Augustus Caesar

Hi all I don't wish to appear to set the agenda for a second meet so I will leave venues in the capable hands of Pertinax. It seems we are yet to choose between the Wall and any southern venue. I would not wish anyone to choose one over another when both may be set for September or so. I would be unlikely personally to be able to attend a southern meet this year though at this stage although this may change. Anyway, should we now discuss venues in earnest? Over to Pertinax.....

There are these two choices of... The Ermine Street Guard who are at Arbeia and Segedunum on September 1st and 2nd. Unfortunately I cannot do those dates!! The earliest I can organise this meet for would be subsequent weekends thereafter, the 8th and 9th. That said they are not booked after those dates. http://www.esg.ndirect.co.uk/ However, Comitatus are marching on Hadrians Wall on September 29th and 30th. Hows this for a choice weekend? http://www.comitatus.net/events.htm I have seen this group before and they are very good. Check out their pages. Unfortunately their site gives no finer detail of this walk on the Wall so I have contacted them to see what is on their schedule. If anyone wishes to pick those dates we can 'bump into them' and offer resistence to their 'invasion'!! How's this for you NN? Are those dates free? And so for the rest of you eager Romanophiles... 'are you free?'

Ah Claudia... You say 'One of the funniest films ever made...' Correct. But it's not the funniest!! That fine and well deserved accolade goes to none other than The Life of Brian!! Voted as the funniest film ever made too so I am going on fact as well as my own obviously biased view!! "You're **** nicked mate!!"

My report is almost neering completion and seems like an essay gone wrong in terms of length. I hope it reads ok when it is finally published. I apologise for its slightly later than intended inclusion but with that weekend and subsequent arrival home I found an immense pile of work for my website piled up and requests for several inclusions to be made before this week!! So - that done I am now able to finish the report and get it off to Pertinax for his perusal... As Andrew and, I would imagine, all others who took part in this weekend are stressing the need to do it again at a new venue we should endeavour to get this off the ground as soon as possible. There is already a new thread for this so please go there and make any comments on the suggested places. I think Hadrian's Wall may be the preferred pointer in September - but I am a little biased!!!!!! I have enjoyed reading the reports so far and it only enhances the excellent moods of the weekend and the memories we all took away when going home. Thanks guys!!!

My report will follow soon and the Life of Brian story will be included but the 'drink' he had was nothing more than a Coca Cola just beforehand!!!! If he'd had a pint his trousers would be hanging on his ghostly pal just behind him!!!!!! Perish the thought!!! Sorry Caldrail... I missed your exuberance while I was talking to the guy about the baths!! Was that a good thing he asks???

As your individual reports of the weekend events are starting to arrive early I shall endeavour to have ours done sooner rather than later. I will be developing photographs on Thursday and will 'tweak' those necessary like the group one and will send it to you P for your inclusion if required. Do you have a date in mind for publishing your finished report?

Not at all-tempus fugit. I wonder if we can take in a re-enactment event as well ? I will check through the schedules for this year. A re-enactment group would be a fabulous idea. Would they be prepared to do a display and talk for a short time and then we get on with our own thing though? Would another possibility be Sally Grainger? She could talk to our group exclusively for a short time maybe following up on what Andrew Dalby talked about in relation to foods. Maybe she could tell us of what the Army would be expected to eat and do for the preperation of foodstuffs. One of the suggestions at the meet in York was to drive folks around who do not have transport themselves. We would need to keep spaces free for those who get to the Wall by other means. Just to add to that this includes Flavia and myself!! This will be a good place to ask who would travel to the Wall by car and how many would have space to drive those who travel by train etc. One of the other considerations is where to stay. I will research this and keep costs down. If we can all stay in one place the better as we can talk over a drink in the place of residence without having to drive around afterward. Oh the logistics!!!! Would a new thread be a good idea for the new meet and these posts moved there? This would keep the York thread purely for our comments etc on that. Just a thought.

I will be willing to try and set something up on a visit to Hadrian's Wall and base it around construction etc. If Neil and I can do this together then that would be an excellent start. The Augusta favours the north and I personally think that we should treat the two seperately. Do the north and south at different times but take a choice to see where first. This is a tentative approach to see if we can get something going on either. Would we be talking about the back end of this summer or a similar date next year to this? The back end of summer for us would favour a trip on the Wall and next year the southern meet. That's unless we only wanted one meet per year in which case either could be done first. Anyway, I will be going along to the Wall a few times in the summer anyway and could arrange to meet NN (if agreeable to him - what do you think NN?) there for a wider discussion as to how we could approach this for the end of summer. Mid September may be good as the kids are back to school and won't be along the Wall so much and my outdoor activities during the summer won't get in the way. Would it be rude of me to ask folk to get back to me or NN on this one to see how we may approach the idea? I think that should be enough for now anyway and if I am being too 'forward' with this please stop me!!!! I get enthusiastic with stuff like this and as we enjoyed ourselves so much - well, you know what I mean!!

