ADLOCVTIO
NEWSLETTER OF THE TWENTIETH LEGION

Vol. XVI, no. iii, March 2006

EVENTS

Our first official event of the season is this coming weekend, March 18-19, at Cold Wars, the Historical Miniature Gamers Society convention in Lancaster, PA.   Those who attended the miniatures con this past August will remember the comparative luxury of an indoor event!  The convention website has maps, directions, schedules, and much more, http://www.coldwars.org/ .  This is another good opportunity to drag out your earlier or later Roman impressions.  Lancaster is about a two-hour drive north of the DC area, so presumably most of us will go for only one day, but hopefully we'll have a small contingent there both days.  The coordinator needs participants' names for admission passes, so please let me know which day you would like to attend.
----------------------

Marching Through Time is coming up!  On April 22-23 at Marietta Mansion, the Legion will once again be one of over thirty different historical groups performing for the public, from 11 AM to 5 PM both days. Most of us know the drill pretty well by this time--speaking of which, we should expect to be doing our marching demonstration first thing after opening, so please come early.  PLEASE let the Commander know if you plan to attend, and if you are interested in staying for the barbecue on Saturday night.  Remember that cars will not be permitted into the camp area after 9:30 AM on Saturday (and not at all on Sunday until after 5 PM), so get there early if you need to unload gear.  Also, there will be set-up and groups of school kids coming through from 10 to 2 on Friday the 21st--I'll be there with the tent, and anyone else who happens to be available is welcome to come help out.  Note that April 21st is the Anniversary of the Founding of Rome!

I'm supposed to remind participants of the rules, which of course emphasize safety and security.
--Each unit is supposed to have a Safety Officer who enforces safety rules. (Any volunteers?)
--There must always be someone "on duty" in the camp during public hours.
--Keep physical control of any weapons or tools the public is handling, and do not let them handle sharp weapons or tools. (We've always found it easier to simply say that visitors are not allowed to handle weapons!)
--No mock fighting or swordplay except for prearranged demos on the enclosed display field.
--No consumption of alcohol during public hours, and none at all by minors. No illegal substances will be tolerated at all.
--No hobnails in the house!  Weapons are not to be carried into the house, or while socializing after public hours.
--Any significant injury is to be reported to the coordinators immediately. Any troublesome persons should also be reported, and they can be removed by the Park Rangers or police.

We don't have to worry about the firearms rules, of course.  If I missed anything, remind me to fill everyone in after the 10 AM commanders' meeting.  After our marching demo, a few of us will remain at the perimeter of the display area to help with security for the next group to perform.

Marietta is at 5626 Bell Station Rd., Glenn Dale, MD 20769. 301-464-5291. The Site Manager is Susan Wolfe. From I-95/495, the Capital Beltway, take Exit 20 onto Rt. 450 East, go 4 miles, turn left on Rt. 193, then left onto Bell Station Rd. and left again into Marietta.  For Marching Through Time, only handicapped parking is permitted on site (due to lack of space).  Participant and public parking is available at Holy Trinity School on Daisy Lane, off Rt. 193 just north of the Fire House.  Follow the signs and then catch the shuttle vans back to the site.  Participants can also park along Rt. 193, at their own risk--the intersection of 193 and Bell Station Rd. has become rather dangerous!

http://www.pghistory.org/MariettaMansion.html
--------------------------

On April 29 (the Saturday after MTT), a teacher friend of mine would like to have a few Romans at the Maryland Junior Classical League convention, at Dulaney High School in Timonium (Baltimore). We will arrive and set up the tent at 10 AM, do a marching demo and general presentation from about 1 to 2 PM, and then just generally hobnob with the students afterwards.
--------------------------

The Legion has been invited to set up camp at the Pennsylvania Junior Classical League State Convention on May 20, 2006. This will be held at Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA, and it is a one-day event.  Since this is roughly a 4-hour drive from the DC area, they are providing dormitory space for us for Friday and Saturday nights, if necessary.   That way we could easily be set up by 9 AM when the program starts. This convention is attended by over 600 high school Latin students, all of whom will naturally be more interested in Classical history and more motivated than the average high school audience.  So it should be a very rewarding event.  I will be getting directions and more details soon, but I will NOT be able to attend myself.  George Metz had volunteered to be the contact and coordinator for the weekend, but has been forced to cancel--would anyone like to take over?
--------------------------

And ROMAN DAYS is on the way, June 3-4. It is not too soon to be thinking about it!  Marietta Mansion is the place, and all the Romans in the world are invited.  I'm working on another Greek hoplite or two, as well!

MITHRACON by Dick Eney
The annual New England Conference on Mithraic Studies (Mithracon) will be held in New Haven on the 7th through 9th of Aprilis. Major activities will be a day at the Yale University Library (with passes to the stacks!) on the 8th and presentations by the attendees, on Mithraism or other Roman-related subjects, in the evening, followed by a visit to the Yale Art Gallery and the Mithraeum of Dara Europus on the 9th. The convention will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott, 30 Whalley Ave., New Haven and registration ($25 until March 15) should be sent to Dr. Jane Sibley, PO Box 123, Haddam, CT 06438. Fuller particulars can be found at http://www.mithracon.org .

