roman atrocities

[A_Volpe]

So much to cover, so little time (and brain memory)

This really has been a great discsussion, and I'm very glad to see things didn't go completely out of control.

Tarbicus - Thanks for the insight. Indeed, the more "reenacting" I do, the more I appreciate about what soldiers go through, the more I understand how it applies to the Greater Scheme Of Things and how it fits into History as well as Today. It's certainly a very humbling, if not, rewarding experience.

In a strangely related manner, I was a Wildlife care volunteer for several years, and that experience too had an impact on how I see "The World", and seeing how Animals treat Other Animals gives an awful lot of insight into human behavior (*gasp* cause we're animals too!). I'm reminded of an episode of "The Life Of Birds" by Sir David Attenborogh (hope i spelled that right), where he was talking about the Bowerbirds (Ptilonrhynchidae) and how they will construct thier Bowers with incredible artisitic and engineering prowess...Sometimes only to have it vandalized, or utterly destroyed, by other Bowerbirds on purpose...Is it jealousy or oportunity for advantage? Either way, most times out, the Bowerbird will go back to reconstructing the Bower, sometimes after several attacks....I think that has profound implications for us 2-leggers...With War, violence and destruction, we're still capable of compassion, creativity, and survivabilty.

Like I said, we're doing the hard work for the general public. People can see us toil and foil over our armor and fighting tactics and get a glimpse of what life was like back then and how it relates today...And hopefully noone gets hurt at the end of the day. people are going to walk away from the experience with something.

And, now that I try and think more about it, I don't think I've had anyone scold me for portraying a Roman. Sure, I get some heckling ("wot's in yer wallet?" and "I'm Spartacus" and "Oh look, a Roman Knight" and "if the Romans were so great, why are they dead, huh armor-boy?") but it's worth it in the end, and it's water off my back. I've had some people ask "is that the armor during the time of Christ?", which has started some interesting discussion more than nasty ones. (although I did have one kid who proclaimed in public, with pointed finger, "Why Did You Kill Jesus?"...Yeah...And his embarrased mother quickly herding him away)

speaking of which, that other boy who asked "why is the sword sharp / why is it made of metal" - I wasn't asked this myself, another demonstrater was asked and wasn't entirely sure how to answer. They said people originally used [these] to hurt other people, but [by the timeperiod of the demonstration - 1570's AD], they were used for sport-fencing and excersize, and metal was just what they liked to use, being traditional and all. - I think that's as good an answer as one could come up with in a snap.