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Andy Volpe -
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Questions about [Booking] a Living History Program(s) (scroll down further for questions
specifically on Romans) Where do you give programs? Who / What is your Target
Audience? What [schools] have you been to /
What is your experience? How much does your programs cost? How far do you travel for a
program? How do I book a program? How soon do I book a program? What happens if it Rains/Snows? Are you insured? Why Ancient Roman Legionary? What is the difference between a
soldier under Caesar versus the Empire? What does Legion / Legionary mean? What is CE? BCE? What is with wearing a miniskirt? Why is the helmet made of gold? How heavy is the armor? Aren't you hot in that?! What are the straps for on the
belt? Are the [Weapons] Real / Are they
Sharp? How Expensive is all of this Gear? Where do I buy / make this gear? How Accurate Is Hollywood's
Depiction of Romans? - Typically a Classroom or Auditorium
setting (this also gives a good gauge as to the space requirements I need).
I can also arrange to give a presentation
outdoors (with weather permitting) - I also usually need a medium sized
table, and require a secure changing area. Who / What is your Target
Audience? - Anyone who has an interest in Ancient
Rome, of the Roman Legions, and Military History. Even if you are not
terribly interested in the period, but really want to learn more from a
unique and engaging angle, I am happy to give a program to anyone who wants
to book a presentation. - Typically school grades from 5 to 12,
Colleges, Universities, and Academies; usually having the emphasis from
History and Classics classes and departments, but again, if the interest is
there, I'm eager to provide. - Generally speaking, my program should be
considered "PG" or "PG-13" due to 'content' and maturity
understanding of the context and material. What [schools] have you been to /
What is your experience? - I am not listing any of the private
locations (schools) I have been to on the website. If you require a
list, please contact me. - As noted on my website, I have been
giving programs since 2002. I greatly enjoy sharing my love and
knowledge of the material, and frequently research and revise my material. - All of the programs I have given and
continue to give at Higgins Armory Museum, as well as the many schools I have
been to, have been seen by thousands of people, and the feedback has been
overwhelmingly positive and supportive. - I am insured with the Living History
Association, a known organization dedicated to authenticity and research. I
also maintain a strict level of attentiveness during my program; people are
not allowed to handle my gear unless supervised / allowed by me. Weapons are
not to be handled by anyone at any time. Along with a reservation form
/ contract, I include a weapons waiver detailing my policies that must be
signed and sent to me before a program date. - I am a member of, and associated with
several Roman reconstruction groups, all of whom are known throughout the
world as high quality, respectable organizations, all of whom are seriously
dedicated to research, reconstruction and studying the current archaeological
information that becomes available. How much does your programs cost? - In order to protect my creative rights,
I'm not listing my prices/rates publicly on the website. Please email
me directly for a quote. The rates include a modest mileage / travel
charge, plus the program rate "per [classroom] hour" (as the
majority of my programs are at schools). How far do you travel for a
program? - I will travel up to 100 miles one way
(about 2 hours' worth) and charge mileage accordingly. Currently I am
'based' in the Worcester, MA area, so I am able to cover much of southern New
England, and would be willing to travel ie: West as far as Albany, NY, and
North to Maine. - Mileage is a calculated figure to cover
expenses for gas, maintenance, insurance, as well as tolls and parking if
applicable. - I am willing to travel further if [you]
are willing to pay for extra mileage and possibly lodging. How do I book a program? - Email is the easiest way to reach me:
PalusButeo AT hotmail DOT com. Try to reserve a date as far ahead as
possible. We will determine the best date(s) and time(s), and I will
then send an Invoice and other relevant paperwork. How soon do I book a program? - As far in advance as possible. A one
month advanced notice is usually good. My goal is to provide my programs on a
Full-Time basis, meaning I would be available any time during the week to
accommodate daytime school schedules, but I am currently not available on
short notice. What happens if it Rains/Snows? - Depending on the severity of the
weather, I will do my best to make it to the location. I will monitor
school cancellation notices the day before and the morning of the reserved
date. - If the school cancels, I will cancel as
well, and we will arrange another date. - If the school issues a 1-2 hour delay, I
will work to conform to the delay. - In either situation, I will contact the
[school] using the contact information provided in the contract if weather
becomes dangerous. - Consider providing contact info / phone
number of someone with the School whom I can contact the [day before] severe
weather to be informed of possible delay or cancellation. Are you insured? - Yes, I am insured through the Living
History Association as an individual member, as well as a group member with
Legion III Cyrenaica. Please refer to the LHA website for
technical details of the insurance. ~ Questions about Romans and the Roman
Legionary Programs: Why Ancient Roman Legionary? - The Romans Legions and my deep
fascination in it is fairly new for me, but I’ve had a deep love of History
and Military History since childhood. I believe we can learn by
listening to the past, to what [soldiers] have to say and to learn from what
they have learned good and bad. To get a greater understanding of the
politics and politicians, get an idea of what they were thinking (or not
thinking!) to employ hundreds of professional soldiers to open violence - We
can learn so much if we only wish to listen with an unbiased, open mind. - For the Romans, they are without a
doubt, among the most famous military societies in all of History.