Aww shucks...thank you. I quite agree with The Augusta and it is perhaps a little sad that more young lads don't take some parts of their lives and dedicate it to learning things of this ilk. Thank you Wot for coming along and adding to the very interesting debates that went on over the three days. All contributions, no matter how small or large, were very valuable. I learned quite a lot over this last weekend and appreciate everything that was said. Once more... thank you all...

Hi y'all Well, what an absolutely FANTASTIC weekend we had in York!! I'll never forget this as long as I live!! Meeting new friends whom I had only ever conversed with on here and my own forum and then travelling down to the city of York itself to meet you all - well - a good few of you.... Anyway, my wife, Augusta (Audrey - though NOT the Augusta (actually I should use her second Roman name to avoid confusion which is Flavia)) and I were the first to arrive and did a short tour of the local area - visiting the Treasurers House and discovering the Via Decumana which ran along the side street to this austeer building. Will, it did some 1800 years ago!! We made our way back to the Minster and met Andrew and Maureen Dalby. The rest of the troupe converged and we went off to an Indian restaurant to have plenty Roman debates about - well - everything Roman.... A very good night was had and the following day WotWotius joined us on the Walls ready to hear the first talk given by Andrew. This was excellent and very informative. Pertinax did the second talk further along the Wall and Northern Neil explained his Roman models based upon Segedunum here in Wallsend and I chipped in with some details where necessary. Later on in the pub I was asked several questions about Hadrian's Wall but by no means could I answer them all!! I don't proclaim to be an expert although I still know a fair bit. Pertinax will be doing a good write up of the whole weekend but that gives a taste of what happened although there was a lot more!! One of the highlights was as NN said, was the 'tesing' of the locals when films of the ilk of The Life of Brian were discussed. I may put the full story on my own forum shortly. The whole situation was hilarious!!! Anyway, before I spoil it for Pertinax I will say that both Flavia and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The weekend to us was an amazing success and we really ought, as discussed, to do this again at another destination. Hadrian's Wall was suggested as was Maiden Castle and Fishbourne Palace. We now class all that were there as friends and we are so pleased to have met you all. :notworthy: :beer: I will get my photos developed and off to Pertinax very soon. Thank you to all who made this weekend possible and as special as it was!! This is what memories were made for!!!!!

Hi y'all I seem to have picked up a thread incorrectly here. My apologies to you Nephele... I thought you WERE coming!! Anyway, we'll have a thought and drink for you and no doubt piccies will 'swim' their way across the North Atlantic to be with you in time for our twentieth meet!!! It's a long way to go for a photo by sea!! At least you've given us a starting point for something to laugh at with the Google thing. If you go further down that list it mentions going via France!!!! Or maybe it's just signposts... Whatever!!! I'm sure your name will come up and you'll be honoured with giving us something to drink and hale to!!!

Thanks for the tip! I've just paddled back and hitched a ride on a dolphin! York Forum Meeting, here I come! -- Nephele Glad to be of help Nephele!! Just stay warm in those waters!! We'll look forward to meeting you. Are you arriving on Friday or Saturday?

That's fantastic!!!! Who had the brains to come up with that gem???? Try going one further by clicking on step 23 and it tells you in a pop up window to leave by the New England Aquarium!! How appropriate is that????

Well, he kept that one quiet! At least Gaius Paulinus admits to his vices in public! Yes - it's great news that Wot will be joining us - he'll be a great addition to our merry band and will probably keep us all in check. BTW: Do we have a dress code? I assuming for trudging around on our journeys jeans and sensible footwear will be adequate? I was going to bring all my Armani and Gucci - but I've decided against it... You can bring the Armani and Gucci Augusta. We won't mind one bit as long as we can bring some paint balls too!!! Only kidding!! I suspect with a motley crew like us a pair of jeans with a t-shirt full of holes would be good enough. We could claim to have been on an excavation somewhere!! I tthink casual will be the norm though. I was going to come as a senator but with a name like Augustus that's not on is it? I think I'll wear my Roman soldier lapel badge. That should be good!!!! I think if my team were where Leeds are I would be quiet too!! No offence NN coz I like Leeds! But it must be a tad embarrassing at times when after having so much success they find themselves where they are today. I hope they stay up!! Do we really want to be kept in check? Wot is joining us for the merriment and ample supplies of the golden nectar and will only check on us to see we are not drinking it all for him!!! I am getting seriously excited now and can't wait - but I don't want to rush it!!

