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imperi nuntivs

The newsletter of Legion Ireland --- The Roman Military Society of Ireland

In This Issue • New Group Logo • of • Roman • The Emperors - AD69 - AD138 • Beautifying Your Hamata • Group Events and Projects • Roman Coins AD69 - AD81 • Roundup of 2011 Events

November 2011

IMPERI NUNTIUS

The newsletter of Legion Ireland - The Roman Military Society of Ireland 2011

From the editor... Another month another newsletter! This month’s newsletter kind grew out of control so please bring a pillow as you’ll probably fall asleep while reading. Anyway I hope you enjoy this months eclectic mix of articles and info. Change Of Logo... We have changed our logo! Our previous logo was based on an eagle from the back of an Italian Mus- solini era coin. The new logo is based on the leaping boar image depicted on the antefix found at Chester. Two versions exist. The first is for a white back- ground and the second for black or a dark back- ground.

For our logo we have framed the boar in a victory wreath with a purple ribbon. We tried various colour ribbons but purple worked out best - red made it look like a wreath! I have sent these logo’s to a garment manufacturer in the UK and should have prices back shortly for group jackets, sweat shirts and polo shirts.

Roof antefix with leaping boar

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io satvrnalia!

Saturnalia... sents (saturnalia et sigillaricia),and a special mar- Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat....OK, ket (sigillaria). Gambling was allowed for all, even so only X number of shopping days left ‘till Christ- slaves. mas, but did our ancient ancestors celebrate it? We’ll no, they had more sense. They celebrated The was not worn, but rather the , Saturnalia. Saturnalia is an Ancient Roman festival i.e. colourful, informal "dinner clothes"; and the pil- held in honour of (), the youngest of eus (freedman's hat) was worn by everyone. the Titans, father of the major gods of the Greeks Slaves were exempt from punishment, and treated and Romans, and son of Uranus and Gaia.[1] Most their masters with (a pretense of) disrespect. The relevantly, Saturn is the father of 's primary slaves celebrated a banquet: before, with, or god, . served by the masters. Yet the reversal of the so- cial order was mostly superficial; the banquet, for Saturnalia was introduced around 217 BC to raise example, would often be prepared by the slaves, citizen morale after a crushing military defeat at the and they would prepare their masters' dinner as hands of the Carthaginians. Originally celebrated well. It was license within careful boundaries; it re- for a day, on 17, its popularity saw it versed the social order without subverting it. grow until it became a week-long extravaganza, ending on the 23rd. Efforts to shorten the celebra- The customary greeting for the occasion is a "Io, tion were unsuccessful. tried to reduce it Saturnalia!" — Io (pronounced "Yo") being a to three days, and to five. These attempts interjection related to "ho" (as in "Ho, praise to Sat- caused uproar and massive revolts among the Ro- urn"). man citizens. Courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia Saturnalia involved the conventional sacrifices, a couch () set out in front of the temple Saturnalia Today... of Saturn and the untying of the ropes that bound The festival of Saturnalia is practiced today every the statue of Saturn during the rest of the year. A December by Roman Tours / Deva Victrix. I’m go- Saturnalicius was elected master of cere- ing over to participate this year. See here: monies for the proceedings. Besides the public rites there were a series of holidays and customs http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php? celebrated privately. The celebrations included a eid=150499775044506 school , the making and giving of small pre-

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The emperors --- 69AD to 138AD

VESPASIAN - TITUS FLAVIUS VESPASIANUS (A.D. 69-79) Often described as the soldiers emperor, Vespasian restored peace and stability to an empire is disarray following the death of . Not of noble birth Vespasian was none the less to rise to emperor and give birth to the Flavian dynasty, all due his military genius. Generally considered to be one of the good emperors, Vespasian was somewhat of an exception to the rule of corrupt and cruel Roman emperors that went before and were to follow.

