping 5,500 sestertii
to spare.

Now,it would seem this citizen has his father's good business sense!!
We'll see!

Romanus is trained by the Ludus Tauriscum...

Romanus will wrestle a bear, from Pannonia with a strenth of 25 and a
resistence of 21.

The fight begins......

The fighter and beast clash with the bear giving Romanus a
weightier-than-expected bear hug.

Romanus resistence 17 and the bear 21

The bear swipes at our fighter, and knocks him to the ground

Romanus resistence 13, and our beast 17

WHAT'S THIS????

Our beast is jumping on Romanus.....and Romanus.....no more.....

The bear finishes with a resistence of 17.......

Man, was that unexpected!.....wow........

NO TIME TO EVEN STOP THE ENCOUNTER.......

Regrets to our brave fighter and to his sponsor for this unexpected turn of
events.

**********

OUR NEXT CONTEST ...........

It is Caius Rubellius Rusus escorting his Venator to the Arena Center:
Student of the Ludus Pentasium, Mamertinus of Cyrenaica!!!

The guy cost Rubellius 9,000 sestertii! His ludus fees: 1,000. Needless
to imagine, our sponsor is currently broke...we'll see if he stays that way.

Manertinus sports a strength of 36 and a resistence of 44

Our fighter meets his challenger, another Buffalo, from Italia!...with a
strength of 20 and a res of 21.

The fighting begins, with Mamertinus carrying a spiked ball on chain.

The glad begins swinging his ball into the air, airming toward the
buffalo.........BULLSEYE, AS THEY SAY!!!

Right smack between the eyes of our beast......

The beast falls to the ground.

Mamertinus with a resistence of 44, and the Buff, zippo

Wow! As quickly as one fighter loses, one gains a victory.

Our 'broke' sponsor heaves a huge sigh of relief....and another quick
victory for this seasoned venator!

The action continues, folks, commericial free, network timeout free

(TINKY IS MAKING ME SAY THIS PERIODICALLY, SO THAT IT 'WILL BE TIMEOUT FREE'
AND 'COMMERCIAL FREE'.....HONESTLY, WHAT A GAL!!!)

AND NOW.......

Claudius Iulius Claudianus comes to arena center with none other than
Licentiosus (ooooh, many a story about this Venator behind the
scenes.......this is a 'bad boy' by every 'good' book, hee hee)

Iulius paid 7,000 sestertii for Licentiosus and 2,500 in ludus fees.
Iulius is left with a cool 500.

Licentiosus, from Aegyptus, of the Ludus Matutinus, shall lasoo a bull from
Hispania. A lassoo and nothing else.

Licentiosus with a strengh of 30 and a res of 31.

Our bull, caught in Hispania, has strength of 28 and a res of 31.

Our fighter entices the bull forward by wiggling his lassoo, the bull runs
forward. Licentiocus is whirling the lasoo. As the bull near approaches,
Licentiosus darts out of his way, and smacks our bull hard on the back with
his weapon.

Licentiosus resistence 20, the Bull 19

Our bull is mad, and is circling about, with plans to avenge himself.
While doing so, our fighter is whirling his lasoo. The bull
approaches.........THE LASSOO IS AROUND THE BULL'S NECK!!!

Licentiosus resistence 28, the bull, 5

As you might expect, amici, the ring around the neck of the bull is being
tightened by our fighter, who is relentlessly applying pressure at the other
end.

Licentiosus resistence 26, and our bull is defeated.

Licentiosus Victor!!!

And Claudius Iulius is a happy, happy camper!!!

Just a second please

Po is seen by television viewers speaking but no audio

((((((TINK, I AM *NOT* GOING TO PLUG THE COMMERCIAL-FREE STUFF AGAIN....SO
THERE.... I *THINK* TINK, YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINT!!!!!!)))))

(((((DO IT, PO OR YOU ARE FIRED!!!))))

((((GO AHEAD, SOROR, MAKE MYYYY DAYYY!!!)))

