Berenice, Egypt
by MANIVS-CONSTANTINVS-SERAPIO

For those who may be interested, the following begins a series of observation by Dominus Praefectus Serapio during his tour of military duty in North Africa,  In spite of his military duties, Praefects Serapio was able to make the time to visit these sites, and make a few notes for our benefit, as well as a few sketches of the excavation work being done. The sketches will be copied and forwarded to someone who can scan them onto the Sodalitas Egressus Website.  I am very leased to be able to present this series to the Sodalitas Egressus:

This is a port on the Red Sea , that was responsible for a good part of the trade carried on between the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea during the Ptolemaic and Roman Ages.  It was the main connection for commercial links (terra marique) between East and West, joining the Asian Continent with Africa and the Arabian Felix, and leading, through established trade routes, commerce from the Red Sea , into the Mediterranean .

This important port was in continuous operation from the III Century B.C. through the III Century A.D, but the period of it's greatest growth and impact on the ancient world was from the 1st Century B.C, up to the 1st Century A.D. 

Archaeological excavations are currently still being conducted, as the most sought after specific stratum of overburden layers  have not yet been reached. 

From the East, arriving in Berenice were various spices, silk, glass pearls, natural pearls, coconuts, incense and myrrh.  From the West arrived "young singers" (girls for Indian harems) red coral, glass, wheat and wine.

From Berenice goods were transported by camel train overland through the desert.  Normally within forty days these trains reached the port of Apollonihopah's Magna (today’s Edifu), a river port on the Nile River, and from there downriver in period watercraft to the seaport of Alexandria for transport to markets / destinations along the shores of the Mediterranean. 

Actual archaeological excavations have provided details about the daily life of the civilian population of the city of Berenice , together with much information regarding period Commercial organization.  One of the great problems extent in Berenice during it's lifetime was the matter of providing a significant water supply to the inhabitants of the city. The greater part of available water came from local wells, but whether the water was piped into the city or whether it was brought on the backs of animal trains is not known at this time.  As regard to food supplies, it is apparent from the archaeological findings, that the city relied heavily upon the bounty of the sea.

Berenice was a widely diverse ethnic community with the representation of many different cultural groups and religions.  Archaeologists have identified evidence for a variety of Egyptian, Greco-Roman, and Eastern faiths as well as Christianity among the ruins being sifted.  In a "drift" a cache of about 200 OSIPOLKOL (ostraka, written baked clay fragments) in Greek language dating back to the age of Claudius and Nero  have been found.  These are the records of the custom house, with lists of traders, ships, cargoes, (for example; wine coming from Italia) and other  data relating to commerce.

Part of the archaeological findings was a ruined structure used as a goods storage area which contained many amphorae and fragments of a statue which may be of the Goddess Isis.

Roman Spain
by Marcus Minucius Audens
Praefectus Architechtura / Geographica -- Sodalitas Militarium – Nova Roma

The Peninsula of Iberia was one of the most prosperous of the Roman Empire .  It boasted a thriving trade, as well as a strong road network, and several large urban centers.    The exports were Gold from the Cordillera Cantabrica in Northwestern Spain, Copper from Pax Ilia (Beja -- in modern Portugal), Silver from the Sierra Morena and Sierra Nevada in Southern Spain, Olive Oil from the area around Italica and Hispalis (Seville), and Fish Sauce from processing factories set up along the Southern Coast and from Carthago Nova (Cartagena) a Mediterranean seaport. 

A Roman road came South from Gallia Lugdunensi (France) and crossed the Pyrenaei Montes (Pyrenees Mountains) close by the Northeastern Coastline of Spain.  The road followed the Coastline South through Emporiae (Ampurius), Tarraco ( Tarragona ), Carthago Nova and then Westward across the Sierra Nevada Highlands to Gades ( Cadiz ) on the Mare Gades.  From there the roads turned North to Italia (the first community of Roman Citizens in Spain, established by Scipio Africanus in the 3rd Century B.C. for the veterans of the war against Carthage)  and Hispalis on the Flumen (River) Guadalquivir and from there branched to the East, West and continued Northward toward the high internal plateau of Tarraconensis, and the cities of Toletum (Toledo) on the Flumen Tagus , Segovia, Caesar Augusta (Saragossa) on the Flumen Iberis Ebro, From this Northern Point the road network leads to Clunia, Legio (Leon), Augusta Asturia, Lucus Augusti (Lugo), and the seaport of Brigantium (La Corunna) on the Mare Cantabricum, and the Oceanus Atlantico in the extreme Northwest Coast of Iberia. 

