JULY 29 th :

                                                     Cultural Award               De Romanis Illustribus 4

LUDI VICTORIAE 2759 a. U. c. CULTURAL AWARD

Presented by : Iulia Iulia Caesaris Cytheris Aege.

" CARRIED FORWARD "

By :  C. Aurelia Falco Silvana.

Four young slaves filed in bearing food. Two boys, two girls, all of the same family. This was not their first attendance, but they were still a little awestruck.
The eldest of the ones they were serving raised his head, caught the blue eyes of the youngest child peeking from under tangled golden curls. He nodded deeply, telling her wordlessly to approach. At the flash of joy in her eyes, he smiled broadly, exposing strong teeth that were just beginning to show yellow.
Behind her, the oldest boy blurted, "We are so proud to serve you!" Abruptly he flushed red, tucked his head as if caught being foolish.
The elder sister whispered, "It's alright, Gerd. They understand our language, and they are kind."
The four diners exchanged glances. The gray-haired one indicated the empty drink containers.
"Yes, immediately!" Gerd signaled his siblings. Little Mina's eyes were glued to the one she served, to the long scar down his neck, disappearing over his shoulder.
"Stay, littlest one. We will talk."
Mina jumped, not sure she believed her ears.
The speaker shifted right, ensuring a space for the girl. When Gerd nodded, she grinned hugely, then settled on the floor as the other children went to fetch drinks.
The diners bent to their meals. The scarred one looked thoughtfully over at Mina, chewing slowly, swallowed.
"What do you wish to ask?"
"Only about your lives . . . and I am sorry, I cannot say long Roman names."
"You may call me Scar."
The eldest with the ready grin nodded, "Felix," and tossed hair from his eyes. "Fortis" was solid muscle. "Ingens" had eyes that smoldered like coals about to burst into flame.
Mina hugged herself in wonder.
Scar continued.
"The battles are carved forever into each of us, even those who have no scars. By thousands we raced into the field—terror and ecstasy, deafening roars and total silence, all in one instant."
"You see, little one," Fortis rumbled into the conversation, "in battle we must face terror squarely, yet we know it makes us most alive. In the most violent noise, we must find silence within, to hear the Gods and heed them."
Mina blinked.
"Fortis, she is young for such deep thoughts."
"And you, Ingens . . . ?"
The smoldering eyes sparkled. "Are you brave, Mina?"
"In. . .Ingens, sir, I don't know."
"Have you ever been afraid?"
"Yes, very – after father's last race." She paled, remembering.
"Did you cry? Weep and moan? Close your eyes? Run away?" Mina took a long, deep breath, stared at her crossed ankles, whispered, "No . . ."
"What did you do?"
"I helped mother and sister Greta cut off his clothes. We washed away the blood. I cut sinew for mother, and she made me watch how to sew up a head wound."
"How did you feel?"
"I felt sick, but I helped and I did not cry."
"And afterward?"
"I felt very proud."
"And your mother?"
"She was very calm, very quiet. Sometimes her hands shook, but . . . it was like she passed strength to Papa."
Felix tossed his unruly hair back once more.
"A race, a battle—they are the same, small one. For a time it is all glory and noise and masses of people, horses galloping til their hearts near bursting. But the crash of men and horses, the terror— it must come, yet you know this is your path, and you carry your fear and strength and pride in your one heart. Because you carry inside you a spark of the Gods, a bit of divinity, We all do, even those we must kill."
Scar picked at his food. "You say . . . Gerd says . . . we are glorious. But glory is like a great olive tree. Where to trees grow,small one?"
Blue eyes blinked solemnly.
"In the earth?"
"And so for glory. It grows only in the good earth of courage, and bears fruit for others. At the heart of the olive tree, making it tall and enduring, is the dignity we carry, each inside our own being. Dignitas is inside, personal, like heartwood." Fortis huffed. "You call me a philosopher!" He leaned closer to the solemn-faced girl.
"Think of your adopted father's last race . . . glory?"
"Mother says all the owners still talk about him – they say he did the impossible, even if he crashed afterwards . . and you all—"
Ingens cut her off.
"So glory is not always about winning, eh? Now think about courage — when you held terror, strength and pride in your one small heart."
"So it was courage to help mother and Greta . . . "
"Well, `courageous' . . . "
" . . . even if I felt sick because of the blood, and terrified of
Mama sewing Papa's flesh?"
"You do understand, small one."
Fortis rumbled, "Now think of your mother. What did you feel, watching her?"
"It was like there was something inside her, holding her up, making her calm and strong . . . making Papa strong . . .and me—"
"That, small one, is Dignitas – the heartwood inside us that grows out of courage, It makes us straight and tall, as you shall one day be. Glory without Dignitas is a small and twisted thing."
The outer door creaked. The three older children staggered in, each burdened by a large bucket of water. The fourth bucket swung from Papa's hand.
Only the munching of the horses broke the silence of the sunlit stable. Dust motes turned in a shaft of sunlight. After a time, he put his bucket down for one of the horses, and the children followed suit.
"You carry your mother's blood, not mine, but I think you hear them, as I do . . . " Spandex gently swept the tiny girl into his arms."Horses are very wise, you know, " he said, to every one of them.

