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Message sent to Nova Roma Main List on 14 Apr 2003 07:53:07 -0700 (PDT) by Plebeian Aedile Lucius Arminius Faustus.

On the first day before the ides of april, the public gathered on the Circus built for the games (called on mockery 'the amphitheatre Fauste'). There was lots of expectation between the crowd specially after the controversy on the forum days before. The sun was gloriously on the sky, the temperature was high, sure 35�C on shadows. It seems that Ceres and the Sun had a deal and the coming of Proserpina has brought lots of heat to the world.

On the honour tribune, the two plebeain aediles, Faustus and Scribonius, and the flaminen Cerealis Bardulus, who seated after ending the religious cerimonies. Next, the seats of the Senators and others Magistrates. The circus was specially filled with plebeians, as they worshipped on Cerealia to make vows to the plebeian goddess.

As called by the horns, the sixteen fighters rounded the arena and cried 'Te morituri salutant!'. The Aedile Faustus retributes the greeting crying:

- We, Plebeain Aediles, hereby open the gladiatorial combats on honour of Ceres, and may the Goddess find pleasure on them and bless the Res Publica! We salute the Magistrates, Priests and Tribunes of  Nova Roma, and invite all fellow patricians to join the plebeians on joy and ledice.

But the public was smart to note: There was no rudus on the Aedile's hand or on his servants...

COMBAT 1

MURMILLO X SAMNITE

The horn announces the first fight. What a surprise. These gladiators were sent by two giants, magistrates many times. Aeternus, a samnite of the former aedile T. Appolonius against Claw, the tiger of the east, a murmillo from Senator Audens.

They come from separate doors and stand one in front of another breathing courage and respect.

The horns announce the fight to start. Claw do as a murmillo, expected attack, on aggressive mode. Aeternus tries to block with the shield... IN VANE! Blood splits on the sands for the first time! Aeternus falls, a big rip on the brass cuirass on the chest.

- Come on! Come on! � Claw says like a tiger. � The novo romans desire blood to pacify the gods.

- Then the blood shall be the yours! � says slowly Aeternus coming up.

- Ah, dog, thou shalt fell... � the cunning of Aeternus has showed itself. He does a studied attack on Claw's army. But the galerum wards it off. The defensive fighter Aeternus had no lucky at all.

Claw laughs. The sword descends. The shield of Aeternus is broken! Again, Aeternus tries a reaction, again he fells with dizziness.

Another strike of the Murmillo and Aeternus is on the sands spitting dark blood. Claw track on his neck and raise the hand to the public. Since Aeternus was not much successful on neither blow, the public has not mercy of the samnite.

- Blood, blood, blood! � cries the crowd! Thumbs down!

The murmillo has no doubt and pierced him with his heavy sword besides the nevil; so all Aeternus' bowels gushed forth-open ground, and darkness clouded his eyes.

The public got frenzy acclaiming between shock and delight.

The caronte-masked servants pick up Aeternus remains and the ferrous Clay tiger-like exit the arena.

The Aedile Faustus upon the honour Tribune just smiles on seeing the faces of the assembly.

- This is just the first round. The winner covered with glory will be assigned to a next day to a new fight.

VICTORIA CLAW, the MURMILLO

COMBAT 2

THRACIAN X RETIARIUS

The next fight the Fates decided the sadness of G. Iulius Scaurus. Two of his fighters matched together. Borysthenes a thracian against Felicianus a Retirarius. They were supposed to be friends, but the arena claimed the blood of one.

The first strike was from Felicianus, fast movement and his trident made three holes on Borystenes right arm. But the thracian didn�t give up. The dagger shined cutting the face of Felicianus, hurting him merciless.

- Damn you! � cried the retiarius

- Ah, ah, ah! Now taste these! � The dagger attacked the naked Felicianus Belly.

- Oh! � the crowd stands up of the chairs! The daggers flies! Got on the holes of Felicianus web, with a strong pull the retiarius took the blade meters away. But he hasn�t stop! Fast moving, the web instant after was around all the thracian body. A strong pull and Borysthenes was on the sands defenseless. The crowd divided itself. Some thumbs up, some thumbs down.

Felicianus decided for taking out the rival out of Scaurus' favors, the trident went on Borysthenes chest, which life vanished to the shadows of deep Hades.

- FELICIANUS ATROX! � cried the crowd.

VICTORIA FELICIANUS, the retiarius

COMBAT 3

THRACIAN X ESSEDARIUS

Another two warriors come onto the arena. A thracian Leo Aquilonis, from G. Vipsanius Agrippa. And what a surprise, a veight and the unconfusing sound of a chariot. There is the first essedarius, Flavius Cheruscus, from Senator M. Arminius Maior.