From Hispalis the road leads East to Pax Iulia, and then Northwest to the West Coast seaport of Olisipo (Lisbon) at the mouth of the Flumen Tagus.  The road continues North to Scallabis (Santarem) and finally to Bracara Augusta (Braga), before turning toward the Northeast and linking with the road leading to Brigantium. 

Eastward from Hispalis, the road goes to Astigi, and Corduba on the Flumen Baestis Guadalquivir, and then to the East Coastal Road and Carthago Nova. 

Tarraco (Tarraconensis), Corduba (Baetica), and Merida ( Lusitania ) are Provincial Capitols.  There is a Legion Base at Legio, (close by Asturia Augusta, and the following cities are seats of Provincial Council; --Lucus Augusti, Asturia Augusta, Braga, Clunia, Caesaraugusta, Scallibis, Pax Iulia, Hispalis, Astigi and Gades. 

The major agricultural and sea-based exports wine, olive oil and garum (fish sauce) was transported in clay containers called "amphorae." These containers were shaped like a wide mouthed jar at the top of the container and were pointed on the other end.  These were sealed at the mouth and shipped cushioned in straw.  The pointed bottom facilitated the use of the container in a counter with a hole cut into it to allow the amphorae to stand upright.  The pointed end often rested in a wooden block cut to fit. 

The provinces of Iberia , boasted of fine stone bridges spanning the various rivers (such as the still standing bridge over the Flumen Tagus at present day Alcantara), the great aqueduct of Segovia , and the extensive mines in the area of Rio Tinto (with their remains of screw pumps and water wheels used to drain the deep mines of water seepage).  

These above structures, with the very extensive major and minor road network probably indicates that the engineering skills of the Empire were lavished upon these provinces in grateful response to the generous exports to Rome of badly needed goods.  It is recognized that Southern Spain was thoroughly Romanized by the time of the final conquest in the north of Iberia in 19 B.C.

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References:

--The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome ," Chris Scarre, Pnguin, 1995;
--"Roman Spain," Keay S.J., British Museum Pub., 1988;
--"Alas of Classical History," Talbert R.J.A., Croom - Helm, 1985.

Note:- The information in these references is taken from the archaeological findings in the Iberian Peninsula , as well as the ancient writings of Livy, Polybius, Tacitus and several other writers of the period.

Roman Trade
by Marcus Minucius Audens
Praefectus Architechtura / Geographica -- Sodalitas Militarium – Nova Roma

While the Romans were famous for the roads they constructed across the empire, they were also adept at establishing a flourishing sea trade which took them to India and into the Mare Erythraeum ( Indian Ocean ). and beyond. 

Trade items within the Mediterranean Basin included such commodities as grain, wine, olive oil, pottery vessels, glass, metals (lead, iron, tin, copper, and gold), stone (white or colored marble from Asia Minor,  building stone / tiles), textiles (cotton. fine linen, and silk), animals, and slaves.   

The transport of bulk goods was accomplished by sea as a more efficient method of movement.  It is from the Edict of Prices laid down by the Emperor Diocletian in 301 A.D. that we learn the fact that it was more expensive to ship grain 75 miles inland, than it was to transport grain from Spain to Syria. 

In recent years, the large number of Roman shipwrecks discovered by archaeologists around the Mediterranean Sea attest to the volume of sea trade in the area, together with it's attendant dangers.  The more important items of trade around the Mediterranean were olive oil, wine, grain and metals.  We also know that the grain fleets from Carthago, Africa (modern day Tunisia ) and Egypt were so important to Rome that control of these provinces were placed under special appointees to insure a steady supply of grain to Rome for the "corn dole" to it's urban population. 

