ROMA Citizens Blog

Paganalia Festival Schedule

2012-01-26T21:51:00.000-08:00

Saturday 28 January

12pm noon - Roman Paganalia Ritual
In celebration of Paganalia, the Roman festival of sowing, we will be performing a ritual to honour Ceres (the goddess of agriculture) and Tellus (Mother Earth). Come join us in celebrating the beginning of the Paganalia!
Location: Capitoline Temple, ROMA Foum, ROMA sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/28/203/79

1pm - ROMA PLAY: Proserpina
At 1pm will be a theatrical event based on the myth of Ceres. It is written and performed by ROMA Citizens and will take place in the Theater of Dionysus. Come join us for a very special event in celebration of the Paganalia.
Location: Theater of Dionysus, ROMA sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/26/184/64

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Sunday 29 January

12pm - Cloaca Croc Race
You may have explored ROMA's Cloaca Maxima before, but have you ever raced through it on the back of a crocodile? Well now you can! Our Cloaca Croc Race will be a timed race, with the 3 best times winning a cash prize. Can you navigate your croc through to victory before the competition? Join the race and find out!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/60/35/45

1pm - ROMA Curiate Assembly
The conclusion of ROMA's Paganalia Festival will be a Curiate Assembly open to all citizens.
Location: Curia, ROMA sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/113/219/83

ROMA Copybotted (UPDATED x2)

2011-12-30T17:54:00.001-08:00

It has finally happened. ROMA has been copybotted on a large scale.

In spring of 2010 Torin Golding, the owner of ROMA (SPQR) in Second Life, and several members of the ROMA community spent months building a reconstruction of the ancient Roman fort of Binchester in Second Life. The reconstruction (slurl to ROMA Vinovium) is an academic partnership with the Binchester Archaeological Project run by Stanford University in the US and Durham University in the UK.

It came to light today that last month (November 2011) at least two avatars came to ROMA and copybotted almost the entire build in ROMA Vinovium. They extracted this stolen content to another online grid, Inworldz. Several ROMA Citizens discovered the stolen content in Inworldz, along with other items illegally copied from other citizens including Achille Back, Tonina Rodenberger, Alekso Minotaur, Popea Heron, and Lef Leven.

The avatars whose name is on the stolen content- Ronja Abrahams and Chaja Abrahams- have been banned from the entire ROMA estate along with other names we have been able to link to those accounts between Second Life and Inworldz. We are also working to file official reports.

You can find pictorial details on the stolen content at this Flickr album.

The owners of the copybotted material, along with another avatar named Chantale Anatine, have begun a land and group in Inworldz called "Roma SPQR". Along with the stolen content this suggests that they are attempting to impersonate and mimic the Second Life estate of ROMA (SPQR), which has been in existence since 2006, in the new online grid of Inworldz.

It is a shame when people without scruples rip off hard working content creators, and attempt to exploit others' good name for their own selfish ends. We hope that the managers of Inworldz will take action and remove this stolen content (and these individuals) from a growing online world.

**UPDATED 3 JANUARY**
More copybotted content in Inworldz has been found, also owned and listed as 'created' by Ronja Abrahams and Chaja Abrahams. Some of the newest round of copybotted items can be seen from this point on in this flickr album. This includes a familiar sign that clearly states some of the content was build by Tonina Rodenberger, peter Woody and Achille Back, not by Chaja Abrahams which the Inworldz inspect window lists.

Additionally other members of our ROMA family have been copybotted by these individuals in Inworldz. One of the hardest hit was Ars Avete owned by Popea Heron and Lef Leven. The details of the items they had copybotted (with side by side photos) can be found in this flickr album.

DMCA reports have been filed and we hope the Inworldz authorities will act on them swiftly.

**UPDATED 4 JANUARY**
As of today it looks like all of the offending content has been removed from Inworldz.

No items owned by Chaja Abrahams or Ronja Abrahams are left on the properties. The "Ancient Rome" sim has been reclaimed by a land baron (who interestingly is also in the "Ancient Rome" group started by Ronja and the suspiciously named "Roma SPQR" group started by Chantale Anatine)
Torin, Popea, and Tonina are banned from the "Ancient Rome" sim (the only three people on the ban list).
Chantale Anatine still owns the suspiciously named "Roma SPQR" sim to the north. No copied content was found here but she did seem to be at least partners with the copybotters.
The ancient Roman builds Chantale Anatine (Ancient Pompeii) and Ronja Abrahams (Ancient Herculaeum) owned in SL are gone, although the groups still remain in SL search.
Ronja Abrahams and Chaja Abrahams still show up in the Inworldz search.

Hopefully this looks like the matter has been taken care of. We would like to publicly thank the Inworldz management team (including the individual who helped us personally and kept us informed of developments) for diligently working very hard to solve this issue. Thank you very much for your time. It was appreciated.

-Torin Golding

October and ROMA @ V Festival Schedule

2011-10-14T13:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday 15th October :

10am - ROMA @ V Armilustrium Ritual
Armilustrium honours the god of war, Mars - In His honour, Romans put away the weapons of war for the year, until warmer weather allowed for more lengthy campaigns. Join us and the Legion in celebrating this breif time of peace. Following the Armilustrium rite, we'll have a small party celebration in Fort Augusta.
Location: ROMA Sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/72/56/33

12pm - ROMA @ V Horse Relay Race
-October is the month of the horse and to honour our 4-legged friends & companions, ROMAns will form teams of two to relay race across the sims for a breathtaking race to the finish! There will a cash prize for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place!
Location: ROMA Vinovium sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Vinovium/243/144/46

2pm - ROMA @ V ROMA Reminisces
After the long run across ROMA, we meet in the Baths of Caracalla to wash off the dust of the horse race and recall the past V years. ROMA has grown and blossomed into a welcoming community of friends, gifted artisans, scholars, and multi-faceted groups. Join us as we take time to remember the best of our growing years!
Location: ROMA sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/154/48/27

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Sunday 16th October :

10 - ROMA @ V Lemuria Ritual
In Roman religion, the Lemuralia or Lemuria was a feast during which the ancient Romans performed rites to exorcise the malevolent and fearful ghosts of the dead from their homes. Though traditionally held in May, ROMA has moved this festival to coincide with the more modern celebration of Hallow'een, another day of ghouls and ghastlies. Our Lemuralia ritual will banish any malevolent spirits, both real & imagined, while welcoming the protective spirits of the Lares and beneficent ancestors.
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/144/82/303

11:30am - "Torin - This is your SL!" Banquet
Stick around for this raucous banquet & party honoring our very own Consul and founding father, Torin. One never knows who may arrive from the past........
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/130/120/811

1pm - ROMA @ V Legio Triumph
The pomp and majesty of a miltary parade will be demonstrated by our very own ROMAn Legion as they honour our emperor and five glorious years of ROMA!
Location: ROMA sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/89/133/45

3pm - ROMA Hallow'een Grand Feast
Ghouls and goblins, witches and forest spirits are all invited to the final Grand Feast! Join your neighbours, guests and friends for this Hallow'een feast, dance and a trivia game by our Host with the Most, Mickey James!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/182/104/22

September Festival Schedule

2011-09-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

Ludi Romani Schedule, 2011

Saturday, 24th September

*10am - Roman Ritual for Jupiter Optimus Maximus @ Jupiter's Temple,
ROMA

A ritual to honour the King of the Gods, Jupiter Optimus Maximus, followed
by a light social gathering with dancing and feasting. Come join us in
celebrating the beginning of the Ludi Romani!

*12pm - Ludi Romani Dog Races @ the Circus Maximus Hippodrome, ROMA

A traditional part of the ancient Ludi Romani were chariot races - but this Ludi Romani, we will be shaking things up a little! This year, we will be having dog races! The dogs are actually vehicles, and will be "driven" by each racer. Come race against other Citizens for prizes (anyone can sign up to race), or come watch the spectacle and cheer on the racers. There will be 3 races of 5 laps each, and 1st place in each race wins a prize!

*1pm - Ludi Romani Gladiatorial Games @ the Ostia Ludus, ROMA
Transtiberim

Witness our brave gladiators fight for the honour of Jupiter and the glory of
ROMA in several bouts to the "death"! The gladiator with the most bouts won will receive a cash purse and be granted a laurel wreath of victory by the Prefect himself! Come watch the bloody battles and cheer your favourite on to glory!

Sunday, 25th September

10am - Ludi Romani Carnivale in Fort Augustus, ROMA

Come have fun at our Ludi Romani Carnivale! There are sporting games to
play and free food! An important part of any ludi are the games, and Ludi
Romani means "The Roman Games". Games include En Garde, boxing,
archery, and wrestling. There will be official sporting rounds, where prizes can be won, and a casual round, where everyone can play for fun!

*12pm - Ludi Romani Fishing Contest @ 7Seas Fishing Dock, ROMA
Transtiberim

Come try your luck in the Ludi Romani Fishing Contest - using the 7Seas
Fishing system. First, second, and third place winners will get a cash prize, and everyone will be able to keep the neat things they pull out of the water.

*1pm - Ludi Romani Legio Soccer Match @ Legio Fort, ROMA Transtiberim

Come join us as our Legio faces off in a game of Harpastum in honour of the Ludi Romani! For this game, you'll see the contestants display considerable speed, agility, and physical ability. All citizens are invited to participate in the game or watch from the sidelines!

*3pm - Ludi Romani Grand Feast @ Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim

The final event of the Ludi Romani is the Grand Feast - there will be dancing,
feasting, and good company, as well as live music by Joaquin Gustav, and trivia hosted by Enamabala Towradgi. So please join us in bidding farewell to the Ludi Romani until next year!

August Festivals Schedule

2011-08-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

Nemoralia, Vinalia, & Vulcanalia

Saturday 20th August

10am - Nemoralia Ritual @ Diana's shrine in Transtiberim
This month's festivals begin with a ritual for Diana & Trivia (Hecate, to you Greeks) honouring these Goddesses of the wild and the darkness. Please join us in celebrating the wild side of life, the natural world, and the mysteries of existence!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/60/30/45)

10:30am - Nemoralia Chariot Races
In honour of Diana , we will be having a chariot race at the Hippodrome. Each contestant will race 5 laps, with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places winning prizes! All are welcome to participate, chariot experience not required!
Location: Chariot racing stadium, ROMA Subura sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/5/126/36)

12pm (Noon) - Diana's Animal Hunt
Diana has scattered images of her beloved animal friends across ROMA for Her faithful worshippers to find! Come join us in seeking the plushie pets! The hunt will take place across 2 sims: ROMA and ROMA Transtiberim. There will be 10 animals to find and collect, and prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place!
Location: ROMA plaza, ROMA sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22)

2pm - Vinalia Rustica Wine Celebration
The ancient Vinalia Rustica was a celebration of the grape and the fruits of the Earth - during this festival, the alcoholic consumption was intense and Roman women were supervised and given less alcoholic drinks to prevent them from public drunkenness. But never fear - ROMA never waters down it's drinks! So drink and dance with us as we praise the gifts of the grape!
Location: Campus Martius, ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/180/104/22)

Sunday 21st August

10am - Vulcanalia Ritual
Our second day of festivals begins with a ritual to honour Vulcan, the God of the Forge, and asking His blessing on all our crafts. Since He was also the God of Volcanos and fire, we will have a building contest in His honour, with the theme of Metalcraft!
Location: ROMA Subura sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/226/140/24)

10:20am - Vulcan's Build Contest
Since Vulcan was the God of the Forge and Smithcraft, we are holding a build contest in His honour! The theme is Metalcraft, and you can create anything which fits within that limit: weapons, silver tea service, jewelry, even artistic works reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower! All contestants will have 1 hour to build, and all are welcome, regardless of building skill-level!
Location: ROMA Subura sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/226/140/24)

3pm - Moonlight and Firelight Grand Feast in Transtiberim
Our festivals wind down with the Grand Feast in honour of Diana, Trivia, and Vulcan - come dance with us in Vulcan's Forge, as the flames flare into the night! There will be live music by Zak Claxton & dancing, as well as trivia by our own Mickey James (with monetary prizes for the winners)!
Location: Campus Martius, ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/180/104/22)

Sneak Preview: The ROMA Cursus Honorum

2011-06-21T14:24:00.001-07:00

You can now find a special sneak preview of a new program we will be bringing to ROMA in the near future. Introducing the ROMA Cursus Honourm. Essentially, the Cursus provides several things:

A structured way for you to get involved in the life and activity of the estate
A way to find out what needs doing and how you can help out
An easy way to identify how the management roles in ROMA relate to each other

You can see the current state of the Cursus Honorum at this direct link: http://romacitizens.com/cursus.html . We are currently finalizing its structure and preparing all of the free items and clothing that every member of the Cursus will receive. Expect it to go fully live by the end of the summer, and the first open positions to receive candidates at the next Curiate Assembly.

If you look at Torin's profile, you can see one use for the specialized icons of the Cursus.

We've started a discussion thread at our messageboard. You can find it here: http://romacitizens.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=313

Stay tuned for more information about this exciting new development at ROMA!

Spring Festival Schedule

2011-04-22T03:29:00.000-07:00

(Please note this month's festivals are Friday and Saturday)

Friday 22 April:

1pm - Roman Love Poetry Through the Ages
In a special Scholastica event to kick off our festival, Zelda Walpole will be giving a lecture on the poets and poetry of Ancient Rome, focusing on the romantic works. If you ever wondered how the Romans gave voice to their expressions of love, join us and discover the real Classical Romance!
Location: Gardens of Maecenas, ROMA Sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/146/160/54

2pm - Veneralia Ritual/Ask Venus
Our festivals begin with a ritual for Venus Verticordia, "The Changer of Hearts" - to petition Venus for support and aid in one's lovelife. After the rite, you'll get a change to ask all your love questions of Venus Herself! Our Alluring Goddess is flirtatious and coy, but She will guide you down the path to True Love (or at least an amusing side-trail)!
Location: Baths of Caracalla, ROMA Sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/154/48/27

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Saturday 23 April

10am - Cerealia Ritual & Corn Maze
The Cerealia is the Roman festival honouring the Goddess Ceres - she who holds sway over the fruitfulness of the Earth entire, and without whom Flora's efforts would be in vain. In keeping with this ancient tradition, we will be having a ritual in Ceres' honour, followed by a challenging Corn Maze. The first, second, and third to find their way through the maze from the entrance to the exit will win prizes - but you must find Proserpina and retrieve Her token before you can exit! Can you beat the Labyrinth in time? Come find out!
Location: Binchester Vicus, ROMA Vicus sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Vicus/75/162/55

12pm - Floralia Ritual & Flower Building Contest
Come celebrate the Roman version of Easter with us! The Floralia is the festival of the Goddess Flora, patron of flowers and spring fertility. In Flora's honour, we will have a ritual, followed by our Floralia Flower Building Contest. Basic building materials will be provided - and the contest winner will recieve a $L1000 prize!
Location: ROMA Subura sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/66/82/2

2pm to 4pm - Festum Veris Grand Feast
Our Spring Festival culminate with the Festum Veris (Spring Festival) Grand Feast - come dance under the springtime stars with us! We will have live music by Zak Claxton, the ROMA Veneralia Date Auction, and trivia by our own Enamabala Towradgi. We promise cool tunes, wild dancing, and all around good fun - so come let your hair down in true ROMA fashion!
Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/175/122/22

Subura Community Gardens Now FREE!

2011-04-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

Change to Pricing:
We have waived the $1 US fee to build a garden installation in the Subura Community Gardens. Things are tough economically all over, and we did not want that to interfere with providing relaxing green spaces for the Subura community.

Now, any current Suburan resident can claim a garden plot and begin building for free! (Please still claim the plot by paying the rental pyramid one linden dollar, which is the smallest denomination it will accept. We will reimburse you the linden dollar.)

Use your Subura Group tag to begin building. Sundays are the best day to claim a plot, as that is when the old builds will be cleared away.

Change to Contests:
Some liked the contest angle of the Community Gardens, some did not. So we will aim to satisfy both!

First and third weeks of the month will be free build. Come make any kind of garden or green space you want! Try a pond or a fountain. Make someplace you would like to hang out, and then invite your friends!

Second and fourth weeks of the month will be a competitive build along a theme. The theme will be announced at the start of the week. There will be special prizes and an RAS badge for each winner. Public voting will start each Wednesday of a contest week.

Not a Suburan Renter? No Problem!
Any Citizen older than 3 months can try their hand at a Garden by claiming the rental prim. Contact Zelda Walpole and she will add you to the Subura group for the duration of your week.

In addition, making a garden gives you a free week residence in the Menander Apartments! See Zelda for details if you are interested. Limit one free week a month.

Some Old Rules Still Apply

All 12 Tables and Subura covenant rules are in effect
No offensive builds and all must respect the non-Adult content rating for the Subura.
No actual buildings. The build should be an open air garden theme with at least some plants or trees, although some things like furniture are allowed
No deliberate blocking of paths or other people's builds
No temp-rezzers or laggy scripts,
No deliberately modern builds, although other ancient cultures besides Roman are allowed. Some flexibility for anachronism is allowed, but the build should be neutral or specifically ancient in design.

New In World Calendar

2011-04-01T17:38:00.000-07:00

Announcing the new ROMA Event Calendar, accessible in world in the ROMA Plaza: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/177/60/26

It is color-coded to identify each week when standing ROMA events occur. In addition, one-off events like festival events and symposia will also be advertised here. So next time you are in ROMA, be sure to stop by and get caught up.

Also remember to check out the online version of the ROMA Calendar on our website at http://romacitizens.com/calendar.html

ROMA March Festivals

2011-03-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday March 19th, 2011

9:30am - Rekindling Vesta's Holy Flame

Our festivals begin this month with the Rekindling of the Flame in the Temple of Vesta in ROMA. After the ritual, we will proceed into the Subura for the rite of Matronalia!
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22

10am - Matronalia Ritual and Ladies Fête
Matronalia is the Roman equivalent of our Mother's Day, and this year, to honour the mothers and potential mothers of ROMA, we will be having a ritual to Juno - followed by a Ladies Fête. We will have couples dancing, serving boys, and a special contest for the men only: present a poem or prose composition on/about a woman in your life. This can be a mother, sister, girlfriend, friend, whatever - but it must be an original composition about how you feel about this woman. (Positive commentary only!) There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/138/128/2

12pm - Subura Equirria Races
In honour of Mars and the Second Equirria, we are having a horse race from the Subura Gate, all the way through ROMA, and finishing in Transtiberim! Anyone can enter the race - you can bring your own horse, or use one of our demo horses. Even Centaurs are welcome! There will be a prize purse for the winner of the race!
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/17/49/23

Sunday March 20th, 2011

10am - Bacchanalia Celebration
Come join us for the Bacchanalia! In ancient times, the Bacchanalia was a wild and mystic festival celebrating Bacchus, God of the Grape Harvest and Ecstatic Revelry. These celebrations were originally held in secret and only attended by women. Later, the worship was opened to men, but still retained it's wild abandon. In ROMA, the Bacchanalia is our reason to party, drink, and be wild things! So come dressed in your wild man/wild woman best and party with us!
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/175/122/22

12pm - Quinquatria Ritual for Minerva and Boxing Matches
Minerva is the goddess of the Quinquatria, a balancing force of just & honourable battle against the passionate and wild war symbolised by Mars. Our ritual today honours Her wisdom and justice, as well as asking Her blessing upon our ROMA. After the ritual, we will have boxing matches - just and honourable battle against a respected opponent. There will be prizes for the top contender and the runner-up. Whether spectator or fighter, it should be an exciting battle to watch!
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/171/152/32

3pm - Bacchanalia Grand Feast
Come join us for the conclusion of our March Festivals - The Martius Grand Feast! We will have music, dancing, a trivia contest by our own Trivia Master, Mickey James, and a costume contest. Theme of the Costume Contest will be Famous Warriors, both fictional and non. Prizes will be given for best male and female costumes.
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/175/122/22

ROMA Celebrates Italian Unification

2011-03-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

Thursday 17th March 2011 - 150th anniversary of Italy's Unification

Giovedì 17 marzo 2011 - 150° anniversario dell'Unità d'Italia

(Please note the times are in SL standard time and Italian time)

1 pm SLT - Italy's Blessing Ritual
@ Jupiter's Temple - Roma Urbs
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22
In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Italy's Unification, we will be performing a Blessing Ritual for Italy. We will not only ask ancient Roman Gods to protect Italy, but we will also remember the ones who dedicated and who still today dedicate their lives to our Country.