____________________________________


" RECOLLECTIONS FROM SAGUNTUM "

By :  Lucius Vitellius Triarius.

Introduction

This dialogue is set in the city of Saguntum in Provincia Hispania Tarraconensis during the mid-1st Century CE. Spurius Mercurius Pilatus, a recent veteran and Optio of Legio IV Macedonia, sees his old friend and former Centurio, Marcus Capenius Seneca, now a private civis and member of the local decurio, sitting on the steps of the Forum in Saguntum. He stops to speak with him about the future of the Republic and reflect on the successes of the past.


The Dialogue


PILATUS: Salve, old friend!

SENECA: How are things since you left the Legio?

PILATUS: Much quieter...and more peaceful now. The Pax Pilatus I think they call it. (both laugh)

SENECA: The Army is a funny thing, isn't it?

PILATUS: How so?

SENECA: The Republic has accomplished so many things, yet, one can look at the Army and wonder how.

PILATUS: Yes, organization was a problem. Being seldom at our recommended strengths, it was often difficult to manage tasks. With attrition, detachments being away from the Legio, the wild fluctuations in attached auxilii, it is amazing that anything was accomplished.

SENECA: Patientia et Providentia, old friend.

PILATUS: And Spes, let us not forget Spes!

SENECA: Let us not forget Virtus as well, my friend. We must educate youth in the ways of courage, so they may advance our Republic through the coming ages.

PILATUS: Yes, courage in many ways. Courage as we used with the Gauls, Germans and Cathaginians. Courage to use more flexible tactics than usually allowed...to be inherently flexible and highly adaptable to different battlefield conditions and styles of warfare.

SENECA: One must attack at the earliest convenience, even against a supreme force and often after an apparent tactical defeat.

PILATUS: So what is it that makes a Roman more likely to make that heroic plunge into the ranks of the enemy?

SENECA: Great tasks.

PILATUS: Great tasks are most often completed through the efforts of great leaders, are they not, counselor?

SENECA: True, very true. But it is important to understand that great leaders are not always Consuls and Generals, and each battle is a collection of smaller, different styled battles.

PILATUS: Agreed.

SENECA: In every battle there are three battles. First, the General's battle, involving the trials and tribulations one must overcome when placed in such a responsible, demanding and
unforgiving position. Second, the unit's battle with requirements for success being outlined by a superior dictate, which may not be the best option for the unit's fate, depending upon the severity of battle and chaotic nature of warfare.

PILATUS: And lastly?

SENECA: The most important of all, the soldier's battle. The soldier must obey the commands and follow the guidance of his leader, yet, must also maintain and survive. Many times, this is against all odds and can only be explained as the will of the Gods. Most often, the successes of our Legiones have been primarily through the individual actions of soldiers working in harmony with the predetermined goals of their leaders.

PILATUS: Battles are frequently turned on the actions of individual soldiers or small groups of men, but what leads these peoples to seize the advantage of a minor breach in the enemy's front line and quickly turn an indecisive confrontation into a successful rout?

SENECA: First, a good commander. One with the good senses of Gravitas, Severitas, Industria and Clementia. In the Battle of Mons Algidus, Cincinnatus turned a Roman defeat into an important victory. The Aequi, who had besieged the Romans under Minucius, were themselves besieged by the forces of Cincinnatus. Cincinnatus ordered his men, who had marched and worked for an entire day without rest, to attack the Aequi. The Aequi, unable to sustain a double attack, surrendered. Cincinnatus let them go, then resigned
as Dictator after serving only sixteen days.

PILATUS: There is no doubt that the actions of Cincinnatus and other leaders spurred our forces on to greater achievements, but there is more, is there not?

SENECA: Yes, it is that which makes Romans different than many other peoples. It is what has allowed our Republic's military ventures to expand into the Romanisation of many regiones from barbaric to civilised. It is what our soldiers have carried from the Legiones into their daily lives as cives of the Republic.

