Part 1 05Sept2010 Ludi Romani Magna 2763 AVC Opening Statement

LUDI ROMANI SEPTEMBER 2763 AUC - OPENING STATEMENT

The Ludi Romani, also known in ancient Rome as Ludi Romani Magni, are the hugest and most extended Ludi event amongst all of the Ludi. They are always performed mainly in the Circus Maximus in honour of Jupiter and they were originally created during the monarchy age by King Tarquinius Priscus.

As usual, my invitation to all of the Nova Romans who I am pleased to welcome as participants and contestants in the events of the forthcoming days is to thoroughly enjoy these Ludi and to let go, at least for a moment, of all the usual bitching and quarreling over trivial or irrelevant matters, which have unfortunately become, especially in the latest times, the only thing really happening in the Forum of Nova Roma.

So, in addition to the invocation below, I hereby evoke a special prayer to Dea Concordia, that she may grant to all of the citizens of Nova Roma enough peace of mind and enough communitarian spirit to keep the recent hypotheses of separation, partition of even dissolution of our Republic completely out of these Ludi. So, what I hope and wish for all of you is this: let us not think about parting or separating Nova Roma in two or more parts; let us not keep blaming each other's misfortunes; let us not waste our time in endless debates. Instead, let us get busy with the Latin language contest, rediscovering our fathers' ways of speaking and writing; let us enjoy the Circenses, always supporting our racing teams with passion and fervor; and most of all, LET US ALL HAVE FUN!!
 Optime valete omnes,
Publius Annæus Constantinus Placidus
Ædilis Curulis Novæ Romæ

INVOCATION TO THE GODS
O Great Jupiter Capitoline,
and You, Mars, founder and bearer of the Roman Name,
and  You, Vesta, keeper of the Eternal flame,
and all of You, eternal Gods,
who raised this mass of the Roman Republic
to the highest glories of the world,
I pray and invoke to you in the name of the People:
watch, save and protect this status of prosperity and this peace,
agree to pious intentions of citizens, if they are there,
and make them useless if they are impious.

©P. Annæus Constantinus Placidus

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Gratias Tibi Placide Aedilis! A most eloquent opening and even more astute and appropriate!!!

My colleague Curule Aedilis P. Annaeus Constantinus Placidus and I welcome you to the first day of the Ludi Romani!

We are all gathered here in Rome to engage in games in the honor of Iuppiter IOM.

The crowds have gathered in anticipation! This morning at sunrise the Pompa began at the Temple of Iuppiter followed by a huge crowd that includes Religious officials, Senators, Magistrates, athletes in the various games including the Charioteers who are especially well groomed and appear more as demi-gods rather than mere mortals. There are actors and little people in the bright costumes with some dressed as fauns, satyrs and other mythological characters, musicians of all sort accompanying the drums, A sea of color, the flags representing the different Racing Factiones, even Green, although Praesina is not represented this year accompanied the throng and now gaily appoints the Circus Maximus. Hundreds of dancers are dancing amidst the servitors who carried hundreds of magnificent silver, gold and bronze urns and vases and trays of magnificent delicacies!

The Pompa continued through the Forum to the gates of Porta Triumphalis of the Circus itself where the first quarter will take place on the 3^rd day, September 7^th. Now as we stand, or dance, within the Circus Maximus herself, the sounds of flutes, horns and a water organ intermingled with the shouts, laughter and gaiety of the crowds! Mock warriors and Legionnaires, some as security, some not, walk amongst the crowds displaying their magnificently crested helmets, belted tunics of bronze and metal appointed leather and brandishing swords, spears and shields of all kinds. The chariots and charioteers are also working the crowds although they are doing so close to the carceres on the officium to watch over their chariots and steeds. The horses are lively and some are quite nervous this first day of the Ludi, but this is to be expected. I am told that some of the training exercises will be carried out as spectacle for the festival goers!

Ah but look! There are fire dancers, acrobats that seem to come out of nowhere, rope walkers who appear to walk on air, fire eaters who belch the fire out without harm!

As for spectacles, there will be many parties in our magnificent city throughout the course of the Ludi Romani!

Many invited esteemed guests will gather at my home, Villa Iulia, On September 10^th the evening before the semifinals begin!

Tonight, Magistrates, Senatores, high ranking religious officials and those fortunate enough to be invited will gather at the Domus of Curule Aedilis P. Annaeus Constantinus Placidus for a Ludi Romani Magni opening feast!

Ah the Pompa is almost completed

Gleaming and glittering litters in gold and purple carrying splendid realistically painted statues of the Gods, all exquisitely dressed in the finest clothing and ornaments! The sacrificial animals also enter, docile and content, beautiful garlands of herbs and flowers adorn them. Millions of flower petals seem to fall from the air above, the air redolent of delicious foods and drink, elegant perfumes and horseflesh, the most compelling scent of all Ludis! Roses, violets, wildflowers and all sorts of beautiful foliage adorn ever corner of the Circus!