22.00 ora italiana - Rituale di benedizione per l'Italia
@ Tempio di Giove - Roma Urbs
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22
In occasione del 150° anniversario dell'Unità d'Italia, celebreremo un Rituale di Benedizione per l'Italia. Non solo chiederemo agli antichi dei romani di proteggere l'Italia, ma ricorderemo anche tutti coloro che dedicarono e che ancora oggi dedicano le loro vite al nostro Paese.

1.30 pm SLT - Harpastum match - Ancient Roman soccer
@ XIII Legion Gemina Fort of Ostia
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/131/190/42
Have you ever asked yourself which are the origins of soccer, the most beloved sport in Italy? Well, then you are the right persons who can have fun playing the ancestor of soccer: harpastum, also known as harpustum. Harpastum was a form of ball game played in the Roman Empire. We know little about the exact rules of the game, but it appears to bear a remarkable resemblance to American Football and Rugby. So, which team will you join? Will yours win or lose?

22.30 ora italiana - Partita di harpastum - Il calcio della Roma antica
@ Forte della Legione XIII Gemina ad Ostia
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/131/190/42
Vi siete mai chiesti quali sono le origini del calcio, lo sport più amato in Italia? Ebbene, allora siete le persone giuste per divertirvi a giocare all'antenato del calcio: l'harpastum, conosciuto anche come harpustum. Nell'Impero romano l'harpastum era un gioco in cui era previsto l'uso di una palla. Sappiamo poco sulle esatte regole del gioco, ma sembra che assomigliasse notevolmente ai nostri American Football e Rugby. Allora, di quale squadra farete parte? La vostra squadra vincerà o perderà?

1.45 pm SLT - Surprise game
@ Campus Martius - Transtiberim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/174/110/21
Are you curious? Well, that's a surprise! Then you have to wait and come to see :)

- Gioco a sorpresa
@ Campo marzio - Trastevere
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/174/110/21
Siete curiosi? Ma è una sorpresa! Perciò dovete pazientare e venire a vedere :)

2.30 pm SLT - Grand feast for 150th anniversary of Italy's Unification
@ Dominus' Petrus Cornelius Sulla Silvanus (Peter Woody) house.
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/138/128/5
Wish Italian people happy 150th birthday! Come, bring your friends if you want: all people from any countries are welcome. You will enjoy the cool breeze of our Tiberim river from the peristylium of Dominus Cornelius' domus, and you will taste our wonderful Italian food and wine while chatting or dancing. We will look forward to you!

23.30 ora italiana - Festa conclusiva per il 150° anniversario dell'Unità d'Italia
@ Casa del Dominus Petrus Cornelius Sulla Silvanus (Peter Woody)
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/138/128/5
Festeggiate con noi il 150° compleanno degli Italiani. Venite, anche con i vostri amici se volete: tutti voi, di qualunque nazionalità siate, siete i benvenuti. Cosa c'è di meglio che godersi la fresca brezza del nostro fiume Tevere direttamente dal peristlio della casa di Dominus Cornelius? Potrete gustare il nostro fantastico cibo italiano e il nostro vino mentre chiacchierate o danzate. Vi aspettiamo!

New ROMA Legion video

2011-03-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

The ROMA Legion has a great new info video on YouTube, made by Primus Pilus Brodbiz Bagration. Watch it here!

Our LEGIO XIII GEMINA linked to the original

2011-03-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

Primus Pilus Brodbiz Bagration informs us that our legion group has been given a link on the wikipedia page for the real Legio XIII Gemina. Learn about the historical legion at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legio_XIII_Gemina

Channel 4- Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

2011-01-23T15:30:00.001-08:00

If you are in the UK, or can use a UK proxy, here is a great show where they try to build a Roman villa using only period tools. Many thanks to Silverbow Janus who sent along the link!

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day/4od#3154408

Paganalia '11 Schedule

2011-01-14T02:36:00.000-08:00

Saturday January 15th:

10am - Roman Paganalia Ritual
In celebration of Paganalia, the Roman festival of sowing, we will be performing a ritual to honour Ceres (the goddess of agriculture) and Tellus (Mother Earth), followed by a picnic social. Come join us in celebrating the beginning of the Paganalia!
Location: Transtiberim Occidentalis, ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/50/108/32

12pm - Paganism and Early Christianity in the Ancient World - A Lecture with Linus Lacombe
Join us for a lecture on Paganism and its relationship with Christianity in late antiquity. In the physical world, Linus has a bachelor's degree in Religious Studies and Antiquities, a master's degree in Religious Studies, and has done doctoral work in Religious Studies, specializing in ancient Mediterranean religion, mostly early Christianity and Second Temple Judaism.
Location: Basilica of Maxentius, ROMA sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/44/138/45

2pm - Modern Pagan Ritual
As ROMA's Paganalia is a celebration of all cultural pagan rites and ceremonies, this year we will be showing you how Modern Neo-Pagans worship. Our ceremony will be a Wiccan-style Full Moon esbat, displaying a typical modern pagan rite and customs. We will have dancing in the circle after the rites!
Location: Campus Martius, ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/181/111/22

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Sunday January 16th:

10am - Egyptian Horus Ritual
A re-created Egyptian Ritual to honour Horus and Osiris in honour of the ROMA Paganalia using texts from the Temple of Dendera and known elements of Egyptian worship. Please join us for this exhibit of what worship in ancient Kemet (Egypt) may have been like!
Location: Campus Martius, ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/181/111/22

12pm - Freemasonry Lecture with Tedwood Portsmouth
Our very own Tedwood Portsmouth will be lecturing on the nature, rituals, and symbols of Freemasonry and how some of it relates to pagan symbolism and worship in general. If you were ever curious about Freemasonry, now's your chance to learn what it's about with a member of the Order!
Location: Basilica of Maxentius, ROMA sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/44/138/45

4pm - Paganalia Grand Feast
The conclusion of ROMA's Paganalia Festival - join us for an evening of feasting and dancing, as well as our Paganalia Trivia Contest! There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Live music will be provided by Maximillion Kleene - so come dance the night away to good tunes and great company!
Location: Lake Trasimenus, ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/134/121/22

Saturnalia Schedule

2010-12-18T00:36:00.000-08:00

Friday 17 Dec:

12pm (Noon)- Ave Weekend Party
Start ROMA Saturnalia at the Pompeii Tavern for our "Ave Weekend" party. Dancing and merrymaking!
Location: Pompeii Tavern, ROMA sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/174/28/27

1pm Saturnalia Latin Lessons
After the "Ave Weekend", we will hold a holiday themed Latin class in the ROMA Basilica. Bring your brain and learn a host of holiday sayings, as well as other Latin information. All levels welcome!
Location: Basilica Maxentius, ROMA sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/41/131/45
(Sponsored by the Scholastica Antiqua group)

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Saturday 18th Dec. :

10am- Saturnalia Ritual & Tavern Celebration
Today's Saturnalia events begin with ritual to honour Saturn and Sol Invictus, followed by a party in the Tavern with dancing, music, and general merry-making. Saturnalia in ancient Rome was one of the most popular festivals of the year. It was marked by a license for mischief and high spirits (within limits) and reversal of social roles, in which slaves and masters switched places. So put on your pileus (freedmans cap), your most colourful clothes, and come party like a Patrician (Even if you're not)! Io Saturnalia!
Location: ROMA Plaza, ROMA sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/183/41/26

12pm (Noon)- Saturnalia Snowman Building Contest
Do you like playing in the snow? Do you like building snowmen? Then we have a contest for you! In order of the winter season, we are having a snowman building contest - limited only by your imagination! Some come build us a snowman, a snow angel, even a snow dog if you want! Winners will be chosen by a 3 judge panel, and will be rated in 3 categories: Creativity, Style, and Seasonality (how well your creation fits into the seasonal theme). Builders will have 1 hour to complete their creations, and prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
Location: Subura Park, ROMA Subura sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/149/128/24

1:30pm Subura Domus Deco Walking Tour & Feast
A walking tour through Subura to see all the decorated homes - come join in walking in a winter wonderland! The residents os Subura have decorated their homes for the season. After the walking tour, we will have a festive feast with dancing, drinks, good music, and much to explore!
Location: Begin in Julian Plaza, ROMA Subura sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/21/46/24

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Sunday 19th Dec. :

11am- Saturnalia Ice Skating Party
Lake Trasimenus has frozen over and that can mean only one thing - skating time has returned to ROMA! We will skate, enjoy hot chocolate (or maybe something a little stronger!), and toss snowballs at each other! We have a Skoopf skate vendor as well as free skates availible. Just us for all the frosty frozen fun!
Location: Frozen Lake Trasimene, ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/135/121/22

12pm (Noon)- Saturnalia Sleigh Races
We will race sleighs through the ROMA Transtiberim sim. Anyone can take part. These sleighs take damage if you bump into walls or obstacles, so just getting to the end of the course will be a challenge! Cash prize to the person with the best time around the whole sim (without wrecking).
Location: Begin at, and spectator viewing at Campfire Hill, ROMA tTranstiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/110/77/39

1pm- Saturnalia Legion Gladius Deathmatch
Want to try your hand with the famous Roman weapon? Come take part in the Legion Gladius Deathmatch. Everyone is invited to enter the cage and take a swing! Cash prize for the winners and bragging rights to the losers! Full instructions here: 􀀀
Location: Legion Fort, ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/138/184/42
(Sponsired by the ROMA Legio XIII Gemina group)

4pm- Saturnalia Grand Feast
Io Saturnalia! Or Merry Xmas! Or Happy Hanukkah! Or whatever the season's holiday means for you! Our festival culminates in the Saturnalia Grand Feast. It's also our last chance to get together before the holidays - so come wish your fellow ROMAns Happy Holidays! The Grand Feast will include a Trivia Contest and Saturnalia Gift Exchange.
Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/181/106/22

ROMA Participating in Project Skylight

2010-12-03T16:22:00.001-08:00

In case you haven't heard, Linden Lab is testing a browser based SL client (meaning they hope to offer the option to log into SL using a website instead of a downloaded software based client). They have been testing this during most of the month of November and it seems to be quite successful.

In the test, people could log into SL via a web page and interact with the world. They could also IM and chat, although inventory-based actions were not supported. A small collection of pre-chosen sims were available for teleport and exploration under three categories: Destinations, Music, and Socializing.

In late October, ROMA was contacted about being one of the few sims chosen for the "Destinations" category. LL felt ROMA represented an attractive and welcoming stop for Skylight testers, often comprising of people who had never experienced SL before. Throughout November, ROMA has hosted many Skylight testers, all of who had a numerical first name and the surname "Guest".

ROMA has felt very privileged to partake in what looks to be a large step forward in the technology of SL and which will hopefully increase the player base.

The test is still ongoing. If you would like to check it out go to this web page. Allow the video to play and the system will check your internet connection to see if it is healthy enough to proceed. If it is, you will be given the option to input your email. Make sure your Flash software is the latest version and you'll be able to access SL in a browser for up to an hour. Under the destinations tab, you will find the teleport to ROMA. Come check out how it looks in a browser!

(After the test, you'll be emailed a questionnaire for comments by LL. Some nice words about ROMA would be very welcome!)

Winter Returns!

2010-12-03T00:13:00.000-08:00

Winter has returned to ROMA! A heavy snowstorm has passed through and turned the estate white.

The emperor has determined that this is the perfect time to put up the winter holiday decorations. Come explore it!

(Tip: use the Windlight presets to set your browser to the Sky>Foggy setting for the best views of the winter wonderland).

Ice skating available on Lake Trasimene and you can sit in the Plaza and listen to holiday carols played on holiday bells. Stay tuned for the Saturnalia schedule coming soon!

ROMA Links

2010-12-02T17:49:00.000-08:00

Ever misplace the url for one of the websites for ROMA? Bookmark http://romacitizens.com/links.html and you'll be able to find all of the sites associated with the ROMA Estate.

And also remember that if you use an RSS reader for your news, you can also subscribe to this blog and be kept up to date with each new post.

November Festival- The Ludi Plebii

2010-11-19T13:45:00.000-08:00

*** Saturday 20 November ***

12:00pm Jupiter Ritual and Dance
Join us for the consecration of our new temple to the Capitoline Triad in ROMA. Afterwards we will dance and socialize in the newly rebuilt Capitoline Museum, also in the Forum. This event begins the Ludi Plebi in ROMA.
Location: ROMA Forum, ROMA sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/28/203/79

1:00pm Basic Latin Lessons
Ever wanted to learn how to speak like a Roman? Zelda Walpole and Tonina Rodenberger will hold a beginner's Latin class in the newly rebuilt ROMA Basilica. Even advanced and intermediate Latinists are encouraged to attend what we hope will be a developing component of life in ROMA. This event is sponsored by the ROMA Scholastica Antiqua group.
Location: Capitoline Museum, ROMA sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/58/235/67

*** Sunday 21 November ***

12:00pm NOON Ludi Plebi Chariot Races
Come and race for the big L$2000 pot, or just watch in our viewing stands. The winner will be crowned Champion of the Ludi!
Location: Circus Maximus, ROMA sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/4/136/36

1:00 pm Battle Recreation- The Battle of Pharsalus
The ROMA SPQR LEGIO XIII GEMINA will recreate the deciding battle of the Civil war between Pompey and Caesar this Sunday in ROMA. Come watch the two forces clash on the Field of Mars in the ROMA Transtiber sim. Primus Pilus Brodbiz Bigration will give a short historical introduction to the battle before the event. Spectators can watch from the walls of the Ostia Settlement.
Location: The walls of Ostia, ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/183/131/32

3:30pm Jupiter Thanksgiving Feast
Dinner and dancing in the autumnal gardens of the Imperial Palace. Come let us know what you are thankful for. There will be a lucky drawing for $1000 for someone at the feast, which should give them a lot to be thankful for!
Location: Imperial Palace Gardens of Maecenas, ROMA sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/142/156/53

ROMA Halloween Weekend

2010-10-29T22:31:00.001-07:00

Saturday 30 Oct

12pm Noon: ROMA Lemuralia & Ghost Stories
In Roman religion, the Lemuralia or Lemuria was a feast during which the ancient Romans performed rites to exorcise the malevolent and fearful ghosts of the dead from their homes.Our Lemuralia ritual will banish any malevolent spirits, both real & imagined, while welcoming the protective spirits of the Lares and beneficent ancestors. Followed by ghost stories in the ROMA tombs!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/60/33/45

Sunday 31 Oct

10:30am: ROMA Curiate Assembly
Please note this is in the new location in the new Curia building, ROMA Forum
Location: ROMA Curia, ROMA sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/115/215/83

12pm Noon: ROMA Hallow'een Party
Come in costume! Cash prize for best costumes.
Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/144/82/303

1pm: Legion Training
The soldiers will be training in costume. Come watch and participate!
Location: Legion Fort, ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/111/224/43

ROMA @ IV Anniversary Celebrations Schedule

2010-10-12T21:22:00.001-07:00

In October MMX, ROMA celebrates its fourth anniversary in SL. A week-long series of events are planned. Come take part and join SL’s original and oldest Roman themed community!

**All Week Long**
ROMA @ IV SNAPSHOT CONTEST
This contest will run until Oct 16. Until then, wander around ROMA and find your favorite spot to take a snapshot. Stage a snapshot with friends. Show the world how you experience ROMA.

There are 3 categories for the contest:

= Best Avatar Portrait or Self-Portrait
= Best Shot of a ROMA Landmark
= Best Illustration of Roman History and/or Culture

Each category will have 3 winners. The prizes are:

= First Prize: 2,000 L$ in each category
= Second Prize: 1000 L$ in each category
= Third Prize: 500 L$ in each category

See the contest sign in the ROMA Plaza (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/172/59/26) for more details and rules.

**October 10th, Sunday**
12pm (noon) - ROMA @ IV Pool Party
Say goodbye to Summer with a last pool party in the newly refurbished Baths of Caracalla in ROMA. This is the opening event for the ROMA @ IV anniversary celebrations.

Location: Baths of Caracalla in the ROMA sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/143/48/27

**October 13th, Wednesday**
1pm - ROMA @ IV Special Roleplay Event
This week we celebrate the 4th year since the birth of our Roma SPQR! Roleplayers (and Citizens) are cordially invited to a RP- party in the Garden of the Gens Tiberia. We want to chat about Roma, drink upon her and celebrate her birthday. There will also a surprise waiting for you.
Location: Garden of the Gens Tiberia, ROMA Subura sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/88/63/27

**October 15th, Friday**
1pm - Re-Consecration Ceremony & Dance
The ROMA Collegia will perform a short ritual at the ROMA Harbor, on the spot where Torin rezzed the first prims for ROMA four years ago. Then everyone will retire to the top of the new Markets of Trajan and celebrate with a dance. Come join in the fun!

Location: ROMA Harbor in the ROMA sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/23

**October 16th, Saturday**
1pm – ROMA Legion Soccer Match
The last “civilians vs. legionnaires” match was such a success, we decided to repeat it! Come kick the ball around, or just watch! Cash prize to the winning team, as well as bragging rights!

Location: Legion Fort in the ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/131/190/43

2pm - ROMA @ IV Autumn Celebration Feast
We will celebrate the season in the beautiful grounds of the College of Priests and Priestesses of ROMA.

Location: Collegia Religio Romana in the ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/203/232/32

**October 17th, Sunday**
12pm (noon) - ROMA October Horse Triathalon
The groups of ROMA will have the chance to compete in the October Horse Triathalon Event. Participants will first race chariots through the Subura, then jump into boats to race through the ROMA Maritima sim, and finally a footrace through ROMA Transtiberim. The group whose representative is the first to cross the finish line in the new ROMA Forum will get a cash prize as well as a special trophy they get to keep and display for a full year (until the ROMA @ V celebrations!). Any ROMA group can enter up to three contestants (as a tag team). Spectators will be able to watch from a special viewers’ platform on the day.

Starting Location: Julian Plaza, ROMA Subura sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/21/42/24

1pm - Bellydance Show
ROMA Citizens will put on a special bellydance performance in celebration of ROMA’s fourth anniversary.

Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/181/106/22

1:30pm - ROMA @ IV Grand Feast w/ Live Music
This Grand Feast will bring an end to the ROMA fourth anniversary celebrations. Live music will be provided for dancing!

Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/181/106/22

And stay tuned for more ROMA events later in the month!

ROMA Lemuralia Festiva, 30 October
ROMA Curiate Assembly, 31 October
ROMA Hallow'een Party, 31 October

More details to follow!

Ludi Romani Festival Schedule

2010-09-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday September 25

11:00am Ludi Romani Jupiter Ritual and God Feast
This month's festival begins with a ritual for Jupiter in the Forum Temple, honouring Him as King of the Gods and spiritual father of the Roman Pantheon. Our ritual will then be followed by a special feast with dancing and activities in the nearby Basilica. Since at the ancient feast, statues of the gods attended, at our feast you are asked to come in costume as an ancient deity. A prize of L$1000 will be given to the best male and the best female deity costume as decided by vote.

Location: Jupiter Temple and Basilica, ROMA Forum, ROMA Sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/65/199/71

1:00pm Legion Harpastum Event
Harpastum, also known as Harpustum, was a form of ball game played in the Roman Empire
We know little about the exact rules of the game, but it appears to bear a remarkable resemblance to American Football and Rugby. Harpastum was a team game that probably had a variable number of players. It was played on a demarked rectangular field, probably about the size used in field hockey. The ROMA Legion will put on a dispay of Harpastum. Come and take part or just watch!

Location: Legion Fort, ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/115/232/42

Sunday September 26

10:00 am Ludi Romani Chariot Races
Come race round the spina in ROMA's Circus Maximus Hippodrome! Our chariot races, in honour of Jupiter, will be four 3-lap races - the winners of the first three races will compete in the final race to determine the final winners. There will be cash purses for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. But beware! Chariot racing is a dangerous sport - these chariots can wreck and put you out of the race! Are you skilled enough to beat the odds? Come race and find out! This event will be sponsored by the LVDI ROMANI group.