Vespasian TITUS - TITUS FLAVIUS VESPASIANUS (A.D. 79-81) The son of Vespasian, Titus was left to conquer Judea in A.D.69 following the departure of his father back to Rome to claim the throne. Titus returned to Rome in June A.D.71 to participate in lavish joint triumph with his father to celebrate their successful Judean campaign. Despite fears to the contrary, Titus’ reign was positive until his untimely death in A.D.81. Though never proven, his brother is thought by many to be behind his untimely death.

Titus DOMITIAN - TITUS FLAVIUS DOMITIANUS (A.D. 81-96) The youngest son of Vespasian, Domitian represented a return to the poor em- perors of the past. Domitian was a micromanager. Upon taking office Domitian raised the silver content of the , only to devaluate it later when military expenditure demanded it. While the military abilities of his farther and brother were genuine, Domitians were not. This seems to be the story of Domitians life, good intentions but an inability to implement with any success. Domitian was as- sassinated on September 18 th A.D. 96. Opinions of Domitian vary, some believe he was practical in much he undertook, others believe he was lazy and licentious.

Domitian NERVA – MARCUS COCCEIUS NERVA (A.D. 96-98) Though short, Nerva’s reign as Roman emperor was pivotal. The first of Gibbon’s so called ‘five good emperors’, Nerva is credited with the beginning the practice of adopting his heir rather than selecting a blood relative. Claimed as an ancestor by all the emperors down to Severus Alexander, he has traditionally been re- garded with much good will at the expense of his predecessor Domitian. After the mutiny of the Praetorian guards he announced his adoption of Trajan as his suc- cessor. Nerva died of stroke on January 1 st A.D.98. Some provincial man has come to Rome, and walking on the streets was drawing everyone's attention, being a real double of the emperor Augustus. The emperor, having brought him to the palace, looks at him and then asks: Nerva -Tell me, young man, did your mother come to Rome anytime? The reply was:

-She never has. But my father frequently was here.

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The emperors --- 69AD to 138AD

MARCUS ULPIUS TRAJANUS CRINITUS (A.D. 98-117) Under the reign of Trajan the reached it’s greatest extent. Best remembered for his military conquests of Dacia and Parthia, Trajan was also a prolific builder and significantly improved the infrastructure of Rome and Italy. Key to Trajans success was his good relations with the , which allowed him to accomplish whatever he wanted without general opposition. In 117, having conquered vast territories in the east, Trajan, now a sick man began a slow return to Rome having left Hadrian in control of the east. Trajan died in Selinus of Cilicia on 9 th 117, having declared Hadrian as his successor on his death bed.

Trajan

PUBLIUS AELIUS HADRIANUS (A.D. 117-138) Hadrian was the third of Gibbons ‘Five good Emperors’. Hadrian was of the same mind as Rome’s first emperor Augustus, who believed that Rome could not go on expanding forever and must be contained within well defined frontiers. In Britannia he constructed ‘Hadrian's Wall’ from Carlisle in the west to Newcas- tle in the west, not as erroneously suggested by the venerable Bead to keep out the Picts and the Scots but rather to make a political statement. He also rein- forced the northern ‘’ between the Rhine and Danube and returned much of the territories conquered by his predecessor Trajan. Hadrian died in his villa , in the bay of Naples on July 10 th AD138.

Hadrian

Beautifying Your Hamata... A Little Problem My introduction to the world of re-enactment came At first we all thought the new maille shirt was in 2005. Back then the most important item on my superb, but in the summer of 2006 this was to agenda was getting my kit together as quickly as change. Our first re-enactment event was at possible. One of the most expensive items I knew I Duncannon in Co. Wexford on the June bank- had to buy was armour. There were to options holiday week-end. Here we were joined by mem- available to me. The first was Lorica Segmentata bers of Legio VIII MGV from Wales. On compar- or plate armour, the second being Lorica Hamata ing maille shirts it quickly became apparent that or chain maille. there was something different about our maille. Ours was very ‘shiny’ and looked unauthentic Both forms of body armour were in service with the when compared with Legio VIII’s maille shirts. during the period I was re-enacting. Our maille was galvanised. Initially this At the time I was a short fat git with a rather pro- seem like a good thing, galvanisation prevents nounced ‘paunch’, so maille was obviously out for corrosion and would obviously make for less me, besides, Lorica Segmentata is way cooler… maintenance and longer life. Unfortunately gal- right? In any case plate armour was well beyond vanised maille does not look authentic. my means at the time (maybe I should say well beyond what my wife would allow me to spend!). What to do? Galvanised maille is generally butted and of a One day I while out browsing around the shops I lower quality than punched and riveted maille. spotted something unusual, a chain maille shirt in Relatively inexpensive armour, the rings are gen- a shop window and at a knock down price. At the erally soft and open easily so maintenance is time I thought this was fantastic. Here was a maille high but, it is easily repaired. While it may not be that I could afford but, there was a problem, my our first choice in the future it was better than belly. The maille shirt was out for me so I told Pullo having nothing. who promptly bought the shirt.

