Festival of Antiquity in Plovdiv - Philippopolis

Date: May 24, 2012 - May 26, 2012

Location: Plovdiv, Bulgaria

The Bulgarian cultural organization SASR SILA, in cooperation with Bulgarian citizens of Nova Roma, led by - A. Vitellius Celsus, and sponsored by the Municipality of Plovdiv, organize for the fourth consecutive year a festival dedicated to the ancient past of the city. Scenes from everyday life in antiquity will be recreated – gladiator battles, sacred rituals, celebrations of the 2000 anniversary of the founding of the province of Moesia, living history, Roman cuisine and more. We invite everyone interested in the ancient history of our city to come and become part of it.

This is organized as an international Nova Roman event, and serves as an international convention of the citizens of Nova Roma, with participants of Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic and Estonia, representing Provincia Pannonia, Provincia Sarmatia and the territory of Bulgaria (not yet a province).

Official announcement on the Plovdiv Municipality website:

• http://en.eventsplovdiv.info/articles/view/1386

Media reports and photos taken at the event:

• Bulgarian newspaper report about our latest Roman festival
• Bulgarian TV report about the Nova Roman Plovdiv Roman Festival
• Photos by participants #1
• Photos by participants #2
• Photos by participants #3
• Photos by participants #4

Nova Roman participants

• Former aedilis curulis, former praefectus Bulgariae: A. Vitellius Celsus - Bulgaria
• Many un-named Bulgarian citizens of Nova Roma
• Ti. Claudius Drusus - Provincia Sarmatia (Estonia)
• Legatus pro praetore Pannoniae et Venediae, praefectus Italiae, pontifex, sacerdos Concordiae: Cn. Cornelius Lentulus - Provincia Pannonia (Hungary)
• Quaestor: Sp. Porcius Gemma - Provincia Pannonia (Hungary)
• Scriba legati pro praetore Pannoniae; former aedilis curulis: Sex. Lucilius Tutor - Provincia Pannonia (Czech Republic)

Programme - 2012

24th May (Thursday) – Ancient Theatre:

15:00 – Procession through the ancient sites in Plovdiv

17:00 – Opening of the Festival in the Ancient Theatre

17:30 – Ritual Aspicium (bird auspice)

18:00 – Lustration (cathartic ritual)

18:30 – Entering manhood ritual

19:00 – Pankration – ancient fighting

19:30 – Gladiator battles

20:00 – Ancient rite

25th May (Friday) – Odeon:

16:00 – A brief history of the Roman conquest of Thrace

16:30 – Ritual Aspicium (bird auspice)

16:30 – Lustration (cathartic ritual)

17:00 – Entering manhood ritual

17:30 – Slave market

18:00 – Roman wedding

18:30 – Gladiator battles

19:00 – Ancient fashion

19:30 – Ancient weaponry and demonstrations

26th May (Saturday) – Roman Stadium:

10:00 – Ancient fashion

10:30 – Ancient weaponry and demonstrations

11:00 – Roman wedding

11:30 – Open-air museum

11:30 – Roman cuisine

The event is organized with the active assistance of the Regional governor of Plovdiv District, Mayor of Plovdiv, Municipal Enterprise for Tourism - Plovdiv.