ADLOCVTIO
NEWSLETTER OF THE TWENTIETH LEGION

Vol. XVII, no. vi, June 2007


ROMAN DAYS THANK YOU!

    A very enormous pile of gratitude goes out to everyone who came to Roman Days and helped make it a great success.  This was the tenth time for this event, and the last one for Marietta Site Manager Susan Wolfe, who is retiring soon.  We will miss her!  Thanks also to Deb Fuller and Richard Campbell, the organizers, and to Allison, Merlinia, and the other great food providers.  Not to mention all the great folks who traveled so far to play with us!

    For Saturday's massed demo we had a record of about 35 legionaries on the field!  There were troops from Legiones XX, XXIV, I Italica, III Cyrenaica, V Alaudae, IX Hispana, XIV Gemina, and XXX Ulpia, plus our favorite Samnite.  That's not counting seven or eight Romans who were not marching for various reasons, and two or three friendly barbarians.  We split the troops into two units and marched them around separately, massing again and then passing one through the files of the other as we advanced towards the crowd.  It all worked pretty darn well, considering most of us had not worked together before.  We learned a lot about our drill and techniques.

    Legio V Alaudae from Tennessee turned out with seven men and their new leather tent, a very impressive show!   Legio XXX from New York had what looked like a leather tent, but turned out to be painted canvas.  It really looked great!  But Legio III Cyrenaica from New England had to top us all, with a new cart AND a ten-foot tall ballista!  Truly an excellent machine, weighing close to half a ton, and throwing 3-pound balls of concrete a good distance without really being wound up.  This was the ballista's first real shooting, and it performed very well.  The cart was used as a mobile mount for George Metz's smaller catapulta, which also did some shooting.  Oh, Legio III also brought a small late Roman onager, though I never got to see it shoot.  Quite an artillery battery!

    This year we added a "social" on Friday evening after set-up, just a relaxed time for more hobnobbing.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to stay for the Saturday night feast, but I understand that it was quite a party!  

    And then it rained, and Sunday's activities were cancelled before they started.  That was a serious bummer, especially to a few troops and visitors who turned up because they hadn't been able to come on Saturday.  I really felt bad about that!  With Saturday being such a success, I know we were all looking forward to more.  Well, we'll see you all next year!  Thank you again.

    Hey, how about some photos?  From Lee Holeva:
http://69.246.199.104/roman/romandays2007/ 

From Deb Fuller, http://www.flickr.com/photos/drfuller/tags/rd07/ 

From Chuck Russell, http://www.flickr.com/photos/8028065@N05/sets/72157600311704702/ 

Lee's painted canvas tent (sorry, long URL!), http://www.geocities.com/legio_tricesima_cohors_tres/campusMartis/conturbernium/ContuberniumTent.html

    Deb has also started a Roman Days Wiki page, to help with planning for next year: http://romandays.wikispaces.com/ 


MORE DISTANT EVENTS

CASTRA ROMANA--ATLANTA, from Edge Gibbons

Fellow Roman Re-enactors:

I wanted to extend a personal invitation to all of you to attend Castra Romana-Atlanta, hosted by Legio XI Claudia Pia Fidelis, 14-17 June 2007 in Atlanta, GA.

This event is being held in conjunction with the US Army's 232nd Birthday celebration on Fort McPherson, GA.  For more information on the event itself, I would refer you to the following websites:

http://11thlegion.com/castra_romana-atlanta_2007/ 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/castra-atlanta/ 

While I know that many of you have a busy schedule (especially those of you who, like me, intend to be there for Roman Days with Matthew), we believe that this event will offer a great opportunity to show the professionalism of the Roman army to the professionals of the US Army.

Friends and families are welcome, and the Army is sponsoring many, many activities for family members.  Please try to work us into your schedules, and help me pass this invitation along to other re-enactors who might also be interested.

Valete,

Edge

Edward.Gibbons AT forscom DOT army DOT mil
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CELEBRATION OF HISTORY, from Doug Shipman

You are invited to participate in Wethersfield Historical Society’s Celebration of History event during the weekend of June 16-17, 2007, at the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center, 200 Main Street, in historic Wethersfield, Connecticut.  The society is a non-profit organization, established in 1932 to promote historical preservation and education.