The crowd hushes as M. Octavius Corvus Sacerdos Iovis enter the templum accompanied by T. Iunius Brutus Procurator Sarmatia Prov. and Ap. Furius Lupus Duumvir of Municipium Poltava for the opening Ritual to Iuppiter.

©Aquila

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The rite (written by  M. Octavius Corvus Sacerdos Iovis) :
 
PRAEFATIO:
"IUPPITER OPTIME MAXIME, UTI TIBI IN ILLEIS LIBREIS SCRIPTUM EST,
QUARUMQUE RERUM ERGO, QUODQUE MELIUS SIET POPULO NOVO ROMANO QUIRITIBUS,
TIBI HOC SACRUM FIAT: TE QUAESO PRECORQUE, UTI IMPERIUM MAIESTATEMQUE
POPULI NOVI ROMANI QUIRITIUM AUXIS, UTIQUE INCOLUMITATEM SEMPITERNAMQUE
VICTORIAM VALETUDINEMQUE POPULO NOVO ROMANO QUIRITIBUS DES, FAVEASQUE
POPULO NOVO ROMANO QUIRITIBUS, REMQUE PUBLICAM LIBERAM POPULI NOVI ROMANI
QUIRITIUM SALVAM SERVES, MAIOREMQUE FACIAS, UTI SIS VOLENS PROPITIUS POPULO
NOVO ROMANO QUIRITIBUS, SENATUI NOVO ROMANO, SACERDOTIBUS POPULI NOVI
ROMANI, NOBIS, DOMIBUS, FAMILIIS, ET UTI HUIUS SACRIFICI ACCEPTOR SIES;
HARUM RERUM ERGO MACTE ESTO FITO VOLENS PROPITIUS POPULO NOVO ROMANO
QUIRITIBUS, SENATUI NOVO ROMANO, SACERDOTIBUS NOVIS ROMANIS, NOBIS,
DOMIBUS, FAMILIIS."
 
PRECATIO:
"IUPPITER, QUO CIRCA TE, CAPITOLINE, QUEM PROPTER BENEFICIA POPULUS
ROMANUS OPTIMUM, PROPTER VIM MAXIMUM NOMINAVIT! IUPPITER, QUI GENUS COLIS
ALISQUE HOMINEM, PER QUEM VIVIMUS VITALEM AEVOM, QUEM PENES SPES VITAE SUNT
HOMINUM OMNIUM, DA DIEM HUNC SOSPITEM QUAESO MEIS REBUS AGUNDIS!""PATER NOSTER, IN TUA, PATER CARISSIME, IN TUA SUMUS CUSTODIA. IUPPITER,
TE HOC TURE OMMOVENDO BONAS PRECES PRAECOR, UTI SIS VOLENS PROPITIUS NOBIS
LIBERISQUE NOSTRIS, DOMIBUS FAMILIISQUE NOSTRIS."
 
- Some INCENSE put into the fire -
 
The statue of Iuppiter was carried by procession around the templum and
brought behind the Ara Iovis. The statue remained there until the end of
the ceremony.
 
SACRIFICIUM:
"IUPPITER, TE HOC LIBO OBMOVENDO BONAS PRECES PRECOR, UTI SIS VOLENS
PROPITIUS NOBIS LIBERISQUE NOSTRIS, DOMIBUS FAMILIISQUE NOSTRIS, MACTUS HOC
FERTO."
 
- LIBUM -
 
"IOVIS PATER, UTI TE LIBO OBMOVENDO BONAS PRECES BENE PRECATUS SUM,
EIUSDEM REI ERGO MACTE VINO INFERIO ESTO."
 
- WINE -
"IUPPITER OPTIME MAXIME, REX DEORUM, QUI RES PUBLICAS NOVAS ROMANAS NUNC
CUSTODIS DEFENDISQUE, SICUT RES PUBLICAS MAIORUM NOSTRORUM ROMANORUM
CUSTODIVISTI DEFENDISTIQUE, TIBI FIERI OPORTET IN HOC TEMPORE INITII
CULIGNAM VINI DAPI, EIUS REI ERGO HAC ILLACE DAPE PULLUCENDA ESTO."
 
- WINE -
 
Since the sacrifice was accepted by the God favorably Ludi Roman were
proclaimed open.
 "LUDI ROMANI INITII SUNT!"
 
ILICET. DI IMMORTALES FACIANT, TAM FELIX QUAM PIA.

Be it known that right after of opening the Ludi M. Octavius Corvus observed two small birds
gave us the sure good sign with their flight. Iuppiter favors these Ludi!

©M. Octavius Corvus

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The Ludi is has begun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

©Aquila (The Ritual in within the borders is written by ©M. Octavius Corvus and the opening statement and R is by ©P. Annæus Constantinus Placidus)