Sorry, about that, we are back after some, ahh, 'technical difficulties',
ahem.........WITH MORE ACTION....YES......

NEXT UP FOR COMBAT........

Oh, the frater of the previous venatorial sponsor!
MARCUS IULIUS PERUSIANUS........a family affair! How Roman!

Marcus Iulius sponsors Iaculator of Numidia, from the Ludus Pentasium.
A tidy price has been paid for Iaculator: 9,000 SIZZLING SESTERTII!!!

Plus, 1,000 to enter him in the Ludus Pentasium.

Marcus Iulius has no money left....none, notta, zippo

Iaculator has a strength of 44 and a res of 36

He will challenge an Elephant, caught in Cryrenaica, with a strength of 11
and a resistence of 50.......

Judging by these figures, this elephant is either very old and sick, or
dead.

Armed with sword and net, Iaculator approaches, the somewhat docile
elephant......he grabs both ears of the beast, and hollers a baboon-like
holler in the beast's ears! The elephant turns and gives him a 'hey, I'm
busy....do ya mind' look.

Iaculator jumps on the elephants back...

Iaculator resistence 34 and the beast 46

The elephant rises with our fighter on his back and proceeds to circle about
the arena, slowly picking up speed......the elephant shifts his balance and
drops our fighter......

Iaculator resistence 24 and the elephant 45......

The elephant, circles about and approaches our fighter, who at this point is
a little worried. The elephant stops, turns around, a noise is made, and
our fighter is left coughing, as if he has inhaled something extremely
noxious. Is it like a noxious anomaly has just been released into the air!!!

Well, not the weapon we are used to a beast utilizing, but hey, whatever
works!

This leaves our breathless fighter with a resistence of 20, and the elephant
41

(probably leaves our fighter with low Oxygen saturations too....oooh!!)

WHAT'S THIS.......IACULATOR IS EXITING THE ARENA...HE CANNOT STAND IT ANY
LONGER!!! Hacking and coughing, he has left....the elephant sits down a
spell for a rest.

Poor Marcus Iulius.......all that money, up in fumes!!

Alas

************

Tiberius Claudius Lucentius Vindex escorts his venator into the arena!

Callimorius from Archaia,of the Ludus Matutinus.

Claudius has paid 3,000 to purchase is venator, and 2,500 in ludus fees.
BUT, he is 4,500 sestertii to his credit.

Callimorius has a strength of 28 and a resistence of 24

He will wrestle a bear caught in Gallia Beligica...with a strength of 21 and
a resistence of 40.

The encounter ensues....Callimorius, with slingshot....allowed three stones
only.....

the first stone misses the bear!!!

Callimorius resistence 30, our bruin 33

The second stone beans him in the next, impacting major ateries...our bear
is stunned.....

Callimorius resistence 18 our bear 23....

Callimorius, seemingly taking advantage of the bear's current weakness,
pounces the bear from behind, and strangles him with his burly left arm, the
bear weakens further...

Callimorius resistence 18, the bear 7.....

In spirit of sport....our fighter dismounts our bruin, and furnishes his
demise with a well appointed stone shot to the cranium.......

CALLIMORIUS VICTOR........with a resistence of 18.......!!!!

Tiberius Claudius a happy man, pleased with the skills of the talented,
entertaining Callimorius.

*************

Well, who do we have here!!!

The lovely and popular Roscial Annaea Pia!!! A regular sponsor of venatorii
and other glad spectacles, her presence today is no surprise!!

She is dressed like a Goddess!! She is being wooed by the crowd...she
throws kisses and waves in their direction.

Her Venator is Purpureius from Tracia! (Hmm, the purple venator??...hey,
maybe it's Barnie!! hee hee)

Annaea paid the tidy sum of 9,000 Sestertii for Purpureius and 1 cool grand
to have him trained at the Ludus Pentasium.

This fighter sports a strength of 36 and a resistence of 44.

His opponent? A Hippo from the River Nile, with a strength of 12 and a
resistence of 30. Again, this Hippo, judging by these numbers, is likely
not in top form...but Purpureius only weapon is a lassoo.

