JULY 25 th :
Munera Gladiatoria Semifinals De Romanis Illustribus 2
MUNERA GLADIATORIA - SEMIFINALS
Presented by : Q. Iulius Probus.
Tonight is the show presented to you as the Munera
Gladiatoria Semifinals.
First fight… Aeguoreus vs Bastus.
As I was mentioning to you Aequoreus is a murmillo owned by the sweet lady Lucia
Cassia Silvana and Bastus is a thraex owned by hon . Titus Iulius Sabinus
Crassus
The gladiators salute each other and the fight begins. Aequoreus starts with an
attack agasinst Bastus but this one knows what the concept of defense really
means. After that Bastus starts his attack. Aequoreus defends himself behind his
shield. After a change of hits Aequoreus decides to start another attack, but
this one is also without a favourable result.
Bastus starts his attack like a hurricane and soon Aequoreus finds himself in
the possibility of any reply to this attack. With his last strenghts he mannages
to start another offensive against Bastus but thi one rolls on one footand
points the sword against Aequoreus' neck. The fight is over and the people
spares Aequoreus for determination and courrage.
The second fight is Agathyrus vs Baro "the Clumsy" Agathyrsus is a murmillo
owned by the young and beautiful Iulia Caesaris Cytheris Aege, and Baro is a
hoplomachus owned by the charming Gaia Aurelia Falco Silvana.
The fight begins. Baro, as usualy, drops his lance and tries to find the weak
point of Agathyrsus. This One tries to focus on the battle more and on schemes
performed by Baro less.
Baro manages to taka again this lance, tricks his feet, lift his helmet from his
face and start another attack on Agathyrsus.
Agathyrsus defends himself and start a very small attack just to determine Baro
to get out from his defensive position.
Baro again drops his lance on porpouse but this time Agathyrsus is prepared,
steps on Baro's lance, and place his weapon upon Baro's neck.
It seems that this Time the strategy that made Baro win so manny games is the
one that made him loose tonight. Agathyrsus is the winner and because of the
popularity Baro is spared.
Everyone is going home now meditating about the last fight that was very
unusual.
DE ROMANIS ILLUSTRIBUS 2.
Presented by : T. Artoria Marcella.
Question #3
Perhaps Gaius Iulius Caesar's greatest military victory, the siege of Alesia
brought Vercingetorix to his knees and allowed Caesar to finally conquer Gaul.
a) What two siege warfare tactics (Latin names) were employed by Caesar at
Alesia?
Circumvallation and contravallation.
b) On the day before Alesia fell, which two of Caesar's officers saved the day
and what other famous event do they both have a connection to?
Gaius Trebonius and Marcus Antonius. Years later, on the Ides of March,
Trebonius called Antony aside on a pretext, keeping him from Caesar's side
during the assassination.
c) What daring eleventh-hour tactic did Caesar employ to inspire his men and
achieve victory?
He took thirteen cohorts (6,000 men) and rode outside the safety of the wall and
attacked the 60,000 strong Gallic relief force from behind.
Question #4
Perhaps best known for his philosophical writings, Marcus Aurelius also spent a
great deal of his time on the battlefield. During the First Marcomanni War he
won a battle on the Ister river without the use of boats.
a) Who was he fighting?
The Iazyges.
b) How was he able to win?
The Ister (Danube) was frozen over (hence, the lack of boats) and the Roman
infantry followed the Iazyes out onto the ice. The Iazyges turned to fight,
believing that they had the advantage in such conditions.
Cassius Dio (book 72) relates that many of the Romans grounded their shields and
stood with one foot upon them in order to gain purchase on the ice, waiting
patiently until the horsemen were upon them and, grabbing bridles, shields, and
spears, pulled the riders down to the ice. The lightly clad Sarmatians were no
match for the legionaries in a ground fight.
c) After the victory the enemy sued for peace. What were the terms of surrender
Marcus Aurelius dictated?
King Zanticus of the Iazyges agreed that the tribe would live no closer than ten
miles on the far side of the Ister, return a hundred thousand prisoners, and he
would contribute eight thousand heavy cavalry to the Roman Army. Marcus
Aurelius was later given the name "Sarmaticus."