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So what should we do with our galvanised maille? you need to give it a light coating of WD40 to pre- Continue to use it as it is? Bin it and start again? vent any further rusting, and there you go. The answer lay in a simple chemical process. I had heard about a simple method of stripping the gal- Improving the finish vanised coating using nothing more than simple Stripping off the galvanised coating vastly improves household products. If we could strip the galvani- the appearance of the maille. There is one more sation from our maille it just might allow us to con- process however that can not only further improve tinue to use it until we could afford better. the appearance of the maille but can also be used to clean it of rust etc. What you will need Here’s what you’ll need. A plastic bucked large Here’s what you’ll need. A small bag of fine DRY enough to hold you maille. Enough vinegar to fully sand – I use B&Q children’s play sand as its very immerse your maille in the bucket – buy the cheap- fine. Secondly you’ll need a good strong sack, try est vinegar you can get your hands on – brown or and get something other than plastic as it tends to white, it doesn’t matter. A couple of old towels, a tear easily. Now, put the maille into the bottom of water hose and last but not least, a can of WD40! the sack and add about a third of the bag of sand. Shake the maille around vigorously in the sand for The stripping process ten minutes or so then remove. The process is simple. Place the maille in the plas- tic bucket and add the vinegar until the maille is Now you have the problem of removing excess fully covered. The stripping itself can take anything sand from the maille. This can be done by laying from 1 to 6 hours; it all depends on the concentra- out the mail flat on the ground and brushing down tion of the Acetic Acid in the vinegar and the thick- with a floor brush. Turn inside out and do the same ness of the galvanisation on the rings. Check and until the sand is removed. The maille should now turn the maille often. You’ll know the process is have a dark grey metallic finish. complete when the maille rings take on a dull me- tallic finish. Don’t worry about leaving the maille in This is about as much as you can do with the the vinegar too long, I’ve left maille in overnight maille. The stripping and finishing process will cost without any adverse effects…I think… about €25 and 2 working hours. In the end you won’t end up with a better quality maille shirt, this is A couple of notes on the process though. Each just a cosmetic exercise but it does make the maille maille shirt reacts differently. Some shirts begin to far more presentable. react with the vinegar immediately. Firstly there’s a slow bubbling that eventually builds into a heavy The National Museum Event... froth in a matter of minutes but, more often than Once again we’ll be back at the National Museum not, the process is much slower. Usually there is of Ireland on Kildare Street on Sunday November no sign of anything for an hour or so. This very 27th. The format is the same as usual, historical slowly builds into froth over the next 1 to 5 hours and living history displays. We’ll be back in the until the coating is removed. My advice is simple, large ceramics room. be patent as things are happening even when there’s no outward signs. The museum is open to the public from 14:00 to 17:00 but we’ll have access from 12:00 so don’t be Once stripping is complete you need to rinse and late! dry the maille quickly. Firstly, dispose of the vine- gar in an environmentally safe manner (put on your fish ‘n chips!) Next fill the bucket with clean water and put the maille back in. Shake the maille around in the water to fully remove the vinegar. Now time is of the essence. Once the maille is re- moved from the water rust is on the way so use the towels to dry the maille as quickly as possible.