The challenge begins........no problem for Purpureius to Lassoo him around
the neck on first try...and our hippo is moving about, to boot!

Purpureius resistence 43 and the hippo 14

slow steady pressure by Purpureius to the end of the lassoo weakens the
airway of the Hippo...

Purpureius resistence 40, the hippo 5

Our hippo succumbs......

Purpureius Victor!!!!...with an end resistence of 39.

Congratulations to our fighter and to the lovely, and suddenly richer,
Roscia Annaea Pia!!

****************************

Up next.....

Citizen Salix Galicus escorts the famous venator Astacius into the Arena
Center. Astacius is from Hispania, and from the Ludus Leontinum...matter of
fact, he 'owns' the Ludus!

Salix Galicus has payed a tidy sum of 5,000 sestertii for him, and an
additional 2,000 to the Ludus

(Golly, you'd think his own Venator would give him a break on Ludus fees,
no? I guess business is business!!!)

Astacius will wrestle a bear caught in Noricum...this fighter is a bruit,
and he will do it with no weapons!!

Or atleast that's what he 'says'...hee hee :)

Astacius has a strength of 31 and a resistence of 29

Our bear a strength of 14 and a res of 38

SO IT BEGINS....

Our fighter and the bear, on hind legs appear to be dancing about, like Fred
and Ginger....hmm...wasn't there a movie about a bear and a glad?

Even strengths so far:

27, 27

Ohhhh, our fighter suddenly decides he wants to 'cut out' of the dance, and
shoves with all his might, his opponent to the ground......

Astacius a resistence of 24, and our dancing bear, 18

The bear seems to be entertaining a bit of a back ache, and slowly attempts
to assume four paws.........from behind, a firm hand chop delivered to the
back of the bear by our fighter...

Astacius resistence 22, our bruin 6

Our bear is weakened and winded.......maneuvering the bear's head back in a
swift, strong, motion, our bruin has about had it

Astacius resistence is 21......our bear has succumbed.

ASTACIUS VICTOR! On to more combats in the future!!

Salix Galaicus!! Are those sestertii signs in your eyes, O civie?

*********************

WHOSE THIS?????

Well, it is Marcus Varius Pullus, escorting Astivus from Dacia into the
Arena Centre. Astivus, of the Ludus Pentasium.

Marcus Varius has paid 5,000 to buy his venator, and 1,000 to enter him in
the ludus. What's left.....4,000 uncommitted sestertii for Marcus Varius!

Astivus has a strength of 30 and a resistence of 30. He will challenge a
Hippo from Aegyptus, with a strength of 10 and a resistence of 20...ahh, the
odds are good for our fighter.

Astivus attempts to pull the tail of the hippo and the hippo breaks free,
and in the process, buts his butt against Astivus...

Astivus resistence 25, the hippo 25

Astivus gives the hippo a stong body shove to the side, and the hippo
delivers approximately the same strength punt...

Astivus resistence 20 and the hippo 21......

WHAT'S THIS?????? The hippo has gotten ahold of the hem of our fighter's
tunic, and is ripping it off him with his paws and teeth...Astivus is lucky
that is 'all' he is ripping!!!

Hungry, hungry Hippos!!! hee hee

OH MY GOODNESS!!

OUR FIGHTER IS IN THE ARENA...WEARING AS MUCH AS A STATUE OF A GOD!!!

HE APPEARS TO BE EMBARRASSED....SO WHAT, YOU ARE NAKED IN FRONT OF
THOUSANDS....WHAT'S THE PROBLEM???

Astivus flees the arena........the hippo continues to negotiate the
fragmented garment.

Final: Astivus resistence 10 and the hippo 18

Marcus Varius, shown here, with a look of disgust on his face....all that
money lost over a show of modesty.....ahh well, that's the way the toga
drapes sometimes, amicus.......

OUR FINAL CONFLICT

CAN YOU HEAR YOURSELF THINK OVER THIS UNRELENTING CHEERING, AMICII???