Nearly every aspect of our own modern culture has near direct lineage to our
ancient Roman and Greek ancestors, in what we call "Western
Civilization". To get an understanding of a Roman Soldier is to
get a deeper understanding of the Romans themselves, what they thought, how
they viewed themselves; it is illustrated from the soldiers as it is imbedded
in Roman culture and society. - As mentioned above, I just love this
history stuff and enjoy sharing it with people. What is the difference between
soldiers under Caesar versus the Empire? - I can explain this in detail when you
book a program and ask me to focus on this topic! What does Legion / Legionary mean? - Simply put, the word Legion comes from
the Latin "Legio" which originally meant "To Levy" (to
choose), this originates from the Republic (apx. 300 BC to 40 BC), when
land-owning Roman Citizen men were required to serve in the army when the
call came. - Today, "Legionary" means a
soldier of a legion. It is derived from the French
"Legionnaire", influenced by the original Latin. (Roman soldiers
were called "Miles" (pronounced "me-lays") and later
"Milites", where we get the word Military). What is CE? BCE? - BCE and CE is a modern dating system
intended to replace or be an alternative to BC/AD. BCE means
"Before Common Era" and CE "Common Era". The
generalization is that most cultures share roughly the same timetable. There
are of course many exceptions, complications and arguments to this system.
This system has been in use in several institutions and museums in the United
States for the last few years. I only include them for posterity.
I realize I am also "stuck" with BC/AD since that is how I learned
it in school. I refer and respond to both, and try not to sound biased.
Although I certainly am not the poster child for "Political
Correctness", either! What is with wearing a miniskirt? - The male fashion in ancient Rome was to
show the legs and arms, as well as layers of big, billowy clothing (as in the
Toga). It stems from the Etruscan and Greek predecessors of Romans. Not only
does the Tunic provide good, comfortable cover, it gives excellent freedom of
movement for the legs. The Roman Military fashion was to wear the tunic high,
above the knees, compared to Civilian fashion. It is just the same as wearing
shorts and a T-shirt [in the summer] compared to long sleeves and long pants. - By the 200’s AD, Roman soldiers’
fashions changed, incorporating long sleeved tunics with decorated accents,
and long pants, the shoes / boots changes as well. Why is the helmet made of gold? - The helmet is not made of gold, but of
Brass! It happens to look like gold because Romans liked to keep their metal
armor and gear highly polished - it was a way of showing one's wealth and
pride, but also helped prevent rust and corrosion. Brass was a highly
prized metal for Romans, and was used by Romans for hundreds of years. How heavy is the armor? - As we can figure out from
reconstructions, the Lorica segmentata weighs in around 15-20 pounds.
Lorica hamata (maille) and Lor. squamata (scale) is around 25-30 pounds. - The armor is not as uncomfortable as it
may first appear. You get used to it. So did they. After a full day in
armor, however, the armor does become "heavy" and uncomfortable!
(We do not know for how long or how often Roman soldiers wore their armor). Aren't you hot in that?! - Not as badly as you would think.
The tunic is billowy, and the arms and legs are exposed, so this provides a
bit of ventilation for the body. The armor is also made with a lot of
"holes" and openings, so air is able to move around a little bit.
- It is about the same as wearing a thick
sweater or winter coat in the summer. You get hot inside your [chest],
but you don't get searing hot. The armor only gets as warm as your surface
body heat, even when wearing it in the blazing sun outside. With the
armor highly polished, this also helps to reflect a lot of sun and is more
comfortable than one would think. However, leaving an un-worn
helmet or armor in the blazing sun WILL make it searing hot when you go to
pick it up - So when needed I'll place my helmet(s), armor, and shield in the
shade! - Lorica Hammata (Maille) and Lor.