The towels will take most of the water off the maille but it will still be wet. At this stage I use a hairdryer to finish the process off and completely dry the maille. No matter how quick you are or how careful you are you will still get very light rusting in places, this can’t be avoided. Once the maille is fully dry

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Roman Coins... bread or a liter of cheap wine (or according to Pom- Unlike most modern coins, Roman coins had intrin- peiian graffiti, the services of a cheap prostitute). sic value. While they contained precious metals, The importance and the need for smaller denomi- the value of a coin was higher than its precious nations for the population of Rome was probably metal content, so they were not bullion. Estimates high. Evidence of this can be seen in the numerous of the value of the denarius range from 1.6 to 2.85 imitations of imperial Claudian bronzes that, al- times its metal content, thought to equal the pur- though probably not authorized by Rome, appear chasing power of 10 modern British Pound Sterling to have been tolerated and were struck in large (US$15) at the beginning of the Roman Empire to numbers. Since the government required coins around 18 Pound Sterling (US$29) by its end mainly as a means to pay its army and officials, it (comparing bread, wine and meat prices) and, over had little impetus or desire to fulfill the need for the same period, around one to three days' pay for bronze coins. a Legionary. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_currency The majority of the written information about coins that survives is in the form of papyri preserved in Projects, Projects, Projects... Egypt’s dry climate. The coinage system that ex- Well we’re heading to winter quarters very soon. isted in Egypt until the time of Diocletian’s mone- This will give us much needed time to repair the kit tary reform was a closed system based upon the and build new equipment. Here’s a brief list of the heavily debased tetradrachm. Although the value most important job’s to be done over the winter: of these tetradrachmas can be reckoned as being equivalent in value to the denarius, their precious • Repair the officers tent and make new separat- metal content was always much lower. Clearly, not ing section all coins that circulated contained precious metals, • Make new guy wires for all tents as the value of these coins was too great to be • Paint new pattern on all Scuta convenient for everyday purchases. • Repair combat Scuta • Repair all Hamata and replace hinges on Seg- A dichotomy existed between the coins with an in- mentata trinsic value and those with only a token value. • Make new wooden equipment transport/storage This is reflected in the infrequent and inadequate box’s production of bronze coinage during the Republic, where from the time of Sulla till the time of Augus- There will be regular working week ends run over tus no bronze coins were minted at all; even during the winter so don’t be shy about helping out! the periods when bronze coins were produced, their workmanship was sometimes very crude and Teacher: Who can tell me where Hadrian's Wall is? of low quality. Pupil: I expect it's around Hadrian's garden miss!

Later, during the Roman Empire, there was a divi- Teacher: What is a forum? sion in the authority of minting coins of particular Pupil: Two-um plus two-um! metals. While numerous local authorities were al- lowed to mint bronze coins, no local authority was Teacher: How was the Roman Empire cut in half? authorized to strike silver coins. On the authority to Pupil: With a pair of Caesars! mint coins Dio Cassius writes, "None of the cities should be allowed to have its own separate coin- Estne volumen in toga, an solum tibi libet me age or a system of weights and measures; they videre? should all be required to use ours." Only Rome it- Is that a scroll in your toga, or are you just happy self struck precious metal coinage, and the mint to see me? was centralized in the city of Rome during the Re- public and during the early centuries of the Empire. O! Plus! Perge! Aio! Hui! Hem! Some Eastern provinces struck coins in silver, but Oh! More! Go on! Yes! Ooh! Ummm! these coins were local denominations that were intended to circulate and to fill only a local need. Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam. The issue of bronze coins can be interpreted to be I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will of little value, and of little importance to the central fling an enormous rock at your head. government of Rome, since expenditures of the state were large and could be more easily paid Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes with coins of high value. It is known that during the If you can read this you’re over-educated first century AD an as could only buy a pound of The newsletter of Legion Ireland - The Roman Military Society of Ireland. Page 9

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Robin Does a lot more than footwear such as woodwork and metal work so don’t hesitate to enquire!