IT IS OUR BELOVED PLEBIAN AEDILE ET HOST OF THESE LUDI APOLLINARES,

TIBERIUS APOLLONIUS CICATRIX!!!!!!!!!!

APOLLONI, APOLLONI, THE CROWD CHANTS........HE HAS QUITE A COLOUR PARTY WITH
HIM...LICTORS, BEAUTIFUL DOMINILLAE, DANCERS.......what a spectacle, and a
reception for this exceptional individual, the man, who together with his
staff, has made this all happen!

His Venator? Entinus from Moesia, of the Ludus Matutinus!

Apollonius has paid 5,000 sestertii to purchase his venator, and 2,500 in
ludus fees. What's left? 2,500 shiny ones!!

Entinus will fight a buffalo caught in Italia (what's with these
trouble-making buffalo in Italia? Goodness!)

Entinus has a strength of 29 and a resistence of 31.

Our bear, a strength of 28 and a resistence of 20

THE FINAL CONFLICT BEGINS!!

THE CROWD IS WILD!!!

Entinus mounts the buffalo after a flank-speed run and gives our buff an
alternating series of 'neck hugs' and fist blows........ouch!!!

Entinus resistence 31 and the buff 9

Entinus continues this assault; the buffalo cannot shake him...Entinus
assault was just too fast.....

Entinus reistence 28 and the Buff 2

Entinus makes sure he doesn't wane in his efforts prematurely..

Everything according to plan for our fighter......

ENTINUS VICTOR!!!! final resistance 27, and an easy defeat, with our
buffalo no longer a factor.

Tiberius Apollonius Cicatrix delighted with the performance of his Venator,
and Entinus, equally pleased to indulge him with a victory.

WELL, THIS CONCLUDES THE COMBATS OF THE LUDI VENATORII, AND OUR LIVE
COVERAGE FOR NOW.

THE CROWDS WILL LINGER ON, ENJOYING THE SUBSEQUENT ACTIVITIES, THE
CELEBRATION, THE COMRADRY, ETC.

FROM MUSARUM TELEVISION....WE BID YOU BENE VALETE ET BUONA FORTUNA!!

_________________________________________________________________
Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] VENATIONES, PRIZE-GIVING !!!!!
From:	"mcserapio" <mcserapio@yahoo.it>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 20:09:26 -0000

***********************
SCREAMING IS ALL WHAT YOU CAN HEAR TODAY IN THE COLOSSEUM!!!!

A whole week elapsed since the beginning of the Ludi Apollinares.
During this period
we watched no less than 22 hard but spectacular combats!

And now we all are HERE FOR THE PRIZE-GIVING!!!!
Everyone is screaming the name of his favourite fighter.
Amidst the din of the crowd make their entry the two Consuls of Nova
Roma accompanied by the announce of 20 twinkling tubae and preceded
by their lictors.

The crowd lets out a shout as to greet our Consuls, that take their
seat on the consular terrace. By them there are the two Censors, and
immeditely behind, standing up, there is the organizer of these
marvellous Ludi Apollinares, Aedilis Plebis Tiberius Apollonius
Cicatrix.
As the Consuls are comfortable, the Aedilis Plebis approaches and
salutes them. They smile ans start speaking. Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Felix seems to ask something to Cicatrix. The Aedilis turns a little
and, always speaking to the Consul, points out the two Praetors,
Titus Labienus Fortunatus and Pompeia Cornelia Strabo (that at last
can watch the ceremony without having to tell us what is happening!).
Then he points out... me (!), and his neo-Quaestor Ianus Minicius
Sparsus. The Consul nods in assent.
Then Consul Germanicus says something to Tiberius Apollonius
Cicatrix, that smiles and leaves.
He comes up to me. "Ready" he says.
Then he goes back and sits down behind Censor Caius Flavius
Diocletianus.
The two Consuls are speaking with the neo-Propraetor Galliae Sextus
Apollonius Scipio. He went there to salute them after his recent
appointment. The Propraetor leaves the Consuls and go back to his
terrace.
The two Consuls look at each other; Sulla turns and gives Cicatrix
the nod the Aedilis was waiting for. Tiberius Apollonius gives a
signal with the hand.
Somebody amidst the crowd understands what is happening and lets out
a shot.

