JULY 23 th :

                                                     Munera Gladiatoria Quarters               De Romanis Illustribus 1

MUNERA GLADIATORIA - QUARTERS.

Presented by : Q. Iulius Probus.

The first fight for tonight is Superstes vs Aequoreus.
Superstes is a secutor owned by hon. Lucius Vitellius Triarius and Aequoreus is a murmillo owned by the sweet lady Lucia Cassia Silvana..
The gladiators enter the arrena, salute the audience and take battle positions.
The fight begins. Superstes launces the attack but Aequoreus strafes left and waits another attack. Superstes attacks again with his lance and this time is more accurate but the big shield of Aequoreus spares us from a blitz fight. Seeing such defense Superstes knows that he needs to see the weak point of Aequoreus and build a defense for himself.
Aequoreus launches a long attack, his sword slashing the air several times until it meets Superstes' small Parma shield.
Showing signs of slowing down Superstes throws his lance, Aequoreus defends himself behind the shield, Superstes sees a breach in Aequoreus' defense and attacks with his celtic dagger, but he finds himself with Aequoreus holding the gladius upon his neck.
Aequoreus is the winner and Superstes is spared by the audience for showin some real courrage.

The second event is Aengus Ansgar vs Agathyrsus.
The firs is a hoplomachus owned by the same hon. Lucius Vitellius Triarius and the second is a murmillo owned by the young and beautiful Iulia Caesaris Cytheris Aege.
The gladiators enter the arena, salute the public, take battle positions and the fight begins with Ansgar attacking Agathyrsus with no mercy. Agathyrsus defends himself by blocking strafeing and after that launces his own attack showing such mobility that we have seen only at Achyles.
Ansgar points his lance at Agathyrsus but this one rolls over and with his gladius manages to make a small wound on Ansgar leg, and then he is back on his feet in no time.
Ansgar and Agathyrsus lauch attacks on each other and soon they find themselves holding the control on each other: Ansgar holds his gladius at the neck of Agathyrsus but this one is doing the same to Ansgar. It looks like we have a tie-break but the audienge declares Agathyrsus the winner because of the wound he caused to Ansgar's leg.
For such a beautiful fight Ansgar is spared.

The third fight is Hergestus vs Bastus Hergestus is a murmillo owned by hon. Publius Constantinus Placidus and Bastus is a thraex owned by hon. Titus Iulius Sabinus Crassus.
The gladiators enter the arenaand perform the ritual before the fight. The fight begins.
Hergestus attacks but his attack is a little unsecure but really brave, forceing Bastus to fall back. The attack continues but Bastus seems to get Hergestus' technique. Hergestus does not stop, launcing sparks with his sword on Bastus' shield. Bastus waits until Hergestus is weaken and launces his own attack. After some sicca hits Bastus realize that Hergestus has a very good defense that permitting him even to rest for a little time. Bastus changes the technique, letting Hergestus attack and look for the weak point. He
waits a little time while defending himself and soon he sees that when attackig Hergestus lets his shield down, and takeing advantage of this big mistake he points the sicca at Hergestus' neck. Hergestus is spared for courrage and Bastus is the winner.

The last fight for tonight is Baro vs Invictus Baro, also knon as "the Clumsy", is a hoplomachus owned by the sweet lady Gaia Aurelia Falco Silvana and Invictus is a dimachaerus owned mby the hon. Titus Iulius Sabinus Crassus.
The Fight begins with Baro lifting his helmet. Invictus takes two steps back and waits for an attack from Baro not knowing about the weird strategy of this one. Baro tries an attack
but when he tries to throw his lance this one falls down between the
fingers.
Invictus thinks that this is the moment and launches an attack that could wipe everything from the face of the earth…except Baro, who does nothing but strech his leg a little and Invictus is on the ground. What a David and Goliath scene…
Invictus gets up and tries another attack but Baro is tricking his legs and falls on his knees. Invictus lift his sword to hit but soon he feels something sharp at his neck…it his Baro's dagger. The fight is over with Baro the winner, and the crowd spares Invictus who showed much determination.

So quirites we will meet again in two days for the semifinals.

DE ROMANIS ILLUSTRIBUS I.

Presented by:  T. Artoria Marcella.

Question #1:

More legend than fact, this "one-eyed man" is mentioned by Livy and Polybius as
saving Rome from an early attacker. There is a bridge involved.

1) Who is the man?

Answer: Horatius Cocles. (Cocles means "one-eyed")

2) Who was attacking Rome?

Answer: The Etruscans.

The story of "Horatio at the bridge" exemplifies Roman heroism at its best.
Horatius stood alone on the Sublicius Bridge (per Polybius, Livy gives him two
companions), buying time for his fellow guards to to destroy the bridge behind
him. When the timbers finally fell into the Tiber, a wounded Horatius leapt into
the water and either drowned (Polybius) or swam to safety. (Livy).

Question #2:

Most of us are familiar with the success of Scipio Africanus and his defeat of
Hannibal Barca at Zama, but the road to that victory had already been paved in
an earlier battle, one of the fifteen most important battles in history. Two
Roman Consuls were involved.

!) What was the name of the battle?

Answer: The Battle of the Metaurus.

2) What was the name of the Consul who, according to some historians, made an
"unequalled" forced march the night before the battle?

Answer: Gaius Claudius Nero.

After intercepting messages from Hasdrubal Barca to his brother, Hannibal, Nero
divided his three legions into two groups, taking 6,000 infantry and 1,000
cavalry on a forced march to reinforce Consul Marcus Livius Salinator's legions
near Hasdrubal's encampment. By sending riders ahead with word of the march,
Nero's legions were well supplied with fresh draught animals and food all along
their route. Because of this, the troops were able to make the journey faster
than would have been thought possible. Deliberately arriving at night, the new
arrivals went undetected until dawn, although there are accounts of Hasdrubal
having been aware of the reinforcements after hearing trumpets calling out the
night before.

Despite Nero's actions, it was Salinator

3) How did that Consul turn the tide in battle?

Answer: By performing a brilliant and unorthodox flanking maunuver.

Up until that point, the 7,000 additional fighters were ineffective. Nero was in
command of the Roman right wing and was unable to engage the Carthaginians due
to the terrain. His solution was to again divide his men, pulling some of them
back to the rear, crossing behind the Roman forces to attack the right flank of
Hasdrubal's army.
It was in this battle that Hasdrubal lost his life.

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