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Roman Festivals... 27 - Festival of (Not all festivals existed at all times) end - Februalia

January 1* - KALENDS 1* - New Year's Day according to the pre-Julian - New Year's Day. Day sacred to Jupiter, , calendar and - The sacred fire in Vesta's temple was rekin- - Festival for Aesculapius dled on this day - - KALENDS - Sacrifice day for - Women's festival of - Festival for Vedovus - Birthday of Pater 5 - NONES 5 - Navigum - Festival for Vica Pota 6 - Day honoring the gods of one's household 6 - Festival day for 7 - NONES 8 - Sacred day for Justicia - Festival of Junonalia 9 - Agonalia - Festival for Vedovus 11 11 - Festival of begins - Day sacred to Hercules - Juturnalia 14 - Festival of Veturius Mamurius 12 - Festival of 15 - IDES 13 - IDES - Festival of Attis and - Day sacred to Anna Parenna and River 15 - Festival of Carmentalia ends - Feast of the Ass - was assassinated on this day 16 - Concordia honored today ("Caesar, beware the IDES of March!") 17 - A day sacred to Felicitas - Guild festival - Festival of Janus 16* - Festival of Bacchus begins 25 ~ Feriae 17* - Festival of Bacchus ends 30 - Festival of Peace - 19 - Quinquatrus - begins 1 - KALENDS 22 - Procession of the Tree-Bearers - Festival of Helernus 23* - Quinquatria ends 2 - Festival of Juno Februa - 5 - NONES - Invocation day of Mars and Saturn 9 - Feast of - Day of Mourning 24 - Dies Sanguinis 12 - A day holy to 25 - 13 - IDES - Faunalia 28 - Festival of the Sacrifice at the Tombs - begins 30 - Festival of Janus and Concordia - Orgiastic festival of Juno Februa begins 31 - Festival for Luna 14 - Orgiastic festival of Juno Februa ends - Day sacred to Juno Lupa 15* - 1 - KALENDS 17 - Quirinalia - ~ Fornacalia - Festival of Fortuna Virilis 18 - Rites of Tacita 3 - Proserpina's rise from the Underworld - Day (sunset-sunset) sacred to Bona Dea 19 - Birthday of 4 - Festival of begins 21 - Parentalia ends 5 - - NONES - Festival for Fortuna Publica 22 - Festival of 10 - Birthday of Cybele 23 - Festival of - Festival of Megalesia ends 24 - 11 - "Diana's Bread" baked today The newsletter of Legion Ireland - The Roman Military Society of Ireland. Page 12

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April Ctd... 8 - Festival for Mens 12 - Festival of begins - Day consecrated for Vesta 9 - Vestalia 13 - IDES 10 - Day consecrated for Vesta - Festival of Libertas and Jupiter Libertas - Festival of Jupiter Victor 11 - Day sacred to Fortuna Virgo 15 - Fordicalia - Rites of Matralia 19 - Festival of Cerealia ends 13 - IDES - Lesser Quinquartrus 21 - Paralia - Festival of Jupiter Fulgor - Natalis Urbis 15 - Women's festival of Vestalia 22* - Festival of Jupiter and Juno 16 - Festival of Piscatari 23 - Priora 18 - Festival for Anna 25 - Festival of 19* - Festival for Minerva 28 - Festival of begins 20 - Festival for Summanus 30 - Festival of Floralia ends 24 - Fors Fortuna end - 25 - Ludi Taurii begin May 26 - Ludi Taurii end 1 - KALENDS - Day sacred to Maia 27 - Festival of Initium Aestatis - Feast for Praestites - Festival of Jupiter Stator - Day Sacred to the Lares 3 - Women's Festival of Bona Dia - Florae 30 - Day of Aestas 7 - NONES July 9 - Festival of (day 1) 1 - KALENDS 11 - Festival of Lemuria (day 2) ? - Adonia 13 - Festival of Lemuria (day 3) 2 - Feast of Expectant Mothers 14* - Festival for Mars Invictus 4 - Day of Pax 15 - IDES 5 - - Day sacred to Maia and Vesta 6 - begin - Sacrifice day to the Tiber River - Festival for Mercury 7 - NONES 17 - Festival for Dea Dia - Nonae Caprotinae - Festival of Feriae Ancillarum 18 - Day sacred to Apollo - 21 - Festival for Vedovus 8 - Vitulatio 23 - 13 - Ludi Apollinares end - Tubilustrium 15 - IDES - Festival for 17 - Festival for 27 - Secular Centennial Games - Festival for Virtus 29 - Festival of 18 - Vitulatio - Feast of Mars 19 - Festival of Honos June 21 - 1 - KALENDS - Festival of Carna 23 - Neptunalia - Day sacred to Tempestas 25 - Festival of Furrinalia - Festival for Juno Moneta 4 - Festival for Hercules Custos 30 - Festival for Fortuna Huiusque Diei 5 - NONES August 1* - KALENDS 7 - Day of Vesta Asperit - Festival for Victoria - Feast of Spes The newsletter of Legion Ireland - The Roman Military Society of Ireland. Page 13