The tubae raise to heaven and sound the beginning of the ceremony.
The jubilant crowd get crazy and screams more and more.
A wooden gate opens slowly. Several servants enter the arena pulling
something: a cage! It contains a tiger, the tiger we saw yesterday!
But there are other servants; a procession of six cages comes into
the arena. The tiger, an elephant, an hippopotamus, a rhinoceros, a
bruin, a lion. They are the animals which defeated our fighters. The
cages lap the arena amidst the cries of the crowd, then they are
arranged in a circle.

The tubae sound again: another gate opens. The crowd break out in an
unprecedented shout. The venatores are entering the arena of the
Amphiteatrum Flavium. 13 mens and 3 womens: their arms glitter. The
fighters advance with dignity on the soil of the Colosseum, picking
up the sunflowers thrown by the jubilant crowd.
After a few minutes the venatores line up in the middle of the
theatre. The noise of the crowd fluster the animals: the lion goes on
roaring and attacking the reinforced bars of the cage.

The venatores scream together their salute to the Consuls. Germanicus
and Sulla lift an arm to return the gesture of those brave fighters.
Four people sitting near the Aedilis Plebis Cicatrix stand up. They
are the "Lanistae", the trainers of the four Ludi the venatores come
from. The sixteen fighters salute them too.
Another gate opens: four servants come into the arena. Each of them
carries a tray with several pouches on it. They wear different
colours: the green one represents the Ludus Pentasium; the blu one,
the Ludus Tauriscum; the crimson one the Ludus Leontinum. It is the
golden one, that of the Ludus Matutinus, that goes amidst the
fighters. He stops in front of Baccibus, Aquila, Licentiosus,
Entinus, Aurum, and Callimorius. Each of them take one of the
pouches. The are six: it means that the 50,000 sestertii offered as a
prize by the Ludus Matutinus, have been divided in six parts.
Now it is the Ludus Leontinum's turn: on its servant's tray there are
only three pouches. He offers them to Dania, Astacius and Crispinus.
Then the one of the Ludus Tauriscum moves. On his tray ther is only
one pouch! It means that it contains all 50,000 sestertii offered by
the Ludus Tauriscum! He stops in front of the one winner of this
gymnasium, Aquinca.
Also the last servant, that of the Ludus Pentasium, comes amidst the
fighters with other six pouches. He gives them to, Tingis, Victor,
Purpureus, Invictus, Afer, and Mamertinus.
The four servants leave the arena.
Every venator now has a pouch. They will give them to their sponsors
after the ceremony.
This ceremony draws in fact to an end: the fighters brandish their
arms and the pouches with the sestertii: they start walking through
the arena, cheered on by the crowd.
Our venatores leave the arena through the same threshold they steped
over to enter.
The servants pull the cages with the animals and leave the theatre
too.
The show will continue with dances, music and acrobatics, as well as
other rituals in honour of Apollo, lavish banquets and other
celebrations.

Unfortunately I can't stay here more: our citizens want to know the
amount of sestertii they won.

-Quintus Quinctilius Varus Galili, with his Baccibus, now owns S
8,833.
-Gaius Cornelius Ahenobarbus, thank to Invictus, now owns S 8,333.
-Marcus Apulus Caesar owns the same amount, S 8,333, thank to Afer.
-Sextus Apollonius Scipio, with his Crispinus, now owns a little
fortune, S 19,666.
-Patricia Cassia, after the excellent combats of Aquila, now owns S
8,333.
-Tiberius Annaeus Otho, with his Tingis, now owns S 8,333.
-Franciscus Apulus Caesar owns S 8,833 thank to his venator Aurum.
-Caeso Fabius Quintilianus, thank to the good job of Dania, now owns
S 17,666.
- Lucius Arminius Faustus is very lucky, and after the combat of
Aquinca, now owns S 50,500! (wow!)
-Artorius Avius Sarmaticus, with his venator Victor, now owns S 8,333.
-Caius Rubellius Rufus, thank to his Mamertinus, owns the same
amount, S 8,333.
-Caius Iulius Claudianus, with Licentiosus, owns a little more, S
8,833.
-Tiberius Claudius Lucentius Vindex, thank to his Callimorius, now
owns S 12,833
-Roscia Annaea Pia owns S 8,333 thank to Purpureus.
-Salix Galaicus, with his Astacius, now owns S 19,666.
-Tiberius Apollonius Cicatrix, thank to Entinus, owns S 10,833.