Location: Circus Maximus, ROMA Subura sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/4/136/36

11:00 am Ludi Romani Gladiator Fight @ Ostia Ludus
Witness our brave gladiators fight for the honour of Jupiter and the glory of ROMA in several bouts to the "death"! The gladiator with the most bouts won will recieve a cash purse and be granted a laurel wreath of victory by the Prefect himself! Come watch the bloody battles and cheer your favourite on to glory! This event will be sponsored by the LVDI ROMANI group.
Location: Ludi Arena, ROMA Transtiberim sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/172/152/32

12:00 pm ROMA Curiate Assembly Meeting
Come meet your fellow ROMA Citizens and hear all the latest news in ROMA. Open to the public.
Location: ROMA Curia, ROMA sim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/19/156/45

July Festivals Schedule

2010-07-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

Saturday 24th July:

10am - Ludi Apollinares Ritual + Play (The Founding of Rome - A Tale of Romulus and Remus)
Our festivals this month begin with the celebration of Ludi Apollinares - honouring the God Apollo. Since part of the traditional Ludi were plays and other theatrical productions, our ritual to honour Apollo will be immediately followed by a play by our very own Zelda Walpole! The play tells the story of Rome's great founders, Romulus and Remus - it's a thrilling tale you won't want to miss!
Location: Theater of Dionysus, ROMA Sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22

1pm - Ludi Chariot Races
As Apollo races His sun chariot across across the sky, so our Agitatores will race their chariots in the Hippodrome! Come spend an exciting day at the races, and maybe even get to race yourself!
Location: Hippodrome, ROMA sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/202/106/26

3pm - Apollo's Poetry Contest
As a patron of the Arts, Apollo is also the God of Poetry - and to honour Him, we will be having a poetry contest! Each contestant will read a work of his/her own composition and you will get to vote for your favourite! There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, and we will all have a cool and relaxing day of poetry in the gardens!
Location: The Gardens of Maecenas, ROMA sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/160/137/52

Sunday 25th July:

10am Neptunalia Ritual
Our second day of festivals kicks off the Neptunalia, the festival in honour of the great God Neptune. We will be holding a ritual to honour Him in His temple in Maritima and all are welcome to attend!
Location: Neptune Temple, ROMA Maritima sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Maritima/158/128/2

10:30am til 3pm - Binchester Day (Various Events and Locations)
A special series of events to celebrate the opening of ROMA's newest sims: ROMA Vinovium and ROMA Vicus! Since these events will be somewhat fluid, please keep an eye on the notices from the ROMA Citizens group to let you know when each event is about to start. Come join us in this most distant outpost of the ROMA "empire"!

10:30 - Guided Tour of Binchester Roman Fort
Builder and Prefect Torin Golding will take interested citizens around on a guided tour of the new ROMA Vinovium sim, which is a recreation of the fort currently being excavated by a team from Stanford University and Durham University. He will explain how the build fits in with the archaeology being done on the site, and why the project is using Second Life to reconstruct this Roman ruin.
Location: Binchester Roman Fort, ROMA Vinovium sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Vinovium/243/144/46

11:30 - Talk with the Archaeologists of the Binchester Fort Project
Archaeologists from the project that is currently in the field will be present in avatar form to chat with Citizens about the project and what they have found this season, and how their work can communicate with Second Life. It will be held inside the reconstructed Headquarters Building of the Binchester fort.
Location: Headquarters Building, ROMA Vinovium sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Vinovium/172/133/47

1:00- Binchester Dance Party Social
Come relax and celebrate the new sims with a spot of dancing.
Location: Binchester Fort, ROMA Vinovium sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Vinovium/153/138/47

4pm - The Sun and Sea Grand Feast
Our final festival event of the weekend, the Sun and Sea Grand Feast! Come join us for music, dancing, and camaraderie as we bid farewell to the Gods Apollo and Neptune and conclude another wonderful festival!
Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/175/122/22

June Festival Schedule

2010-06-19T01:20:00.000-07:00

ROMA Vestalia & Bellonalia Schedule

Saturday 19th June

10am - Vestalia Ritual
The time has come again to honour Vesta, Goddess of Hearth and Home! Please join us in honouring Her with a ritual, that she might shed Her warmth and light on ROMA for another year!
Location: ROMA Sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22

12pm - Vestalia RFL Scavenger Hunt
Can you find the precious treasure before it's too late? The Vestalia Scavenger Hunt this year will be raising funds for Relay For Life - two teams are going to split the monies evenly, ROMA Pro Vita and the Justice League Unlimited, who are providing the Grand Prize package. Each one of the 16 clue items to be found will cost either L$30 or L$60, depending if it has a gift in it or not. These are your RFL donations for this event, and we thank the generous contributors who donated all the prizes, especially our co-sponsor, the Justice League Unlimited who provided the Grand Prize package.
Location: Plaza, ROMA Sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/184/42/26

3pm - Vestalia Tavern Party
After such a long and exhausting day hunting, the victors retire to the Pompeii Tavern for drinking, dancing, and wagering. Come join them as we bask in the afterglow of an exciting day!
Location: Pompeii Tavern, ROMA Sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/184/42/26

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Sunday 20th June

10am - Bellona Ritual
Our festivals begin with a ritual for Bellona, the Roman Goddess of War - sister of Mars, and Spiritual Mother of ROMA's Amazons. Little is known of Bellona's rites in Ancient times, save that they were held in Her temple on the Campus Martius - but we have our own ritual to honour Her on ROMA's Campus Martius.
Location: ROMA Transtiberim Sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/144/82/303

1pm - Bellona RFL Chariot Races
Watch the mighty agitatores (chariot racers) of Roma contest against each other in feats of skill and daring as they race around the Circus Maximus Hippodrome in Roma to your enthusiastic cheers! 'Bet' on your favourite charioteer by donating to his or her RFL kiosk and win a prize if your charioteer wins the day!
Location: Circus Maximus, ROMA Sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/202/106/26

3:30pm - The Bellona & Vesta Grand Feast
Our Festivals culminate with the Bellona & Vesta Grand Feast - our wind-down party from the hectic Bellonalia Chariot Races! Come dance with us to some relaxing tunes and pleasant conversation! (We'll also be having a trivia contest with ROMA's own trivia master, Mickey James!)
Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim Sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/181/106/22

May Festival Schedule

2010-05-14T16:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday 15th May

10 am - Bona Dea Ritual & Furry Donation Dance

Our festivals begin with a ritual for Bona Dea, "The Good Goddess" - Also known as Fauna, She is the daughter of Faunus, and a goddess of virginity, fertility, and healing. Bona Dea's rites included only women - even paintings or drawings of men or male animals were forbidden - but in our ROMA, the menfolk are welcome to Her rites. After the rite, we will have a dance and party to celebrate the goddess, where you can donate to get a dance with the exotic furred or feathered person of your choice! Didn't you ever wonder what it would be like to waltz with a leopard?

Location: ROMA Community Garden Plot 29, ROMA Subura Sim.
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/132/160/24

12pm - Fishing Contest

Break out your poles and put on your fishing togas - it's time for another ROMA Fishing event, as we thank Fauna for the bounty she gives us. Using the 7Seas Fishing system, we will be having a fishing contest, with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners receiving cash prizes.

Location: ROMA Fishing Platform, ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/115/147/22

3pm - Drinking Challenge

Round-robin jollity as we try to drink each other under the table! Using Torin's drinking game, we'll have successive rounds until only the true heir of Bacchus is left standing! Or... wobbling. That person will weave away from the Taberna with the Grand Prize!

Location: Pompeii Tavern, ROMA Sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/178/16/2

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Sunday 16th May

11am - Mercuralia Ritual
11:30 - Fashion Show

Mercury isn't just the herald of the Gods - He's also the patron of merchants and commerce! So this Mercuralia, we will be honouring Him with a ritual in the Mercury Temple at the Macellum.

After the ritual, there will be a fabulous fashion show in the Macellum put on by our merchants to honour Mercury and entertain the populace. Come see the latest in Roman fashion!

Location: Julian Plaza, ROMA Subura sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/18/59/24

1pm - Legio XIII Triathlon

Only the swiftest and strongest of all ROMAns will be able to succeed at the challenge put forth by our own Legio XIII Gemina. Starting at the head of the Transtiberian path, contestants will ride, run and climb for the glory of Victory, the honour of Rome and the grand prize!

Location: Transtiberim Path, ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/60/35/45

4pm - The Mercury & Fauna Grand Feast

Our Festivals culminate with the Mercury & Fauna Grand Feast - come celebrate the return of Spring with us! Dancing, good conversation, traditional ROMAn music and an amazing amount of food.

Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim
Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/59/141/31

Binchester Update: Call for Exhibits

2010-04-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

The construction and design of the Binchester build is underway. It is being designed by archaeologists involved in the excavations, but there is also a way ROMA Citizens can get involved in the design stage.

Throughout the two sims there will be several ‘stations’ dedicated to relevant aspects of Roman culture and the history of the archaeological site. Established ROMA Content Creators (active and well-known Citizens only please) can apply to create an exhibit in one of these stations. Exhibits will range from a few signs to an entire gallery. All creators will have their name and photo displayed at the station to advertise their work.

A creator will work with Torin to design an exhibit based on the following topics: (this list will be updated as projects are assigned to individuals)

[Scroll down because for some reason this stupid blog setup is casting the table clear down the page]

Topic (with necessary sub topics)	Estimated size	Assigned to
The Roman Conquest of Britain Caesar Claudius Boudicca Agricola	Gallery
Material Culture of Roman Britain Altars Small Finds Coins Etc.	Gallery
The Celtic World of Britain Brigantes Queen Cartamandua Celtic Religion Celtic Art	Gallery
The Hadrianic Frontier Hadrian's Wall Forts Stanegate Vallum Etc.	Gallery
Roman & Celtic Death & Burial Cemeteries & Tombs Funerals	Small Exhibit
Industry in the Province Mines Pottery Agriculture Etc.	Gallery
Binchester History Troops History Excavations Etc.	Gallery	Torin
Daily Life in the Fort	Gallery
Slavery in Roman World	Small Exhibit
Roman Siege Warfare	Small Exhibit or Installation	Brodbiz
The Roman Legion	Small Exhibit	Nina and Legion
The Vicus Population Purpose Etc.	Gallery
Romanization?	Small Exhibit
The End of Roman Britain	Gallery

Size Definitions:
Gallery: 8-10 signs plus some possible extras
Small Exhibit: 2-5 signs
Installation: single item

Most Gallery spaces will be indoors.

To apply to work on an installation, contact Torin directly about the topic/s you are interested in. Then work up a proposal on a notecard with the following information:

Summarize each sign in your proposed installation. What kind of info will it contain? Please note that there should not be too much text. People will not stand and read a great deal of text in SL.
Will there be anything else besides signs in your installation? Please note that prims are limited!
Is there anything interactive in your installation?
Do a mock up of a sample sign texture and include it in the notecard.

Introducing ROMA Vinovium and ROMA Vicus!

2010-04-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

Two new sims have been added to the ROMA estate! They represent an exciting, new partnership between ROMA and RL educational institutions and academics.

The Binchester Roman Excavations is an archaeological project that, starting this summer, will be excavating the ancient Roman fort of Binchester (ancient Vinovium) and its civilian settlement (vicus). Located in the UK, this important military garrison and town guarded the supply route (Deere Street) that ran north to Hadrian’s Wall during the Roman occupation of Britain. The fort was founded around 79 CE as part of the legions’ march north into native Brigantes territory, and was occupied for around four centuries, attracting a sizable settlement outside the fort walls. The archaeological project represents an important collaboration between Stanford University in the US and Durham University in the UK, and works with the archaeological unit of Durham County Council as well as the local community. Some of their archaeologists have an interest in virtual reconstructions of the ancient world and are already in SL. ROMA will be working with them in the near future to bring an exciting new feature to ROMA.

The two new sims, ROMA Vinovium and ROMA Vicus, have joined the estate north of the ROMA Transtiberim sim. They will house a full scale reconstruction of the Roman fort at Binchester and its adjacent civilian settlement. In addition, both sims will contain interactive installations explaining the history of the site, the Roman invasion of Britain, native culture, and many other aspects, including daily updates on the progress of the excavations during the summer season. It will therefore be possible to visit these stimulating excavations virtually from anywhere in the world. There will also be areas for social and educational events, and ROMA Citizens will be encouraged to become involved in all aspects of the virtual representation of this bit of Roman archaeological heritage. The ROMA estate and its Citizenry will be a key link in forging connections between online worlds and an ongoing archaeological project.

The sims are being sponsored and paid for by Vinovium.org, the Stanford University component of the excavations. ROMA will receive no financial support from this partnership, and continue to rely solely upon its Citizenry, land rentals, and donations to keep the rest of the estate open and flourishing.

Torin Golding will be building the Binchester reconstructions for the archaeological team, although there will be an opportunity for ROMA content creators to contribute and engage with this project as well. More details will follow soon. ROMA management and several ROMA groups will be able to partner with the archaeologists of the Binchester project. For now, the sims will be closed to the public to allow Torin to build. However, you can keep informed about the developments on this blog (http://romacitizens.blogspot.com), our official Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/romacitizens), or from the following vantage points in the ROMA Transtiberim sim: the Collegium compound, the Legion XIII fort, the ROMA Hot Springs, and the Sibyl’s cave atop Mount Parnassus.

April Festivals Schedule

2010-04-15T22:11:00.001-07:00

Saturday 17th April :

9am - Cerealia Ritual & Harvest Maze
The Cerealia is the Roman festival honouring the Goddess Ceres - she who holds sway over the fruitfulness of the Earth entire, and without whom Flora's efforts would be in vain. In keeping with this ancient tradition, we will be having a ritual in Ceres' honour, followed by a challenging Harvest Maze. The first, second, and third to find their way through the maze from the entrance to the exit will win prizes - but you must find and greet Ceres Herself before you can exit! Can you beat the Labyrinth in time? Come find out!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/144/82/303

11am - Fox and Bunny Hunt
Part of ancient Cerealia's celebration was to let loose wild foxes to run free through the Circus Maximus. ROMA has our own fox tradition, the Cerealia Fox Hunt! We've updated this ritual this year to include the Floralia - with foxes symbolising Ceres and Bunnies symbolising Flora. The Hunter who tags the most animals wins a $L1000 prize! (There is also a prize for the fox or rabbit tagged least!)
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/58/32/45

1pm - Floralia Ritual & Spring Costume Contest
Come celebrate the Roman version of Easter with us! The Floralia is the festival of the Goddess Flora, patron of flowers and spring fertility. In Flora's honour, we will have a ritual, followed by our Floralia Costume Contest and Party. Dress in any springtime or floral related garb you choose, and dance in the springtime flowers with us - the contest winner will recieve a $L1000 prize!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/185/113/22

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Sunday 18th April :

9am - Veneralia Ritual & Ask Cupid
Our festivals continue with a ritual for Venus Verticordia, "The Changer of Hearts" - to petition Venus for support and aid in one's lovelife. After the rite, you'll get a chance to ask all your love questions of Venus' son, Cupid - the God of Romantic Love. Our Winged Youth is flirtatious and coy, but He will guide you down the path to True Love (or at least an amusing side-trail)!
Location: ROMA Sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22

11am - Venus' Bath
Venus is holding court again in ROMA! Come sport with Her in the subterranean caves beneath our fair city! But bring your swimsuits and swim HUDs, because this is a pool party! Dancing, swimming, and lunch on the beach is the order of the day at our Grand Feast pre-party - and with Venus there, it promises to be a wild time!
Location: ROMA Sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/33/166/22

1pm - Fortuna Oracle
The Veneralia is also the festival to honour Fortuna Virilis (who is somehow, but unclearly, connected with Venus). In general, the wealthier classes honoured Venus and the less so honoured Fortuna Virilis, but this was by no means a hard and fast rule. Today, ROMA praises Fortuna as well with a Oracle in Her honour. Do you want to know your fortune? Want to ask the Goddess a question about your life? Fortuna knows all, And Her priest will interpret Her answer to you! Do you dare to look into the future? (All oracles are given in fun, and ROMA is not responsible for their failure to manifest - or worse, if they do manifest!)
Location: ROMA Sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/132/176/53

4pm - Festum Veris Grand Feast
Our Spring Festival culminate with the Festum Veris (Spring Festival) Grand Feast - come dance under the springtime stars with us! We will also have live music by MarcusAurelius Merlin - to get a sneak peek of Marcus' music, go to: http://www.threepiecesuit.com and click the "Samples" link. We promise cool tunes, wild dancing, and all around good fun - so come let your hair down in true ROMA fashion!
Location: ROMA sim: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22

Introducing the ROMA twitter box!

2010-04-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

We now have a ROMA twitter feed dedicated to Citizen voices from the ROMA Plaza! Anyone can come to the plaza in ROMA, touch the new ROMA twitter box and post a tweet to the feed!

If you have a twitter account, you can follow the new feed at http://twitter.com/ROMA_VOX

To find the new ROMA twitter box, go to the ROMA Plaza and look right in front of the Procurators' Office.

And don't forget to follow our official feed for all the official news about ROMA: http://twitter.com/ROMACitizens. If you tweet about ROMA, be sure to use our hash-tag, #ROMASL.

(Abusers of the system will be banned)

Introducing the ROMA Subura Community Garden Project

2010-04-03T03:24:00.001-07:00

Attention creative ROMAns with a green thumb. Announcing the opening of the ROMA Subura Community Garden Project.

Plot 29 in the Subura (right next to the park with the swan in it) has been divided into four quarter plots, ready for planting. ROMAns can rent a quarter for just $1 a week to build their own garden-themed installation. This can be any outdoor space or scene. The goal is to build something cool, exciting, and garden themed using the prims for only a quarter plot (60 total). Are you up to the challenge?

All installations will stay up only a week, and the best garden will be voted on by ROMA Citizens. The winner each week receives a special non cash prize and a unique [RAS] Achievement Badge worth 15 ponts! Not to mention the bragging rights.

Every Sunday, the quarter plots become available to rent for just $1. Builders can then get busy creating their masterpiece. If you wish to get on the wait list for a plot, contact Zelda Walpole and she will make sure you get one as soon as the next Sunday rolls around.

Citizens will be encouraged and reminded to check out the gardens and vote via a special voting board that has been set up. There will be new, dynamic builds every week!

Any current Subura renter or ROMA Citizen older than 3 months can rent a quarter plot and build a garden. The building rules are simple:

All 12 Tables and Subura covenant rules apply
No offensive builds and all must respect the non-Adult content rating for the Subura.
No actual buildings. The build should be an open air garden theme with at least some plants or trees, although some things like furniture are allowed
No deliberate blocking of paths or other people's builds
No temp-rezzers or laggy scripts,
No deliberately modern builds, although other ancient cultures besides Roman isallowed. Some flexibility for anachronism is allowed, but the build should be neutral or specifically ancient in design.

Rental boxes in the Community Garden are now open! Stop by today and claim your quarter, or if all are rented, see Zelda Walpole to get yours next Sunday.

