>>>> Roman Days-Saturnalia/Presentation Event <<<<
>>> Provincia, Nova Britannia, Nova Roma (NR)
During a weekend this past month (Dec. 16-17, 2017) the Arthur Waite/Paterculus scheduled a Saturnalia/Presentation Event at the home of Lady Sibylla, a member of Nova Roma. On Saturday the attendees were: Lady Sibylla, Marcus Audens, Margaret Mathews, Paterculus, Quintius, and in the Evening, Andrew and Lisa Bell, and David Blasco with his grandson, and his guitar. On Sunday the attendees were Lady Sibylla, Marcus Audens, Margaret Mathews, and Paterculus.
On Saturday, we enjoyed a delicious Roman Dinner and this was followed by a presentation on "Roman Bread" by Marcus Audens, This presentation was accompanied at the meal with a loaf of Roman Bread made from the recipe provided on the Internet by Lady Sibylla. Both Paterculus and Lady Sibylla have copies if you desire the information, Following that, there was a very nice period of Music furnished by Mr. Blasco and his guitar, During this period, Paterculus and Marcus Audens attempted to create a poem that could be put to music. The result of that follows as taken down by the hands of Lady Sibylla:
The second Punic war was a rough war indeed.
It went on many years, though they fought at great speed.
Romans and Carthage had a big gripe,
they fought and they fought till their anger was ripe.
Hamilcar knew that his fighting was done.
Still thirsting for vengeance, he turned to his son.
Took him to an alter and forced him to swear
to lay Rome to ruin and make Romans despair.
So Hannibal gathered some fierce pachyderms
to gain Carthage conquest on favorable terms.
However, he failed on his biggest effort
and the Romans won, while Hannie went to a port.
Our evening friends, Andrew and Lisa, had to leave early for previous commitments, but the concert lasted until very nearly midnight.
On Saturday, We enjoyed a nice luncheon, and Paterculus entertained us with a discussion on Stoicism and the way to Meditate. Paterculus has the volume pertaining to this presentation and the exercise. Everyone tried it out, and then gave their impressions of what they would have done in a Stoic position. Very interesting application! Lady Sibylla followed that with a review of her earlier shipboard presentation on the very detailed elements of the birth of Mithras. Lady Sibylla has this information recorded on her computer and her research, into this area, is continuing. This was a very enlightening and informative message indeed! The final presentation was on the Roman Merchant and Military Shipping by Marcus Audens. The presentation was a short one, due to the need to depart for home. His references are in his Roman Library. However, later discussions, more in detail, on that subject, have been promised,
The table foods for the meals included Roman Bread which was very good, a barley/veggies/chicken/ beef soup, sliced baked ham and turkey (which we enjoyed in place of peacock), boiled eggs, a variety of olives, pickled stuffed grape leaves, fresh cheese, cheddar cheese, beer, wine, and for dessert, Eggnog and double chocolate cake.
There was a wooden target set up in the back yard for target throwing of knives, axes, spears, and arrows, however with the cold temperatures and snow, it was decided to leave that out of the event.
We wish to thank Lady Sibylla for the use of her home and lovely dining table from which we all ate our meals in comfort. A very nice fire in her fireplace went very well on such cold nights! Lady Sibylla had also prepared sleeping facilities for any guests wishing to sleep over, which was an extraordinary generous gesture.
Paterculus and his colleagues in Nova Britannia are currently in the process of working up a list of events for next year to be considered. Already scheduled is MithraCon (
www.mithracon.org) which will be held on the weekend of April 6-8 in New Haven, CT. Sibylla, who founded and continues to organize this fine event writes:
Our Saturday programming is spending the day at Yale University's Sterling Memorial Library doing research on whatever your heart desires, followed by a Roman potluck dinner in the hotel (which is within walking distance of the library). Sunday we visit the Dura Europos mithraeum cult niche at Yale's art gallery, as well as look at other period antiquities there.
>> Respectfully;
Marcus Minucius Audens/ Mr. James Matthews;
with feedback & approval from Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia (Dr. Jane Sibley) & Aulus Iulius Paterculus (Arthur Waite)
Provincia, Nova Britannia;
Nova Roma (NR)