In celebration of its 75th Anniversary, the society plans to host living history reenactment groups representing various periods of history (Stone Age to Modern) to promote interest in history, illustrate the many changes in culture, technology, strategy, etc. that have evolved over time and to reinforce the fact that learning history takes many forms and is great fun!

Each group is asked to provide a small encampment and representative furnishings, equipment, staff, etc. for the weekend, with a focus on visitor interaction and education.  A demonstration area will be provided and units are encouraged to pre register for demonstration times for small arms, weapons, tactical, craft skill or other public demonstrations appropriate to their group’s background.

The society will provide a stipend for each unit, as well as straw, firewood and fire-pit (if requested), and 24-hour access to restroom facilities.  Units are invited to encamp overnight on-site or in one of the museum’s indoor spaces if desired (there are also many local hotels with reasonable rates).

Please contact society Director Doug Shipman at 860-529-7656, or at weth.hist.society AT snet DOT net to learn more about this event or to express intent to participate.   http://www.wethhist.org  

We look forward to your joining us as we celebrate history, and our 75th Anniversary as an organization dedicated to historical preservation and education!

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MILITARY TIMELINE, ATLANTA

I am looking for someone to serve as an Ancient Roman Re-Enactor for our program on September 16. On this weekend, the Atlanta History Center is hosting its program, Exploring the Military Timeline.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in participating, please let me know via email.
 
Thank you kindly,

Vickie Toranzo
Manager of Public Programs I Atlanta History Center
404.814.4116
VToranzo AT AtlantaHistoryCenter DOT com

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CASTRA ROMANA

Salvete Romani!

On behalf of the ISPA and The Legionaries and Supporters of Legio VI Ferrata Fidelas Constans would like to formally invite you to our sixth annual Castra Romana, November 16, 17, and 18, 2007. This event will be held at Givhans State Park in South Carolina.  Knowing it is a bit of a drive for most, we are pulling out all the stops (including lots of new stuff!!) to make this an experience you will not want to miss, and will never forget!

Any ancient re-enactors, Romans, Barbarians, Gladiators, and Civilians are invited! Vendors too!

While this event will be advertised and open to the public, our primary goal is to provide a unique experience to our participants.  To this end we have a great number of events which will interest the Roman Reenactor, be they soldier or civilian!  If you have a unique impression you would like to bring and add, please contact us.  The last years have been an outstanding success, and this year will be even better!

Soldiers will get the opportunity to drill and train, throw live pila on the pila range, practice live sword (against a post of course!), in addition to participating in Needlefelt mock combat both on the drill field for spectators Saturday, you will see the Gladiators in the arena in daylight, and at a special torchlight nightime match just before the Grand Convivia!

The highlight of the event will be the Centurios Convivium, a grande Roman Banquet and hosted by the Centurio.  Ask anyone about our feast!  The food alone is worth the drive!

Average Temperature in November in South Carolina is 65-75 degrees.  In addition there are few if any events on the calendar for that period of time. Plus the mosquitos are mostly dead!  Legio VI will be onsite Thursday the 14th to Monday the 19rd, but you should try to arrive sometime Thursday or Friday unless you are setting up a
special event or station.  Re-enacting events start Friday night.  Vendors are welcome to set up a display, but we ask that they remain in period as much as they are able, and you must contact us as soon as possible.  We have limited room for vendors, but will endeavor to accommodate you in the period market, or vendor row.  Remember this
event is being planned for the participants, so we need you to attend!  Please RSVP via EMAIL by October 1st with firm numbers if at all possible (this is so we can plan the feast).

It is our sincerest hope you will plan to attend.  We will have an excellent time, and want you to be there to celebrate the growth of Roman Living Archeology, at the best Castra Romana EVER!

Event Contact: Rusty Myers
843-437-5587
JustusLonginus AT aol DOT com
http://www.CastraRomana.com 


SURF'S UP

--Archaeological Sewing, http://www.heatherrosejones.com/archaeologicalsewing/
-- Biblical Faces by Dick Stenbakken, http://www.dickstenbakken.com/


CALENDAR

   July 7 --Monthly Workshop?  I'll find out and let ya know!
   August 4 --Ditto!
   September 15-16 --Fall Encampment, Marietta Mansion

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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/ .