Flavius rounds the thracian like a shark overseeing the victim. And he doesn�t wait the signal, he hurled his far shadowing spear; and on Leo's left shoulder the spear point passed, and smote not his body; Leo had a pretty good evasion. The thracian caught the spear from the ground. The javelin sped not from his hand in vain, but smote the breast between the nipples, and thrust him from the chariot. The horse, confused, runs away.

Against all wounds, Flavius stand up, even almost trespassed, a miracle having survived. A small pillum was attached on his belt, and he throws it. Weak, the javelin has blocked by Leo's shield. Again Cheruscus searched the belt for something, but his lungs were compromised. Blood on abundance was exiting the spear sited on his chest, he falls under the knees and fells prone, and his armor clanged upon him.

There was no time for mercy, death caught Flavius before.

VICTORIA LEO ACHILONIS, a THRACIAN

COMBAT 4

MURMILLO X SAMNITE

On the Arena now enter the murmillo Marcus Claudius Seneca. Some doubts arose upon the crowd, is he a roman citizen? A gladiator having the name of a philosopher? What a dishonor for the stoic school!

Another side, the saminte Marius the Libyan. His dark skin on the sun resembles the warriors of kings Jugurta and Juba, the ally Massinissa, the might of the sand warriors.

They approach themselves.

The first strike comes from the murmillo, very aggressive. The Libyan tries to block on the shield, but failed.  But he doesn't fail on the ground, cautiously studying the adversary, a blow from his campanian sword clangs against the helm of his adversary. Unfortunately, the long time studied attack was weak, and has not knocked the enemy

On the counterstrike, the murmillo make the Libyan blood split. The Libyan vacillates and again a weak movement was evaded by Seneca which sword again doesn�t return in vain. A most violent stroke he delivered at the Libyan�s helm, and all his head was broken in twain within the strong helm, and prone on the dead he fell, and round him was poured death that slayeth the spirit.

There was no time for the grace stroke. Seneca mocked:

- Carpe diem!

Pretty stoic this Seneca!

VICTORIA SENECA, a MURMILLO

COMBAT 5

ESSEDARIUS X RETIARIUS

What a surprise and delight for all men. A WOMAN on the games! Inscribed by Senator Patricia Cassia, most blessed by Queen Minerva, comes on the red sands Zenobia, a retiarius.

But... wait... The retiarius 'uniform' is almost naked! Zenobia is shameless to show her breasts on the arena to the crowd. There is some murmur upon the public:

- Oh tempora, oh mores! Where is the pudicitia publica? The aediles don�t see it?

- No, it is not a question of pudicitia. It is a secret weapon. While the adversary is diverted seeing her breasts, she strikes! Very intelligent...

- Humm... why complaining? From this distance of this low cost chairs, I can�t see even the swords, much less the breasts!

- On the Seneca's play THE TROJANS the captive women used to show their breasts when mourning.

- And the Amazons fighted on with a breast naked as well.

- One, not THE two.

- Oh, come on! This is not a tribunal to disqualify the precedents!

- But the breast means the nurture and sacred functions of...

- Shut up and stop complaining! The horn is calling the other fighter!

Another from Iulus Scaurus's army: Zosimus, an essedarius, comes on a black biga, which golden hairness. Like the a God, Zozimus was not afraid to cry: 

- This is the chariot of Pluto Chrysenios, who kidnapped Proserpina. And I come as the Lord of the Underground to take a virgin soul with me!

- So come on, daring god! � shouted Zenobia. � If I would be the swift daughter of Queen Ceres, your theatric play, essedarius, could frighten me. But I'm from the same substance of Atalanta, Pentessileia and Hypolita! Many men have discovered that a delicate woman hand brings faster Mors!

- So shall it be, bitch! � and Zosimus throws a brass spear. Zenobia was unlucky, having not evaded on time, the spear ripped up her beautiful belly. But the mortal point just ripped, not picking some organ, a ugly wound, but not mortal.

Zenobia cried a loud war cry and attacked with the trident. Zozimus make the horse run, but almost too late. The three sharp points passed one inch far his ear.  The biga evaded the essedarius away, to another strike.

Zenobia waits on the middle of the arena breathing courage. Zozimus comes on his biga fast, another spear on hand. The retiaria throws the web!

Luck essedarius. The web enovelated the spear, being shunt on its path. Zozimus throw away the now useless spear and picked another on the car. Zenobia without her web again prepared to face him with the might trident.

The biga comes again. The retiaria lost again the strike, while swiftly he cast upon Zenobia with his shinning spear.

Not avoiding the black fate, Zenobia received the spear, for the gods had willed her death. Her the spear struck at the meeting of the head and neck, on the last joint of the spine, and cut in twain both the tendons. And her head, and mouth and nose, as she fell, reached the earth long before his legs and knees.

Zozimus stopped the run of his horses, descended on foot and came to spoil the dead:

- The beauty, so fugacious!

And on the public, between the mournings lastimating the courage of the dead woman, all charged as cruel the Fate that forbade them to give her thumbs up on retribution.