March Festival Schedule

2010-03-15T23:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday 20th March

9am- Rekindling The Vestal Flame
Our festivals begin this month with the Rekindling of the Flame in the Temple of Vesta in ROMA. After the ritual, there will be a procession to the Hippodrome for the Equirria Chariot Races!
Location: Temple of Vesta, ROMA Sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22)

10:30am- Equirria Chariot Races
In honour of Mars and Equirria, we are having chariot races in the Hippodrome! ROMA's very own Agitatores will be racing for the prize! The races will be done as 3 three lap races. There will be a prize purse for the winner of each race, as well as a trophy to display in their domus!
Location: Circus Maximus Hippodrome, ROMA sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/202/106/26)

2pm- Quinquatria Ritual and Legion XIII Quinquatria Event
At Fort Legio Augusta in ROMA, we will be having a ritual honouring Mars & Minerva - the two paramount Gods of the Quinquatria. Minerva is the balancing force of just & honourable battle against the passionate and wild war symbolised by Mars. Our ritual today honours Her wisdom and justice, and Mars' passion and strength. After the ritual, the Legion XIII & the Ludi Romani will present a lecture about gladiatores, followed by a demonstration last-man-standing fight!
Location 1: ROMA Fort Bridge, ROMA sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/93/57/29)
Location 2: Lvdi Romani Arena, ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/169/152/32)

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Sunday 21st March

10am- Matronalia Ritual
Matronalia is the Roman equivalent of our Mother's Day, and this year, to honour the mothers and potential mothers of ROMA, we will be having a ritual to Juno - followed by a Garden Party. Though Matronalia is a women's celebration, men are welcome to attend - but there is a catch! All gentlemen must either dress as women, or as serving boys, in honour of this Women's Day! How you attire yourself is up to you, and while we won't ask the serving boys to be real slaves, you might want to carry some wine at least to appease the ladies. ;)
Location: Senator Maali Beck's Garden, ROMA Subura sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/46/246/24)

12pm (Noon) - Bacchanalia Nymph & Satyr Hunt
Bacchus' Maenad nymphs and wild satyrs have over-run Transtiberim! The Emperor has called out all Hunters in ROMA to catch them before their drunken revelry becomes destructive! How many nymphs and satyrs can you tag? The Hunter who tags the most wins $L1000, and the nymph/satyr with the fewest tags does too!
Location: Head of the Path, ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/58/32/45)

3pm- Bacchanalia Grand Feast (This event is clothing optional)
Come join us for the Grand Feast of the Bacchanalia! We will elect a Bacchus and Chief Maenad to preside over the feast, and a Bacchanal Trivia game, presented by Melanippe Karas (standing in for trivia-master Mickey James). So come dressed in your wild man/wild woman best (or nothing at all) and party with us!
Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/160/101/22)

New ROMA Article

2010-03-01T22:12:00.000-08:00

Online newspaper http://www.sl-newspaper.com has published an article on our Lupercalia festival. It quotes Torin and Melanippe. You can read the whole thing here: http://15timez.blogspot.com/2010/03/lupercalia-festival-at-roma.html

New Agitatores Video

2010-02-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

By Alekso Minotaur

Introducing the ROMA Annales

2010-02-27T10:36:00.001-08:00

As most of you know, the ROMA Scribae group has been busy over the last year documenting the history of ROMA and publishing the bi-weekly ACTA ROMA newsletter. Not many people know about the Scribae wiki which represents not only a growing repository of historical data about ROMA, but also a unique document regarding a venerable (in virtual terms) online community. You can access all of the pages on the Scribae wiki here: http://lingweenie.org/roma-scribae/index.php/Main_Page. The group and the wiki are managed by Citizen William Gide, and Citizen Spaciva Ivanova edits the ACTA. They are always looking for historians and reporters, so feel free to contact them in world about joining the group.

I would like to use this blog post to draw attention to a very important and very interesting feature of the Scribae wiki, the ROMA Annales. We have been focusing our attention on this aspect of the wiki for the last few months. The Annales are a listing of significant events in the life of ROMA and her community organized by year, month, and date. Often this also includes additional content such as the text from notices, links to photo albums, and notecard records. As well as this catalog, every festival day for the last four years has its own page where schedules, text, and photos are collected together to document what is probably one of the oldest, continual social celebrations in Second Life.

Do you remember when ROMA opened to the public as its own estate? (15 October 2006)
Do you remember when ROMA got chariots? (6 April 2008)
Do you remember when Angelia first became estate manager? (18 January 2007)
Do you remember when Achille updated the free togas in the Customs House? (10 March 2009)

The Annales contains a tremendous amount of information that should rekindle the memories of old timers and show newbies the long history and development of ROMA. You can start exploring the database here: http://lingweenie.org/roma-scribae/index.php/Annales

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Do you see something missing from the Annales, such as the date your Citizen-Run Group was founded? Just IM Torin Golding the information in world and he'll add it to the Annales. If you have a Flickr account, annotate festival images with your memories from the past events. If you are interested in helping to gather more data about the history of ROMA, including interviews with longtime Citizens and research into the vaults of the estate, contact William Gide or Spaciva Ivanova in world to be given an assignment.

Valete!

Lupercalia Festival Schedule

2010-02-18T10:49:00.000-08:00

Saturday February 20th:

10am - Lupercalia Ritual and The Running of the Luperci
In celebration of this most ancient of festivals we will be performing a Roman ritual for Faunus Lupercus, the God of Wild Things and Lupa, the shewolf who nourished the founding fathers Romulus and Remus. After the rite, we will have the Running of The Luperci - half-naked youths who bless the young ladies of the city. The women will run ahead of the Luperci, who will lightly flog them with the goatskin floggers in hopes of fertility (both of mind and body). Following the ritual, we will have our traditional Lupercalia Feast - and clothing is optional!
Location: Lupercal Cave, ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/68/202/55)

12pm - Lupercalia Wolf Hunt
Time for another Hunt - ROMA's own version of hide and seek+tag with prizes! For Lupercalia, we will have cunning wolves for you to chase - how many can you tag in 1 hour? The Hunt begins in Transtiberim and will cover all sims except Maritima & Insula. A $L1000 Prize will be awarded to the one who has tagged the most wolves.
Location: Transtiberim Path, ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/58/32/45)

2pm - Love Poetry & Prose hosted by Venus
Our lovely Goddess, Venus, will host for us a literary gathering where we will tell short stories and poetry with a romantic theme. Bring your favourite poetry and prose to share with your fellow ROMA Citizens, or just come and enjoy the storytelling and poetry reading in the romantic atmosphere!
Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/160/101/21)

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Sunday February 21st:

9:30am - Equirria Legion Blessing Ritual & Venus Honour Guard
The Legio, in a time honored military display, will present arms and come to be blessed for the new year. This presentation will be attended by the lovely Goddess Venus, who will offer Her own blessing as well. After the blessing, She will be escorted by a Legion Honour Guard to the baths where citizens may consult Her. Don't miss your chance to see our beautiful Goddess and our proud Legion!
Location: Fort, ROMA sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/75/57/26)

10am-ish - Ask Venus
Our lovely Goddess Venus will hold court in the Baths of Caracalla for those who seek council about matters of love and romance! Please join us with your questions, or just to hang out and hear what others wish to know. No question is too personal or trivial - Venus will answer them all!
Location: The Baths of Caracalla, ROMA sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/154/48/27)

1pm - Cupid Archery Tournament hosted by Legion XIII
As Venus is the Goddess of Erotic Love, Her son Cupid is the God of Romantic Love - and in His honour, ROMA and the Legion are hosting an archery contest - prizes will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners - based on total accumulated points in each of our 3 contests. Can you hit the mark as well as Cupid? Come prove it!
Location: Legion Archery Range, ROMA Transtiberim sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/125/233/404)

4pm - Lupercalia Grand Feast
To top off this festival weekend, we have The Grand Feast of Lupercalia! Join us for an evening of feasting, dancing, and good company, as well as our Lupercalia Costume Contest! Our costume theme this time around is Historical or Fictional Lovers. So come as Romeo & Juliet, Tarzan & Jane, Cleopatra & Antony - whatever takes your fancy! We will vote for best male and female costume - the winners will recieve $L1000! (You don't have to have a partner to enter the contest - you can enter as one half of a couple.)
Location: Throne Room, ROMA sim (http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/180/183/53)

The Aqua Traiana UPDATED

2010-01-29T22:31:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Citizen Rachel Corleone who spotted this great short video about a new discovery outside of Rome- the possible source of the Aqua Traiana. Check it out!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8486518.stm?ls

UPDATE:
The Rogue Classicism blog has a lot more details:

http://rogueclassicism.com/2010/02/01/still-more-on-the-aqua-traiana/

Paganalia Festival 2010 Schedule

2010-01-21T21:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday January 23th:

10am - Roman Paganalia Ritual
In celebration of Paganalia, the Roman festival of sowing, we will be performing a ritual to honour Ceres (the goddess of agriculture) and Tellus (Mother Earth), followed by a light social gathering with dancing. Come join us in celebrating the beginning of the Paganalia!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/60/30/45

12pm - Paganalia Fishing Contest
Break out your poles and put on your fishing togas - it's time for another ROMA Fishing event! Using the 7Seas Fishing system, we will be having a fishing contest, with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners recieving cash prizes.
Location: ROMA Transtiberim http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/123/154/29

2pm - Greek Paganalia Ritual
As ROMA's Paganalia is a celebration of all cultural pagan rites and ceremonies, this year we will be showing you the flip side of Graeco-Roman religion, with a Greek ritual for the Paganalia, honouring Poseidon - followed by a floating boat party in front of the temple.
Location: ROMA Maritima http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Maritima/206/128/2

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Sunday January 24th:

10am - Egyptian Horus Ritual
A re-created Egyptian Ritual to honour Horus and Osiris in honour of the ROMA Paganalia using texts from the Temple of Dendera and known elements of Egyptian worship. Please join us for this exhibit of what worship in ancient Kemet (Egypt) may have been like!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/177/108/22

12pm - Cloaca Croc Race
You may have explored ROMA's Cloaca Maxima before, but have you ever raced through it on the back of a crocodile? Well now you can! Our Cloaca Croc Race will be a timed race, with the 3 best times winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Can you navigate your croc through to victory before the competition? Join the race and find out!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/177/108/22

2pm - Native American Powwow Presentation
Our guest speakers from Virtual Native Lands will give us a slideshow presentation on Native American Powow etiquette. The presentation is in voice and text, and explains music styles and powwow dance - if you crave a true understanding of American Native culture and traditions, please join us for this unique opportunity of education and fun!
Location: ROMA Subura http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/141/127/87

4pm - Paganalia Grand Feast
The conclusion of ROMA's Paganalia Festival - join us for an evening of feasting, dancing, and good company, as well as our Paganalia Costume Contest! Come as your favourite god, mythological creature, or sacred beast. This theme encompasses all religions, so it doesn't need to be Roman. We will vote for best male and female costume - the winners will recieve $L1000!
Location: ROMA http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/160/137/52

Announcing the new ROMA CURIATE ASSEMBLY

2010-01-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

THE SHORT STORY:
ROMA will now have an assembly that will meet once a month. We are going to be replacing the ROMA Senate meeting with a larger gathering involving senators, citizens and group officers. The first meeting will be 11am Sunday 31 January.

THE DETAILS:
The ROMA CURIATE ASSEMBLY is the monthly meeting of ROMA Senators, officers, and Citizens. It meets in the ROMA Curia and replaces the former ROMA Senate meetings. The Assembly is a large body that consists of three parts, or “chambers”, each with their role to play in managing and maintaining ROMA. It is also a “think-tank” for proposing new ideas and discussing all aspects of the estate. The Assembly meets the last Sunday of every month.

Each part ("chamber") sits in its own designated area inside the Curia in order to make clear who is a voting member.

CHAMBER 1: The Senators (the Optimates)
The Senators have two main roles in ROMA: A) to serve as a direct advisory body to the Emperor, Estate Managers and owner of ROMA, and B) to serve as “point people” and organizers of many ROMA events and tasks. This latter role allows them to act as “patrons”, helping other Citizens in ROMA accomplish their goals and ideas for the estate. Senators are often also called upon to be the “public face of ROMA”, wearing their Senator title with pride amongst both their fellow Citizens and new visitors. All Citizens may approach ROMA Senators with issues and they will endeavor to find solutions.

The Senate has an executive officer (Princeps Senatus) and two Censors. All three are positions elected by active Senate members.
Senators have a lifetime appointment (unless they resign or are removed).
They are elected by their peers (following a period of training and mentoring).
Each Senator gets one vote in the Assembly on voting matters.
Senators can propose motions on which the whole Assembly can vote. The Princeps steers all motions, discussions, and voting.
Senators should offer to be the main point people and organizers of events and issues brought before the Senate if they are able.
Senators take their responsibly seriously as part of the public face of ROMA
Senate officers manage a "Task Board" like in the Collegium where they can keep tabs on the duties taken on by the Senators.
Senate “on call” buttons in the Tabularium facilitate contact between the Senators and the Citizenry.
Further Senate regulations and details are laid out in the Tabellae which will be updated shortly.

CHAMBER 2: The Group Officers (the Populares)
The second chamber of the Assembly is comprised of group officers from the various active groups in ROMA. The Senate officers and Prefect will keep a current list of active groups. Each group is able to appoint up to two representatives to sit in this chamber during meetings. They are called "Novi Homines / Novae Feminae" and speak with the authority of the group. They are present in the Assembly to A) facilitate communication between the various groups in ROMA, B) to brainstorm event ideas and solicit assistance from the Senators in organizing events and ideas, and C) to bring any public issues to discussion within the Assembly.

Each Official and recognized Citizen-Run Group can appoint up to two "Novi Homines / Novae Feminae" to attend the Senate meetings in official capacity.
Family groups themselves are not eligible for a "Novi Homines / Novae Feminae" slot because they are considered sub-groups within the Theatrum group (and sit on the Theatrum council), but the Theatrum group may appoint a Family member to represent the Theatrum in the chamber as one of their "Novi Homines / Novae Feminae".
Each group decides how long each representative serves.
Each Novi Homines or Novae Feminae gets one vote in Senate voting matters.
Each Novi Homines or Novae Feminae can propose motions on which the whole Assembly votes. The Princeps Senatus steers all motions, discussions, and voting, including those proposed from within the Populares.
Groups must have a minimum membership number and must be active to participate in the Assembly.
SPECIAL NOTE ON THE COLLEGIUM: When the Assembly turns to Populares business in the agenda, the Collegium group goes first in order to discuss upcoming festival plans. This part of the meeting is steered by the Vestalis Maxima (if present) or a Collegium representative in order to discuss what is needed from the Assembly members and Groups for the next festival. The Vestalis Maxima (or Senatus Princeps is she is absent) can call for motions, discussions, and voting if necessary during this section of the meeting, but presumably that will not be necessary most of the time. This clause is to facilitate festival planning and the dissemination of information to the groups who will be participating in the festival.

CHAMBER 3: The Public Council
The Citizenry of ROMA is invited to participate in the Assembly. A special seating area in the Curia will allow spectators to join in the moderated discussions.

The Princeps will call upon people to speak during discussions. Those wishing to speak should IM the Princeps or signify in chat text that they wish to speak.
The Public council has no vote on voting matters, and may not make motions, but they can present ideas and take part in the debate.

A NOTE ON CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP: Someone can theoretically be a member of all three chambers, but they can only 'sit' in one area of the Curia. For example, the Collegium would probably not want to appoint MajorMatt to be their "Novus Homo" since he is already a sitting Senator, but if they did, he would have to make a decision where to sit when he got to the Curia. He would then be bound by the regulations of the chamber he was sitting in that day (i.e. if he was in the Public Council, he would not be able to make a motion).

A NOTE ON VOTING: Voting during an Assembly meeting will most often be used to ratify a "We would like to do this" motion or a "Can we do something about this" motion after discussion. It will be by declamation (“Yes” or “No” in chat), but the Princeps can defer any vote to the Messageboard if more discussion is needed or more input is desired. Secret ballots, though probably unnecessary, are also allowed.

Once the Assembly votes on a proposal, it technically goes to the Emperor for ratification. Most of the time, Torin will be able to ratify it immediately (“rubber stamp it”) during the meeting in his role as Prefect. Action, such as planning, then can immediately commence. On some matters, particularly those needing more discussion amongst the Estate Managers, Torin will defer immediate ratification and instead refer the proposal to a committee or to the Imperium management group. It may even be sent back to the Assembly at a future time for more discussion and another vote.

2009 Saturnalia Schedule

2009-12-17T18:55:00.000-08:00

Saturday 19th December

10am- Saturnalia Ritual & Tavern Celebration
Saturnalia begins with ritual to honour Saturn and Sol Invictus, followed by a party in the Tavern with dancing, music, and general merry-making. Saturnalia in ancient Rome was one of the most popular festivals of the year. It was marked by a license for mischief and high spirits (within limits) and reversal of social roles, in which slaves and masters switched places. So put on your pileus (freedmans cap), your most colourful clothes, and come party like a Patrician (Even if you're not)! Io Saturnalia!
Location: ROMA Plaza
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22

12pm (Noon)- Saturnalia Skating & Snowball Fights
Lake Trasimenus has frozen over and that can mean only one thing - skating time has returned to ROMA! A beautiful ice forest has sprung up on the frozen water - where we will skate, enjoy hot chocolate (or maybe something a little stronger!), and toss snowballs at each other! We have a Skoopf skate vendor as well as free skates availible, and a free snowball thrower too! Just us for all the frosty frozen fun!
Location: Lake Trasimenus
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/134/127/22

2pm- Saturnalia Snowman Building Contest
Do you like playing in the snow? Do you like building snowmen? Then we have a contest for you! In order of the winter season, we are having a snowman building contest - limited only by your imagination! Some come build us a snowman, a snow angel, even a snow dog if you want! Winners will be chosen by a 3 judge panel, and will be rated in 3 categories: Creativity, Style, and Seasonality (how well your creation fits into the seasonal theme). Builders will have 1 hour to complete their creations, and prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.
Location: ROMA Subura Park
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/138/128/2

Sunday 20th December

10am- Subura Domus Deco Walking Tour
A walking tour through Subura to see all the decorated homes - come join in walking in a winter wonderland! The residents os Subura have decorated their homes for the season, and some of them have entered into our Domus Deco contest! After the walking tour, the voting will take place at a festive gathering celebrating the grand opening of the Villa Romani - an educational recreation of a real roman villa. There will be dancing, drinks, good music, and much to explore!
Location: Subura Julian Plaza
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Subura/17/49/23

12pm (Noon)- Saturn's Treasure Hunt
As Saturn is the god that presides over the Roman Treasury, we are holding a treasure hunt! The Great God Saturn has cast a number of pouches all over ROMA sim - and they are all full of gold (lindens)! The game is simple: find a pouch, click it, and you get to keep the cash! But each pouch contains a differing amount, and there are more smaller pouches than large ones. But if you're lucky, you may even find a pouch worth $L200! (There are only a handful of these hidden throughout the sim though, so you must keep your eyes peeled!) Once a pouch is claimed, it's gone - so hunt fast! How much gold can you collect in 1 hour? Join us and find out!
Location: ROMA Plaza
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/184/42/26

2pm- Saturnalia Scavenger Hunt
For those who like a bit of a challenge, we offer another hunt - a Scavenger Hunt! Seek through all the ROMA sims for 3 items in each sim - when you find it, take a snapshot and add it to your hunt notecard (this will cost you $L10 per upload). The first person to complete the full set of hunt targets will be judged the winner - and the prize is $L1000! You have up to 1 hour to complete the hunt (but you may have less if someone completes their list before you). Are you up to the challenge? Prove it!
Location: ROMA Plaza
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/184/42/26

4pm- Saturnalia Grand Feast
Io Saturnalia! Or Merry Xmas! Or Happy Hanukkah! Or whatever the season's holiday means for you! Our festival culminates in the Saturnalia Grand Feast, in a beautiful ice palace - in addition to the traditional feasting and dancing, we also have ice skating (for those who missed it the first time round), polar bathing (all you polar bears - bring your swimsuits!) and an ice carousel! It's also our last chance to get together before the holidays - so come wish your fellow ROMAns Happy Holidays!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim Campus Martius
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/160/101/22

ROMA Saturnalia Sleigh

2009-12-16T04:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Alekso Minotaur, you can take a ride through the Transtiberim sim on a comfortable Saturnalia Sleigh. You can even invite some friends to ride along. Just be careful of the icy roads! If you hit too many rough spots, the structural integrity of the sleigh just may not hold!

You can find the Saturnalia Sleigh stall just outside Ostia in the ROMA Transtiberim sim.

Slurl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/197/118/22

ROMA in Winter Album

2009-12-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

A new album has been posted on the ROMA Citizens Flikr page. It shows many images of the ROMA estate after the most recent snowfall, and decorated for the holidays. Find it at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/romacitizens/sets/72157622886046675/

The ROMA Subura History Exhibit- Coming Soon!

2009-12-14T00:26:00.000-08:00

The Subura has been in existence since March of 2007. It not only represents ROMA's first expansion, but also houses a vibrant and colorful community. We would like to commemorate the sim and its residents with a special exhibit in the Baths of Caracalla gallery and an illustrated book (both in SL and RL) sponsored by the ROMA Scribae group.

