ADLOCVTIO
NEWSLETTER OF THE TWENTIETH LEGION

Vol. XIX, no. iv, April 2009


AFTER-ACTION REPORT--MTT

    Many thanks to all who came out to Marching Through Time!   In spite of weddings, business trips, and other distractions, Legio XX mustered a total of 11 people over the weekend, including two ladies.  Not bad at all!  The number of other groups was down a little from last year, but hey, that just meant more space for the rest of us.  And believe it or not, it didn't rain!  Yes, a full two days, mostly sunny and warm.  Well, okay, it *tried* to start raining on us after we had already taken down the tent on Sunday, but it was just a very brief sprinkle.   Marching Through Time 2010 is already on Marietta's schedule.



TWO EVENTS!

    Oops, looks like I've signed us up for TWO separate events for Saturday, May 30.  First is a Roman Festival at a school near King's Dominion in Virginia.  It runs from 11 AM to 4 PM, and we can set up as early as 10.  We'll be encamped on the "Field of Mars" (soccer field), doing our usual marching and pilum-chucking.  There will be chariot races to watch, and they will feed us.

    The other event is Modelers Palooza at Fairfax High School in Fairfax, VA.  It runs from 9 AM to 4 PM, and features hundreds of museum-quality scale models, miniature figurines, and reenactors from several eras.  Special guests include military veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and Gulf Wars.  For more details:

http://www.modelerspalooza.com/
 

    We should be able to handle both of these.  The Roman Festival is farther and mainly outdoors (apparently), but definitely right up our primary alley.  The modelers' show will be more like the Model Soldier Society shows that we've done a couple times, basically easy indoor duty.   So please let me know if you would like to sign up for one or the other!



POTOMAC CELTIC FESTIVAL

    This year the Potomac Celtic Festival runs two days, June 13-14, and they already have Legio XX listed on their page of reenactors.

http://www.potomaccelticfest.org/ 
http://www.potomaccelticfest.org/history.html 

So I'm assuming we're invited!   Last year the day was cut short by a truly impressive thunderstorm (of course), but that won't happen again this year…   The location is Morven Park in Leesburg, Virginia, off Route 7 a little ways past the Moskey residence in Sterling.

    Public hours are from 10 AM to 7 PM.  Vehicles can be driven to the camp area to unload but must be removed to the parking area by 9:30.  We can take down our camp and leave before 7 if we like, but we'll have to carry all our gear out (not very far).   Last year there was a hospitality tent with free snacks and cold drinks for all participants.   There was a short parade in the afternoon.

    Overall an easy weekend for us.  It's a well-established large event, and all we have to do is show up and do our thing.   I'll double-check on details and registration, so please let me know your plans.



MINIMUS

    On SUNDAY July 19 the Legion has been invited to appear at the Laurel Library from 1 to 3 PM.  The program will based on a visit from Barbara Bell, the British author of the Latin series "Minimus".  Each year in London, Barbara holds a "Minimus" day at the British Museum (you can see pictures from it on http://minimus.com ) where children are split up in groups and go to 3-5 stations including a museum mini-tour, a Latin lesson, a craft, and a visit with some Roman re-enactors.  The plan is to do something similar on a smaller scale.  The coordinator is Ruth Ann Besse, a Latin teacher and regular visitor at Legio XX events.  

    Note that this event is a whole FOUR BLOCKS from the Commander's house in Laurel, MD!  We can assemble here and carpool up the street, or even march for added dramatic effect.  The show itself will be mainly indoors, so I'm not planning to lug the tent or camp gear.  

    There may be a related event on the day before, Saturday July 18, in Takoma Park, MD, but I don't have any details on that.  Stay tuned.



TIMELINE EVENT, NJ--June 2009

    I haven't gotten any response from the membership about the Timeline event in New Jersey on June 20-21, so I'm going to send our regrets to the coordinator.



LATINA

Please help us spread the word about RUSTICATIO VIRGINIANA.  Even if you cannot attend yourself, and we hope you can, please share this information with people you know who would benefit from this tremendous and fun learning opportunity.
 
SALVI offers two sessions of RUSTICATIO this summer.  Week one from July 13 - 19 does not exclude beginners but is designed primarily for experienced Latin speakers.  Week two is for beginners only and runs from July 20 - 26.
 
Established over ten years ago, RUSTICATIO has a proven track record for creating programs that foster growth in living Latin in a congenial and down to earth atmosphere that is both fun and supportive.
 