Squamata (Scale) tends to be "warmer" than Segmentata armor, mostly
because of the thick, quilted padding one must wear underneath to give the
best defensive protection of that armor, so it can be less comfortable temperature-wise
than it looks. What are the straps for on the
belt? - We believe the sole function of these
straps, studs and dangling terminals was for added decoration to the belt, as
showing status and showing off was a big deal for Romans. The straps appear
to be distinctly a Soldier’s fashion. It serves the exact same purpose as
polished chrome parts on sports cars, modern studded belts, wearing loads of
very expensive jewelry and top name-brand clothing. A vast majority of Roman
belt pieces and other items were tin-plated or silvered for extra shininess.
(And likely for corrosion resistance as well) - They provide NO protective value to the
groin area of the body! The straps are thin leather, they are made to sway
and move. Are the [Weapons] Real / Are they
Sharp? - All of my equipment and gear are modern Reproductions
and Reconstructions, they are not a thousand years old. They are
copied from actual archaeological artifacts, and I try to buy or make my gear
as accurate as I possibly can within my budget, time, and [metal] working
skills. - All of my swords and daggers are kept
dull on the edges, but my Gladii tips/points are kept at an
accurate shape, therefore the tips are very sharp. - My Pila I actually throw so I keep the
tips fairly 'sharp'. - My 'Camp'/Eating knife I keep razor
sharp because I actually use it to cut food! Therefore: NO ONE in the audience is
allowed to handle any weapon. Ever. Period. Always Treat A Weapon With Respect: Treat
all weapons as if they are potentially LETHAL at ALL TIMES. The Less You Handle A Weapon, The Less
Dangerous It Is. How Expensive is all of this Gear? - As with any reenacting hobby, you can
spend an awful lot of money, or not a lot of money. It will depend on what
you want to make, how much time you want to devote to that, or if you want to
just buy made gear all together. A full "kit" of armor,
weapons and miscellaneous gear can run between $700 to $2,000 and upwards,
especially for custom-made gear. This is about the same, if a little
more expensive than other reenacting periods (like American Civil War).
You'll also need to devote time to cleaning and care for all of the metal and
leather components of Roman gear. - However, you can get started very easily
and cheaply by starting with a Tunic, Caligae / sandals, and a belt, what
some reenacting groups refer to as a "soft kit". You can always add
to, and ‘upgrade’ your ‘kit’ as you go. (If you decide to join a Roman Legion
group, make sure you read and understand the basic requirements of that group
before you dive into making or buying lots of gear, as requirements differ
between groups.) - Expenses will also depend on how you
feel about being 'accurate' or not. There are lots of low quality,
inaccurate knock-offs and copies out there. Where do [I] buy / make this gear? - There are several sources to get
manufactured gear, but there are also instructions on how to make just about
everything yourself by hand, just as the Romans did it. One of the best
places to start for both instructions to make and listings of [accurate] gear
and vendors is at the Legion XX website at www.larp.con/legioxx - Also, look under the listings of Roman
units, and look for one in your area to join. Many groups host “workshops�
where you can go and start working on your gear. You can start very
easily and simply with basic metal and leather working, like a belt, for
example. Most of the items are fairly easy to make, with some practice
and thinking / planning ahead of time. Items like swords, armor and
helmets are very advanced and need some experience, so you should consider
buying made gear from various manufactures and vendors. How Accurate Is Hollywood's
Depiction of Romans? - Not At All Accurate. I have yet to
see a Hollywood movie get remotely close to true accuracy of Roman Soldiers
compared to current archaeological records, Academic and Reenactor studies
and research. (At the same time, we still don’t know ‘everything’ about the
Romans, we are still learning and discovering new things today). - Hollywood is also cheap, and Directors /
Producers have a "Vision" of what they think or presume how Romans
ought to have acted and looked like. Therefore decades old and
inaccurate props are re-used for cheap, "experts" and consultants
are usually ignored over the overall "Vision" of the ones who
produce and finance the production, and, Top Exec's use previous movie
attendance and reception as the basis for the next movie of a similar flavor.
The ‘logic’ being if the Last Roman Movie did SO well, then if they produce a
copy of it but give it a new name, starring the highest paid actors, then
surely the audience won't know the difference and see this new movie in
greater numbers, pay more for it, and enjoy it more. - That being said, HBO's series
"ROME" got pretty close to accurate, but fail in a number of
places, too detailed to list here. Visit this site: http://www.legionsix.org/HBO
Romeblog.htm - - - If these did not answer your
questions, please email me! - - - PalusButeo AT Hotmail DOT com - - - -
- C: 2008 – 2010 A.
Volpe. Last Updated 3 / 3/ 10 |
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