Nova Roma

For other uses, see Nova Roma (disambiguation).

The flag of Nova Roma, based on the colours and symbols of the Roman Empire.

Nova Roma is an international^[1] Roman revivalist and reconstructionist organization^[2] created in 1998 (or MMDCCLI AUC by the Roman calendar) by Joseph Bloch and William Bradford, later incorporated in Maine as a non-profit organization with an educational and religious mission.^[3] Nova Roma claims to promote "the restoration of classical Roman religion, culture, and virtues" and "shared Roman ideals".^[4][5]

Reported to provide a good online source of information about ancient Roman costuming and reenactment guidelines,^[5][6] Nova Roma aims to be more than a community of reenactors or history study group. Most of the publications that mention Nova Roma focus on its Roman religious reconstructionism, but it's hard to put Nova Roma into any definite category. Because it has a structure based on the ancient Roman Republic,^[7] with a Senate, magistrates and laws enacted by vote of Comitia, and with its own coinage,^[8][9] and because the Nova Roma Wiki states that the group self-identifies as a "sovereign nation", most outside observers^{[4][9][10][11]} classify it as a micronation.

Roman religion

Nova Roma has adopted^[12][13] the ancient Roman religion as its state cult, but also maintains the freedom of religion of its citizens. Both the domestic religious traditions and the so-called state religion (sacra publica) are represented in the practices of Nova Roma,^[14] including the restoration^[15] of the ancient priestly collegia, and the honoring of the full cycle of Roman holidays throughout the year.^[16]

Live events

Nova Romans performing a Roman religious ceremony in Aquincum, Budapest, 2008.

Nova Roman citizens participate in such events as the Festival of Ancient Heritage^[17] in Svishtov, Bulgaria, now-defunct Roman Market Day^[18][19][20] in Wells Harbor Park, Maine and Forum Fulvii in Italy, Ludi Savarienses Historical Carnival or the Aquincum Floralia Spring Festival^[21][22] in Hungary.

Cultural competitions and games

Among the cultural activities of Nova Roma, competitions and games honoring various Roman festivals have an important place. They can include a wide range of various programs from humorous online games up to serious art competitions like the Certamen Petronianum,^[23][24] a literary contest of historical novel writing, where the jury was composed of notabilities including world-famous novelist Dr. Colleen McCullough, author of many Roman themed best-selling novels, and Prof. Dr. T. P. Wiseman, university professor of Roman history and former vice-president of the British Academy.

Notes

1. ^ Palacios, Juan José: "Corporate citizenship and social responsibility in a globalized world". Citizenship Studies 8(4):383-402. Routledge, 2004
2. ^ Strmiska, Michael: Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives, pp. 335-36. ABC-CLIO, 2005
3. ^ "Interactive Corporative Services Information on Nova Roma". Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions. https://icrs.informe.org/nei-sos-icrs/ICRS?CorpSumm=20010268ND. Retrieved 2007-11-27. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Dixon, Suzanne: Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi, page 64. Routledge, 2007
5. ^ ^{a b} Trinkle, D. A./Merriman, S. A: The history highway: a 21st century guide to Internet resources, p. 464. M.E. Sharpe, 2006
6. ^ Burgan, Michael: Empire of Ancient Rome, p. 122. Infobase Publishing, 2004
7. ^ Auffarth, Chr./Bernard, J./Mohr, H.: Metzler Lexikon Religion: Gegenwart - Alltag - Medien, pp. 211-12. Metzler, 2002
8. ^ Sestertius signum
9. ^ ^{a b} American Numismatic Association: The Numismatist, page 19. American Numismatic Association, 2003
10. ^ Caporaso, Giovanni: Cambiare Identitá.: É possibile, ecco le Prove, Offshore World Inc., 2006
11. ^ Vobruba, Georg: Grenzsoziologie: die politische Strukturierung des Raumes, p. 210. VS Verlag, 2006
12. ^ Margot Adler: Drawing down the moon: witches, Druids, goddess-worshippers, and other pagans in America, p. 549. Penguin Books, 2006
13. ^ McColman, Carl: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism, pages 71 and 347. Alpha Books, 2002
14. ^ Davy, Barbara Jane: Introduction to Pagan Studies, pp. 156, 163, 233. Rowman Altamira, 2007
15. ^ Strmiska, Michael: Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives, p. 335. ABC-CLIO, 2005
16. ^ Joyce Higginbotham, River Higginbotham: ChristoPaganism: An Inclusive Path, p. 230. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2009
17. ^ "The second Festival of Ancient Heritage in Svishtov". Council of Tourism - Svishtov. http://www.visitsvishtov.com/2009/en_reenactors.html. Retrieved 2009-09-08. 
18. ^ "GLADIATORS TO BATTLE ON ROMAN MARKET DAY". Portland Press Herald. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-55171966.html. Retrieved 2002-08-12. 
19. ^ "Great Caesar's ghost ... ; A celebration of ancient Roman culture takes place this weekend in Hollis.". Portland Press Herald. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-79773849.html. Retrieved 2003-09-11. 
20. ^ "Roman days, Roman nights ; Gladiators, armor and other displays are a few highlights of Wells' annual Roman Market Days". Portland Press Herald. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-99075840.html. Retrieved 2004-09-16. 
21. ^ "Budapesti Történeti Múzeum - Aquincumi Múzeum - FLORALIA". Kultúra az Interneten Alapítvány. http://www.museum.hu/museum/event_hu.php?IDE=18850&ID=6. Retrieved 2009-05-01. 
22. ^ "XX. Floralia - Roman spring festival". Museum of Aquincum. http://www.aquincum.hu/programok/programokangol.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-10. 
23. ^ "Certamen Petronianum". Nova Roma, Inc.. http://www.novaroma.org/certamen/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 
24. ^ "Il CERTAMEN PETRONIANUM, un nuovo concorso per i latinisti". SuperEva. http://guide.supereva.it/latino/interventi/2005/05/210475.shtml. Retrieved 2011-11-17. 

References

• American Religious Identification Survey," by The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (pdf)
• McColman, Carl. 2002. The Complete Idiot's Guide (R) to Paganism, Alpha Books. ISBN 002864266X
• Strmiska, Michael. 2005. Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives, ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1851096086
• Dixon, Suzanne. 2007. Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi, Routledge. ISBN 041533148X
• Davy, Barbara Jane. 2006. Introduction to Pagan Studies, Rowman Altamira. ISBN 0759108196
• Dennis A. Trinkle, Scott A. Merriman. M.E. Sharpe, 2002. US history highway, Volume 1. ISBN 076560907X
• Dennis A. Trinkle, Scott A. Merriman. M.E. Sharpe, 2006. The history highway: a 21st century guide to Internet resources ISBN 0765616319

External links

• Nova Roma Official Website