ROMA Snapshot Contest '07

This contest will run until May 1, 2007. 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: 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 three officers of the Collegia and the Senate (Torin, Angelia, Morgana, Amalthea, JT, Mickey, Nicolo).

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 the ROMA sim or a piece of public land in the ROMA Subura sim (private rental plots 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 1 May.

All entries may also be placed in a photo album whose sale will be used for ROMA sim upkeep. Entrants may opt out of this album if they wish by sending a note to Torin Golding before 1 May.

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.

April Festivals A Success!

The April festivals are over now. Many thanks to all who participated and helped us ring in spring in ROMA. And many great thanks to the members of the Collegia who helped organize, decorate, and run the festival events!

Pictures of all three days' events can be found on our Flickr page: the Vernalia here, the Floralia here, and the final Masquerade Ball here.

New Volcano Erupts in ROMA

In the early hours of this morning a large volcano appeared at the eastern end of the Gardens of Maecenas. It continues to erupt, sending out a massive cloud of fire and ash every 15 minutes.

Priests of ROMA immediately erected a small altar to Vulcan nearby. The god seems to have been placated and no further damage to ROMA is expected. In fact, by honoring the god at the altar, he rewards the supplicant with a pyroclastic lightshow (best seen at night).

The Prefect ordered the erection of a containment pool for the spewing lava. It now serves as a handy place to obtain your own ROMA lava lamp for your house.

Tiny Legion Sighted Over ROMA

There have been recent reports that Legion i/ii has found a way to launch special airbore attacks against their opponents. The photographic evidence can be found here on our Flickr page.

Keep watching the skies!

April Festivals in ROMA

Here is the schedule for the April festivals in ROMA:

Sunday April 15th, 12pm SLT (noon)
Veneralia rite and discussion & poetry
(Caligula's Pleasure Palace & Baths of Caracalla)

Monday April 16th , 1pm SLT
Floralia rite and picnic & poetry
(Gardens of Maecenas)

Tuesday April 17th, 3pm - 10pm SL
Venus & Flora Masquerade Ball
(Gardens of Maecenas)

ROMA Senators Inducted

Early this morning, the new body of ROMA Senators were inducted. Priestesses of the Collegia performed a blessing then the Emperor himself received the new Senators in his Imperial Throne Room, a rare honor. There he bestowed upon them their special rings signifying their position. Afterwards, the first Senate meeting got underway in the Curia while stalwart legionnaires from Legion XIII stood guard at the door and made sure that the spectators in the chamber behaved with honor. After the introductory meeting, the Senators retired outside the Curia for a well-deserved round of "Senator Dancing". Snapshots from the event can be seen here on our Flickr page.

The ROMA Senate is the newest official subgroup of the ROMA Citizens group. The august body will be primarily concerned with debating current and ancient topics and roleplaying. The current officers are JT Vale (Princeps Senatus), Mickey James (Censor), and Nicolo Gaudio (Censor).

Blast From The Past: Saturnalia 06

I've finally excavated some ROMA snapshots from my hard drive and posted them to the ROMA Flickr page. Click here to revist Saturnalia '06. Back then snow coated the hills of ROMA, Legion XIII only held a few soldiers, we had no official priests or priestesses, and for a brief time a Dacian was in charge (*gasp*!).

More blasts from the pasts to come!

HBO's ROMA

This amazing video was made by ROMA priestess Amalthea McMahon. She sets snapshots of the sim to the opening theme for HBO's "Rome". Love it!

Legio Ship Dedicated

Today LEGIO ROMANA CLASSIS NAUTICA dedicated their new ship built by Valerianus Gaudio in the Subura Harbor. Members of the Legio voted on the ships name, which is ARA PACIS. As the Emperor commented, he hoped it would be "an altar of peace on the waves." Members of the Collegia performed the concecration rite, and Prefect Torin Golding unveiled the new ship's nameplate.

After the ceremony, the ship became a rocking dancefloor as DJ Veronica Skjellerup played spun her tunes from her large DJ booth. Photots from the event can be seen at our Flickr page.

Subura Legion Fort Dedicated

Today the fort of Legion XIII located in the Subura sim was dedicated. Members of the ROMA Collegia of Priestesses performed the concecration rite and Vectus Margulis, Praefectus of the Legion, officiated.

Afterwards, all those in attendance retired to the roof of the fort to pary and dance!

The Legion fort in the Subura is open to use for all members of the Legion and its affiliated groups, for both practicing and socializing. Members of the public are able to tour the build as well. It is located just to the north of the Main Gate into the Subura.

To see snapshots of the ceremony, navigate to this photos folder on our Flickr page.