MORE DISTANT EVENTS
A.D. 43, Lafe, Arkansas
Join either the victorious Roman Army or the soon to be conquered Pictish/Celtic Barbarians at BRITAIN A.D. 43 On March 23, 24, 25 and 26th for a weekend of Ancient Reenacting. The site opens at 12 NOON on March 23rd and is located in LAFE, ARKANSAS on 94 acres of private land. There are several ponds, woods, fields, and many places for Celts and courageous Romans to interact in meaningful and constructive ways.

Legio XX has not so far attended this event as a unit, but members are certainly encouraged to participate if they like. For details, rules, and fees, please contact Mark Saddler, Msaddler@cox-internet.com. http://www.ad43.org/9-2006_event.html
-----------------------

Legio XIIII in West Virginia is hosting an event called Pax Romana, May 19-20 (20-21?) at Wine Cellar Park in Dunbar, WV. The event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact Legio XIIII at BrenMk1@gmail.com, or call 304-552-9861. This is the same weekend as the Legio XX appearance at the PA Junior Classical League, but it would be nice if we could send a small contingent! http://home.armourarchive.org/members/flonzy/Roman/calendar.htm
-----------------------

Keith Egan of the South Jersey AIDS Alliance is looking for Romans to march in their fundraising walk in Atlantic City.  Unfortunately, this is scheduled for the first weekend in June, the same time as Roman Days, but I said I would help spread the word in case anyone in that general area was not able to attend Roman Days but was interested in a good cause.  Sounds like they're even willing to pay!   For more information, contact Mr. Egan at  609-347-1085, kcegan2@yahoo.com, http://www.southjerseyaidsalliance.org

CALENDAR
   March 18-19 --Historical Miniature Gamers Society convention in Lancaster, PA
   April 22-23--Marching Through Time, Marietta Mansion, Glenn Dale, MD
   April 9 --Maryland Junior Classical League, Dulaney HS, Timonium
   May 20 --PA Junior Classical League Convention, PSU
   June 3-4 --ROMAN DAYS, Marietta Mansion

----------------------
ADLOCVTIO is the Official Newsletter of the Twentieth Legion, supposedly published on the Ides of each month.  I am Quintus, aka Matthew Amt, the  Legion's Commander and Editor of the Newsletter, 317 Carroll Ave., Laurel, MD 20707, phone 301-362-3574, mamt @ lrcm. usuhs. mil, http://www.larp.com/legioxx/.
 

<TOP>

Star Watch -- April
Marcus Minucius-Tiberius Audens 

For those who look to the sky to view the wonders of the universe visible to our earth-bound eyes this article is offered.  Our Roman ancestors took great stock in what was happening in the skies, and tried with great study and effort to try and correlate the happenings in the sky with what they believed about the pantheon of Gods that they worshipped, and the happenings here on the planet Earth.  For those who may be interested, go back to those days and set your eyes upon the night sky.  Watch as the stars and planets change day by day, and experience what our Roman forefathers experienced in their search for truth and meaning in the heavens above them.

===========================

The constellation of Orion, which has been a familiar and welcome sight in the sky for the past several months, is now sinking from our sight for another season.  The stars of Spring may not blaze in comparison, however the Big Bear (Big Dipper) with it's pointer stars to Polaris, dominates high in the Northeastern firmament.  As if to offset the Great Bear, Leo the Lion is the champion of the Southern skies.  The twins (Gemini) have moved low down and in the Western sky.

In this shift the planets will certainly become more visible and will meet the eye in a brighter scene.  Mars will sit at a point due West in the middle of April. while Saturn will rule high in the Southwest, both of them at evening twilight.  Jupiter can be found in the East-Southeast just rising above the horizon, while the beautiful Venus is found low in the Eastern sky before the sunrise.

---------------------------------------------

Highlights to look for in the month of April::--

--Apr. 3rd--A Crescent Moon waxing to the right and just above Mars  The red planet continues it's decent into darkness as it's distance from Earth increases;

--Apr. 5th--First Quarter Moon;

--Apr. 6th--A waxing Gibbous Moon will be found high in the Southwest.  The ringed planet Saturn can be found just below it;

--Apr. 13th--Full "pink" Moon;

--Apr. 14th--The Moon which will be just past full on this night, will rise before the Planet Jupiter which is in the East.  The Moon will rise at 9:00 P.M. and will be followed by Jupiter 15 minutes later.  Both Jupiter and the Moon will remain in the sky for the remainder of the night.

--Apr. 20th--Last Quarter Moon;

--Apr. 21st--A Lyrid Meteor Shower which will begin at approximately midnight should be responsible for providing quite a show.  This display will be in the vicinity of about 9-16 meteors per hour and should last until sunrise in the Eastern sky.  The show should begin about midnight.

--Apr. 23rd-- The Crescent Moon which is waning is visible to those who can rise early.  The pairing of the Moon with a very brilliant and shining Venus found low in the East-Southeastern sky just as sunrise is beginning, will be a lovely treat;

--Apr. 27th--New Moon.


Reference:

SkyWatch-- Elizebeth A. Sargent Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium St. Johnsbury, VT www.fairbanks museum.org

<TOP>