We also have two citizens whose fighters gave up. They are:
-Marcus Iulius Perusianus, with his Iaculator. He owns no more
sestertii.
-Marcus Varius Pullus, with Astivus. He now owns only S 4,000

There are four citizens whose fighters died in the arena:
-Marcus Scribonius Curio Britannicus, that still owns S 1,500.
-Tiberius Popillius Iulianus, that still owns S 5,500.
-Amulius Equitius Germanicus, that owns only S 500.
-Tiberius Ullerius Faber, that still owns S 2,500.

We are at the end, citizens of Nova Roma. Thank you for your
participation to the Venationes of the Ludi Apollinares.
In particular, a special "thank you" to Praetrix Pompeia Cornelia
Strabo, that with her *Musarum Television Network* gave me a
remarkable help! :)
I also thank Aedilis Plebis Tiberius Apollonius Cicatrix for making
the Ludi Apollinares possible in order to celebrate the great Apollo.

These Venationes are finished, but I am sure that we will have other
combats as soon as possible! You know that you also have the
opportunity of offering the Venationes to Nova Roma yourself, and
among the winners we already have someone who owns enough sestertii
to do it! Just check this opportunity reading the regulation on the
web site: http://www.geocities.com/mcserapio/aediliscicatrix.html

OPTIME VALETE, CIVES NOVAROMANI !!!
MAY APOLLO BE WITH US!!!!!

MANIVS-CONSTANTINVS-SERAPIO
Administratio Aedilis Plebis Tiberi Apolloni Cicatricis
Legatus Externis Rebus Provinciae Italiae
Dominus Praefectus Sodalitatis Egressus
----------------------------------
PROVINCIA ITALIA
http://italia.novaroma.org
----------------------------------
GENS CONSTANTINIA
http://www.geocities.com/mcserapio/constantinia-en


Subject:	Re: [Nova-Roma] Re: Alternate Histories Of Rome
From:	jo mama <minervalis02@yahoo.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 11:22:55 -0700 (PDT)

--- Kristoffer From <from@darkeye.net> wrote:
> Salve, Minervalis.
>
> ...did you read the McCullough series,
>> Vale, Titus Octavius Pius.
>
Salve! And Thanks!
Ill be looking for his/her work. The other day i saw
one of these on the Peloponesian war, a hardcover, but
the authors name eludes me.
Minervalis

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Help! Looking for SPQR flag
From:	"queenphoebe2001" <LAnslow@aol.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 18:29:39 -0000

Salvete!

I am new to Nova Roma. I am also trying to find at least 3 SPQR
flags. One of them needs to be able to fly from a standard flagpole
(i.e., grommets on the left instead of the top).

Does anybody out there know where I might be able to obtain these
flags? They're surprisingly difficult to track down.

Alternatively, does anybody have a flag or two that I could borrow?
I live in the Washington, DC, area and I only need them for a weekend-
long roleplaying game in early August. They'd be used for decorative
purposes only and would not be carried into battle.

Any help that you can provide me would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Lynn Anslow


Subject:	RE: [Nova-Roma] Alternate Histories Of Rome
From:	"Adrian Gunn" <shinjikun@shinjikun.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 18:19:40 -0400

Salvete!

