Editorial
The Gold Launch of AncientWorlds is approaching, and it seems most people are extremely busy working on the special events that will fill one whole week of our lives. Thus we decided this issue should be a “Gold Launch Special.”
As we were able to finish this second issue of Acta Diurna MMII in a record time of two weeks, it was possible to all reporters to report on the recent planning before the events take off. Though a good part of this information can be read on various boards at AW, it is useful to compile all that is coming up during the next two weeks into this newsletter.
As visible, the Acta is bigger, longer and better already, and we have got many new reporters. Our aim is to secure one or two reporters to every city, so that most news and events everywhere at AW can be covered. We are already quite close to this goal, but more reporters are always needed. Please contact Maximius in case you are interested in writing reports or “publishing” your articles in this newsletter.
Our next issue should be out some time during the first weeks of November – maybe even the Kalends (1st) of November, if there is enough to report and enough people who have survived the stressful and delightful festivities!
-MF
AncientWorlds Update
ANCIENT WORLDS GOLD LAUNCH
Acta Diurna wants to remind all citizens of AncientWorlds about the recent change in the schedule of the Gold Launch.
The new schedule of events is as follows. The "PM" designation for the onboard chats refers simply to the probable time (we anticipating about 7 PM EDT, perhaps later). All chats will be at the same times, TBA.
Golden Phoenix
Friday, 10-18 - Launch The Golden Phoenix at Ostia
PM - Chat aboard ship with Incan celebrity
Saturday 10-19 - MACHU PICCHU
Sunday 10-20 - Cruising
Monday 10-21 - Cruising
PM - Chat aboard ship with Germania celebrity
Tuesday 10-22 - GERMANIA
Wednesday 10-23 - Cruising
PM - Chat aboard ship with Tara's celebrity
Thursday, 10-24 - TARA
Friday, 10-25 - Cruising: chat aboard ship with Egypt's celebrity
Saturday, 10-26 - EGYPT
Sunday, 10-27 - Cruising. Chat with Athenian celebrity
Monday, 10-28 - ATHENS
Tuesday 10-29 - Cruising. Chat with Babylon's celebrity
Wed. 10-30 - BABYLON
Thursday 10-31: Cruising. Chat with Rome's celebrity.
Friday 11-1: ROME
Saturday 11-2: All cities' finale celebrations
-HA & MF
THE GOLD LAUNCH
With only three days to go until the launch of the "Golden Phoenix," the whole of AncientWorlds is in a ferment of activities. From Friday, October 18 (when the vessel is "launched" on her ancient worlds cruise from the port of Ostia) until she returns to Rome on Friday, November 1, she will cruise to the great cities of Machu Picchu, Germania, Tara, Egypt, Athens, Babylon, and Rome, meeting famous historical celebrities and celebrating each city’s heritage on the way. (Not to mention, plenty of festivity in the two lounges aboard ship, "The Drunken Goatherd" (for steerage) and "The Apotheosis" (for gods and first class!)
You may find the "spotlight" pages for these cities, with a complete list of thrilling events, below:
Germania
Babylon
Rome
Machu Picchu
Egypt
All scribes and many additional cive volunteers are wearing harassed looks and sleeping little as the final plans are completed! Aphrodite Theocritos and Heraklia Aelius have prepared a "cruise brochure" which will outline all facets of the voyage and the various "excursions" to our cities. However, several cities have already prepared a summary of their multiple events: Germania (who will pit a certain P. Quinctilius Varus against a certain famous German chieftan, all very politely!), Rome (where preparations for the Circus Maximus and a Triumph are only two of many activities throughout the period), Machu Picchu (with a visit to legendary Cos’co and a llama race), and Babylon (pick your events: Yacht Race, Lion Hunt, camel race). And always, banqueting, drinking, and partying. Herbal recipes for overindulgence will be provided after the Launch finale, when all cities celebrate in their own special way on November 2, 2002! Tara plans to coordinate a spear-toss, a Bardic competition, AND a chariot racing finale on the road to Hadrian’s Wall. Athens will stage a rededication of the Temple of Athena (the Parthenon) atop the Acropolis. The entire site is invited to a mysterious gathering on Halloween night with an otherworldly experience planned in the very gates of . . . well, clues will alert you to your destination! And finally, Senex Caecilius has prepared treasure hunts, mysteries, mazes, and trivia quiz entries throughout the site, throughout the period - keep your eyes open!