We are asking both current and former residents, as well as ROMA Citizens-at-large, to donate snapshots and images of the Subura. This can be of your own domus, a build you found interesting inside the Subura, or the illustration of a past event or activity inside the Subura. Historical images are particularly welcome, as this exhibit will aim to reconstruct the history of the sim. So even if you are no longer a resident, but still have some images of your build, we would love to include them in the exhibit.

If you would like to contribute, please see below. Contributions are due **31 January**. The exhibit will go live in January and last until the third anniversary of the Subura in March 2010.

TO DONATE A SNAPSHOT:
1. If the snapshot is already in-world: Give it a descriptive title, make sure it is full permissions, and drop it directly on Torin Golding. You can also attach it to a notecard where you tell us about the photo or image and drop both on Torin.

2. If the snapshot is not already in-world, you don’t need to spend the L$10 to upload it. Just send it as an email attachment to romacitizens@yahoo.com. Be sure to give it a descriptive title, or tell us about the photo or image in the email.

TO DONATE A NARRATIVE:
If you would like to write a few words about your Subura plot (present or past) to possibly include in the exhibit and/or book, write everything on a notecard and drop it on Torin Golding in-world. We anticipate displaying test in both the exhibit and the books.

THE LEGAL STUFF:
All submissions become property of ROMA so that we may publish them in the exhibit books. All snapshots and narratives will retain their original photo and author credits (ie. everything will still list you as the photographer and/or author).

Once we get all of the submissions, we will assemble the exhibit and book for a January launch. In-game, the book will be abridged (due to in-world page restrictions) and given away for free to everyone as a souvenir for the duration of the exhibit. The RL paperback book will be published by a print-on-demand press and available on the web to anyone who would like to buy a RL copy. All proceeds from the RL book sale will go to ROMA estate upkeep.

Ludi Plebeii Festival Schedule

2009-11-17T19:39:00.000-08:00

21st November :

The Feast of Jupiter - 10am

The beginning of the Ludi Plebeii is Jupiter's Feast in the ROMA Forum. Beginning with a procession from the ROMA Plaza outside the Tavern, the Citizens will meet the Capitoline Triad in the Forum, where a ritual to ask for Their blessings will be performed. Immediately after the ritual, the feast will begin - with food, wine, and dancing in the company of the Gods.

ROMA Agitatores Chariot Races - 12pm (Noon)
In honour of Jupiter, Best and Greatest, Divine Mother Juno, and Wise Minerva, there will be chariot racing in the Subura! We invite all to come join in this spectacle, to cheer on the racers of our new Agitatores group as they navigate a tricky figure-8 loop through the narrow streets - hopefully without taking out anyone's domus (or themselves) in the process!

Palaestra Plebeii- 2pm

Summer is gone, and Autumn is nearly spent, but that's no excuse for not keeping in shape! Come join us at MajorMatt's Palaestra in Subura, where we will have wrestling games, discus throwing, and other athletic entertainments for you to enjoy. There will also be refreshments and massage tables availible for after your extreme workout.

22nd November :
Ludi Lectica Race - 10am

A Lectica Race through Subura! For those unfamiliar with what a lectica is: it is a roman carrying litter. This race will require 3 man teams - so ask around now to find partners! The race will traverse the length of Transtiberim - including a bridge across the lake, so be careful! (Falling into the lake disqualifies you!) Can you make it across the sim to be the first one past the finish line? The prize is $L1500 for the lucky team who can. (That's $L500 for each team member!)

Legion XIII Archery Contest - 12pm (Noon)

Legion XIII is hosting our Ludi Plebeii Archery Contest - and there will be prizes for the best archers! Are you a secret Robin Hood? Can you hit an apple off an avatar's head at 50 paces? Can you not even hit the broad side of a barn? Whatever your skill level, you're welcome to join the competition - it promises to be fun for all!

Thanksgiving Turkey Hunt - 2pm
In honour of the American and Canadian custom of Thanksgiving - we will be having a turkey hunt - but there's a catch - these turkeys are *TINY*. Barely the size of a large chihuahua, they are agile, speedy, and extremely difficult to tag - but if you can tag the most turkeys in 1 hour, you'll earn yourself $L1000 to have your own thanksgiving feast! (Or maybe just to buy that fancy new outfit you've had your eye on.) How many turkeys can you tag? Join the hunt and find out!

Jupiter's Grand Feast - 4pm
The Ludi Plebeii concludes with Jupiter's Grand Feast - and the theme of this feast is Gods & Goddesses! So dress up as your favourite deity - of any pantheon - and enter our Grand Feast Costume Contest. There will be two categories - Best God and Best Goddess, and the winners will each recieve $L1000 (or more, if the crowd adds to the pot). They will also win a ROMA Party Animal token that is worth 1 point on the ROMA Achievement Board! (But even if you don't win the contest, you can try to impress the Imperium members to give you a Party Animal token.) A night of feasting, dancing, and prizes not to be missed!

Announcing the ACTA ROMA

2009-11-01T21:09:00.000-08:00

The ROMA Scribae group will now publish a bi-weekly newsletter notecard detailing the news from ROMA.

The "Acta ROMA" will contain stories about ROMA's community, useful information, group news, historical and cultural showcases, classifieds, and other content. It will help keep all ROMA info in one place.

Are you interested in helping to write for this newsletter? Contact editor *Spaciva Ivanova*. We need reporters for a third week of November inaugural issue.

Aristophanes' "Peace" at noon 17 October in ROMA

2009-10-17T00:49:00.000-07:00

Introducing [RAS]!

2009-10-11T00:23:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce the new ROMA Achievement System [RAS]!

Now you can earn titles, rewards, and prizes through your involvement in ROMA. Currently, 35 different Achievements can be earned, and many more will be added at regular intervals in Group, Estate, Event, and Attraction categories. Each Achievement you earn in ROMA comes with four things:

a special title
achievement points
a unique item
a colorful badge displayed on a weekly updated leader board

See where you rank and earn those Achievements today!

Learn more about the [RAS] here!

Check out the Achievements Leader Board here!

Questions? Check out our [RAS] FAQ page here!

Special Notice on the inaugural [RAS] listings: Initial positions on the leader board were made with the memories of the ROMA Management team. If something is wrong, see the FAQ page for how to submit a correction.

ROMA @ III Festival Schedule

2009-10-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

All Festival Long Displays and Rides:

ROMA Photo Contest
Contest Rules

ROMA Film Contest
Contest Rules

Special ROMA @ III Museum Exhibit - A History of ROMA
Location: Capitoline Museum, ROMA

ROMA Gallery Exhibit - Festival Sun and Snow globes
Location: Baths of Caracalla Gallery, ROMA

Bumper Litters Attraction
Location: Fort Augusta, ROMA

Freebies from ROMA Merchants
Location; Julian Plaza, ROMA Subura

Sunday 11th October
11:30am ROMA @ III Blessing Ritual
12pm ROMA @ III Grand Ball event

It is the 3rd anniversary of ROMA's construction! Please join us for the start of a week long celebration - with the kickoff event of a general blessing of all of ROMA by the Collegia Religio Romana, to ensure the Gods favour of our City for another year. This will be immediately followed by the ROMA @ III Grand Ball, welcoming our regular Citizens and new visitors to another year of wonderful events and camaraderie!
Location: The Gardens of Maecenas, ROMA

Monday 12th October
2pm ROMA @ III Scholastica Antiqua Lecture by William Gide

Attention all scholars and history buffs! ROMA and the Scholastica Antiqua is proud to present a lecture by William Gide, official ROMA Chief Scribe - "The Indo-European Heritage in Greek and Latin Poetry." Just as linguists are able to discover relationships between languages and show that, for example, Sanskrit and Welsh are actually distant relatives, we can also investigate the common poetic relationships in the literatures of these languages. In this talk we'll look at some of the common themes and techniques that join the poetry of the classical world to everything from the Vedas in India to versified legal documents in old Ireland.
Location: Odeon of Marcellus, ROMA

Tuesday 13th October
10am ROMA @ III Ludus event
12pm ROMA @ III Agitatores event

A ROMA @ III day of Bread & Circuses! Today's first event will be a rousing gladiator fight presented by the Ludus Dacicus Gladiatorii, followed by a chariot race by ROMA's own Agitatores (Charioteers Group) around our newly rebuilt Circus Maximus Hippodrome! Prize purses will be given to the top winning gladiator, and for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the races. (If you are interested in arena fighting or chariot racing - please consider joining the groups mentioned above.)
Ludus Location: Ludus Dacicus Gladiatorii, ROMA Transtiberim
Agitatores Location: Circus Maximus Hippodrome, ROMA

Wednesday 14th October
12pm ROMA @ III Theatrum RP event

Are you interested in Role Playing in ROMA? The Theatrum Romanum (ROMA RP group) has created a roleplay event especially for ROMA @ III - A lavish Roman dinner banquet! What intrigues will unfold? What gossip will be revealed? And what political power machinations can you devise to rise higher in the Patrician heirarchy? To find out, put on your RP tags and your best dinner party attire and take part in this roleplay event! (If you are new to ROMA RP, please review the ROMA Roleplay Rules)
Location: Plot 12, ROMA Subura

Thursday 15th October
1pm ROMA @ III Scholastica Antiqua Lecture by Angelia Rees

The second lecture in our Scholastica Antiqua ROMA @ III series - Vestalis Maxima (Chief Vestal), Angelia Rees, will be presenting "Roman Religion and Practice", a lecture on the basic structure and practices of the ancient Roman faith. The lecture will cover the Roman concept of "numina", and household worship, as well as the more familiar Olympian Gods.
Location: Odeon of Marcellus, ROMA

Friday 16th October
12pm ROMA @ III Ave Weekend Senate event
1pm ROMA @ III Legion event (The Battle of Zama)
Summer is over and the Ave Weekend events have started again! The Senate is graciously hosting this Ave Weekend party, so we can TGIF in the best ROMAn style! And *right after* that, the Legion has prepared for us a demonstration of the Battle of Zama (the final major battle of the Second Punic War) - showing the formations and tactics between Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus and Hannibal's armies - join us for this entertaining and educational recreation!
Ave Weekend Location: Venus' Magical Garden, ROMA Subura
Legion Event Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim

Saturday 17th October
12pm ROMA @ III Theatrical event (Aristophanes' "Peace")
1:30pm ROMA LGBT & Amici Party

Join us in the completely refurbished Theatre of Dionysus for a special ROMA @ III production of "Peace" by Aristophanes (translated and updated by Torin Golding). An anti-war play, Aristophanes wrote "Peace" to be a comedic, witty, and scathing theatrical assault on Athens' (by this time) 10 year Peloponnesian War against the Spartans. The main plotline of the play is the intense desire of the citizens for relief from the miseries of war and the lengths one man goes to to achieve it. The play will immediately be followed by the ROMA LGBT & Amici party to celebrate beginning their second year in ROMA - with dancing, music, and good company all around!
Location: Theater of Dionysus, ROMA

Sunday 18th October
12pm ROMA Lemuralia
2pm ROMA Hallow'een Grand Feast

In Roman religion, the Lemuralia or Lemuria was a feast during which the ancient Romans performed rites to exorcise the malevolent and fearful ghosts of the dead from their homes. Though traditionally held in May, ROMA has moved this festival to coincide with the more modern celebration of Hallow'een, another day of ghouls and ghastlies. Our Lemuralia ritual will banish any malevolent spirits, both real & imagined, while welcoming the protective spirits of the Lares and beneficent ancestors. Our second event and the final ending to our ROMA @ III celebration is the ROMA Hallow'een Grand Feast - so break out your scariest or most fanciful costumes and come prepared for a spooky good time! We'll have a contest for best costumes and Hallow'een trivia by Mickey James, both of which can earn you cash prizes!
Lemuralia Location: Street of Tombs, ROMA Transtiberim
Grand Feast Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim

ROMA @ III Amateur Film Contest

2009-10-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

Please help celebrate ROMA´s third anniversary by making your own tribute film. If you currently make your own videos or needed an excuse to learn how, the Emperor now calls you to pay homage to the glory of the Empire. Help create memories of this wonderful achievement and entertain the citizens as well.

For the contest, you will have several options:

1) Record you own movie in Second Life

2) Combine still images from Second Life

3) Take a source movie and edit it to make your film.

4) Some combination of the above

The finished movie must be no longer than 3 minutes. The theme must be ROMA-related and fall below or within the limits of an R (restricted) rated movie (See http://www.mpaa.org/FlmRat_Ratings.asp for descriptions of the various ratings). The final movie should be in youtube-ready format. *Your movie should be ready by November 1, 2009. The movies will be listed on the ROMA Citizens blog and included in a special screening event held in November.*

A possible source movie is The Invincible Gladiator from 1962. Here is a creative commons version that allows for remix: http://www.archive.org/details/AteneaFilmsPublicDomainTheInvincibleGladiator. Please make sure that you have the rights to any footage you use. ROMA will not be responsible for your copyright infringement.

Please direct your interest, questions or comments to JT Vale or the ROMA Entertainers Group.

ROMA @ III SNAPSHOT CONTEST

2009-10-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

This contest will run until October 17, 2009. Until then, wander around the ROMA sims and find your favorite spot to take a snapshot. Stage a snapshot with friends. Show the world how you experience ROMA.

There are 3 categories for the contest:

= Best Avatar Portrait or Self-Portrait
= Best Shot of a ROMA Landmark
= Best Illustration of Roman History and/or Culture

Each category will have 3 winners. The prizes are:

= First Prize: 1,000 L$ in each category
= Second Prize: 500 L$ in each category
= Third Prize: 250 L$ in each category

The contest will be judged by the Prefect, and the officers of the Collegia and the Senate (Torin, Angelia, Maali, Amalthea, JT, Mickey).

All entries will be displayed in a special exhibit in the Capitoline Museum in ROMA. The winners will also be added to the ROMA Flickr page and blog.

To enter the contest, read the rules below.

RULES:
The maximum time each person can enter the contest is once per category. You do not need to provide a snapshot for each category, but can only enter one snapshot per category.

Snapshots must be taken in one of the public areas of the ROMA sims (ROMA Insula is permitted, but private rental plots in the Subura are not eligible as settings).

If any of the judges enter a snapshot in a category, they are inelligible to judge that category.

Modifying the image, such as in Photoshop or some other editing software program, is allowed.

Next to the Bakery in ROMA three jars have been set up in a stall, one for each category. Title your snapshot whatever you wish, but make sure it is full permissions (mod/copy/transfer). Put your entry into the corresponding category jar. The person labeled as "Creator" of the snapshot on the Properties window will be the entrant.

Winners will be announced soon after 17 October.

The contest is open to everyone, though you may want to make sure you are a member of the ROMA Citizens group to receive the notice about who has won.

Remodel inside the Baths of Caracalla

2009-09-18T01:43:00.001-07:00

The interior staircase of the Baths of Caracalla has been rebuilt by the Prefect.

Now, a grand double curved staircase rises to the upper floor, decorated with a massive fountain and a marble naked statue of Venus.

Check it out today!

ROMA September Festival Schedule

2009-09-14T13:40:00.001-07:00

Saturday 19th September

9am - Ludi Romani Jupiter Ritual and Feast @ Basilica
This month's festival begins with a ritual for Jupiter, honouring Him as King of the Gods and spiritual father of the Roman Pantheon. Our ritual will be followed by a very special feast in honour of a very special ROMAn - so you won't want to miss it!
Location: ROMA Basilica of Maxentius
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22

11am - Ludi Romani Chariot Races @ Hippodrome
Come race round the spina in ROMA's Circus Maximus Hippodrome! Our chariot races, in honour of Jupiter, will be four 3-lap races - the winners of the first three races will compete in the final race to determine the final winners. There will be cash purses for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. But beware! Chariot racing is a dangerous sport - these chariots can wreck and put you out of the race! Are you skilled enough to beat the odds? Come race and find out!
Location: The ROMA Circus Maximus Hippodrome
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/215/25/22

1pm - Ludi Romani Gladiator Fight @ Ostia Ludus
Witness our brave gladiators fight for the honour of Jupiter and the glory of ROMA in several bouts to the "death"! The gladiator with the most bouts won will receive a cash purse and be granted a laurel wreath of victory by the Prefect himself! Come watch the bloody battles and cheer your favourite on to glory!
Location: Gladiator Arena in ROMA Transtiberim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/156/152/32

3pm - Ludi Romani Cart Race thru Transtiberim
For those of you for whom the idea of a chariot race is too risky, we offer this rustic alternative - a handcart race! The race will make one loop around Transtiberim, with the first cart across the finish line as the winner! The race is run in pairs - one riding the cart, the other pushing it as fast as they can toward victory! Each member of the pair will receive a prize if their cart wins. Can you make it through Transtiberim's rugged terrain as the leader of the pack?
Location: Head of the Transtiberim Path in ROMA Transtiberim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/58/32/45

****************************************************
Sunday 20th September

9am - Ludi Romani Art Exposition @ Gallery in Transtiberim
View the beautiful creations of some of ROMA's best artists! At our Art Expo, you'll see beautiful photos, paintings, sculpture, and more - and maybe even get a chance to buy them from the artists themselves! Not all the works are Roman in nature, but all of them are beautiful!
Location: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtiberim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/160/101/22

11am - Ludi Romani Poetry Reading @ Mt. Olympus in Transtiberim
For those of you with an intellectual bent, Jupiter has opened up the gates of Mount Olympus for a relaxing hour of poetry! The theme for this reading is "Poems which mention the Muses" and "Poems relating to Art, Music, and Poetry". You can read your favourite poems by other authors or share one of your own compositions.
Location: Mt Olympus in ROMA Transtiberim
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA%20Transtiberim/68/192/134

1pm - "The Muses" Mini-play @ Theatre of Dionysus
You may have heard of The Muses, but do you really know who they are? Our mini-play will attempt to enlighten you! Come meet the Nine Divine Sisters who have been the inspiration of poets, musicians, and artists since ancient times!
Location: Theater of Dionysus, ROMA
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/227/167/46

3:30pm - Ludi Romani Grand Feast @ ROMA Forum
Our festivals wind down with the Grand Feast in honour of Jupiter - come dance with us in the ROMA forum to the smooth tunes of JazzMan Correia! In addition to live music & dancing, there will be trivia by our very own Trivia Master, Mickey James (with monetary prizes for the winners)!
Location: ROMA Forum
SLUrl: http://slurl.com/secondlife/ROMA/57/152/45

Something New Coming Soon!

2009-08-21T21:25:00.000-07:00

The ROMA Management Team is working on a brand new feature for ROMA and its Citizens. We can't tell you much about it yet, but we predict:

It will bring a great new dimension to your time in ROMA.
It will be both fun and social.
It will give you a lot to brag about.
It will reward those most active in the estate.
It will make even more things to see and do in ROMA.
It will be a great way to make new friends.
Other ancient sims will eventually shamelessly copy it from us (as always) ;)

So watch this space for big news soon!