Try Steven Pressfield's "Gates of Fire" and "Tides of War". The first is
the tale of Thermopylae, told from the perspective of a Spartan Helot &
shield bearer who survives the battle. The second is the tale of
Alcibiades as told by his assassin, Polemides. Both are great reads, and
while my knowledge of Greek history is only that of a casual student,
the historical details at the very least have the "ring" of
authenticity. I highly recommend both books.

Valete,

C. Minucius Hadrianus

-----Original Message-----
From: jo mama [mailto:minervalis02@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, July 12, 2002 10:21 PM
To: Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Nova-Roma] Alternate Histories Of Rome

--- miguelkelly15 <mjk@datanet.ab.ca> wrote:
> Salvete Omnes et Sexti Corneli Cottae,
>
> Those alternate history novels can be fun to read. I
> can recommend a
> few more!
>
> 1) The Far Arena by Richard Ben Sapir - a story
> about finding a
> frozen Roman soldier in the far North and reviving
> him in modern times
>
> 2) Procurator by Kurt Mitchel - Pilate releases
> Jesus, Christianity
> fizzles out but the Roman Empire lasts 2000 years
> more; trouble with
> the Germanic barbarians reviving witchcraft and
> spiritualism which
> clashes with Roman technology.
>
> 3)The New Barbarians by Kurt Mitchel - Rome then
> expands its Empire
> into America and clashes with the growing Aztec
> Empire.
>
> 4)The Casca Series by Sgt. Saddler (who sang The
> Green Berets) -
> Casca is a Roman soldier who slaps Jesus' face in
> the passion and
> Jesus condems him to walk the earth for a few
> thousand years as a
> mercenary (something like highlander).
>
> 5)One more to mention that is not alternate history
> but shouldn't be
> ignored. Raptor by Gary Jennings - This is the story
> of a
> hermaphrodite who takes off from a monestary at the
> end of the 5th
> century and travels all over the Western and Eastern
> Roman Empire a
> year or two before Rome falls. Fascinating, 900
> pages brilliantly
> written. The only warning for some is that Gary
> Jennings gets quite
> sexually and violently graphic in parts of the book
> but you can skim
> over that if necessary. He also wrote Aztec.
>
> Now I realize that its hard to find these 10 - 20
> year old books.
> Just go to some of the book websites and you'll have
> no problem to
> find them. I do not want to be more specific as Nova
> Roma justifiably
> does not want to promote outside businesses even
> innocently.
>
> Yours respectfully,
>
> Quintus Lanius Paulinus
>
>
Salvete!
Well i never ever read many modern fiction
writers.......dont really read much fiction at
all(does roman poetry count?:) BUT, ive been told i
frown alot and have a wearied countenance. The
suggested therapy: read more fiction! Well, you see,
the problem is that stories that involve contemporary
or recent past(1800's) just dont "do it" for me....and
my critical side kicks in when some ancient stuff is
attempted(admit it folks, we all loved gladiator as a
movie, but who of us couldnt keep their mouths shut
about how BAD most of the details were?). SO i was
wondering if there was some new roman/greek fiction
authors that are accurate and entertaining. Can any
citizens inform me as to which authors to
avoid/embrace? Anything pre constantinian and post
Mycenaean is fine with me.
Mille grazie,
Minervalis

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: Help! Looking for SPQR flag
From:	"Julilla" <curatrix@villaivlilla.com>
Date:	Sat, 13 Jul 2002 22:45:58 -0000

--- In Nova-Roma@y..., "queenphoebe2001" <LAnslow@a...> wrote:
> Salvete!
Dear Lynn,

May I recommend the "Macellum" section of our web site,
www.novaroma.org?

There you will find a very reasonably-priced Roman vexillum or flag,
available for sale from M. Cassius Julianus. These have, I believe,
grommets on the top of the flag (they are meant to hang vertically,
not horizontally) but you could easily have a grommet inserted in the
left-hand corner to fly from a conventional flag pole.

Hope this helps you, but it may be a very tight turnaround to obtain
them by next weekend. But it's worth asking!

Bonam Fortunam,

Julilla Sempronia Magna
www.villaivlil