Gladiatorial news from Virtus Antiqua

In its first show this year, during the Free Dacians' Festival in Baia Mare, Romania, held between May 19th and 21st, our reenactment association Virtus Antiqua has presented some of its novelties. These new elements have been included in the traditional show - a day in Ludus Memnii, the gladiatorial school of Gaius Memnius Primus. This year we present not only fights between recruits and gladiators, but also between gladiatrices, though a rarer sight in ancient Rome, makes for a more tasty depiction of such shows and events. Another addition is the inclusion of auxiliary soldiers in the show, part of the story of conflicts and rebellions inside the gladiatorial training school. The third novelty consists of the dance of the priestesses, not only that of the dancers embodying the ancient furies.

See more photos from the show in Baia Mare HERE.

 

Virtus Antiqua arms presentation stand at Festivalul Dacii Liberi

Gladiatrices from Virtus Antiqua

Auxiliary Roman soldiers chastising rebelling gladiators

Dance of the Batavian priestesses

 

Hordearii

Ancient gladiators were called hordearii, literally barley-eaters, as their diet was meant to keep them protected by a layer of fat tissue. Dried fruit was another important element in their menu.

For the Pugnate! event this weekend at Camp Virtus, near Cluj, we shall cook one recipe that might have been served to (better off) gladiators. The "Glanum Soup", an ancient Roman dish, consists of wheat and meat boiled with vegetables and onions  studded with dry cloves. Fell free to sample the result on September 10th after mid day, in the company of gladiators!

 

Pugnate! a day in the company of gladiators

Saturday, September 10th, is another great day for outdoors historical reenactment at Camp Virtus! The new event, held near Cluj, in Salicea, from  noon till 6 PM, is a day to try out the life of ancient Roman gladiators - with training, fighting, religious rituals, and food cooked according to ancient recipes.

Young visitors will be able to become gladiators by taking part in several activities testing their strength, equilibrium and perseverance. They will have to pull the rope, carry the flag of the school of gladiators, train at the palus and with the gladiators. In the end they will choose a Roman name from a list of famous gladiators' names, will receive a leather bracelet inscribed with it and them they will no longer be tiro (recruits).

Actually, recruiting is another goal for the event. Girls and boys over 18 who want to join our NGO and become legends in the arena are welcome. Becoming a volunteer is free of charge and you get to travel, learn new things and have fun, historically!

Reenactment park near Cluj

VIRTVS ANTIQVA NGO has launched the website of their reenactment park in the making - Camp Virtus. The site is located 8 km from Cluj-Napoca, by the village of Salicea. It will have special areas for arrow shooting, Roman games, presentations of ancient equipment and costume replicas, an arena for shows (amphitheater-like gladiatorial shows, religious ceremonies, Roman dances and various types of entertainment), a Roman garden, ovens and kilns of different types (for cooking, for pottery, a forge), and replicas of ancient dwellings. Stay tuned for the grand opening! And you may also support the initiative, there are various way to do that - see HERE.

Reenactment at Camp Virtus

I am involved in the creation of a reenactment park near Cluj-Napoca, in the village of Salicea, called Camp Virtus. It is the initiative of another NGO, the Virtus Antiqua and it aims at presenting various aspects of military and civilian life during Antiquity. The parts I like best are those I have already organized during summer camps over the past years: ancient clothing, perfume, and cosmetics; ancient games (especially board games such as Rota and Duodecim scripta); and interactive activities with drawing.

ROTA championship

The real TOGA party

Drawing a Dacian warrior in full attire

Drawing a Roman centurion

 In April we will have a full week of activities for pupils, during the national Scoala Altfel program. Feel free to join! The estimated visit is of 80 minutes and includes several workshops in open air: bow and arrow target practice, presentation of Roman and Dacian military and civilian costumes, ancient games, workout (gladiators, Roman auxiliary soldiers).

Discover the gladiator within!

http://virtusantiqua.ro/?page_id=2106

26 aprilie – antrenament de gladiatori

În fiecare joi de la ora 18 eşti invitat la centrul Virtus Antiqua pentru antrenamentele de gladiatori cu Torquatus! Învaţă să lupţi ca un gladiator de acum 2000 de ani, probează echipamentele cu care luptăm noi în arenă, află adevărul despre luptele din amfiteatru!

Durata: ca. 60 min

Preţ: 5 RON/pers.

Discover the gladiator within at VIRTVS ANTIQA center! Train with actual gladiators to gain experience in the arena! Try out the equipment and learn the truth about fighting for glory!