Tessera

Volume I, Number 4 March, 2007

Avete, Comilitiones.

News/Events:

This past month featured two great outings for Legio XI, both involving classroom visits. The first was to Pope High School in Marietta, GA on March 15^th. Alex and I visited their Latin/Classics Club meeting to commemorate the “Ides of March.” We were both impressed by the teacher, Ms Nena Greene, an energetic, knowledgeable educator who clearly goes the “extra mile” for her students. The students were very engaged, and we had such a great time with them that our two hour visit turned into three hours plus!

Our second event was on March 22^nd, to the “History of Rome” course at Emory University taught by Dr Tom Burns. Alex and I both read the material assigned to the students and it was very comprehensive, so the students were well prepared for our visit. Dr Burns also opened up our portion of the class to any interested student, and it ended up being “standing room only” with an overflow into the hallway – graduate as well as undergrads attended. Needless to say, we all enjoyed ourselves, and Dr Burns expressed his thanks profusely. Although these were college students, I have to say that we got more and better questions from the high school Latin Club!

These educational opportunities are fun to attend, and in many cases we receive payment for them, monies that we use to buy “loaner gear” for new members still working on their individual kits.

March Workshop:

As many of you may recall, this past month’s workshop focused on the production of a frame for “historical” legionary scuta. This frame will be used to mold the wood strips for the scutum itself, as has been discussed on RAT. Tiro Brian Lauthen, Alex, and I started on it and immediately everything seemed to go wrong. The wood in the stringers split (the luan was not bent prior to construction), screws kept stripping out, you name it. It was a veritable “Illiad of woes” to quote the orator Cicero. Alex and I kept at it for the next two weekends, and finally finished it this past Saturday, so we now have the capability to make legionary scuta of layered wood strips for those who want to go the extra mile in terms of authenticity. In the near future I plan to start on a scutum of the larger, Republican pattern and will let you know how it works out.

Member News:

Looks like we have a couple of new members. Mike Garcia from Alpharetta and Andrew Magee of Atlanta. Andrew is currently a student at Emory and asked to join following our presentation. No previous re-enactment experience but brings a keen interest in Roman history. Mike is an experienced re-enactor, actively participating in WWII re-enactment, and is already researching his Roman impression. Welcome to you both – hope to see you at an upcoming workshop.

In other member news, Alex has completed a couple of super kit projects. The first is the tegimen, the marching cover for his scutum. Alex constructed it of goatskin, and added an ansata made of pigskin. The ansata is especially interesting since it is based on a recovered archeological find that was actually present on a tegimen from a Legio XI scutum, down to the “CPF” initials cut into it! The second piece is really beautiful, a reconstruction of a purse or pouch recovered at Bargercompascuum, and recently featured in a thread on RAT by the leatherman himself, Martin Moser. Alex did a great job and I have added one like it to my “to do” list, although I doubt I’ll be able to do it as well as Alex.

I also completed a project – I took apart the scabbard from my Find-It Armory gladius, removed the leather and replaced it with a new goatskin cover. I was amazed how much it improved the appearance. Cheap and easy to do.

Loaner Gear and Financial Report:

As many of you know, one of the goals that Chris and I have is to create “loaner kits” for new members to use as they work on their own equipment. We simply can’t keep imposing on Rusty for equipment loans, and we really need some located here in the Atlanta area given the number of new recruits we have and the frequency of local events. After much discussion, we’ve decided to make the first two kits for auxiliaries – using a clipeus and hasta instead of pilum/legionary scutum. Accordingly, I was able to use some the money that we have earned over the past few months and order an 8mm lorica hamata from Find-It Armory for $445. This will put us well on our way to getting these kits complete, as will this month’s workshop (more to follow on that below). Next purchase will be a galea and then the weapons.

Financially, we are doing pretty well. Including the event this past December at Fernbank Museum, we have earned a total of $550.00, as follows:

Fernbank (Dec ’06): $250.00

Night at the Museum, Kennesaw (Jan ’07): $50.00

Pope High School Latin Club (Mar ’07): $200.00

Member Dues (Jan ’07): $50.00

Total Income: $550.00

After paying for the hamata, we have $105.00 in the treasury that I hope to increase through member dues ($25/year) and future events. The more we make, the faster we can buy loaner kit items and materials. For new members, dues are due at your first workshop.

Upcoming Events:

Our event for this month is at North Georgia College, scheduled for April 16^th in conjunction with their Honor’s Day Timeline. Showtime is early morning for a 9:00 AM start, on the Drill Field. I will post more details on the Yahoo site. Our point of contact is Eric Tedder, another experienced re-enactor currently involved with WWII-era events. We met Eric at the “Night at the Museum” and are still trying to convince him that Roman re-enactment is the best way to go. We’ll keep trying.

In May, we have signed up for another school presentation, this time for 6-7^th graders at the Davis Academy (middle school) here in Atlanta on May 16^th. Showtime is 1:00 PM. See post on the Yahoo site message board.

Lots more events coming up in June. I plan to attend Roman Days hosted by Legio XX from 2-4 June, and am willing to make room for anyone else who wants to ride with me to Maryland. Matthew Amt, commander of Legio XX, has been very good to me and I would like to pay him back by participating in this, his major annual event.

Finally, don’t forget about our own Castra Romana-Atlanta scheduled for 14-17 June – I have started the website and am updating it as more information becomes available. I’d like to see ALL members attend if possible – am expecting many out-of-state guests for this one (Legio VI among others), and there are activities planned for the whole family.

Upcoming Workshops:

Next workshop is scheduled for Saturday, April 7^th at my house here on Fort McPherson, and our focus will be on making clipei (auxiliary scuta) for our auxiliary loaner kits. I have enough materials to make two clipei – just bring yourselves and a pair of hands. This will be a good opportunity for new brothers to learn the basic techniques for making their own legionary scuta. If you have woodworking tools, especially a jigsaw – please bring them.

May workshop is scheduled for May 5^th at Paul Montello’s house in Athens, GA. I plan to leave here early and am willing to give someone a ride if they need one. No focus yet – we’ll see how much we get done this Saturday.

That’s it, Brothers. The first quarter of 2007 was a great start, and I know that we will continue to grow and improve as the year goes on – thanks to the great legionaries who make up this outfit.

Salvete,

Gaius Aurelius Calvus (Edge Gibbons)

Centurio