-Torin

August ROMA Festivals

2009-08-15T00:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday 15th August

9am - Nemoralia Ritual @ Diana's shrine in Transtiberim
This month's festivals begin with a ritual for Diana & Trivia (Hecate, to you Greeks) honouring these Goddesses of the wild and the darkness. Please join us in celebrating the wild side of life, the natural world, and the mysteries of existence!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim

11am - Nemoralia Treasure Hunt
Diana and Trivia have scattered treasure across ROMA for Their faithful worshippers to find! Come join us in seeking to discover the hidden bounty! The hunt will take place across 3 sims: ROMA, ROMA Subura, and ROMA Transtiberim. Finding yourself in need of a few Linden? Perhaps the Goddesses will provide! Come hunt with us and fill your purses!
Location: ROMA sim

1pm - Dianic Ritual for the Amazons @ Subura Temple
A ritual especially for the Amazons of our Legion, to affirm and connect with their Patron Goddess, Diana - but all are welcome! Come support the Amazons and celebrate with them as they are blessed by Their Goddess!
Location: ROMA Subura sim

3pm - Vinalia Rustica Wine Celebration
The ancient Vinalia Rustica was a celebration of the grape and the fruits of the Earth - during this festival, the alcoholic consumption was intense and Roman women were supervised and given less alcoholic drinks to prevent them from public drunkness. But never fear - ROMA never waters down it's drinks! So drink and dance with us as we praise the gifts of the grape!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim

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Sunday 16th August

9am - Vulcanalia Ritual @ the Volcano in ROMA
Our second day of festivals begins with a ritual to honour Vulcan, the God of the Forge, and asking His blessing on all our crafts. Since He was also the God of Volcanos and fire, we will celebrate His blessings and protection after the rite with a dip in the Lake of Fire!
Location: ROMA sim

9:30am - Vulcan's Pool Party @ the Volcano in ROMA
Are you brave enough to take a swim in Vulcan's personal pool? Then dive into our lava lake and give new meaning to the term "taking a hot bath"! There will be food, wine, and good company as we splash about in our "heated pool" and celebrate the last warm days of summer.
Location: ROMA sim

12pm - Vulcanalia Smithcraft Workshop in Subura
Our very own mastersmith Enamabala Towradgi will be giving a class on swordsmithing in SL in honour of the Master of Smiths, Vulcan. Come learn how the Romans crafted their weapons and create your own blades under Enama's expert tutoring. All are welcome, regardless of building skill-level!
Location: ROMA Subura sim

3pm - The Fires in the Night Grand Feast in Transtiberim
Our festivals wind down with the Grand Feast in honour of Diana, Trivia, and Vulcan - come dance with us in Diana's Grove, beneath the light of Her silvery moon and the flames of Vulcan's Forge! There will be music & dancing, as well as trivia by our own Mickey James (with monetary prizes for the winners)!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim

ROMA Bellonalia & Vestalia Schedule

2009-06-12T22:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday 13th June

9am - Bellona Ritual

Our festivals begin with a ritual for Bellona, the Roman Goddess of War - sister of Mars, and Spiritual Mother of ROMA's Amazons. Little is known of Bellona's rites in Ancient times, save that they were held in Her temple on the Campus Martius - but we have our own ritual to honour Her on ROMA's Campus Martius. After the rite, we will begin the martial contests, where contestants will strive for glory (and cash prizes)!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim (outside Ostia)

9:30am - Bellona Martial Contests

To further honour Bellona, we will be having some martial contests & games in Transtiberim. There will be javelin throwing, discus throwing, wrestling, archery, and climbing contests. The winner of each type of event will win $L500. Then all the winners will be allowed to race for the grand prize - to the top of the Tower of Doom! Do you have what it takes to win it all? Come test your skills and luck!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim (outside Ostia)

12pm - Legion XIII's Bellonalia Biathlon

Legion XIII will be holding a Bellona Biathlon for your viewing pleasure! This is a two part competition, which will begin with an archery contest in Fort Augusta. The top 3 winners will move on to the next event - horse racing. After a procession to the Circus Maximus, the winning athletes will compete in a 6 lap race. Once the grand champion is chosen, the audience will have the opportunity to challenge him/her in another race for a cash purse.
Location: ROMA Fort Augusta

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Sunday 14th June

9:30am - Vestalia Ritual

The time has come again to honour Vesta, Goddess of Hearth and Home! Please join us in honouring Her with a ritual, that she might shed Her warmth and light on ROMA for another year! After the ritual, we will have a procession from the Vestal temple to the Subura - where some of the residents there have opened their homes for our pleasure!
Location: ROMA, Temple of Vesta

10am - Subura Domus Crawl

Ever heard of a pub crawl? Well we've come up with our own version - the Subura Domus Crawl! Join us in invading the homes of some of Subura's residents! Ever wondered what some of our citizens are hiding behind their tall walls? Now you can see for yourself! We will have 30 minutes in each participating domus to explore, dance, and raid some of the goodies they've set out for us! Each home will have a different musical theme as well, so that the ongoing party never gets stale. This event will last all day - so come early, or come late, but come join us!
Location: ROMA Subura, Julian Plaza

4pm - The Bellona & Vesta Grand Feast

Our Festivals culminate with the Bellona & Vesta Grand Feast - our wind-down party from the hectic Subura tour! Come dance with us around the bonfire to some relaxing tunes and pleasant conversation!
Location: ROMA, Gardens of Maecenas

New Video: R.G.W.

2009-06-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

Remember... what happens in ROMA, stays in ROMA ;)

ROMA Bellonalia & Vestalia Schedule

2009-06-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

Saturday 13th June

9am - Bellona Ritual

Our festivals begin with a ritual for Bellona, the Roman Goddess of War - sister of Mars, and Spiritual Mother of ROMA's Amazons. Little is known of Bellona's rites in Ancient times, save that they were held in Her temple on the Campus Martius - but we have our own ritual to honour Her on ROMA's Campus Martius. After the rite, we will begin the martial contests, where contestants will strive for glory (and cash prizes)!

Location: Campus Martius, ROMA Transtiberim

9:30am - Bellona Martial Contests

To further honour Bellona, we will be having some martial contests & games in Transtiberim. There will be javelin throwing, discus throwing, wrestling, archery, and climbing contests. The winner of each type of event will win $L500. Then all the winners will be allowed to race for the grand prize - to the top of the Tower of Doom! Do you have what it takes to win it all? Come test your skills and luck!

Location: Campus Martius, ROMA Transtiberim

12pm - Legion XIII's Bellonalia Biathlon

Legion XIII will be holding a Bellona Biathlon for your viewing pleasure! This is a two part competition, which will begin with an archery contest in Fort Augusta. The top 3 winners will move on to the next event - horse racing. After a procession to the Circus Maximus, the winning athletes will compete in a 6 lap race. Once the grand champion is chosen, the audience will have the opportunity to challenge him/her in another race for a cash purse.

Location: Fort Legio VII Augustus, ROMA

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Sunday 14th June

9:30am - Vestalia Ritual

The time has come again to honour Vesta, Goddess of Hearth and Home! Please join us in honouring Her with a ritual, that she might shed Her warmth and light on ROMA for another year! After the ritual, we will have a procession from the Vestal temple to the Subura - where some of the residents there have opened their homes for our pleasure!

Location: The Temple of Vesta, ROMA

10am - Subura Domus Crawl

Ever heard of a pub crawl? Well we've come up with our own version - the Subura Domus Crawl! Join us in invading the homes of some of Subura's residents! Ever wondered what some of our citizens are hiding behind their tall walls? Now you can see for yourself! We will have 30 minutes in each participating domus to explore, dance, and raid some of the goodies they've set out for us! Each home will have a different musical theme as well, so that the ongoing party never gets stale. This event will last all day - so come early, or come late, but come join us!

Location: ROMA Subura

4pm - The Bellona & Vesta Grand Feast

Our Festivals culminate with the Bellona & Vesta Grand Feast - our wind-down party from the hectic Subura tour! Come dance with us around the bonfire to some relaxing tunes and pleasant conversation!

Location: The Gardens of Maecenas, ROMA

New ROMA Web Portal

2009-06-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

Avete Citizens!

Exciting news from the Palatine! At long last ROMA has its own web domain: www.romacitizens.com.

This will serve as a portal for all of our online content. Virtually all of our previous web pages will continue to exist at their old URLs (such as this blog, the messageboard, the ning.com social sites, etc), but will now be pulled together and fully accessible from www.romacitizens.com.

Now you only need to remember one web address to access all of ROMA!

(Group Officers: If you would like to have any info added, or if you would like to create your own web content for this site, talk to Torin and he'll make it happen.)

ROMA Bona Dea & Mercuralia Schedule

2009-05-15T01:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday 16th May

10 am - Bona Dea Ritual & Maypole Dance

Our festivals begin with a ritual for Bona Dea, "The Good Goddess" - Also known as Fauna, She is the daughter of Faunus, and a goddess virginity, fertility, and healing. Bona Dea's rites included only women - even paintings or drawings of men or male animals were forbidden - but in our ROMA, the menfolk are welcome to Her rites. After the rite, we will have the traditional maypole dance, as well as grape-stomping and wine!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim

12pm - Bona Dea Cross-Dressing Contest

Because no women were traditionally allowed to participate in Bona Dea's rites, we have found a way to sneak the men in! We will be having a cross-dressing contest for the boys of ROMA - but there's a catch! Just as in RL, you can change everything but your shape - that must remain male! There will be cash prizes for the Prettiest, Ugliest, Most Realistic, and Most Outrageous costumes - don't be shy, come join in the fun! Please see attached rules for details.
Location: ROMA Transtiberim sim

2pm - Bona Dea Carnivale

To help celebrate the return of warm weather and springtime, what's better than a carnivale? Perhaps celebrating one of ROMA's very own MVPs! We are starting a new tradition this year, honouring various ROMA Citizens for their contributions - since Bona Dea is a female festival, our MPV is Spaciva Ivanova! The carnivale will also help raise funds for the Legion & Collegia, who are in danger of losing their HQs. So come along, have some fun and make a difference while you play! (We will be electing a male MVP at Saturnalia as well!)
�ocation: ROMA Fort

***********************************************************

Sunday 17th May

10am - Mercuralia Ritual

Mercury isn't just the herald of the Gods - He's also the patron of merchants and commerce! So this Mercuralia, we will be honouring Him with a ritual in the Mercury Temple at the Macellum! After the ritual, there will be drinking, dancing, and games in the Tavern. Consider it the calm before a long day of contests!
Location: ROMA Subura

11am- Senate Meeting

The public is invited to the ROMA Senate meeting in the ROMA Curia.
Location: ROMA sim

12pm - Mercuralia Footrace

Mercury is known for His swift travel as well - do you think you can match His prowess? Here's your chance to try! We will be having several footraces on the Hippodrome's track in honour of Mercury the Swift. There will be prizes for the 1st place winners of each race, with a race-off of all winners for a Grand Prize. Can you be the leader of the pack? Come prove it!
Location: ROMA sim

2pm - Mercuralia Treasure Hunt

Oh no! While blessing ROMA with good fortune, Mercury has lost all His money pouches! Can you find them for Him? For each purse you find, you'll get a monetary reward - yes, that means cold, hard lindens! How big a reward will you finally reap? Come join the hunt and find out!
Location: ROMA sim

4pm - The Mercury & Fauna Grand Feast

Our Festivals culminate with the Mercury & Fauna Grand Feast - come celebrate the return of Spring with us! We will also be having a trivia contest, courtesy of Mickey James! There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place contest winners!
Location: ROMA sim

ROMA PRO VITA Flea Market a Success!

2009-05-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the hard work of the organizers and the generosity of our citizens, the ROMA PRO VITA Flea Market that was held in the ROMA Fort was a great success!

Over L$36,500 was raised, bringing in over $141.00 US to help fight cancer and fund cancer research.

The finale of the market was held on Sunday with a great live music concert in the Fort!

There will be more ROMA PRO VITA events held this spring in ROMA to benefit the Relay For Life organization, so watch the ROMA notices.

How the upcoming changes regarding "adult regions" will affect ROMA

2009-05-02T14:50:00.000-07:00

1. First, be sure to read what Angelia wrote explaining why the changes are happening, and why LL is now attempting to censor sexual and extremely violent content on the grid. This notecard is available on the 'notices' tab of the ROMA Citizens group (soon to be found in world in the Plaza).

2. ROMA will remain 'Mature' and not go 'Adult'. This is for two reasons: A) remaining 'Mature' under the new LL system requires only a few minor changes to the overall way ROMA is run and B) we do not wish to exclude unverified accounts from ROMA, many of which are students and teachers affiliated with universities and colleges and museums who usually do not link those accounts with credit card info, etc to verify them. ROMA, however will remain a place where only players above 18 are welcome.

3. The rooms under the Lupanar will be closed. ROMA will no longer offer a place for avatars to engage in virtual sex. The 12 Tables will be changed to reflect that as a ‘mature’ zoned area, we can no longer offer such a space. (The rooms were rarely used so this is in our opinion no big loss).

4. Based on comments from Blondin Linden, male and female avatar nudity can occur in Mature regions. RL pictures of nudity can not. So the Hot Springs will continue to be clothing optional. (the LL policy regarding nudity is still being worked out, so this may change in the future).

5. Merchants selling items where sexual acts are depicted will no longer be able to list them for sale in uncensored form. Right now we will allow, for example, images of ancient erotica to be sold if the images in the vendor are censored to reflect the new LL policy. So put black bars on the advertised image, and sell the uncensored in a manner that it can not be seen until the customer rezzes it at home. Erotic, sexual themed and extremely violent objects can not be advertised in classified, profile picks, or external web pages as being sold in ROMA. We will change the merchant agreements to reflect this.

6. For Subura residents, our Subura rules already stipulate that sexual matters need to remain indoors where they are not visible to the general public. Everyone knows this already, and the Subura residents have been exemplary in adhering to this rule. This policy will remain in effect, with the added caveat that LL now forbids them from advertising public parties or events at their Subura plot if they have sexual themed objects such as erotic art, sex beds, BDSM equipment, etc in their private house. This includes skybox material that will be out of sight. It can’t be on the parcel period if you have a public event. You are still able to have such objects if they are private and kept out of the sight of passer-bys.

7. As for violence, our roleplay does not involve realistic or extreme violence, so I do not see more than some minor tweaks in this area. The Ludus fights and Legion displays are educational (and it would help make this point if the Legion, Legio, and Ludus groups used the words ‘educational’ and ‘recreation’ more in their events and notices. Let us ‘play up’ our educational components.). Legion and Ludus members should refrain from using any gadget or effect that is particularly bloody or gruesome. ROMA is not a combat-oriented roleplay land, and just enjoying a combat system in its place (already spelled out in the 12 Tables and regulated in the sims and by the groups) does not cross us over from ‘mature’ to ‘adult’.

8. Roleplay and roleplay events should also not incorporate overt sexual or violent themes. Our roleplay rules already forbid sexual slavery (of the Gor and BDSM variety) so that will continue to be in force.

Torin Golding
Owner & Prefect, ROMA Sims

April Festival Events

2009-04-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

2009 Veneralia/Floralia/Cerealia Festival Schedule

Saturday 18th April

10 am - Veneralia Ritual/Ask Venus and Love Poetry
Our festivals begin with a ritual for Venus Verticordia, "The Changer of Hearts" - to petition Venus for support and aid in one's lovelife. After the rite, you'll get a change to ask all your love questions of Venus Herself, and we will have reading of love poetry as well - so bring your favourite poems or even those you've written yourself!
LOCATION: ROMA Hot Springs, ROMA Transtibirim

12pm - Floralia Ritual/Egg Hunt
Come celebrate the Roman version of Easter with us! The Floralia is the festival of the Goddess Flora, patron of flowers and spring fertility. In Flora's honour, we will have a ritual, followed by a sim wide egg hunt in Transtiberim. Every egg contains a prize, a few of them one-of-a-kind, so don't miss it! (See Hunt instructions in the ROMA Tabularium)
LOCATION: ROMA Transtibirim

2pm - Cerealia Ritual/Garden Harvest Party
Though Flora ushers in the Springtime, it is Ceres who holds sway over the fruitfulness of the Earth entire, and the Cerealia is the Roman festival held in Her honour. In keeping with this ancient tradition, we will be having a ritual in Ceres' honour, followed by a celebration in the Gardens of Ceres (usually known as the Gardens of Maecenas) - come tend the garden, dance in the flowers, and welcome in the springtime with us!
LOCATION: Gardens of Maecenas, ROMA

Sunday 19th April

10am - Veneralia Lupanar Tour/Sex In The Roman World exhibit
Venus was the Roman Goddess of Erotic love - and ancient Rome was an ardent follower of Her sacred mysteries! Come learn about the role sex played in ancient Rome with a guided tour of ROMA's Lupanar (brothel) and it's special exhibit!
LOCATION: Lupanar district, ROMA

12pm - Floralia Egg Race
What's a springtime celebration without some fun contests? For Floralia, we are holding an egg race through the streets of ROMA! Come decorate an egg and try to roll it from the Forum to the Finish Line in the ROMA Plaza - but there's a catch - these eggs *bounce*! Can you make it to the finish without your egg getting away from you? The first one across the finish line wins a prize.
LOCATION: Forum, ROMA

2pm - Cerealia Fox Hunt
Part of ancient Cerealia's celebration was to let loose wild foxes to run free through the Circus Maximus. ROMA has our own fox tradition, the Cerealia Fox Hunt! Come chase our foxes and see how many you can tag in 1 hour - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize purses for those with the most foxes tagged. But beware - ROMA foxes are quick and crafty!
LOCATION: Head of Transtibirim Path, ROMA Transtibirim

4pm - The Tria Deae Grand Feast
Our Spring Festival culminate with the Tria Deae (Three Goddesses) Grand Feast - come dance under the springtime stars with us! We will also be holding a contest for best festival themed costume - love, flowers, gardens, and foxes are a just few of the themes you can choose from. But whatever fits with a Veneralia, Floralia, or Cerealia theme is welcome! (Giant box of Cheerios, anyone?) There will be cash prizes for best male and female costume.
LOCATION: Field of Mars, ROMA Transtibirim

March Festival Schedule

2009-03-13T23:17:00.000-07:00

Equirria, Matronalia, Quinquatria, & Bacchanalia

March 14th, 2009

10am - Rekindling Vesta's Holy Flame
Our festivals begin this month with the Rekindling of the Flame in the Temple of Vesta in ROMA. After the ritual, Vesta Herself will lead a procession into Subura where She will give each domus Her blessing. After the blessing, there will be drinking, dancing, and music for all!
Location: ROMA Temple of Vesta

1pm - Subura Equirria Races
In honour of Mars and Equirria, we are having a horse race through the Subura! Anyone can enter the race - you can bring your own horse, or use one of our demo horses. Even Centaurs are welcome! There will be a prize purse for the winner of the race, as well as a 12 prim trophy to display in your domus!
Location: ROMA Subura

3pm - Matronalia Costume Beauty Contest
Matronalia is the Roman equivalent of our Mother's Day, and this year, we are celebrating the beauty that is motherhood! Our beauty contest will be a costume event, and anyone can enter, even men - but your costume theme must relate to mothers and motherhood. There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place. Please see attached contest rules for details.
Location: Odeon of Marcellus, ROMA

March 15th, 2009

10:30am- ROMA Senate Meeting
All ROMA citizens are welcome to attend the Senate meeting in the Curia @ 10:30 a.m. SLT.
Location: ROMA Curia, Forum

12pm - Quinquatria Legion Battle Demo
At Fort Legio Augusta in ROMA, our beloved Legio will be putting on a battle display in honour of Mars for the Quinquatria. Come see what a Roman war might have looked like, complete with seige engines!
Location: Fort, ROMA

2pm - Quinquatria Ritual for Minerva and Oracle Prophecies
Come to the Temple of Minerva in Subura for a ritual honouring the Goddess! Minerva is the goddess of the Quinquatria, a balancing force of just & honourable battle against the passionate and wild war symbolised by Mars. Our ritual today honours Her wisdom and justice, as well as asking Her blessing upon our ROMA. After the ritual, we will take part in a Quinquatria tradition - that of divination and prophecy. Come ask the Pythia your fate!
Location: Temple of Minerva, ROMA Subura

4pm - Bacchanalia Grand Feast
Come join us for the Grand Feast of the Bacchanalia! We will elect a Bacchus and Chief Maenad to preside over the feast, and a Bacchanal Trivia game, presented by our trivia-master Mickey James! So come dressed in your wild man/wild woman best and party with us!
Location: ROMA Transtiberim (outside Ostia)

Alt Warning To The ROMA Community

2009-03-01T16:52:00.001-08:00

>>> UPDATED WITH FRENCH, GERMAN, & ITALIAN SUMMARY BELOW: <<<>

Avete Citizens

This is a difficult post for me to write. For over a year, one person has been repeatedly harassing ROMA with alts. It has caused myself, the Emperor, our estate management staff, and group officers a great deal of emotional stress and bother.

This griefer has taken complete advantage of our collective trusting nature and the good graces of the entire ROMA community. To date they have utilized over 35 (!!!) alts to attempt to cause financial, emotional and social stress to ROMA. Today, when a group of officers confronted their latest alt, they did what they have always done- they ran away, no doubt to try and come back again as another alt.

Therefore we are forced to take the unprecedented step now of publicly declaring to the community what we believe to be many of the alts of this person. We hope by listing the names we will show the community the breadth of the problem this person engenders as well as alert the community to the issue. The management of ROMA suggests you be on your guard when dealing with these individuals or currently unknown alts that may be the same individual. The alts have all been banned from ROMA and removed from all closed groups.

