V Conventus Novae Romae
The fifth annual Conventus Novae Romae in Europa will be held at Hadrian's Wall in provincia Britannia between a. d. III Non. Sex. (Thursday the 3rd of August) and a. d. V Id. Sex. (Wednesday the 9th of August) this year.
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Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was unique in the Roman world and remains one of the most outstanding historical sites in Europe. It was designated a World Heritage Site almost twenty years ago.
The Wall was built in the early second century C.E. on the orders of the emperor Hadrian, who spent much of his reign touring the frontiers of the empire and who visited Britain M'. Aviola C. Cornelio cos.‡ (DCCCLXXV a.u.c.). Running some 80 Roman miles from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, the Wall marked the northernmost frontier of the Roman empire.
It is a remarkable feat of Roman engineering, originally about six metres high and between two and three metres deep, and much of it still stands. It has been suggested that Hadrian was inspired by stories of the Great Wall of China brought back by travelling merchants.
The Conventus will include visits to the best sites on the Wall, as well as lectures and discussions about its history.
More information on Hadrian's Wall
Carlisle
The Conventus will be based in the city of Carlisle in north-west England, which itself began as a settlement around the Wall fort of Luguvalium. Carlisle has had a turbulent history under the Romans, Celts, Saxons and Vikings. It gained city status during the Middle Ages and during the 14th to 17th centuries was constantly involved in the feuds and bloodthirsty raids of the Border Reivers that took place over the disputed lands between England and Scotland. It has associations with some of the most striking characters of British history, including King Arthur, Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Queen Victoria.
Carlisle has many fascinating historical buildings to visit, but it is also a dynamic modern town with speciality shops, theatres and entertainment centres. It is large enough to be vibrant, but small enough to explore on foot. It has a fine museum of Roman and other antiquities.
Accommodation
Accommodation will be provided at St Martin's College. This is a modern block normally used as student lodgings. Each room has its own bathroom. Rooms are grouped into flats of five to eight rooms, and each flat has a shared fully-fitted kitchen and dining area. The building also has a laundry and a cafe.
The rooms at St Martin's are single rooms; the organizers will be happy to help arrange alternative accommodation for any guests who prefer double or family rooms.
Visits
There will be four coach-trips to sites on the Wall.
Vindolanda (Chesterholm) and the Roman Army Museum
The Roman fort of Vindolanda, not on the Wall itself but set back from it, illustrates that the Wall was not just a great monument but part of a wider frontier system extending back into Roman territory and forward into barbarian lands. The fort is justly famous for the "Vindolanda tablets", an amazing cache of letters, written on wooden tablets by the Roman soldiers and their families, found under the remains of a Roman bonfire at the fort. Also at the fort are impressive full-size reconstructions of the Wall as it would have been in Roman times.
The original tablets, along with many other items from the fort, can be seen at the nearby Roman Army Museum. The Museum provides an excellent introduction to the Wall, especially its eagle-eye video of the whole Wall as it would have been in Roman times.
More information on Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum
The online catalogue of the Vindolanda tablets
Arbeia (South Shields) and Segedunum (Wallsend)
The major city of Newcastle contains the Roman forts of Arbeia and Segedunum, including impressive reconstructions of a Roman bath-house and the military gate, as well as the Newcastle Museum of Antiquities which contains a reconstruction of the Mithraeum near Cilurnum.
Banna (Birdoswald)
The well-preserved fort of Banna has an excellent museum and a fine setting for a gentle walk.
Vercovicium (Housesteads), Cilurnum (Chesters), and the Mithraeum
Vercovicium is one of the most spectacular sites on the Wall, situated high up on a crag with splendid views to the Roman south, the barbarian north, and the Wall stretching away in all directions. Nearby is the fort of Cilurnum, the best-preserved cavalry fort in Britain, as well as the remains of a temple of Mithras.
Games and Entertainment
There will be plenty of board-games on hand to pass an idle evening, including modern games like Republic of Rome and Senator and real Roman games like Latrunculi and Duodecim Scripta. Guests will also be able to participate in live chariot races (yes, really!).
Though this has not yet been confirmed, the organizers hope to provide screenings of a few classic films such as Spartacus and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.
Official Meeting
As always at the annual Conventus, part of one day will be set aside for a general meeting at which guests can wear their Roman clothes (though of course they are free to do this at other times as well!) and share their thoughts and aspirations relating to Nova Roma. For educational value and a sense of gravitas, the meeting will be conducted in the form of a meeting of the senate, according to ancient procedures.
Lectures and Workshops
Informal lectures will be given, both by the hosts and, it is hoped, by those guests who wish to do so, on various Roman topics including the Wall itself. There will also be practical workshops in subjects such as Roman cookery and conversational Latin for beginners.
Religious Celebrations
In consultation with the Collegium Pontificum the organizers will provide the rites and celebrations appropriate to the occasion, including the birthday of King Servius Tullius on the Saturday.
Nothing Is Compulsory
This may sound like a very busy schedule, but all the activities are strictly optional (though some are included in the price). The organizers will try to make sure wherever possible that there is a choice of two or more different activities; alternatively, guests are free to do nothing or to arrange their own activities. Information on things to do in and around Carlisle will be provided, and the organizers will be happy to make suggestions.
Price
Guests staying at St Martin's will be asked to pay £195 per person (approximately €280 or $350 U.S.). This includes the cost of accommodation, two big dinners at St Martin's (other meals will be arranged at the time, to keep things flexible), the four coach-trips, and all the lectures, workshops, films, games, &c.
Guests arranging their own accommodation should consult the organizers about the price not including rooms at St Martin's.
Getting There
Carlisle has a small airport, but the main international airports are at Manchester and Newcastle. Alternatively some guests may prefer to travel to London and join some of the hosts for the journey from London to Carlisle by car or train. Anyone wanting advice on travel arrangements should join the provincia Britannia e-mail list or contact a_apollonius_cordus@yahoo.co.uk.
Further Information
More information will be added here as it becomes available. Specific questions can be asked on the provincia Britannia e-mail list or directed to a_apollonius_cordus@yahoo.co.uk.
Who's Coming
So far the following people have confirmed that they will be attending the Conventus:
- A. Apollonius Cordus (Britannia)
- C. Equitius Cato (America Mediatlantica)
- C. Flavia Aureliana (Britannia)
- C. Livia (Britannia)
- Diana Octavia Aventina (Gallia)
- C. Moravius Laureatus (Britannia)
- Cn. Salvius Astur (Hispania)