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August Ctd... 7* - NONES 5 - Sacrifice Day for Salus - Day sacred to Victoria - Festival for Juno Cutitis 7 - NONES - Festival for Jupiter Fulgor 8 - Festival for (sunset-sunset) 9 - Festival for Fausta Felicitas - Festival for Venus 9 - Festival for Sol 10 - Festival for Juno Moneta 12 - Lychnapsia 11 - Vinalia - Festival for Venus Victrix - - Festival for Hercules Invictus begins 12 - Day sacred to Fortuna Redux 13 - Lesser Festival of Flora - 13 - Festival of Fontinalia - Festival for Hercules Invictus ends 14 - Festival for the Penates 14 - Festival for Fortuna Equestris 15 - IDES 15 - IDES - Winter's Day - Festival of Vesta - Harvest Festival of Mars 17 - Portunalia - Ludi Capitolini - Festival of Diana 19 - 19 - Vinalia Rustica November 21 - 1 -KALENDS - Heraclia - Pomonia 23 - Festival of Vertumnalia 4 - begin - Vulcanalia 24 - Festival of Mania 5 - NONES - Festival for Luna 8 - Festival of the Mania 25 - Opiconsivia 13 - IDES 27 - Day sacred to - Festival of , Juno, Minerva, and Jupiter - - Festival for Fortuna Primigenia 28 - Festival for Luna - Epulum Iovis - Festival for Sol 17 - Ludi Plebeii end 30 - Festival of Charisteria 25 - Day sacred to Proserpina September 29 - Festival of Saturnia 1 - KALENDS December - Festival of Juno Regina - Festival of Jupiter 1 - KALENDS - Festival for 4 - begin - Festival for Pietas 5 - NONES 3 - Festival for Bona Dea - Festival for Jupiter Stator 4* - Festival for Minerva 13* - IDES - Epulum Iovis 5 - NONES - Festival of Lectisternia - Faunalia 19 - Ludi Romani end 8 - Festival for Tiberinus 26 - Festival for Venus Genetrix 10 - Festival of Lux Mundi 30 - Meditrinalia 11 - Septimontia - Festival for Diva Palatua 12 - Consualia 1 -KALENDS - Day sacred to Fides 13 - IDES - Festival of Juno Sororia - Festival for Tellus 3 - Festival of Bacchus 15 - Consualia 4 - Ieiunium Cereris 16 - Festival of Sapientia 5 - Festival of Mania 17 - Festival of Saturnalia begins 18 - Eponalia

