Nova Roma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nova Roma is an international Roman revivalist movement created in 1998 (or MMDCCLI a.u.c. by the Roman calendar) by Joe Bloch and William Bradford, later incorporated in Maine as a non-profit organisation with an educational and religious mission.[1] Nova Roma is "dedicated to the restoration of classical Roman religion, culture and virtues".
Because it has a structure based strictly on the ancient Roman Republic, with a Senate, magistrates, and laws enacted by vote of Comitia, and because the Nova Roma Wiki [1] explicitly states that the group self-identifies as a "sovereign nation", most outside observers classify it as a micronation. However, some members of Nova Roma assert that the state modeling aspects of the organization are less important than its educational and religious goals.
Nova Roma is somewhat similar to the Society for Creative Anachronism. Like the SCA, Nova Roma hosts events which members attend, often in historical costume, to discuss ancient culture as well as internal matters, to practice Latin conversation, to visit historic sites (if the event takes place in lands known to the Romans), and to partake in the cuisine of ancient cultures.
Members of Nova Roma also take Roman names that are used at events and also when conducting business or participating in the various Internet-based community forum. For newcomers, guidance in choosing an appropriate name is provided by the Censors.
As of January 2008, Nova Roma has approximately 1000 active members all over the world. There are a further 1600 who have been out of contact with the group during the current year, but who may resume active membership at will by contacting the Censors.
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[edit] Administrative structure
The officers and directors of Nova Roma adhere to the forms and titles of the government of the Roman Republic. These consist of magistrates, who are elected to terms of one year, and the Senate, who are appointed to indefinite terms.
The Senate is legally the Board of Directors of Nova Roma, Inc. Senators are chosen by the Censors, and once appointed, may remain until voluntarily relinquishing the position. The Senate sets policy for the group, but the day-to-day administration is in the hands of the magistrates.
The magistrates are the officers of Nova Roma, whose titles and responsibilities are modeled upon those of the magistrates of the Roman Republic. They are elected to one-year terms, save for the Censors, who serve two-year terms. Magistrates are elected by three Comitia, divisions of the membership in which all adult citizens may vote. Vote counting is done according to a complex method approximating that used in the Roman Republic, in which citizens are divided into tribes and centuries, in a matter somewhat similar to an electoral college.
The magistrates are as follows:
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- Two Consuls, or co-Presidents, who set the Senate agenda, call for public voting, issue edicts, and perform other executive functions;
- Two Praetors, or co-Vice-Presidents, deputies for the Consuls;
- Two Censors, or membership directors, who admit new members and choose Senators;
- Four Aediles, who administrate public events such as games and reenactments;
- Eight Quaestors, control the Treasury and the budget;
- Five Plebeian Tribunes, who have the power of veto when note any violation of public rights;
- Vigintisexviri, a large group of specialized magistrates who maintain the website and newsletter, and conduct elections.
As Nova Roma is a worldwide organization, in order to provide local contacts, provinciae have been created. Each provincia is headed by a legatus pro praetore, or a propraetor or proconsul who is appointed by the Senate. In many provinces, annual events take place, in which members may meet (often in costume), observe military reenactments by affiliated legions, perform religious rituals, and consume Roman meals. Recurring events include Roman Days in Maryland and the annual Conventus Novae Romae in Europa, which took place the last time in August 2006, near Hadrian's Wall in the north of England.
[edit] Living Latin and language policy in Nova Roma
Nova Roma recognizes two official languages, English and Latin. The use of Latin is consistent with a general revival of the study of this language, and is in keeping with Nova Roma's Roman historical background. Provinces in non-English speaking countries generally use the local vernacular for provincial administration. The Latin used in Nova Roma is a good example of Recent Latin, and the presence of a relatively large percentage of classicists has resulted in the appearance of a normative trend toward Classical Latin.
[edit] Mailing lists and Sodalitates
Because of the huge geographical distances between members of Nova Roma, living in several countries through over the world, most communication happens on the e-mail discussion lists or groups, where all the citizens are able to explore a variety of subjects related to Ancient Rome. The most important discussion list is the "Main List", where Nova Roman citizens and non-citizens discuss topics of general interest and where official announcements are made.
There are also the so-called sodalitates, that are special interest groups. For example, there are the Sodalitas Latinitatis, dedicated to the study of the Latin language, Sodalitas Militaris, related to military subjects, Sodalitas Coquorum et Cerevisiae Coctorum, for ancient food and drink discussions etc.
[edit] Live events
Nova Roma citizens meet each year at the annual Conventus Novae Romae in Europa in August. Nova Roma also participates in such events as Roman Market Day in Wells Harbor Park, Maine and Forum Fulvii in Italy, or Savaria Historical Carnival in Hungary. Nova Roma sponsors a number of re-enactor "legions". These groups participate in re-enactor events, visit schools to put on educational presentations and are sometimes used as "extras" in films.
[edit] "Vox Romana" Podcast
Vox Romana is the free bi-monthly podcast of Nova Roma about all things Roman. The Vox Romana editorial staff is an international team of people from different cultural backgrounds, with diverse talents, interests, and expertise, who all share in a common love of Roman culture. Their mission is to become a voice for the modern Romanitas.
[edit] Academia Thules
Academia Thules is staffed by members of Nova Roma, but has no official ties to it. This virtual university offers online courses on Greek and Roman History, Ancient Philosophy, Roman Archeology, Roman Religion, Latin Language, Ancient Military Arts and Roman Law.
[edit] Roman religion
Nova Roma has adopted the ancient Roman religion as its state cult, but also maintains the freedom of religion of its citizens, although in order to hold office in Nova Roma they do have to swear allegiance to the Roman religion, or in the case of non practicers must swear to respect the Roman religion. The appearance of an organized revival of the "Religio Romana" reflects trends noted in society in the United States of America by the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. [2]
[edit] Magna Mater Project
In 2002, Nova Roma dedicated themselves to help financially facilitate the archaeological dig and preservation of the Temple of the Roman goddess Magna Mater, also known as Cybele located on the Palatine Hill in Rome.[2] This joint effort between Nova Roma and the University of Rome is part of a larger project presented to UNESCO to preserve the entire South-Western section of the Palatine Hill in light of its religious importance in antiquity. [3][4] As of November 2007, Nova Roma and its citizens are the largest investors in the ongoing restoration of the temple.[5] It should be noted however that there is no actual religious worship at the excavation due to the extensive work still needed at and around the Temple. [2]
[edit] References
- American Religious Identification Survey," by The Graduate Center of the City University of New York: [3] (pdf)
- ^ Interactive Corporative Services Information on Nova Roma. Maine Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions. Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
- ^ a b Magna Mater Project. Nova Roma. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- ^ Scavi e ricerche nell'area sud-occidentale del Palatino a Roma (Excavations and research in the southwest of the Palatine in Rome). Dipartimento di Scienze Storiche, Archeologiche e Antropologiche dell'Antichità -- Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" (Department of Science historical, archaeological and anthropological antiquity of the University of Rome). Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- ^ Giavarini C., et al. (2001). "South-West substructions of the Palatine hill in Rome". UNESCO.
- ^ Magna Mater Project Investors. Magna Mater Project. Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
