Sneak Preview: The ROMA Cursus Honorum

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

(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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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