Metals and oil were sought in the lower extremities of Hispania, in the ancient city of Gades (Cadiz), wine from Tarraco (Tarragona) and Massila (Marsailles), metals and wine from Rome, grain and metals from Sardinia, oil and wine from Aquilia (Grado) and Bononi (Bologna), wine from Ephesus and Athenae, and oil from Antiochia.  The following materials were transported overland to the nearest Medierranean ports; metals from Northwestern Hispania , Toltum (Toledo), Caesaraugusta (Saragossa),Tolosa (Toulouse),.metals from Britain, wine from Augusta Trevororum, metals from Augusta Vindelicorum, and metals from Arabia. 

Further afield the trade routes extended up the Nile River from Alexandria to Meroe' and Axum which were also major trade centers and received their goods overland across the desert from the Red Sea ports.. The trade routes extended  through the Sinus Persicus ( Red Sea ) and it was here in Arabia (present day Yemen) and in the "Horn" of Africa (present day Somaliland ) that the fragrant incense producing areas were found.  From the major trade centers of Antioch, Damascus, Selucia / Ctesiphon another trade route extended   through the Persian Gulf .  Both the Red Sea Route and the Persian Gulf Route led into the Arabian Sea and from there on to Muzirus on the Western tip of India , and from there further on to Masulipatum and Tamluk on India's Eastern Coast through the Mare Gangeticus ( Bay Of Bengal ).  From there the routes cross the upper reaches of the Mar Gangeticus and then pass through the Straits of Malacca and into the Magnus Sinus (South China Sea) and then to the Major trading Center of Oceo (near the modern day city of Saigon in South Vietnam).  From there, there is some mention of the possibility of routes south  and north along the Vietnam and Chinese Coast. 

Overland was the well known " Silk Road " by which the silks from China traveled. The road extended from Seleuca / Ctesiphon in the West through the trading centers of Ecbatana, Rhagae, across Parthia (South of the Caspian Sea) and then on to Hecatompylos. Merv, Samarkand, Tashkent, Urumchi, Turfan and then to Hami which is found on the southern edge of the Altai Mountain Range and the Gobi Desert. 

At Hami the "Scythian Route" to the East from Tanais on the shores of the Sea of Azov meets the more southerly route briefly.  This route crosses the Volga Rivernear Volgograd, passes just north of the Ural River, South of the Ural Mountains and North of the Caspian and Aral Seas, across the Isimskaja Steppe, and followed the Irtys' River to Semipa Latinsk, South of Lake Zaisan.  From Hami across the Gobi Desert and North of Lak Nor to Langchow then to Changan (Sera Metropolis – near the present day city of Xi'an) in Serica (China).  From there the " Silk Road " follows the Hwang Ho (Yellow) River to Luoyang (about 400 miles West and just South of the mouth of the Yellow River).  

Roman merchants traded gold, glassware, and other manufactured goods which turn up today as far away as Vietnam and Malaysia Romans normally paid for goods in silver and gold coin, and a great many such coins have been found as far away as Afghanistan and Indochina. 

The goods primarily traded for in the various areas outside the Mediterranean Basin were spices of all kinds, perfumes, silks, cotton steel, drugs and precious stones. Goods which were exported from Rome were jewelry, cut gems, glassware, clothing, amber, coral, and purple dye. 

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References:

--"The Spice Trade of the Roman Empire, 29B.C. to A.D. 641," J. Innes Miller, Oxford at the Clarendon Press,1969;
--"Handbook To Life In Ancient Rome," Adkins and Adkins, Oxford University Press, New York / Oxford, 1994.
--"The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome." Chris Scarre, Penquin Group, London, 1995.

