JULY 28 th :
Ludi Circenses Final Certamen Historicum Daciae 4
LUDI CIRCENSES - FINAL
Presented by : A. Tullia Scholastica.
Races calculations : C. Curius Saturninus.
Nudius tertius hIc in Circo Maximo cursus paenultimos
Ludorum Victoriae in quibus currus Velociraptor Erebusque victoriam reportavere
spectavimus...oh, sorry; the heat is getting to me. I forgot that we have
barbarians here who don¹t understand our beautiful and powerful Latin
language...
The day before yesterday, we watched the semifinal races of the Ludi Victoriae
in which Velociraptor and Erebus were victorious. Today they will be joined by
Velox Puteolanus Sors and Circumtono in the final race of the Ludi Victoriae.
The crowd is buzzing again--and they aren't alone, for the cicadas are busily
engaged in similar pursuits, vying with a host of
Romans to see who can make the loudest noise. The clouds are spreading and
darkening; more than one of the spectators and participants is hoping that the
much-needed rain will hold off until they are back home. The vendors, too, are
plying their assorted trades, checking the sky now and again as they bustle
about the cavea hawking their wares. The breeze is picking up, and rain seems
imminent.
At last the four finalists emerge and lope around the track; the grooms have
wiped the dusty lather from the horses and polished the chariots up as best they
could, and the aurigae have sponged their sweat-drenched bodies and changed into
dry tunicae; the towel vendor scurries from the waiting area where he has
graciously supplied towels and some of that lemon-water to the drivers--gratis.
A good merchant knows when, where, and how to build goodwill...
The contenders lope toward the carceres, and draw their lots: Erebus takes
Capricorn, Circumtono's Turbulentus draws Virgo, Velox Puteolanus Sors gets
Aquarius, and Velociraptor obtains the unwonted Sagittarius. Spandex is none too
pleased with this turn of events; he much prefers the usual--and generally
favorable--Scorpio, but this is the luck of the draw, and he takes his place
with an air of resignation. The others have also entered the carceres with
minimal fuss; the horses are still a bit tired despite their brief rest, and
it's far too hot and humid for any unnecessary movement.
The horses and chariots are in the gate; the attendants signal that all is
well--consul Strabo fans herself with the mappa, then rises. The crowd grows
hushed as she waves the mappa for attention; she extends her arm--mappa consulis
manu decidit, et missi sunt! The mappa falls from the consul's hand, and they're
off! Velociraptor is taking it easy again, but
as was the case in the semifinals, Spandex doesn't seem to have full control
over his team; they're all over the track, now left, now right, now center--he
just can't seem to keep them in a straight line--or is it a trick to confuse the
others? Circumtono, on the other hand, is off to a fast start--maybe one that's
too fast. The two remaining chariots, Erebus and Velox Puteolanus Sors, are
maintaining a more moderate pace as they complete the first lap. Spandex'
erratic behavior has disconcerted the others as he wandered from one lane to
another, but there may well be method in this seeming madness. Velociraptor is
now between Velox Puteolanus Sors and Erebus, and is crowding the former; the
Vandal is trying to force it into the wall. Felix Celeris, however, is as lucky
and as swift as his name (though its Latin leaves something to be desired;
Celeris is feminine, or a barbarian patronymic, not masculine; the masculine is
Celer), and slips away in a burst of speed, then slacks off to conserve the
horses. Poncianus in Erebus has, of course, seen this maneuver, and is beginning
to understand that Spandex' apparent drunken driving is a trick, and knows what
he is going to do if Spandex tries that on him...
Circumtono is continuing at a blistering pace, more than half a lap ahead of the
others, who hope that Turbulentus' team will peak too early (as seems all too
likely) and fall out of contention from exhaustion. Already the horses and their
drivers are washed with rivers of sweat; no one can keep up such a pace very
long. Velociraptor has eased back a bit, while
Erebus and Velox Puteolanus Sors are trading places, neck and neck. Spandex
seems to be biding his time for the moment at least; the chariots are entering
the third lap, and needn't rush just yet. Circumtono is indeed starting to fall
back, and the others are more closely bunched as they head into the far turn.