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December Ctd... over the world, to the city of light to see us. At 19 - Opalia some places when we march past, people start ap- - Festival for Juventas plauding, they cheer for us. Our centurion orders us to stop to drink some and to give people the op- 21 - portunity to take pictures. We are standing in the ~ Bruma (the winter ) shade of the mighty coliseum. In front of us is a 22 - Day Sacred to the Lares group of Japanese tourists taking of us, one by one 23 - they stand next to us to take their shot with the coli- seum on the background. All of the sudden, our 24 - Festival of Saturnalia ends centurion shouts ‘PROCEDITE’, as one man we 25 - Dies Natalis Invicti Solis (Birthday of the Invin- step forward. cible Sun God) The Japanese still standing next and in front of us Festivals of importance to us are marked with *. jump up by this sudden movement and are unsure about where to go. One of the guys tries to walk March on Rome backwards and take a few more pictures of us, but By Hajo Witte due to uneven stones on the floor the poor man What the future has to bring to the past: falls and we close in on him fast. Quickly his wife The sun is standing high in the sky, providing helps him up and they get out of our way. We hardly any shade on the ground. You hear the march on as if nothing happened. Eventually we chattering of thousands of people, all whom have arrive back at the field of the . come for this event. The legions have returned to From here we split up again, to meet each other Rome. Suddenly high above all the noises of the again at the next event. 22-04-2012 it is our time, city a single clear tone rising. A Cornicen is letting time for us to march on Rome! the legionnaires know to move forward. As one man and with the sun in their back, they march New Scutum Design... down the ramp, towards the field of the former Cir- In Septembers newsletter we published pictures of cus Maximus. The area is crowded with people. Longinus’ combat Scuta. The Scuta bore the new Blinded by the sun they can only hear the rhythmic emblem designed by Cellan Harston and this de- footsteps of a century of roman soldiers marching sign will be applied to all the groups Scuta over the down towards the field, chanting the name of their winter. Well Longinus has outdone himself once legion. At the front of the column a veteran soldier again and painted up his curved Scutum with the marches, he is holding a golden eagle high on a new emblem and here is a picture. pole. Right behind him walks 3 rows of soldiers holding the banners of the legions and the cohorts. On the side of this impressive group of veteran sol- diers marches a Centurion, with his Sunday crest on his helmet and his entire armour polished up.

It’s hot, the sun is reflecting on his silver greaves and his armour, but this will not stop him. He is proudly leading his cohort forward, down the ramp onto the field of the Circus Maximus. Row after row of proud roman legionnaires follow the head of the column, all wearing their best looking armour. The end of the column is formed by a small group of auxiliaries with oval shields and spears, whom are followed by Syrian archers in squamata’s and Syr- ian helmets with horse plumes on top. After we arrive at our spot on the open field and had our refreshments, we prepare for the parade through Rome. We follow our eagle, with sand, dust and little stones in our sandals and the sun in our faces melting our skin. Nothing can stop us. The parade brings us deep into Rome, everywhere we look are rows of people. We see them pushing each other to get a better look at us.

Thousands of thousands of people came from all The newsletter of Legion Ireland - The Roman Military Society of Ireland. Page 15

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A Round-Up Of Pictures from 2011...

St. Patrick's Day Parade, Ballincollig.

Fort Camden.

Cork City Museum Roman Day with Deva Victrix.

Chester Roman Festival. Book Launch with John Stack.

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Craggaunowen. Cork City Goal Military Show.

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Suppliers we recommend...

The following is a list of suppliers we have bought equipment from and recommend to you*

RIGOREVALI “RIGOREVALI manufactures historical replicas and souvenirs on Hadrian's Wall, in the North of England. We specialise in Roman themed goods for both the serious historical re-enactor as well as those looking for a locally produced souvenir of their visit to Hadrian's Wall Country.” This is Robin Browns (LEG VIII MGV) company, you wont get better Roman footwear!

http://rigorevali.co.uk/

ARMAMENTARIA A huge range of roman re-enactment equipment, armour, fabrics etc. This is Adrian Wink’s (RMRS) company. Adrian will give you a genuine opinion on any item so please be sure to ask him.

www.armamentaria.com

FABRICA Run by Len Morgan who we’ve bought a lot of equipment from including most of my own equip- ment - you simply won’t find better equipment any- where else.

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/fabrica/

NICK BACKHOUSE Nick (LEG VIII MGV) makes custom Lorica Seg- mentata. We already two sets of Nick’s seg and I recommend it to all of you.

Contact me for Nick’s contact details.

HISTORY REVISITED A good range of roman re-enactment equipment, armour, fabrics etc.

www.history-revisited.com

* While we find these suppliers very professional some of they’re products may not be suitable for use with our group or period. If in doubt please ask for an opinion.

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