Ludi Novi Romani/MMDCCLXIV/Certamen Historicum

Rules of the Certamen Historicum

1. Each correct answer is worth 1 point. An extra point may be awarded for an especially detailed and excellent answer.

2. New questions will be posted at about 01:00 Rome Time (1:00 AM Central European Time / GMT +1) each day of the Ludi Novi Romani.

3. Submit your answers to m.pompeius@yahoo.com with the subject heading 'Certamen Historicum'.

4. Entries may be submitted at any time before 23:59 Rome Time (11:59 PM Central European Time / GMT +1) on 13 March 2764.

5. The current standings will be posted each evening so you may find the best practice is to send in your answers each day for the current day's questions to ensure your standings are updated on this page.

6. A list of the top ten contestants, including the winner, will be posted on this page no later than 15 March 2764.

7. Any questions, concerns or requests should be addressed to m.pompeius@yahoo.com no later than 15 March 2764.

8. My decision is final in interpreting what is and what is not a correct answer.

M. Pompeius Caninus

Questions and Answers for Certamen Historicum

Day 1 - 1 March 2764

Question #1. In the earliest Roman army, how many infantry were commanded by a tribunus militum?

• Answer #1. One thousand (1,000)

Question #2. Who was the consul of 97 BC who, after traversing Lusitania from end to end, occupied the harbour of Brigantium in the northwest of Spain?

• Answer #2. Publius Licinius Crassus

Question #3. One citizen of Nova Roma who served as Consul, Censor, Senator and Pontifex resigned citizenship on more than one occasion. Who is this citizen and on what date did this citizen first resign citizenship?

• Answer #3. a.d. VII Id. Sep. ‡ Fl. Vedio M. Cassio cos. ‡ MMDCCLI a.u.c.
  

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Flavius_Vedius_Germanicus_(Nova_Roma)

Day 2 - 2 March 2764

Question #4. What did the Romans call the condemned criminals who were forced to fight as gladiators?

• Answer #4. Damnati

Question #5. Which Roman Emperor, who ruled from 193-211 AD, was from Africa?

• Answer #5. Septimius Severus

Question #6. On what date did a citizen announce on the Main List that the cives of Poltava municipium had voted to dissolve their relationship with Nova Roma?

• Answer #6. 17 February 2764 or 17 February 2011
  

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Nova-Roma/message/83150

Day 3 - 3 March 2764

Question #7. After the rape of Lucretia, Sextus Tarquinius fled to what city, where he was killed?

• Answer #7. Gabii

Question #8. Who married the daughter of Gaius Metellus Delmeticus and, as censor in 114 BC, struck at least 35 senators from the roster?

• Answer #8. Marcus Aemilius Scaurus

Note: Question 8 was disputed and full credit was awarded for any answer received. This question came from the Certamen Question Database and is related to information appearing on page 213 of "A History of Rome: Down to the Reign of Constantine" by M. Cary and H. H. Scullard, published in 1975 by MacMillan Press Ltd. The father was actually Lucius Caecilius Metellus Dalmaticus and the daughter was Caecilia Metella Dalmatica. Some basic information can be found on Wikipedia here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Caecilius_Metellus_Dalmaticus

Question #9. Nova Roma, Inc. is a corporation in the United States of America. Which office(s) in the nation Nova Roma also form the Board of Directors of Nova Roma, Inc.?

• Answer #9. The Constitution of Nova Roma, in paragraph I.C. states, in part:
  

“The Board of Directors of the corporation shall be composed of the Senate of Nova Roma (as described in Section V of this Constitution)…”
http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lex_Equitia_de_constitutione_corrigenda_(Nova_Roma)

Day 4 - 4 March 2764

Question #10. Cassius Longinus' investigation in 114 BC condemned 3 Vestals on charges of unchastity. What additional steps were taken after the Senate consulted the Libri Sibyllini?

• Answer #10. A Greek and a Gallic couple were sacrificed.

Question #11. By a law of the Comitia Tributa Sextus Peducaeus had the investigation of what religious portent taken out of the hands of the pontifices?

• Answer #11. a Vestal Virgin had been struck by lightning.

Question #12. The citizens of Nova Roma are members of urban and rural tribes. How does a member of a rural tribe become a member of an urban tribe?

• Answer #12. The Constitution of Nova Roma, in paragraph II.E.1. states:
  

“There shall exist thirty-five tribes, into which the censors shall divide all of the citizens. Thirty-one of these tribes shall be designated the Rural tribes, and shall be assigned by the censors as directed by law passed by the comitia populi tributa. Four of these tribes shall be designated the urban tribes, and shall be made up of those citizens who fail to vote in the annual magisterial elections. Should a member of an urban tribe subsequently vote in an annual magisterial election, he or she shall be reassigned to a rural tribe.”
http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lex_Equitia_de_constitutione_corrigenda_(Nova_Roma)

Day 5 - 5 March 2764

Question #13. Which of Marius' lieutenants successfully ended the Second Sicilian Slave War?

• Answer #13. Manius Aquilius

Question #14. In what city was Gaius Valerius Catullus born?

• Answer #14. Verona

Question #15. The “Gens Reforms” were passed as a constitutional amendment by the Senate of Nova Roma on what date?

• Answer #15. Id. Oct. ‡ Cn. Salice Cn. Equitio cos. ‡ MMDCCLVII a.u.c.
  

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lex_Equitia_de_gentibus_(Nova_Roma)

Day 6 - 6 March 2764

Question #16. The Comitia Centuriata elected Marius to 5 successive consulships without asking the Senate to suspend what law of 180 BC which declared such a practice illegal?