De Re Provincia
by Marcus Minucius Audens
Connecticut Regio Legate

The Regio Connecticut is the most Westerly of the Regios of the Provincia Nova Britannia. It enjoys several large river valleys (the Thames, the Connecticut, the Housatonic, etc.) and its southern coastline bounds upon Long Island Sound. This long coastline and river access into the interior of the Regio gives Connecticut the envious designation as a thoroughly maritime area. However, she also enjoys in the Metropolitan Areas of Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport, much of the more fully developed cultural / and educational pursuits as well. In the Northwest Corner of the state are the Canaan Mountains and a large collection of small state parks / and forests exist in which to enjoy the lush natural beauty of this Regio. The whole Regio is rich with the historical features of the past 300 years, as well as several aspects of prehistory in various museums and historical properties around the state. I will be pleased to investigate some of these aspects more fully in coming issues.

One of the Provincia's Cultural Events earlier this year was directed to the Classical Section of the Museum of History in New Haven where there is a model of a worship area devoted to the study of the God Mithras, which was an Eastern Diety adopted by the Legions of Rome and who became quite popular during the Imperial Period. There is a Mithratic Study Group who makes an annual trip to the Museum and to the Yale Library each year to pursue studies in the Mithratic Religion, and Nova Roma has been for the last three years invited to take part in that Study Group

Rhine River Patrol, Part 5: Escape!

Gaius lunged down-slope for the short stretch of brush which crossed the steep side of the ridge at an angle.  As he broke from his cover among the boulders the immediate whine of a well-aimed arrow kicked up gravel at his feet. 

"Damn!!!," mumbled  Gaius to himself, "that archer is good.".  He accelerated his run toward the leafy goal ahead of him.  "Not too fast," he muttered as he ran, warning himself, "lose your balance on this slope and you're a dead man!!" Another arrow droned over his head and hit a nearby stone, shattering it into slivers.  He was halfway to his goal and he anticipated at least two more arrows would seek him out before he reached the temporary refuge.  His legs were pumping, but in his anxiety he felt like he was running through a thick syrup.  His legs would not move as fast as he demanded of them, and his side was beginning to hurt from the effort. The zip of a stone missile told him that a slinger had entered the contest to kill him or at least stop him until he could be collected for a formal crucifixion.  He didn't think he would wait for the collectors. Probably that low-life boot-licking Thracian and his greasy little Greek friend. A third arrow plucked at his ragged tunic and fell to the ground as he ran,  'The Gods are generous," he thought.  His immediate goal was just a few yards now.  Yells high and behind him provided notice that more guards were being sent after him, but he could not take the time to look back.  Run -- Run!!!!  His heart was pounding now and the stitch in his side was like fire in his abused body.  His energy was beginning to wane and he knew this last effort was close to his last strength reserves. 

His nourishment of late had not been intended to fuel an escape attempt, but such opportunities were few and far between and not to be looked at too closely.  He was almost there, and he realized that the brush line ahead of him was higher and bushier that at first it had appeared to be. He dove for the cover of the brush just as his left arm exploded in pain.   The dragging sensation and the pain caused him to turn slightly to the left and he rolled through the brush to the downhill side of the barrier.  He quickly looked at his arm and saw the wicked arrow point extended through his upper arm.  He paused for a moment, gripped the arrow shaft just behind the bloody broad-head, pulled the arrow forward and snapped the arrow in two, drawing the broken halves out of his arm. The pain caused him to stumble and fall.  Just as he did, two more arrows seeking his flesh burst through the brush where he had been standing and skittered down the ridge slope.   Holding his left arm close by his side with his right hand on the bleeding wound he plunged back into the widening brush line and in a crouch moved as fast as he could into the taller brush beyond.  In his left hand he still held the broken arrow with it's sharp point.  It was his only weapon and he did not intend to lose this one...  These archers must be legion-trained, he thought ruefully, as he passed out of the brushy belt and into a stand of acacia.  He slid into the clump of small trees and lost his balance. He fell into a shallow trench that divided the acacia stand. The ditch was just knee deep and shoulder wide, covered with vines which he had fallen through.  The ditch  was filled with dead leaves from years of leaf fall and below the leaves was a thin layer of mud.  He burrowed deeply into the leaves and under the vines throwing leaves  back over himself with his good arm.  The slender stems waving over him were tough and springy, and showed no major disturbance as they opened against his rush and closed behind him.  He sat on the muddy bottom of the ditch shoulder deep in dry leaves.  His hands were muddy and he smeared mud over his face and as much of his body as he could reach.  His arm felt like it was on fire, so he packed some mud into the wound as well to staunch the blood flow. 