ROMA will not tolerate the use of alts to harass our community. We have a tremendous group of people here, which is probably why sick people like this griefer have targeted us in the past.

Many thanks to everyone who has been helpful in unmasking this serial griefer. It has been a several month-long sting operation covering several countries. We know exactly who the griefer is outside of SL and will be delivering an abuse report directly to LL.

Please join with me in rejecting the twisted actions of this sick individual. ROMA is better than them.

Valete

1) Arada Arado
2) Tullia Lanzius
3) Liquid Gold
4) Nemesis Hydraconis
5) Lu Le
6) Helveticus Kultus
7) Egyptian Scribe
8) Clementia Schapira
9) Xylophonia Gelles
10) Maat Destiny
11) Delicia Juliesse
12) Venus Baragula
13) Gaius Cuttita
14) Cecilia Halberstadt
15) SlaveofCecilia Halberstadt
16) Grandiosa Vendetta
17) Hypatia Sparta
18) Norma Lauria
19) Publius Cornelius
20) Persipina Rhiadra
21) Xenobia Thespian
22) Legatus Mimulus
23) Robin McCall
24) Diamantha Burnstein
25) Paulette Lefevre
26) GrandeDuchesse Juliesse
27) Barbara Flinders
28) tamara Slyusarenko
29) Thane Woodford
30) Sister Hood
31) Salome Karillion
32) Lucretia Larnia
33) Minucius Mimulus
34) Nuntius Mimulus
35) Amethystangel Ember
36) Isis Khandr
37) Shahrazad Kharg
38) Drucilla Galicia

Please note this is a partial, not complete list of this person's alts - there are too many to conveniently list here. We have listed the more well-known alts around ROMA.

FRANCAIS:
AVERTISSEMENT A LA COMMUNAUTE DE ROMA
======================================
Depuis plus d'un an, plusieurs avatars, qui ne sont en fait qu'une seule personne, ont visé ROMA. Ces avatars ont causé des torts financiers, moraux et causé du stress émotionnel et social à toute la communauté. Nous avons pris la décision de déclarer publiquement la liste des noms de ces avatars, à toute la communauté afin que cela cesse. La direction vous recommande vivement d'être sur vos gardes si vous êtes en face de ces individus, ainsi qu'avec des autres avatars inconnus qui pourraient être en fait toujours la même personne.

DEUTSCH:
WARNUNG AN DIE COMMUNITY VON ROMA
===================================
Mehr als ein Jahr lang haben alts unter der Kontrolle einer Person in ROMA ihr Unwesen getrieben. Sie haben finanziellen, emotionalen und öffentlichen Ärger in ROMA und dessen Community verursacht. Wir gehen nun den Schitt, der Community eine Liste von alt Namen öffentlich bekannt zu machen. Das Management mahnt jeden dringlich, Vorsicht im Umgang mit diesen Individuen walten zu lassen. Dies gilt auch für bisher noch nicht bekannte oder noch unentdeckte alts, die die gleiche Person sein können. Bitte beachten Sie, daß dies nur eine Auswahl und keine komplette Liste der alts dieser Person ist - es sind schlicht zu viele um sie alle namentlich zu nennen. Aufgeführt sind nur die bekannteren alts die sich in ROMA aufhielten.

ITALIANO:
======================================
Per oltre un anno, degli ''Alts'' (diversi avatars controllati da una persona sola) sotto il controllo di una persona hanno bersagliato ROMA. Hanno causato stess finanziari, emozionali e sociali all'intera community. Stiamo ora rendendo pubblica la notizia e dichiarando la lista degli alts a tutta la community in maniera da poterli fermare. Il managament suggerisce di stare in guardia quando incontrate questi individui oppure altri alts sconosciuti che potrebbero essere lo stesso individuo. Prego notare che questa è una parziale, non completa, lista degli alts di questa persona (ce ne sono troppi per poterli inserire nella lista). Abbiamo inserito nelal lista i più conosciuti alts di ROMA.

Lupercalia 2009 Schedule

2009-02-21T01:41:00.000-08:00

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21

10am - Lupercal Cave - Lupercalia Ritual and The Running of the Luperci

In celebration of this most ancient of festivals we will be performing the official Rite of Faunus Lupercus, for Faunus Lupercus, God of the Wilds and Lupa, the shewolf who nourished the founding fathers Romulus and Remus. After the rite, we will have the Running of The Luperci - half-naked youths who bless the young ladies of the city. The women will line the path to the city gates, to submit to being lightly flogged with goatskin floggers in hopes of fertility (both of mind and body).

12 noon - Forum - Presentation of the Legion, and the Escort of Venus

The Legio, in a time honored military display, will present arms (and their new uniforms) to our Imperator Julian Augustus. This presentation will be attended by the lovely Goddess Venus, who will be escorted to the baths where citizens may consult Her. Don't miss your chance to see our beloved Imperator!

12:30ish - Baths of Caracalla - Ask Venus

Our lovely Goddess Venus will hold court in the Baths of Caracalla for those who seek council about matters of love and romance! Please join us with your questions, or just to hang out and hear what others wish to know. No question is too personal or trivial - Venus will answer them all!

2pm - Gardens of Maecenas - Lovelorn Date Auction

Need a lovely or handsome valentine for this day of love and romance? Then bring your lindens and bid on the avatar of your dreams and win a date! Or perhaps you'd rather put yourself on the auction block and trust to fate. Perhaps you'll meet the one you've always dreamed of partnering! The proceeds go to The Collegia Religio Romana to help bring you more of these wonderful festivals.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22

9am - Ludus - Lecture on Roman Military Life

The Commanders of the Legio will demonstrate and discuss the rigors of military life. Topics will include organization, uniforms, equipment, and much more. Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about Roman Military life!

10am - Ludus - Gladiatorial Games

Come cheer for your favorite gladiator or gladiatrix! The battles of grit and determination are sure to entertain. Sponsored by the Ludus Dacicus Gladiatorii, in honor of Lupercalia.

12noon - Senator Hunt

Can't find a Senator when you need one? Now's your chance! Sponsered by the Senate Curia, we will hunt the senators through ROMA, ROMA Subura, and ROMA Transtiberim in the manner of a foxhunt. Prizes will be awarded to the one who has tagged the most politicos.

4pm - Grand Feast and Sweetheart Gift Show and Tell

To top off this festival weekend, we have The Grand Feast of Lupercalia! This is your chance to show off the gift sent to you by your mystery sweetheart, and dance till the sun comes up. We promise you a wild time - and clothing will be optional. ;)

The ROMA “IN SUO ANNO” New Merchant Program

2009-02-08T21:35:00.000-08:00

In the Roman world, a Citizen was said to be “in suo anno” if he achieved each political office in sequential order at the youngest possible age, usually with a lot of external help from established politicians. It was one way of fast-tracking their political career. In ROMA, we would like to extend a similar helping hand to content creators that are just starting out in Second Life.

The ROMA “IN SUO ANNO” New Merchant Program provides free prime rental in the Roman Market for one month, where hopefully a beginning content creator will be able to raise enough funds to start their own commercial career in SL. In return, ROMA attracts a new and dynamic content creator every month, and ROMA Citizens are exposed to a wide range of fresh content.

More information is available from a notecard giving sign in the Customs House, Market, and Tabularium.

If you, or you know of someone, who qualifies and would like to participate, please contact Ludovik Cazenove.

New ROMA Citizen Video

2009-02-05T02:47:00.000-08:00

Legionnaires of the Month

2009-01-21T22:05:00.000-08:00

Over on the LEGIO XIII SL blog, they have been appointing Legionnaires of the Month. These soldiers have been singled out for the dedication and their commitment to the Legion and to ROMA. They have been given special medals as well as the title which they can wear on their armor.

Toth Auebauch was appointed Legionnaire of the Month for January, Ocean Lynagh for the month of December, and Revo Morales, Alekso Minotaur, and Achille Back for October.

Congratulations to all Legionnaires!

Happy Holidays

2008-12-25T01:36:00.000-08:00

Three videos to wish our ROMA Family a happy and peaceful holiday.

Saturnalia Press Coverage

2008-12-22T13:15:00.000-08:00

We got a mention in Hamlet Au's great New World Notes blog, as well as a nice shout-out to the Legion's blog. Check it out here:

Have A Saturnalia Second Life

Saturnalia Schedule 2008

2008-12-19T01:24:00.000-08:00

All Festival Long:

Saturnalia Gift Exchange
Want to share the holiday spirit with your fellow ROMA Citizens and get some back? Then please participate in our ROMA Holiday Gift Exchange! Come to the Forum and ROMA and purchase the empty gift box and packing crate. Instructions inside.

The Lord & Lady of Misrule
All this week we will be voting for our Lord & Lady of Misrule, who will preside over the Grand Feast. If you are interested in entering the voting, please go to the Plaza in ROMA (outside the Tavern) and enter your name on the appropriate board by clicking on the enter button near the bottom of the Contest Board. Entries will be accepted until 6pm Thursday. Voting begins 8am Friday. And the winners will be announced @ the Grand Feast on Sunday.

Friday, 19th December

11am - Ave Weekend Ice Skating Party
Snow and ice have come to ROMA! And to take advantage of this we're having two special Ave Weekend Parties! Come join us in Transtiberim for hot cocoa & holiday sweets while we ice skate to some cool tunes! Location: ROMA Transtiberim Lake

4pm - Transtiberim Sleigh Ride & Cozy Bonfire Dance
"Dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh, o'er the fields we go..." well you get the picture! We will be riding sleighs through Transtiberim to get into the spirit of the season - and bring your sweetie, 'cause our sleighs seat two! We will ride them from one end of the sim to the other, where our Winter Wonderland and cozy fire await us. There will be dancing, munchies, and snowball fighting!

8pm - Ave Weekend Floating Iceburg Party
Our second special Ave Weekend event - ever wanted to party the night away on a glittering, floating isle in the sea? Well now you can! Come dance under the stars, and on the ice, at our Maritima Iceburg Party! But bring your cloaks - we hear that ocean air is chilly this time of year. Location: ROMA Maritima

Saturday, 20th December

10am - Saturnalia Senator Slave Auction
A part of the Saturnalia tradition is role reversal - the high born serving the low, and the low allowed to live it up like kings. To honour this, we bring you the Saturnalia Senator Slave Auction! Bid high enough, and one of ROMA's senators will be your slave for a day! All proceeds go to fund ROMA and the works of the Collegia. Location: ROMA Forum

12pm - The Daily Life of Roman Soldiers - Legion Re-Enactment
It's the holidays, and everyone is surrounded by family and friends in a cozy domus... but wait! Not everyone! Ever wondered what life was like for the Roman Soldier away from home? The Legion will show you! Come join us for a re-enactment of a day in the life of the Roman Legions - how they lived, worked, and trained while serving the glory of Rome! Location: Legion XIII Fort in Ostia (ROMA Transtiberim)

2pm - Saturnalia Ritual & Ritual Feast
A Roman Ritual to honour Saturn and Sol Invictus, followed by a ritual feast with dancing, music, general merry-making. Saturnalia in ancient Rome was one of the most popular festivals of the year. It was marked by a license for mischief and high spirits (within limits) and reversal of social roles, in which slaves and masters switched places. So put on your pileus (freedmans cap), your most colourful clothes, and come party like a Patrician (Even if you're not)! Io Saturnalia! Location: ROMA, Gardens of Maecenas

Sunday, 21st December

12pm - Saturnalia Carnivale
Saturnalia was also popular for the temporary legalisation of all sorts of games - and in honour of this tradition, ROMA has the Saturnalia Carnivale! We will have rides, games of skill, games of sport, and prizes to be won - but the Grand Prize will go to those who conquer the Tower of Doom! What is it? How do you defeat it? Come to the Carnivale and try your skill, nerve, and luck against this behemoth and see! Location: ROMA Fort

4pm - Saturnalia Grand Feast
The Culmination of our Saturnalia festivities! There will be feasting, dancing, and the election of the Saturnalia King & Queen, the Lord and Lady of Misrule, who will be served by none other than our very own Prefect and Estate Managers in honour of Saturnalia's role reversal! We will also have some Saturnalia/Christmas Trivia with prizes to be won! Location: ROMA Transtiberim outside Ostia

ROMA HVNKS Video

2008-12-18T04:22:00.000-08:00

Torin has made a short video to commemorate the ROMA HVNKS 2009 Calendar release party last week in the Ludus Arena.

The Calendar is now on sale, highlighting some of the best looking men in ROMA. All proceeds of sale go to help support the operating costs of ROMA.

Come to the Plaza or the Tabularium today to get your copy!

Official ROMA Video

2008-12-08T14:51:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had to try and explain ROMA to those outside of SL? Or try to explain ROMA to other SL residents? Torin has made a video to help you out. It gives basic information about all 4 sims in the estate and a lot of fly-overs to some great music.

Torin will follow up this video with another one early next month detailing the festival and event life of ROMA, and a third one after that discussing group life in ROMA.

Torin will also produce some 'build specific' videos that go into more depth around different parts of ROMA.

Subscribe to the RSS feed of this page to get informed of new video releases: ROMA Videos

Or subscribe to Torin's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TorinGolding

New ROMA Baths Video

2008-12-04T00:37:00.000-08:00

Torin's first video ;)

Roleplay in ROMA (v3)

2008-12-02T18:06:00.000-08:00

Avete Citizens!

We are getting ready to roll out a completely revamped system of roleplay rules and opportunities in ROMA. These will include:

Weekly sponsored roleplay events in ROMA (starting January 09)

A Roleplay Council to help direct roleplay in the estate (starting December 08)

New guidelines for roleplay identities (effective immediately)

A brand new interactive social network (http://romaroleplay.ning.com)operating in conjunction with the Theatrum Romanum group.

To help explain all of the changes and collect together all pertinent ROMA roleplay info, Torin has created a special blog page which can be found here: http://romaroleplay.blogspot.com/

PLEASE NOTE: To make clear the distinction between roleplay and general social identities in ROMA, we have removed the 'ROMA Patrician' and all other roleplay-sounding titles from the ROMA Citizens group. Instead, the default title will be 'ROMA Citizen' ('ROMA Civis' is also available as an option for those who prefer Latin- ask Torin, Angelia, or MajorMatt to get access to that title). This will keep the ROMA Citizens group as a social and notification group, which is its intent.

New ROMA Attraction: The Missing Egyptian Game

2008-11-24T23:02:00.000-08:00

Big news in ROMA!

A new interactive game has been built by the Prefect. It is called the "Mystery of the Missing Egyptian" and will allow you to access never-before accessible tunnels of the Cloaca Maxima.

The game was designed primarily to help new visitors and Citizens learn about ROMA, including the various groups and events in the estate. But anyone can play (and there are 3 different possible outcomes).

To play the game, find the new room attached to the Customs House (Please note that the traffic pattern through the Customs House has been changed slightly). Inside this new room you will find Pakoumis, the Head Librarian of the Library of Alexandria in ROMA. Click him and pay attention to his words to begin the game.

There are over 20 new freebies available inside the game for players to collect too!

(Group Officers: If you have any free items that you would like to be made available in the 'Citizen-Run Group' portion of the game, please drop them on Torin and he will happily add them.)

Enjoy!

ROMA @ II Video

2008-10-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

A FANTASTIC new video has been made by our resident filmmaker JT Vale.

It shows highlights from the recent ROMA @ II celebrations.

You can watch it here.

[ Be sure to stick around for the final 'stinger' ;) ]

Well done JT!

New LEGIO Blog Site

2008-10-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

The LEGIO XIII group has started its own blog site. You can find it here:

http://legioxiiisl.blogspot.com/

Contact Brodbiz Bagration for more information.

ROMA @ II Celebrations!

2008-10-08T21:14:00.000-07:00

October 2008 marks the second anniversary of the opening of ROMA as its own estate. This makes ROMA the original ancient Roman themed land in Second Life. To mark this birthday we are holding a week of events from 12-18 October.

Here is a full schedule:

=================

ALL WEEK LONG EVENTS:

THE “II IN ROMA” PHOTO CONTEST

Over L$7000 in prize money is available to be won during this contest which will run the length of the festival. See the official rules on the photo board in the ROMA Plaza.

BUMPER CHARIOTS

During the festival, Bumper Chariots can be rezzed around the estate. You can drive these anywhere in the estate (beware that they will de-rez when you stand up!)

The ROMA Fort will be turned into a Bumper Chariot Ring- come here and play with your friends!

ROMA MERCHANTS DISPLAY

There will be a display offering freebies from our ROMA Merchants in the Julian Plaza, just over the sim line in the Subura.

ROMA MARITIMA FUND RAISER

Donation boxes will be scattered around the estate soliciting donations to help with the purchase price of our new ocean sim, ROMA Maritima! Please donate if you can and that money will go to support the cost of the new sim.

=================

12 OCTOBER (Sunday)

10 am - ROMA Blessing Ritual
The priests and priestesses from the Collegium will perform a public blessing of ROMA to open the festival. Afterwards there will be dancing! (Location: ROMA Throne Room)

12pm Live Music- Stella!
Sella Silvansky will come and give a live music concert to keep the party moving. (Location: ROMA Throne Room)

4pm ROMA Scholastica Symposium: Latin Beyond Rome
William Gide will present a talk as part of the lecture series sponsored by the ROMA Scholastica group. (Location: ROMA Basilica)

=================

13 OCTOBER (Monday)

11am Fishing Contest
Come take part in the 7Seas Fishing Contest in ROMA. First, second, and third place winners will get a cash prize, and everyone will be able to keep the neat things they pull out of the water. (Location: Lake Trasimenus in ROMA Transtiberim)

6pm Night Fishing Contest
Come take part in the 7Seas Fishing Contest in ROMA under the stars. First, second, and third place winners will get a cash prize, and everyone will be able to keep the neat things they pull out of the water. (Location: Lake Trasimenus in ROMA Transtiberim)

=================

14 OCTOBER (Tuesday)

1pm ROMA Scholastica Symposium: The Etruscan Roots of Roman Religion
Ludovik Cazenove will present a talk as part of the lecture series sponsored by the ROMA Scholastica group. (Location: ROMA Basilica)

2:15pm Gladiator Fights!
The Ludus Dacicus Gladiatorii group in ROMA will sponsor exciting gladiator bouts in the arena in Ostia. There will be cash prizes for the winners. Those wishing to take part should make sure they are members in good standing of the Ludus group and make their intention to fight to the group's officers. (Location: Ludus Arena, Ostia in ROMA Transtiberim)

=================

15 OCTOBER (Wednesday)

4pm ROMA Scholastica Symposium: Latin Beyond Rome
William Gide will present a repeat performance of his talk as part of the lecture series sponsored by the ROMA Scholastica group. (Location: ROMA Basilica)

=================

16 OCTOBER (Thursday)

1pm Military Triumph
The Legion XIII and LEGIO groups will stage a massive triumph in the ancient Roman style, parading through ROMA to the Capitoline Temple, where ROMA’s priests and priestesses will perform a blessing ritual. (Location: Come watch anywhere along the parade route)

2pm Treasure Hunt
Immediately following the triumph, a large treasure hunt and live-action contest will be held in the estate. Cash prizes for the winners!

6 pm The Origins of the Senate
Senator and Censor Mickey James will present a public talk on the origins of the ancient Roman Senate. (Location: ROMA Basilica)

=================

17 OCTOBER (Friday)

11am Special Ave Weekend Party
Start your weekend off with some great dancing and chat. (Location: TBA)

1pm ROMA Scholastica Symposium: Caligula - A Mad Tyrant?
Serafina Itano will present a talk as part of the lecture series sponsored by the ROMA Scholastica group. (Location: ROMA Basilica)

8pm Special Ave Weekend Party
Start your weekend off with some great dancing and chat. (Location: TBA)

=================

18 OCTOBER (Saturday)

12 pm ROMA Scholastica Symposium: Gender & Sex in Ancient Greece and Rome
CatDeville Llewellyn will present a talk as part of the lecture series sponsored by the ROMA Scholastica group. (Location: ROMA Basilica)

4pm ROMA Halloween Costume Party
Halloween comes early in ROMA! This feast and dance will mark the official end of the ROMA @ II celebrations. There will also be prizes and a trivia contest. (Location: TBA)

Ludi Romani Schedule

2008-09-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday, 13th September

11:30am - Roman Ritual for Jupiter Optimus Maximus @ ROMA Transtiberim

A ritual to honour the King of the Gods, Jupiter Optimus Maximus, followed by a light social gathering with dancing and feasting. Come join us in celebrating the beginning of the Ludi Romani!