A citizen cried direct to the Honour Tribune.

- Come on, Aedile! Spare us of so great bloodlust! Haven't you, so wise on these arts, foreknown this carnage?

Aedile Faustus arose angry form his honour seat of presiding magistrate.

- Was I the trainer? Am I the one who delivers mortal spears on the necks? Am I on the loom of the Destiny? Am I that decide what technique the warriors uses one against the other? Do you think I'm not shocked? Forsooth, this Ludi are being too bloody. But the rules are correct. Forebondings had I? May they so please the needs of our religio! What should I guess about, now? For me, all the thumbs should be up. But you see now what Fate desired. I'm as amazed as you. But I assure you, no warrior felt today without courage. Call the next two! Maybe now there will be a use for our merciful thumbs!

VICTORIA ZOZIMUS, a ESSEDARIUS

COMBAT 6

ESSEDARIUS X RETIARIUS

The next couple was exactly the same as before, a retirarius, Robur from the illustrious interpreter Tiberius Anneus Otho against a essedarius, Polidaocertes, from M. Tullius Philippicae.

But if the previous combat was violent, this combat was much more! Seems that Robur has learned much with the death of Zenobia. As Polidaocertes attacked running the biga against him, he threw the web againts the horse! The animal entrained its legs on the web and felt, turning down and crashing the biga!

Polidaocertes, little bit dizzy, crawled on the ground trying to pick the spears spreaded on the fall. Robur pierced the trident against the thigh of the enemy. Polidaocertes cried loud on pain, but blindly turned the arm with a spear and wounded Robur on the shoulder.

From the tribune, aedile Scribonius commented with his colleague:

- Hum... the retiarius could have killed him now... he wants to give our thumbs some use.

- At least one was hearing what I said! � said Faustus smiling.

The next movements was predictable. Polidaocertes in pain tried to stand up, while Robur just little pierced like the cooker moves the meat on a barbecue.

The essedarius finally felt on his on blood, claiming for the life.

- Exercise your mercy now, novo romans! � Cried the aedile.

The entire crowd gives thumbs down.

Robur gave a so strong strike that was difficult take out the trident from the dead chest.

VICTORIA ROMBUR, a RETIARIUS

COMBAT 7

ESSEDARIUS X MURMILLO

The eighth fight of the day was a essedarius, Ursus from P. Domitianus Artorius, against a murmillo, Vitulus, the last of Iulius Scaurus army.

Ursus came on the middle of the arena and left the chariot.

- I don�t need chariots! Just my spears are sufficient. I don't want to seem unjust by having a biga and my courage to butcher this tiny murmillo. Let the biga out.

Vitullus ignored the boast. Instead, he preferred attacking.

The fight was body to body. Hard to narrate. The sword and the spear were very fast, attacking and defending, from the two sides, the blood was split on abundance. Two aggressive fighters desiring the eternal glory of the arena.

But finally there was a winner. Vitullus felt on the ground. Wounded as well, Ursus like a angry bear smited the brass point on his neck. The moment of the thumbs.

The public is very hard to satisfy, but not impossible.

THUMBS UP!

Vitullus blood dressed stand up and painly walked to the exit. Ursus left the arena under greetings

VICTORIA URSUS, a ESSEDARIUS

COMBAT 8

THRACIAN X ESSEDARIUS

The twilight was coming. The public on the chairs was tired. The carnage delights on the first moment, next started to be boring. The sands of the arena were already a blood red mud.

The final fight was between Maximinos, a Thracian (name of an Emperor!) sent on the arena by god-like Appius Arminius Claudianus, honor of Provincia Brasilia, apparitor of the Pax on the Provincial Temple of Concordia, and Carnifex Peritus, an essedarius sent by Quintus Salix Cantabricus, member of a gens that gives yearly so many good magistrates to the Res Publica.

The fight was hard; the two warriors have chosen the aggressive technique. The thracian sliced the flesh of the essedarius many times, and the charioter smited the thracian as well. Maximinus felt the spears of Carnifex, and Carnifex tasted the blade of the thracian. They bleed all body, from holes and rips.

But the gods has already chosen a winner. Thus Carnifex hurled his far-shadowing spear, and smote upon the circle of the shield of Maximinus, beneath the edge of the rim, where the bonze and iron ran thinnest round, and the bull-hide was thinnest thereon; and right through sped the essedarius ashen spear, and the shield cracked under it. But the spear didn�t stop, the point stopped just on Maximinos' bowels. 

The thracian felt on the knees, bleeding a lot. The essedarius jumped from the biga, and the turned the enemy on the ground. He was starting to raise the hand asking for the public decision when Maximino's eyes gazed immobile the sky and his life was gone.

VICTORIA CARNIFEX, a ESSEDARIUS

The night has fallen upon the Amphitheater. The public stands up and goes to the exit, talking a lot about the results, the deploring cowardice and greeting the courage.