Well, my wife and I arrive on the Friday at about 2.30pm at will get to the place of abode shortly afterward. If anyone wants to meet before that and before Pertinax arrives give me a PM with your mobile number and from around 3 or 4 we can have a natter and a cup of rosy lea!! I think Pertinax will arrive a bit later on (I think he said after 6pm- correct me if I am wrong P). The meet on Saturday will no doubt be arranged on the Friday night and those arriving on Saturday will be told by mobile where to get to. Again I am assuming this so P will tell us if this is wrong. Augusta... Yes we have some very good players but some dodgy ones too. Parker is a very decent guy and a very competent player. I would keep him. Baba? Not really. His heart isn't in it. We only like players here who really want to bust a gut every game they play. We also want players who bust a gut to GET a game. Our passion is second to none here and this is proven week in and week and out. Even when we were nobody at times our support for a squad full of dummies was unbelievable. Cheering them on to at least attempt to kick the darned ball!!!! Anyway, I waffle.... WotWotius... Glad you can make it now. This will only add to our hours of merriment and joy!! NN... Am I correct in remebering you are a Leeds fan? If so, what's going on down there???? They used to be the country's top team under Revie et al...

Hey, husband - whisky is fine! I have ear-marked some money for this weekend, so I won't stint anyone. And after all, I am the Augusta! Plus, I'm one of those lasses who believes in paying her way. As for our Gaius Paulinus - before we castigate his missus too much, let us all remember that she took him away to Rome for his 30th. She sounds like an OK gal to me - so we can allow her a little soiree at the shops! Just don't spend too much of his money, Mrs. Gaius! I am really looking forward to this weekend myself. It should be great fun and informative into the bargain. And bear in mind, I am forgoing the FA Cup semi final versus Blackburn! You sound like a very independant young lady. I will be deeply honoured to meet the Augusta!! I probably sounded a tad sexist when I said of Mrs Gaius that her hubby could sneak away from the shops!! Nothing intended though!. I'm sure they will have a great day and we will look forward to his/their company next time. Breakfast in bed... now that's a lovely thought!! Mind after a night on the tiles he'll be too knackered to get out of bed!!! So have a great day Gaius and look after your missus... Hey Augusta - does this mean you are a Chelsea fan? Never mind... someone has to do it!! I would like to see a couple of seasons with all teams having like for like players and we'll see who comes out on top then. Money wins trophies - well, that's the theory!! We have money but it gets spent poorly and we have a bare cabinet since '69... who are we? Newcastle United!! Great club, best fans in the country, most passion, some crap players and a chairman who used to be a scrap metal merchant!!! Well, still is but his 'passion' is touting his position as NUFC chairman!! He's a loony to most Geordies!!!! Who'll win the Cup? Man. Utd. And I hate saying that coz I don't like any of Arsenal, Man Utd or Chelsea. It's the whole thing about Arsenal from their boss down who is blind to anything he doesn't want to see even if it smacks him in the face!!. I don't Ferguson at man Utd - apart from that they're not too bad!!! Chelsea? Arrogant, big-headed and can only win things when backed by big money. Their boss? Self opinionated but confident. Anyway... let's talk all things Roman in York and we'll think of you Gaius and have a pint for you no doubt. Will we be praying to any Gods after a few jars? If so, which ones?

Hey Augusta... I may just hold you to that!!! Now what could I drink? A cheap wine? Nah!! A cider? Nah!!! A few lagers? Maybe!! A whisky or twelve? Now you're talking!! Oh alright then... a lager or two! Gaius!! Couldn't you just slip away from the shops for a couple of hours? Your wife will be too busy looking at all the goodies on offer so she won't notice your subtle slip through the crowds. We'll get a jet to bring you over!! You'll have to make your own way back though coz it's an expensive game all this jet stuff!!