Velociraptor seems to be making a move toward the front of the pack, but only on
the straightaways; Ignis, Dens, Raptor, and Velox are taking the turns at a
lazy, leisurely pace, though they're on the inside lane, thus forcing the others
to swing wide and lose time as well as equine energy, for Spandex is
well-schooled in his craft, and this is part of his plan.
The dolphin is turned for the fourth lap, and things are getting more serious
now. The whips come out, plying over the horses' backs--but not only there, for
Poncianus of Erebus has seen fit to aim his blows not only at the horses, but
also at the nearby charioteers. First he catches Spandex unawares as he was
looking off to the opposite side, then he takes a swipe
at Felix Celeris of Velox Puteolanus Sors. Spandex surreptitiously draws a
package from his belt--and hurls some of the contents at Poncianus, who pulls up
as his eyes and throat are burning and his nose pouring from the extra-hot
pepper with which Spandex has repaid him. Felix Celeris, on the other hand, has
absorbed the blow with little in the way of ill effects
(perhaps he even enjoyed it...), and is rapidly closing on Circumtono, still
barely in the lead. Turbulentus' horses are obviously tiring from the furious
pace at which they have been running as well as from the weather; moreover,
there's an ominous sound coming from the chariot itself, though perhaps the roar
of the crowd is making it difficult for Turbulentus to hear it. They round the
turn, again with Velociraptor on the inside, forcing the rest to circle him--and
as Circumtono curves round the meta, it swings far too wide, and hits the wall;
the axle had broken and the chariot did indeed thunder all around as it broke in
pieces. The funalis, too, has taken quite a hit, and will need veterinary
attention; Turbulentus is a bit dazed, but should recover in a few weeks. The
other chariots dodge the débris; as soon as they have passed, the attendants
rush to calm the horses and get them and the wreckage off the track before the
next lap. The dolphin is turned, and the three surviving chariots are in the
home stretch, vying for first place.
Poncianus and his team are still feeling the effects of the pepper, however, and
are forced to drop back; now the race is between Velociraptor and Velox
Puteolanus Sors. They gallop around the track at breakneck speed; it's the last
lap, and all hopes rest on their strength, skill, speed, and endurance.
The crowd is wild with excitement; the horses foaming with lather, and the
drivers' once-fresh tunicae are wet and dusty. The sky has been darkening, and a
few drops splash hither and yon as the chariots dash toward the finish line;
Velox Puteolanus Sors and Velociraptor have been trading places as they gallop
side by side and nose to nose as they approach the goal. As they cross the
finish line, Velox Puteolanus Sors is ahead by a nose, but Velociraptor might
well have caught up had the course been slightly longer.
Erebus is a somewhat distant third.
The spectators hurriedly exit via the vomitoria, for the drops are coming more
quickly now; much as rain is needed, they would prefer for it to
wait until they are home. There's thunder in the distance...and the audience is
almost equalling the charioteers' speed in leaving the Circus.
Let's hope they all make it home safely.
Well, that's it for today, everyone; we hope you've enjoyed these thrilling
races in the beautiful Circus Maximus, and are looking forward to seeing you
here at the Ludi Romani in September.
CERTAMEN HISTORICUM DACIAE IV.
Presented by : T.Iulius Sabinus
After the conquest Dacia was transformed in a Roman
province. The
spirit of the conquerors, backed by the diligence of the local
population, proved very profitable for the country: Dacia reached a
high level of material and spiritual culture.
a) How many days Trajan celebrated his victory against dacians ?
ANSWER : 123 days.
b) Which it was the capital of the new province ?
ANSWER : Colonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica
Sarmizegethusa.
c) What monument was erected in Rome to celebrate the victory and in
what year ?
ANSWER : Trajan's Column, 113 AD.
d) Which important roman legion was garrisoned at Apulum ?
ANSWER : Legio XIII Gemina.
e) Which Roman Emperor minted the first coin with " Dacia Felix "
legend ?
ANSWER : Trajan Decius.
f) How long Dacia was a roman province ?
ANSWER : 165 years.