PILATUS: And that is?

SENECA: Fear, shame, coercion, boldness...all inspired and encouraged by good commanders, but most of all morale...good morale. Most often, our battles have been won by the projection of superior confidence and high spirits of the Legiones.

PILATUS: The decision to turn and run indicates the dissolution of confidence and represents the actual moment of tactical victory.

SENECA: True, just as in the Battle of Lake Regillus with the Latins and Etruscans. Postumius pressed on, eventually sending his personal bodyguard into battle. The Latins turned to retreat, and at that moment, Postumius was assured his triumphal return to Rome.

PILATUS: One must also remember the Battle of Zela. When Caesar defeated Pharnaces, he exclaimed, "Veni, vidi, vici!" This display of Firmitas over his adversaries seemed to guide his successes.

SENECA: One should always be able to say "veni, vidi, vici" when striving to further the advancement of the Republic. Many have stood in glorious awe and wonder after a campaign when looking at the final results. The journeys have been long, hard and trying, but they have accomplished many great tasks for our future generations.

PILATUS: These hard tasks have Romanised the barbarians and led to a great Pax. A large collection of Pax Pilatii throughout the Republic. (both laugh)

SENECA: Yes, by improving roads, we have improved communications and trade. With aqueducts we have improved sanitation and agriculture through irrigation. With replacement of tribal customs, we have instituted public order and improved the quality of life through rights and laws for all of our expanded citizenry.

PILATUS: All through the efforts of many unknown legionairii, working together in harmony throughout the Republic.

SENECA: Recently, I traveled to Tarraco. Walking along the wharves, I noticed many fishing boats with their nets hoisted. I observed how they blended together, appearing as one solid net down the entire length of the docks. One large net, worked by many fishermen at the same time. In a vision, I could see that one day we will, through some miracle or at least help from the Gods, be able to work with each other in different parts of the Republic at the same time, discuss problems together from afar, develop public works projects and enjoy victories. Everyone working together like the intertwined ropes of the fishermen's net.

PILATUS: This seems greatly impossible, but think of spreading the Virtues along the Via Romana simultaneously. What great things could be accomplished via this internetworking.

DE ROMANIS ILLUSTRIBUS 4.

Question #7

As Octavian sought to destroy Marcus Antonius and Lepidus, he brought back his
friend--General Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa--from Gaul. Agrippa was an excellent
military commander and a brilliant engineer. Some of his major engineering
contributions involved water, including building and repairing acquaducts,
baths, ships, and cleaning and enlarging Rome's sewer system--the Cloaca Maxima.

a) Why did Agrippa join two lakes together and what were the lakes called?

To create a safe harbor--one that was large enough allow the training of the
fleet. The two lakes were the Avernus and the Lucrinus and they were connected
via a canal, with the latter also connected to the sea.

b) What new weapon did he design for use in naval warfare?

The Harpax--a catapult fired harpoon with an attached rope, meant to be fired
into allowing the two to be drawn close enough to permit boarding.

c) Lost to history, Agrippa had a map made that became world famous--where was
it kept in Rome?

Agrippa's world map was installed in the Porticus Vipsania--the colonnade built
after his death by his sister, Polla.

Question #8

Although not the last rebellion against Rome to occur in Britain, Boudicca's
Revolt is the most famous. It fell to Gaius Suetonius Paulinus to put an end
the Iceni attacks.

a) Who did Suetonius wish to be compared to?

Answer: Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, another great military stategist.

b) Which legions were involved and which Roman officer, as a result of the
revolt, took his own life and where had he been stationed (Latin name)?

Answer: Legio IX Hispana--under the command of Petilius Cerialis, the legion was
ambushed by Boudicca and nearly destroyed, with only Cerialis and the cavalry
managing to escape.

The Legio XIV Gemina and detachments from Legio XX fought in the final battle
with Bouddica.

Legio II Augusta was stationed at Isca Dumnoniorum under the command of Poenius
Postumus and was called on to join Suetonius near Verulamium. For reasons
unknown, he did not obey the order and, learning of the Roman victory, fell on
his sword.

Note: Isca Dumnoniorum is modern day Exeter, but I specified the Roman name, so
Exeter is incorrect. As is "Isca" alone, as the II AVG was later stationed at
Isca Silurum.

c) What omen took place in Camulodunum that cheered the local Britons?

Answer: The statue of Victory inexplicably fell forward--her back to the approaching
enemy.

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