He heard heavy footfalls from the direction he had come,  He was exhausted and could run no more.  With his last remaining energy he slipped below the level of the leaves, and he hoped that no-one would notice his hiding place.  For the second time he lost consciousness.

Forum Fulvii
by Manius Constantinus Serapio

Forum Fulvii is the most important Roman reenactment event in Italy . It is the reenactment of the ancient municipium Forum Fulvii, built by Consul Fulvius Flaccus in 123/125 B.C. There are original Roman dinners, the Roman market, the castrum with centuriones and the legionaries, shows and fighting, the biga-race, and so on.

Forum Fulvii lies near the city of Alessandria , in the north of Italy (1 hour from Turin , Milan or Genoa ). People can go to Turin or Milan by train or by airplane. They can go to Alessandria by train, and to Forum Fulvii by taxi-cab or bus.

It goes on for three days in May.

Strabo's Iberia
by Marcus Minucius-Tiberius Audens

The first historic guide to the Iberian Peninsula was produced by Strabo, the ancient Greek geographer.  He compiled this extensive body of information from a wide variety of sources and though he never set his eyes upon the region which he described with such vigor, the notations and the locations of the geographical elements are remarkably accurate.  In my discussion of his map and documentation, I have taken the liberty of adding a few additional aspects to certain areas which may be of  a certain interest to Roman Citizens that Strabo in his time would not have known.

The purpose of Strabo in this effort , we are told, was to educate statesmen  about the various peoples and geographical elements of the old world, the resources to be found in those places where they lived, and something regarding the people themselves.  This article is, however, limited in it's scope, in that it relates mostly to the geographic nature of the Iberian Peninsula . 

A reconstruction in text of Strabo's ancient map of Iberia is interesting, in that his comments upon the shape of Iberia 's landmass referred to it as being in "the shape of an Oxen hide."  

For distance measurement Strabo uses a "stadia" as his base distance unit, and the following conversion is provided for modern day readers: --500 Stadia = 92.5 kilometers.  The Strabo Map shows the Pyrenees Mountains sealing off Iberia from Celtica over a distance of some 2400 stadia from the Bahia de Biscay in the North, to the Mediterranean Sea in the South. He  extends the coastal mountain chain Easterly across the Northern Coast of Iberia (today’s Cantabriia Range) from Oeaso (near  Balboa) in the East due West to Cabo Nerium (present day Cabo Finisterre).  From there Strabo measures the Atlantic Coast of Iberia almost due South to the Mouth of the Rio Veho (today’s Tagus River ) for a distance of 3000 stadia.  From that point on the rugged  rockbound shore, facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline extends still further South, under Strabo's pen,  to Cabo Sacrum (now known as Cabo de Sao Vincente) and  measures a further 1000 stadia. Now his direction shifts to the Southwest and follows the Iberian Coast 750 stadia to the ancient city of Gades (Cadiz) and very close to the Pillars of Hercules and the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.  At Calpe (present day Tarifa) which is the closest point of Europa to the dark continent of Africa , this point extends a finger to almost touch the southern mountains of Marush (Morocco) .  The coastline from this point now changes direction again to a general Northeasterly direction to Malaca (present day Malaga) and  on for a 2200 stadia distance to the well known Carthago Nova (Cartahena and then continues a further 2000 stadia to the mouth of the Rio Ibericus (today’s Rio Ebro).  From that river's mouth the coastline makes it's final leg of 1600 stadia to Cabo dr Creus. 

The Southern and Central mountain ranges are shown boldly on Strabo's map, in a long curving and unbroken line from the Mediterranean Coast through Central-Eastern Iberia and North-West to the windswept and stormy Northern Coast .