Special acknowledgements to ChanChan Tupac, Thiu Gunthigg, Voluptua Amytas, and Heraklia Aelius for preparation of their cities’ special pages. And to the Gold Launch committee, scribes, gods, demigods, and volunteer hard-working cives who are doing everything from making tourist artifacts and souvenirs to planning events to preparing graphics for the Launch!
All cities have now opened their own Gold Launch festivities group, where events in that city will actually take place. In addition, the ANCIENT WORLDS CELEBRATIONS topic, with its own Gold Launch thread, will carry the cruising activities (including chats with famous celebrities ranging from Alaric and Boudicca to Caesar and Cleopatra) throughout the two-week festival period. The Gold Launch thread will be the hub of events, with news and notes of activities throughout the site on a daily basis.
You may find more information at the group GL sites, below!
ROME
Athens
Babylon
Egypt
Tara
Germania
Machu Picchu
In addition, all general observations and heavy ingestion of fortified spirits may be conducted at THE SPECTATORS GALLERY for off-topic hilarity.
Seldom has one site been so involved with so many activities in ancient history; be sure to drop by to enjoy and participate. In addition to all the "real time" events, articles on related history will be posted throughout AncientWorlds, so the scholar and the party-animal should be equally catered to.
Most importantly, New Character Creation will be enabled and new visitors from "the outer worlds" welcomed to the formal launch of AncientWorlds. Stay tuned, stay cool, and enjoy!
-HA
BABYLON GOLD LAUNCH
Having had my arm twisted by the massive forearms of Maximius, I agreed (with a tear in my eye) to write a story about what has been happening in Babylon lately.
Though our entire population couldn't fill one trireme (heck, we couldn't fill the lavatory of one trireme), we've been very busy there. GL activities will include:
A Yacht Race
The Lion Hunt
A Camel Race
The rules for these activities will make you split a gut, laughing (we however accept no liability for such a grievous injury).
The boards which have been opened are very original. They include:
The Babylon Gold Launch Festival
The board for viewing all our activities and for signing up to participate (Babylonians and non-Babylonians).
The Flooding of the Black Sea roleplaying the flooding of the Black Sea and its effect on the original Sumerians, Egyptians, Semites, and Indo-Europeans as well as the Gilgamesh and Biblical floods.
West of Eden where dramas from throughout the Near East will be retold, be they Biblical or archeological in origin. Currently onstage is the Song of Ruth.
Encyclopaedia Babylonica "Just the facts, Ma'am". For posting the factual aspects of life in Mesopotamia.
Harp and Cymbal Interested in ancient Music? This is the place to post any and all info on the music of the Near and Middle East.
Empires A broad title for a broad subject. Here can be posted roleplays and factual support for any empires of the Middle East, be they Hittite, Phoenician, Babylonian, Assyrian, Parthian, Medes, etc, etc. Choose a favorite and let's get something going.
Of course, for informal frolic of a humorous nature, there is always The Kash Bowl and Library, where kash (beer) flows frothily as well as the occassional bit of wine....Chasing the ladies or chasing adventure or just laughing yourself silly, this is the place to go. Barkeep and owner, Marie Siduri, has a link here to her very extensive Babylonian Library. Check it out and see if I'm exaggerating.
-AA
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AncientWorlds Update
GROUP SPOTLIGHT
This month's focus is on MachuPicchu and the group "Moquihiux". ChanChan Tupac is the founder and leader of this exiting new group and I had a chance to talk briefly with her about the inspiration behind the story. ChanChan told me that the main story is centered around a Celtic stranger called Dinnsear Brigantes. Dinnsear travels to Ostia, Italy and boards a ship. Something goes wrong on the voyage and he is dropp! ed off in MachuPicchu, leaving the stranded traveler to fend for himself.
The whole basis for the group is to show people what life is like in early America, with a fun twist. As ChanChan says, not many people at AncientWorlds have any idea what life was like during this period. This sounds like the perfect opportunity for us all to find out!
