Instructions for 29-31 May 09

Explorations in Antiquity Museum

(http://www.explorationsinantiquity.net/index.htm)

LaGrange, GA

1) Schedule of Events:

This event will occur over three days:

Friday, 29 May:

3:00 PM until complete: Set up the Castra (see below). Once complete, all are welcome to come over to my house and enjoy a beer and some pizza.

Saturday, 30 May:

(Note – all need to be IN KIT no later than 10:00 AM on Saturday).

10:00 AM until 6:00 PM: Public access to the Castra. Attendees may stop by, look at our equipment and camp items, and discuss Roman military history and equipment all day.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: General Assembly (Legio XI/VI will be introduced and will give an overview of the activities for the day). We will conduct some drill practice to prepare us for the final formation.
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Artillery Demonstration
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Cavalry Skills Demonstration (Hippica Gymnasia)
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Final Formation and Legionary Drill, photo opportunity.
6:00 PM – Until Complete: Shut down the Castra, depart for dinner at a local restaurant.

Sunday, 31 May: 8:00 AM until complete: break down the castra, pack up, and return home.

If you cannot get there on Friday, you need to arrive early enough on-site to be fully kitted out no later than 10:00 AM. I will arrive early – look for me on site as the rally point.

2) Site Set-Up:

We will set up in the “Biblical Garden” area of the museum, which is through the museum building itself and to the rear in the walled, outdoor enclosure. The actual site for the castra is approximately at #20, between #19 (City Gate and Judgment Chambers) and #4 (Well and Watering Troughs). The plan is for the centurio’s tent and three contubernia tents to fill that space, with the centurio’s tent adjacent to the “Well and Watering Troughs” and the contubernia tents spaced from there to the “Seat of Judgment.”

See the diagram of the Biblical Gardens here:

http://www.explorationsinantiquity.net/replicas.htm

The location of the ballista is to be determined, as is the cavalry demonstration.

To unload equipment, there is a functional gate located at the right side of the diagram between #19 and #21. For unloading purposes, park your car on FRIDAY outside this gate and we will unload and transport equipment through this gate to the site of the castra. Do not bring your equipment, etc, through the museum. If you need access, locate a member of the legio for gate access, preferably on Friday.

RUSTY AND I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE FOR SET UP ON FRIDAY – IT’S TOUGH DOING THIS BY OURSELVES! THANKS!

3) Meals and Billeting:

Members are responsible for their own food throughout the event; the museum will provide water.

Friday night, after set-up, all are invited to my house (about one hour’s drive) for beer and pizza. Saturday night we will eat at a local restaurant (for those interested).

There are several hotels in the LaGrange-Newnan Area along Interstate 85, which will provide quick access to the museum.

Billeting is also available on-site at the castra, and the museum has latrine facilities (although they do not have showers/baths available). For those participants coming from out of town, I have space at my house for overnight guests (my house is about an hour from the museum).

PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO STAY AT MY HOUSE FOR THE EVENT.

4) Directions:

Explorations in Antiquity Center LaGrange, GA (http://www.explorationsinantiquity.net/index.htm)

Directions:

From South of LaGrange, Use I-85 Exit 13

Turn left at the top of the exit.
Cross the overpass.
Go to the first traffic light and turn left.
Go to the fourth traffic light and turn right.
Explorations in Antiquity is immediately on your left.

From North of LaGrange, Use I-85 Exit 13

Turn right at the top of the exit.
Go to the first traffic light and turn left.
Go to the fourth traffic light and turn right.
Explorations in Antiquity is immediately on your left.

Parking: The museum has ample parking in the front of the museum in a large, gravel parking lot.

As usual for the past few years, April sees us participating at the Georgia Junior Classical League’s Annual State Convention at the Rock Eagle 4H facility near Eatonton, GA. This was a very good showing for us and, I think, the best experience so far. Although we only had six members present, we were as always honored to have Rusty Myers there with all that his hard work and dedication bring to any event in which he participates. In the camp, we had the fantastic ballista hand-made by Legio VI FFC member Kent Nillson, as well as his wonderful crane, Rusty’s centurio tent, contubernia tents, etc. It is just not a castra without Rusty, just as no event is complete for us without our comilitiones from Legio VI FFC.

The students, faculty, and parents were, as always, wonderful to interact with, and thanks to Rusty and Alex Matras we were always able to keep them informed as well as in kits! Alex Matras does an absolutely phenomenal job of kitting these kids out over-and-over again as he brings the Roman Army of the 1^st Century to life for them. In addition, this was the first year that we have had a cavalryman thanks to Jesse Bailey! This is the first (and only, so far as I am aware) complete auxiliary cavalry impression in the US, and Jesse awed all comers with his equestrian skills and the quality of his turn-out. You could not have seen him and been anything less than impressed!

As always, the GAJCL Convention was a superb event, and I hope that those who did not have the opportunity to make it this year will make every effort to do so next year.