• Answer #16. Lex Villia Annalis

Question #17. Who were the two leaders of the Second Sicilian Slave War?

• Answer #17. Athenion and Salvius

Question #18. Nova Roma, Inc. is a corporation in the United States of America. On what date did the Senate of Nova Roma pass a constitutional amendment to change the state of incorporation to Maine?

• Answer #18. Non. Ian. ‡ M. Octavio L. Sulla (II) cos. ‡ MMDCCLV a.u.c.
  

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lex_Vedia_de_correctione_incorporationis_(Nova_Roma)

Day 7 - 7 March 2764

Question #19. Which emperor sent a legion to Britain to gather sea-shells?

• Answer #19. Caligula

Question #20. What southernmost stronghold of Jugurtha was captured and destroyed by Marius in 107 BC?

• Answer #20. Capsa

Question #21. Who were the founding members of the Nova Roma group in Madrid, Spain?

• Answer #21. The founders of Oppidum Complutum were:
  

Marcus Curiatius Complutensis

Gnaeus Salvius Astur

Lucius Minicius Sceptius

Agripina Minicia Tibula

Publius Rutilius Bardulus Hadrianus

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Oppidum_Complutum_(Nova_Roma)

Day 8 - 8 March 2764

Question #22. With what celestial event did the Ides of the month originally coincide?

• Answer #22. Vernal equinox or spring equinox.

Question #23. In what year did the citizens of Arpinum receive full citizenship?

• Answer #23. 188 BC

Question #24. On what date was the current law enacted to determine accurately the number of citizens who make up Nova Roma?

• Answer #24. prid. Kal. Iun. ‡ K. Fabio T. Labieno cos. ‡ MMDCCLVI a.u.c.
  

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lex_Fabia_de_censu_(Nova_Roma)

Day 9 - 9 March 2764

Question #25. In a Roman house, what is the name of the opening in the roof?

• Answer #25. Compluvium

Question #26. What emperor, who built a complex of baths in Rome, succeeded Septimius Severus?

• Answer #26. Antoninus, also known as Caracalla

Question #27. Nova Roma is rather small but has a few groups and societies where citizens can share their interests. On what date was a society founded for those citizens who are interested in brewing and vintning?

• Answer #27. a.d. XIII Kal. Mar. ‡ L. Equitio Dec. Iunio cos. ‡ MMDCCLII a.u.c.
  

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Sodalitas_Coquorum_et_Cerevisiae_Coctorum_(Nova_Roma)

Day 10 - 10 March 2764

Question #28. What Roman hero cut off his right hand to prove his loyalty to Rome?

• Answer #28. Mucius Scaevola

Question #29. What festival in ancient Rome involved, among other things, scantily-clad youths running through the streets brandishing leather thongs said to promote fertility?

• Answer #29. Lupercalia

Question #30. On what date did the current oath of office for magistrates of Nova Roma take effect?

• Answer #30. a.d. XIV Kal. Nov. ‡ L. Equitio Dec. Iunio cos. ‡ MMDCCLII a.u.c.
  

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Oath_of_office_(Nova_Roma)
http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lex_Iunia_de_iusiurando_(Nova_Roma) http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Lex_Cassia_de_iusiurando_(Nova_Roma)

Day 11 - 11 March 2764

Question #31. In which direction would you travel from Rome if you wanted to arrive in Helvetia?

• Answer #31. North(west)

Question #32. What consul, a novus homo, was defeated at the Battle of Arausio?

• Answer #32. Gnaeus Mallius Maximus

Question #33. Which citizen of Nova Roma served the shortest time ever officially as a provincial governor?

• Answer #33. Lucius Minicius Sceptius of Hispania served only 2 days, from 31 January to 2 February in 2007.
  

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Ludi_Novi_Romani

Day 12 - 12 March 2764

Question #34. What king of Rome was the son of Ocrisia?

• Answer #34. Servius Tullius

Question #35. As master of the Roman mint, who issued a coin depicting Bocchus kneeling before Sulla with the captive Jugurtha?

• Answer #35. Lucius Cornelius Sulla

Question #36. How many citizens of gens Cornelius were assidui in 2763?

• Answer #36. 12
  

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Image:List_of_assidui_Nov._12,_2010.jpg

Day 13 - 13 March 2764

Question #37. Encouraged by their success in Spain against the Cimbri, the Celtiberians waged a military campaign against the Romans. Who earned a triumph by reducing the Celtiberians in 93 BC?

• Answer #37. Titus Didius

Question #38. After over a decade of minor Roman campaigns against the Scordisci, who finally restored a durable peace in the Balkans in 101 BC?

• Answer #38. Titus Didius

Question #39. Nova Roma has four fora where official business takes place, such as taking an oath of office or recording a law. Where would one find one of these fora?

• Answer #39. The official fora are:
  

• the Main List" (abbr. 'ML'), and hosted at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Nova-Roma
  
• the Comitia centuriata list
  
• the Comitia tributa list
  
• the Nova Roma announce list
  

http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Oath_of_office_(Nova_Roma)

Final Results

The scores for the Certamen Historicum for Ludi Novi Romani 2764 and final positions are:

Place	Competitor	Questions	Percent	Score
1st	Tiberius Galerius Paulinus	39	85%	33
2nd	Gallus Solaris Alexander	12	92%	11

Note: Only two contestants participated in this Certamen Historicum.