Other news - another new group has surfaced in Babylon. It's called the Flooding of the Black Sea, and takes the traveler far back to 5600 BCE. A freshwater lake is populated heavily by tribes and various peoples. Gradually the lake level rises and floods the entire region. This roleplay group invites you to portray one of many different characters affected by the flooding.
Here's to many more exciting groups at AncientWorlds – I hope you will join one of these fascinating new groups and get to know your fellow ancient travelers.
-CM
GERMANIA - LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GOLD LAUNCH
Germania is looking forward to an influx of new "settlers" after the Gold Launch, but there's been plenty happening there in the meantime. Lucius Aelius has been busy at Angelcynn - The History of Anglo-Saxon England, where there have been ongoing discussions on Anglo-Saxon Literature, the Battle of Hastings and the coming of the Normans. And Hugrunar - The World of the Vikings remains another popular group, with plans for a role-play thread to begin there soon.
But it's the Gold Launch planning which has occupied most Germania-oriented members, with the opening of the Germania Gold Launch Festival group. After a cruise up the Rhine, Gold Launch guests will be accompanied by local warriors to the fortress of Mattiacum where they'll join in the harvest celebrations of the Fraujablotaz. This will include a sacrifice at the sacred grove of Frauja Ingaz, as well as a great feast with dancing, a boasting competiton, lots of drinking of mead and ale and some wrestling.
The festival will also include a Celebrity Chat with a famour Germanic leader who should be able to shed some light on the fall of the Roman Empire.
Some new Germanic "families" are soon to be established to allow new members to join some of the more famous Germanic tribes and clans, and there will be some Viking families to join as well. A number of old members from AS with a strong interest in the Germanic peoples and their history have found their way to AW recently and we will be seeing some contributions from them. A thread devoted to the daily life of the Germanics is soon to be established and there are plans for the establishment of a temple to the Germanic war god Tiwaz.
There will be lots happening at Germania during the Gold Launch period and there are big plans for the post-Launch period, so come and pay Ancient World's newest city a visit.
-TG
GOLDEN PHOENIX IN EGYPT
The Golden Phoenix, upon reaching Egypt on Saturday, October 26th, will find itself going on an adventure through time. The Two Lands, richly nourished by the life-sustaining Nile, boasts of a history measured in millenia.
Our first destination is Alexandria, during the reign of Cleopatra VII. We will meet with the noble Cleopatra, discover her history as well as that of the city of Alexandria, and gain the opportunity to visit a spa and beauty boutique, to learn the ancient yet timeless Egyptian beauty secrets!
Next: Memphis/Giza/Saqqara, Dynasty IV, during the reign of Khufu, pyramid-builder. Here we will meet the perhaps-despotic Pharaoh himself, as well as engage in a pyramid-climbing contest. At the top of the pyramid is the entryway into a maze, at the end of which will be an award.
Forward in time by several dynasties, we arrive in Amarna, during the reign of Ahkenaten, the pharaoh who, however briefly, challenged and changed the religious establishment. Despite the desert locale, we've ported in on donkey sizeable quantities of water. A Wet T-unic Contest will thus be the recreational focus.
Finally, we arrive in Waset, known to the Classical world as Thebes, during the reign of Pharaoh Hatshepsut. We will meet this remarkable woman, as well as partake of a hearty Egyptian feast in honor of Osiris.
-OH
MACHU PICCHU AND THE GOLD LAUNCH
Rumours
There is a rumour that Machu Picchu is calling upon
all the soldiers to invade the lands north of the
capital.
Sapa Inca has heard about great wealths and even
greater knowledge there and he wishes to conquer these
lands. He's planning to start this campaign in the
third week of October, so we all hope that we are able
to see the visitors of the Phoenix, safely off, before
this happens.
Then there is another rumour about a change of the
city name... all Sapa Inca's advisers had the task to
try and find out what the best name for the city would
be...It is still unknown what the chosen name will be
and when the change of name is to take place...
Inca Gold
Especially for the Gold Launch of Ancient Worlds
several events will take place on the 19th of October.