Whilst the information given above is excellent and informative I can offer a little more here. This text is taken from the ipso facto book on Hadrian's Wall and is extremely highly regarded as the best source of information as regards this subject, Hadrian's Wall by Dr David Breeze and Brian Dobson, revised edition. Units at Burgh-By-Sands... Under Hadrian: cohors quingenaria equitata/milliaria perditata [?] Under Marcus Aurelius: no evidence Third Century: cohors I Nervana Germanorum milliaria equitata [?], numerus Maurorum Aurelianorum (253-8)*, cuneus Frisionum Aballavensium (241)[?] Notitia: numerus Maurorum Aurelianorum* *The numerus was under the charge of a tribune of a cohort in 253-8 and cohors I Nervana would fit best at this time. Although the references co the cuneus come from Papcastle (RIB 882-3) the inscriptions seem to refer to a transfer of someone to the unit called cuneus Frisionum Aballavensium (the cavalry unit of Frisiones of Burgh) from an unnamed unit, presumably from the one in garrison at Papcastle to the unit at Burgh. It seems difficult and unnecessary to assume that the cuneus had been moved to Papcastle, and it is a well-attested Roman practice to set up inscriptions recording promotion on transfer at the post one is leaving. A cohors milliaria peditata is unlikely under Hadrian, as there are only two attested in the province, and there was presumably at the time one at Housesteads and one at Birdoswald. Whilst there are possible descendants among us here upon the Wall these are likely to be few and far between. When the Roman Army was pulled out of Britain it was assumed at one time that the Wall and its surrounds were deserted. Evidence dictates otherwise. Some folk actually stayed and eeked out a living but most left. The few farms that would have been left may have certainly contained these North Africans but they would also have more likely contained locals and other civilians from abroad. Law would have broken down to a large extent and many folk would have felt safer in the larger towns and cities where a certain degree of law may have been maintained. The Scots entered the north of England several times over the years after the Romans left and many would have been chased off or killed. In the medieval period also this area was unstable. So throughout the 1,200 years or so, up to the 1700's, after Rome took away its legions there have been many changes here. It would, to me, seem like finding a needle in a haystack if research was undertaken to seek this kind of descendancy. South Shields, Arbeia, is also known as the 'place of the Arabs'. The naming is as thus.... The name of the fort is unusual. Arbeia as a name is mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum and is almost certainly tied to South Shields. The post-Roman name for the site is Caer Urfa and is regarded to be a corruption of the name Arbeia. The actual word Arbeia is probably a Latin version of an Aramaic word. The Aramaic language itself is from the modern day area of Iraq, where the Tigris Bargemen were recruited, and means

Rome is on UKTV Drama this Saturday at 9pm for those who are interested. Still no word from the Beeb except that it seems their Spring/Summer schedule is sorted for the most part where drama is concerned. So are we now even looking at Autumn or Winter for this to be shown? Or even worse when the run ends on UKTV Drama for Series 1 will we see it there??? We are all yearning this series to be shown soon but I remain a little pessimistic!

Now now Neil... I think you're stretching it a tad too much when you say we'll be sharing the beer!!!!!! I may be broke but there ARE limits!!!!

Thanks P - I appreciate that. Does this mean we have to act all serious in York now?

Hi all I am not sure if this is the right place for this but as it concerns our UK meet I will post here anyway... A guy from ITV has been in touch and registered on my forum asking for information as regards to a future TV programme they are in production with at the moment. Here is his initial post.... "I work the Arts department at ITV. Our main output is Melvyn Bragg

Hi Augusta and Pertinax I have heard of Castlefield and the existence of a Roman fort there but know nothing of it. Any information is always greeted with lots of gratitude and kindness from ones loyal subjects!! If the questions are not too complex and deep I may well be able to answer some. I am no expert but know more than most maybe. This is due to the ex curator at Segedunum who taught me a lot in the short time our paths crossed - mainly while giving me personal guided tours of the fort grounds etc. So I'll do my best - he says!!!!

That's quite interesting Augusta. It seems the town has been passed about within borough boundaries quite a bit during its past. The entries seem to go back to the industrial eras of cotton and mining but folk must have lived there for some time before that. Is there any history of Romans being around that town or its vicinity? I mean within only a mile or two really.

Well, as I said the BBC have stated a showing in the Spring is what is likely to be their schedule. So a wait until the end of year? I doubt it!! Around April / May? More likely. But caution is erred upon here as I do not wish to be slapped silly at the UK meet in April if I am proved wrong!!! I may turn up in disguise as a lamppost or something... but then dogs come to mind... I'll get my coat!!!!