The sessions fill up quickly.  So act now to guarantee your place! Complete details are posted on the SALVI web page at http://www.latin. org/ 
 
Our site is the historic Claymont Estate in scenic Charles Town, WV, just one hour by car from Washington-Dulles International Airport.



MORE DISTANT EVENTS

EXPLORATIONS IN ANTIQUITY MUSEUM, from Edge Gibbons

The Explorations in Antiquity Museum in LaGrange, Georgia, USA, will be hosting a Roman re-enactor event in their great facility from 29-31 May 2009.  Check out the museum's website here:

http://www.explorationsinantiquity.net/index.htm 

The museum is also featured in the current issue of Biblical Archaeology Review:

http://www.bib-arch.org/e-features/exploring-world-jesus.asp 

This event is open to any interested Roman re-enactor with a good, accurate impression -- the museum are sticklers for authenticity as you can see from their exhibits.

Plenty of places to stay in the local area -- the museum is very close to Interstate 85 -- and my house is about an hour from the site.  I am more than happy to host as many folks as the house will hold.  Camping is available on-site, with latrine and other facilities.

Hosted jointly by Legio VI FFC and Legio XI CPF, please contact myself at egibbons AT hotmail DOT com, or Rusty Myers for details.

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ROMA AETERNA--Rome, Italy

Let me introduce myself:  I am Mauritius Comellus Carliis, member of Vadis Al Maximo the organization that is planning, with the patronage of Roma’s administration, three days of celebrations for the Roman Empire and the return of Ludi Circensis.

We have the pleasure to inform you that another day has been added to the VADIS AL MAXIMO revival of the Roman Empire.  The event that will be held in Rome, Italy, will take place the days 15, 16, 17, 18 October 2009.  The calendar of the event is still not complete but we can anticipate that will have an opening ceremony Thursday October 15 evening, followed by on Friday morning quadriga’s training sessions, races and war displays in the afternoon, gladiators and races again at night.  With finals on Sunday the event will arrive at the closing of the games in the evening.

To complement the First Gladiator Maximus Trophy, we have added the Legionis Romane competition where the participant legions will show marching and battle techniques.  Best show and costumes will gain substantial cash prices.  In order to participate at this event and their benefit packages, the participating legionnaires  and gladiators groups will have to submit us  a short video of their performance for evaluation purposes.  Videos and pictures to be sent to:  trofei@vadisalmaximo.com .  A group of experts in Roman History will analyze them in order to establish the programming.

It is imperative that we receive the material before the end of March 2009.

A Castrum Romanum will be prepared for those legionnaires and families that they do not want to go to hotels.  This accommodation will be considerably less expensive but we do need an early reservation.  The Castrum will have also a Roman Taberna with restaurant service.

We are still working with travel agencies in order to present you discount packages including airfare, hotel and tickets.

CORSA DELLE QUADRIGHE  al Circo Massimo
The return of the quadriga’s races in its natural environment: the Circus Maximus.
The power of the chariot with 4 horses! The Formula One of antiquity.

MARCIA DELLE LEGIONI al Foro dei Cesari
The first world gathering of the Roman Legions, an invitation to bring back the sound of the legionnaires marching in the Cesar’s Forum after 1,500 years. We invite you all to participate.

TROFEO GLADIATORIS MAXIMUS
Teams of Gladiators will exhibit their fighting techniques, trying to conquer the first world title of Gladiatoris Maximus.

More information can be found on our web site:

http://www.vadisalmaximo.com 

Feel free to contact me anytime for all the questions you may have that I am sure will not be just few.  I renew the invitation to participate in this unique event and I will appreciate if you can take the time to forward this e-mail to all the fellows Romans around the world.

Thank You!

Roma adventum vostrum plauso maximo expectat.

Mauritius Comellus Carliis
mauritius AT vadisalmaximo DOT com



CALENDAR

   May 30-- School Demo near King's Dominion, VA
   May 30-- Modelers Palooza at Fairfax High School in Fairfax, VA
   June 13-14-- Potomac Celtic Festival, Leesburg, VA
   July 19-- Minimus show at Laurel Library, MD
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ADLOCVTIO is the Official Newsletter of the Twentieth Legion, supposedly published on the Ides of each month.  I am Quintus, aka Matthew Amt, the Legion's Commander and Editor of the Newsletter, matthew_amt AT yahoo DOT com, http://www.larp.com/legioxx/