For this day, festivities have been planned in the
capital of Tawantinsuyu: Cusco.
The amazing Gold Coricancha will be open to the public
and there will be a small service to welcome and bless
the visitors. There will be several city tours, there
are some game-events and there is a race with llama's.
In the evening there will be a large banquet, prepared
by the cooks of the emperor Moctezuma.
Program is available here: http://www.goecities.com/chanchanix/gl2.html
The Return of Viracocha
Sapa Inca's personal sjaman has spoken. He has seen in
in the stars and it is inevitable: a blank, bearded
man on a boat, sailing towards Pachacamac. Is this the
returning of Viracocha?
No... it is a ferocious, warrior from the lands of
Tara...that is sailing on the Phoenix. Something will
go wrong and he will have to abandon the ship... So
what is life like for a stranger in the lands of the
mighty Condor?
And he is not alone... there is someone following
him...who is this person? And why is she following?
Read more about the adventures of Dinnsear Brigantes
in: Moquihuix
-CCT
Article
MANZIKERT - PART II
In 21th August 1071 the Seljuks with their allies won a battle near Khliat and Nikaphoros Bryenios was wounded and general Nikaphoros Basiliakis was taken prisoner and interogated. On the 22nd of August 1071 Roman archers marched out of their camp and helped win a skirmish near the river Mourat Tsai where the enemy tried to cut the Roman army from water supplies.
And now came the battle.
5 days later Emperor Romanus IV led the central army of mercenaries with a strong element of Anglo-Saxon gaurds.
His left wing was under the command of Nikephoros Bryennios that cnsisted of the remains of the Western Thematic armies and a horde of Pecheneg (Tartar) mercenaries.
The right wing was under Theodoros Alyattis which consisted mostly of Iberian and Armenian allies.
The Reargaurd was under the Command of Andronikos Dukas, the enemy of Romanus. This 'gaurd' had Frankish and Norman cotingents in it. Andronikos Dukas felt deep hatred for Romanus, as his father had suffered an attempted coup by him and was now displaced in power by he marrying his mother.
This was hishance to be rid of Romanus, regardless of the broader consequences to the state.
Romanus ordered the army to advance, yet the Seljuks simply retreated in an arch formation to the hills.
The advance was slow due to the sheer size of the army.
The sun was fast setting and so Romanus decided to stop the advance against a retreating enemy and withdraw.
However the rear gaurd under Andronikos spread the rumour that Romanus had been killed and tis rumour spread to the rest of the army causing hysteria and panic.
Alp Aslan seeing this from the hills ordered his army to turn and attack.
They soon encircled Romanus and his men, shot and trampled to pieces the fleeing army in the process.
The Anglo-Saxons and Uz Turks remained loyal and held fast around Romanus to the end. The other Turkish mercenaries switched sides, the Normans held back with Andronikos.
Nikaphoros Bryenios despite his wounds, tried to rescue Romanus until he was forced back.
Theodoros Alyattis fled with the Iberian and Armenian allies instantly.
Romanus was captured and left in chains with the other prisoners during the night.
Byzantine Emperor
In the morning he was brought the the Sultan and thrown before him.
Alp Aslan placed his foot upon Romanus' neck.
He then helped him up and ordered that he be attended to prior to opening negotiations for cession of territory.
The deal was: to cede Edessa, Antioch and all Armenia to the Sultanate. Romanus was to be ransomed for 1,500,000 nomismata with 360,000 nomismata in annual tribute.
One of Romanus' daughters to marry the eldest son of Alp Aslan, Malik Shah.
Romanus was escourted back with a gaurd of Mamlukes with Alp Aslan going for most of the way.
However...
The Aristocracy in Constatinople had the great chance to get rid of Romanus. They ran after him and on April of 1072, Andronikos Dukas managed to arrest him in Cilicia Pylae between Dokea and mount Tavros. They led him back to the capital and imprisoned and blinded him.
He son died of this abuse and was buried on the island of Proti ('First' todays Kinalada) in Propontis (Marmara) south-east of Constantinople, grieved by the Empress Eudocia who was forced to join a convent on the island. This was the end of a brave and upright man who tried to save the Roman Empire.
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