12pm - Ludi Romani Chariot Races @ the Circus Maximus Hippodrome in ROMA

A traditional part of the ancient Ludi Romani were chariot races - and for our Ludi Romani, we have our own! Come race against other Citizens for prizes (anyone can sign up to race), or come watch the spectacle and cheer on the racers as you drink wine and nibble Rich Imperialist Tidbits. There will be 3 races of 3 laps each, and 1st place in each race wins a prize!

2pm - Jovian Nymph & Faun Chase through ROMA Transtiberim

One of the favourite pastimes of the Gods was chasing beautiful nymphs (much to the Goddesses chagrin), and Jupiter was no exception. For our Ludi Romani, you'll get to chase our ROMA nymphs & fauns. Chase them around Transtiberim and try to tag them - the one who tags the most nymphs or fauns will receive a prize!

Sunday, 14th September

9am - Ludi Romani Carnivale in ROMA Transtiberim

Come have fun at our Ludi Romani Carnivale! There are games to play, rides to enjoy, and free food! Some games even have prizes to be won! The Carnivale also features a kissing booth, where you can get a kiss from a lovely Priestess or handsome Senator for as little as $L15! So don't miss it!

10am - Ludi Romani Athletic Games @ Fort Legio Augusta in ROMA

An important part of any ludi are the games, and Ludi Romani means "The Roman Games". Our games will feature Archery, Wrestling, Rock Climbing, and Discus & Javelin Throwing - 1st place winners will all recieve prizes, 2nd & 3rd will recieve $L200, and all winners will be given a laurel crown in honour of their achievement. Come show off your athletic prowess for the Ludi Romani!

12pm - Ludi Romani Grand Feast @ the Temple of Jupiter in ROMA

The final event of the Ludi Romani is the Grand Feast - this year to be held inside the Temple of Jupiter on ROMA's Capitoline Hill! There will be dancing, feasting, and good company - some please join us in bidding farewell to the Ludi Romani until next year!

ROMA in SL Showcase

2008-08-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

ROMA has been featured prominently on the Lindens' Second Life Showcase page!

It is currently one of the four highlighted areas representing notable Arts & Culture builds in Second Life.

The blurb there says "Journey to ancient Rome in this expansive area, which includes replicas inspired by many famous sites, such as the Forum and the Theater of Dionysus."

You can see the entry for yourself at this url: http://secondlife.com/showcase/arts/

Yay ROMA!

ROMA Pride 20 September

2008-08-22T16:10:00.000-07:00

ROMA will be hosting its first Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends Pride event all day September 20, 2008.

Events are open to all! Come and join in the fun!

11:00 AM SL Time
Pride Parade
Citizens are invited to make a float for the Parade, march, or just line the main street of ROMA to watch the parade. The route will wind its way from the ROMA fort, past the Arena, through the Plaza, through the Subura, and end at the Subura Baths. There everyone is welcome to enjoy themselves and socialize at our Subura Tea Dance.

2:00 PM SL Time
Pride Symposium: Same-Sex Relations in Antiquity
ROMA LGBT & Amici and the ROMA Scholastica Antiqua groups are co-sponsoring a lecture and symposium open to all. Torin Golding, owner, builder and Urban Prefect of ROMA, will give a short lecture on same-sex relations in antiquity. Then the floor will be opened to all for a general discussion of the topic, and on the general incorporation of LGBT within an SL context. The venue will be the large Basilica in the ROMA Forum. Come early to grab a couch!

4:00 PM SL Time
ROMA God and Goddess Drag Ball
Our final event will be a ball. Citizens are invited to come in a drag costume of a particular god or goddess of the ancient world. If you are normally a male in SL, come as a goddess. If you are normally a female in SL, come as a god. You can change anything except your shape to help with your drag outfit. Lots of dancing and fun for all, and we will be giving a prize for the Dragus Maximus and the Draga Maxima of the Ball!

TransTiber Love

2008-08-15T21:43:00.000-07:00

Just came across this... sorry I missed it first time around:

As many know, we were the Sim Of The Week (SOTW) in the Metaverse Messenger back at the start of June...

The authors did a rare follow-up the week after and covered the ROMA Transtiberim sim. I'm so happy about this, since it highlighted some of our great Citizen content in Ostia.

You can read the follow up here on the MM site: [PDF Download]

ROMA PRO VITA = M x 150

2008-08-12T01:58:00.000-07:00

ROMA's Relay for Life team, ROMA PRO VITA, raised over 150,000 Lindens ($528 US) to fight cancer and fund cancer research!!!

For their efforts, the team won two major awards: The 'RFL Endurance Team Award' and the 'Spirit of Relay' award. They are currently on display in the ROMA Plaza.

Many thanks to team captain Spaciva Ivanova, all the team volunteers, and all of the donors!

Overall the Relay For Life Organization in SL raised more than $210,000 US.

Brand New ROMA Social Network Site

2008-06-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Avete Citizens!

Add 'Social Network' to the list of Web 2.0 features available at ROMA. Think of it as 'Facebook for ROMA'.

It is called, imaginatively, ROMA Citizens.

Sign up and you can have all the links for ROMA in one place, consult event schedules, contact other Citizen friends offline (without having to sign into SL), share your photos, and... network!

This social network site was inspired by the popular one Angelia created for Collegium members. Hopefully Citizens will find it useful!

Get socializing today!

Vestalia/Bellona/Quinquatria Festival Schedule

2008-06-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

Vestalia -- 13th June

3pm -Vestalia Ritual and Subura Procession in ROMA & ROMA Subura

Ritual to honour Vesta and celebrate the Vestalia @ the Vestal Temple in ROMA, followed by a procession through the Subura, where we will stop at various houses to be welcomed and given wine & gifts. The Procession will parade through the Subura and back into ROMA, to end with a party in the Felicitas Tavern. Be sure to buy a souvenir sunglobe at the houses we stop at along the way! (All proceeds go to the Collegia Religio Romana, who bring these monthly festivals to ROMA)

*************************

Festival of Bellona-- 14th June

10am - Legio Romana Cohors Equitata Horse Parade & Combat
@ the Fort Legio VII Augusta in ROMA

The Legio Romana Cohors Equitata will honour us with a parade through the streets of ROMA beginning in the ROMA Plaza to display our fine cavalry, and ending in Fort Legio VII Augusta where they will display their horseback combat skills.

12pm - Bellona Games @ the Ludus Dacicus Gladiatorii in ROMA Transtiberim

Come to the Ludus and watch our brave gladiators fight for the honour of ROMA and the Goddess Bellona! Free Ludus Bread and wine at the door.

2pm - Amazon Combat @ the Flavian Gladiator Arena in ROMA

In honour of the War Goddess, Bellona, the Amazons will present a combat demonstration in the Flavian Gladiator Arena. Come cheer our Amazons on and celebrate their victories!

*************************

Quinquatria-- 15th June

1pm - Fortunes and Oracles in ROMA Subura

We will be celebrating an ancient Quinquatria Tradition - that of consulting oracles and fortune tellers for a peek into the future the Gods have in store for us! There will be modern tarot reading, provided by Morgana Fillion (for a small fee) and free Delphic-style Oracle readings provided by Spaciva Ivanova, with Ludovik Cazenove as her priest-interpretor. Curious about what the future holds? Then consult our diviners!

3pm - Quinquatria Build Contest in ROMA Subura

A building contest in the Subura which celebrates the arts and Minerva as it's Patroness! Entries must be a build, but may have anything to do with any area of "the Arts", including (but not limited to :) domestic arts such as weaving and pottery making, fine arts such as sculpting & painting, entertainment arts such as music and dance. So come build something with us which reflects your commitment and dedication to the Arts in ROMA, and your reverence for Minerva as Patroness. Prizes will be given in three level categories, beginning, intermediate and advanced in two divisions, pre-built and improvisational. A special Minerva's Favorite prize will be given to the one build which best reflects reverence for and connection to Minerva, (i.e., is most directly related to Her aspects or myths) regardless of level or division. Winners will be announced and prizes given out at the Grand Feast (but contestants do not have to be present at the Feast to win).

5pm - The Vestalia/Bellona/Quinquatria Grand Feast
@ The Gardens of Maecenas in ROMA

Themed feast to celebrate the end of Festivals - Costume themes can reflect any of the three festivals and their goddesses - Vesta (Home, Family, Flame and Warmth), Bellona (War, Military Prowess) or Minerva (War, Wisdom, and the Arts). There will be food, wine, dancing, and the announcement of the winners of the Quinquatria Build Contest, as well as a contest for most creative costume with a cash prize, so please join us for a fun-filled night of celebration and prizes!

"Welcome to ROMA, Citizen!"

2008-06-11T23:14:00.001-07:00

Soldier Aurelius Concordius has received a special posting. He has been picked to staff the Customs House in ROMA, the place where all visitors and Citizens arrive when the come to ROMA.

Aurelius will be sitting behind the Customs desk, recording the names of all visitors and dispensing information to all who pause to converse with him. You may need to get his attention by tapping his armored shoulder, but he is quite friendly and eager to help!

Come by today and introduce yourself to miles Aurelius Concordius!

ROMA SOTW in MM

2008-06-08T02:42:00.000-07:00

In case that sentence gave you a headache I'll translate: ROMA has been named the Sim of the Week in SL publication the Metaverse Messenger.

Both Torin and Angelia were interviewed. You can find the full article here (pages 10 & 20).

Two New ROMA Groups!

2008-06-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

Announcing two new ROMA groups:

ROMA GREEN: Show your Green sensibility! This group is for ROMA (SPQR) Citizens who try to take active steps to recycle and reduce their carbon footprints. Group members pledge to try and find ways to offset the pollution caused by their time in SL such as purchasing carbon offset credits.

ROMA LGBT & AMICI: This is a social group for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Citizens of the ROMA estate and their friends and supporters. Social chat is allowed in the group IM but NOT SPAM. Group events will be held to help support our inclusive community. A messageboard has also been set up: http://romacitizens.proboards54.com/index.cgi?board=lgbt

Both new groups are set to Open Enrollment now.

Introducing the Lupanar District!

2008-06-01T02:34:00.001-07:00

A great new development has occurred in ROMA!

We conducted a survey regarding the Caligula's Pleasure Palace facility last month. The results were that most agreed 1) it was useful to have such a facility to help keep adult activity in the sim contained, 2) the current facility was too large and did not meet the current needs of the community.

The Emperor has decided to replace the Caligula's Pleasure Palace facility with a new build that is more useful. Introducing the new Lupanar District!

Our City Prefect, Torin, has built a small working-class neighborhood behind the gladiator arena. The ROMA Lupanar Brothel, marked by its distinctive wolf sign, sits at the end of a small plaza. The surface structure is a reconstruction of an ancient Roman brothel from Pompeii. Several signs explain the life of ancient Roman prostitutes. On the upper floor is a gallery space that will now house the "Ars Amatoria: Sex in Ancient Rome" exhibit (formerly in the Capitoline Museum).

If a Citizen touches the wolf sign, they will be transported to a subterranean hallway. Two private rooms can be found down there, each with free sex beds available for use. Every couple animation built into the beds has been given a coy Latin name. How many can you translate? ;) The animations contain heterosexual, boy-boy, and girl-girl menu choices. Please be sure to read the rules down there governing this space.

The Lupanar Brothel will now be the place where all adult activity must be kept in ROMA.

Apart from the Lupanar Brothel, the district also contains two other attractions. The Vulcan Smith shows how the Romans worked metal, and Citizens can try their hand at making a chainmail shirt and their own sword. The Cracked Potters Workshop allows Citizens to make their own pottery (formerly housed in the Baths of Caracalla portico). Other attractions will be added to the district in the future.

The demolition of the Caligula's Pleasure Palace facility will commence in the next few days. The Blue Grotto area will be retained, moved to the cavern under the Forum, and become a non-adult general attraction.

Floralia/Bona Dea Festival Schedule

2008-05-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

Floralia Festival -- 17th May

11am - Floralia Ritual and Poetry Picnic
Ritual to honour Floral and celebrate the Floralia, followed by a relaxing picnic and poetry sharing. What is your favourite floral or spring themed poem? Come share it with us!

2pm - Floralia Games @ the Ludus
Come to the Ludus and watch our brave gladiators fight for the honour of ROMA and the Goddess Flora! Free Ludus Bread and wine at the door.

4pm - Flower Making Contest
Are you creative? Come and match your skills against other builders as we strive to create the perfect Floralia Bloom! All skill levels welcome and basic flower building supplies provided. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

Festival of Bona Dea (Faunalia) -- 18th May

10am - Bona Dea Ritual and Maypole Dance
Ritual to honour Fauna and celebrate the Festival of the Bona Dea, followed by the ancient tradition of the Maypole Dance! There will be music, dancing, feasting, and good friends - come join us!

1pm - Faunalia Fishing Contest
As Flora is a Goddess of green, growing things, so Fauna is a goddess of all who sport fur, feathers, or... scales! Come try your luck in the Faunalia Fishing Contest - catch and collect beautiful pets and have a chance at winning prizes!

5pm - The Fauna & Flora Grand Feast
Themed feast to celebrate the end of Festivals - Come dressed as faun, satyr, or other animal (mythologic or not). Or, if you prefer, go with a Floral theme - dress in leaves or flowers! There will be a costume contest and prizes will be given to Best Male & Female costumes.

ROMA Survey

2008-05-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

All Citizens are asked to fill out the very short 10 question survey at this link. It is about the Caligula's Palace facility in ROMA and its future. The survey will be active until Monday, so please make your feelings known today. Many thanks!

Em Larsson Opens in New ROMA Gallery

2008-05-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

Renowned photoartist Em Larsson has opened the inaugural art show in the new Baths of Caracalla gallery space.

Em's photos in the gallery are of the natural beauty around where she lives in real life. Em says "I capture images of the beauty I find around me and brings them into SL". She exhibits in several places around the grid (see her 'picks' for those locations) and also acts in the SL Shakespeare Company.

The newly rebuilt Baths of Caracalla structure in ROMA now has a meeting room and two gallery spaces on the upper floor. We will be use the space to host and support SL artists from around the grid. Interested artists should contact JT Vale to discuss reservations for upcoming shows.

April Festivals Pictures Posted

2008-04-21T23:36:00.000-07:00

Pictures from this past weekend's Veneralia and Cerealia festivals have been posted to our Flickr page. You can find the sets here. Enjoy!

Chariots!

2008-04-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

ROMA now has chariots that will ferry you around ROMA's three sims.

Outside the Pompeii Tavern in ROMA you can catch either the 'Subura Loop' chariot that will take you around the outer ring road of the Subura, or the 'Ostia Express' that will take you directly to the Ostia settlement in the northeastern corner of the Transtiberim sim.

Beside the main gate of Ostia, you can catch a chariot that will bring you right back to the plaza before the Pompeii Tavern.

It is possible, once you learn the routes, to hop on a chariot and hop off when you reach the area of ROMA you wish to visit.

It is a new, fun way to move around ROMA. Hope you enjoy it!

Legion Training Video

2008-02-19T11:46:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Brodbiz for a peek at Legion training.

New Transtiberim Attractions

2008-02-11T00:50:00.000-08:00

Several new attractions are now ready (more or less) in the ROMA Transtiberim sim. All are located in the mountain range in the northern part of the sim:

1. If you begin to climb the mountain path, you will come across a secluded cave entrance halfway up the path. This is the Lupercal Cave where the Lupa lives, the she wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus. If you dig around her bone pile, she may allow you to re-enact the twin's most famous moment.

2. Leave the Lupercal Cave by the back door and you will come across a natural hot spring that the Emperor has converted into a small thermal bath complex. It is a wonderful place to relax and wash away the cares of the day. To sit comfortably in the pools of hot water, touch one of the rocks that sit on the edge of the pool. Watch out for the geyser that erupts every few minutes from one of the pools!

3. Return to the mountain path and climb all the way up to the top of the mountain. You will know you are getting close to the top when you begin to feel the crunch of snow under your sandals. At the very top is the most unusual cave in ROMA. This was the home of the Sibyl long ago, the prophetess of Apollo. She used to live here and give prophesies to anyone who would make the climb to see her. Now all that is left is an empty cave with only a small cracked altar. But some Citizens have left a few offerings here, convinced that the spirit of the Sibyl remains. They claim that if one touches the altar with a pure heart, the Sibyl may yet hear queries and offer her prophesies.

All three of these attractions are now open in the ROMA Transtiberim sim.

Get Well Tullia

2008-01-27T19:40:00.000-08:00

Click To Play

The Collegium of ROMA Priests and Priestesses has produced a video for one of their members, Tullia Lanzius, who was recently injured in a RL accident. Noted filmmaker and Senate Princeps JT Vale directed the video.

Get well soon Tullia and hurry back to ROMA! We miss you!

External link for the video page

New Roleplay Rules in ROMA

2008-01-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

New year, new rules in ROMA.

All roleplay in the sim will now be regulated by a ROMA group and special laws. You can read about all of the changes on this messageboard post. We know it is a lot of text, but it is absolutely imperative that all Citizens read it and learn the new rules.

We hope this will not only solve some issues roleplay has been having lately in ROMA, but also create wonderful opportunities for Citizens to indulge their imagination and creativity.

Valete omnes!

Saturnalia 07 !

2007-12-14T15:00:00.001-08:00

The Saturnalia festival is now going on. You can check out some pictures from the events here (including some unexpected beefcake thanks to a few of our Senators!)

Full Schedule:
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Friday, 14th December

11am SLT - Candlelight Procession to the Temple of Jupiter, for the Ritual to Saturn, which starts off the festivities

12pm SLT/1200 hrs - Saturnalia Carnival in the Fort, with games to play and prizes to win.

(Both these events will be repeated later in the day at 5pm SLT/1700 hrs and 6pm SLT/1800 hrs, so you have two chances to attend.)

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Saturday, 15th December

Starting 8am SLT - The Senate will be passing out milk and cookies in the Curia all day. Here's a chance for our Citizens to meet our Senators face to face and get in a little chat wth them. And there are cookies, too!

12pm SLT/1200 hrs - Hot Times at the Baths of Caracalla! Come to the baths for a soak and a chat - it's chilly out there, come in and warm up!

2pm SLT/1400 hrs - A Live Music Event in the Arena in ROMA, with music by Noma Falta.

5pm SLT/1700 hrs - If you are a RL Classical Scholar, or just have a deep interest in ancient history and culture, come to the Odeon of Marcellus, where we'll chat about ancient cultures and how to use ROMA as an educational environment. All welcome.

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Sunday, 16th December

4pm SLT/1600 hrs - Saturnalia Grand Feast, in the Imperator's palace in ROMA. There will be a special TP set up in the Plaza outside the Tavern so Citizens may get to the Palace. There will be drinking, feasting, dancing, and a small gift for all attendees. The Feast will be reigned over by our elected Imperator and Imperatrix of Misrule, and their court, who have the right to ask the crowd to entertain with funny stories, jokes, and dances on a purely voluntary basis. Want an excuse to play the fool? Now's your chance!

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All Festival Long

Ice Skating - The Baths of Caracalla have frozen over! Come ice skate on the frozen pool! If the pool is too cozy for you, check out the frozen ice pond in the Fort, which will be there until Dec. 14th.

ROMA Scavenger Hunt - The Vestalis Maxima has a tear in her purse and has been dropping coins all over ROMA! Find them and click them, and you'll receive a small Saturnalia gift. Collect all 20! They are hidden around ROMA and Ostia in ROMA Transtiberim.

ROMA Saturnalia Gift Exchange - A secret gift exchange for the Citizens! Want to give gifts to your fellow Citizens this holiday season? Go to the holiday tree in the middle of the Forum in ROMA and find out how.

ROMA Charity Drive - ROMA is collecting donations for Relay For Life, an American Cancer Society campaign to raise money for those suffering with cancer. Please donate if you can during this festival.