Subject: [Nova-Roma] Re: [NovaBritannia] The Eagle
From: lanius117@aol.com
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 19:21:17 EST
Salve, Quinte

You are quite right - I forgot to include the mailing address for
subscriptions! For others who are also wondering, the surface mailing
address to subscribe to The Eagle is

NOVA ROMA Eagle
5496 Ross Court
New Market, MD 21774

Vale,

Gaivs Lanivs Falco
*******************************


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Subject: [Nova-Roma] The Eagle and New Subscriptions for THIS year.
From: "Stephen Gallagher" <spqr753@msn.com>
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 23:47:30 -0500
Salve Romans

That time has come ,again, when I must ask, plead, beg and cajole you to take out a subscription to the Eagle ,

YOUR Eagle, Your newsletter.

Right now all across Nova Roma, your fellow citizens are hard at work writing articles , making drawing and a host of other things that will amaze you ,

But ONLY if you take out a subscription to the Eagle.

"If you Don't get it You Don't Get it"

Here are some of the great thing you are missing out on:

the Consul of the month address UNDE STO, CURULIS
Nova Roma fiction
Nova Roma Religio Romana
Nova Roma Indicium FYI
Nova Roma Roman Law By Gaius Basilicatus Agricola
Nova Roma Cultus Animi by Saxus Pitrinius Atheniensis
Nova Roma Bonus Eventus/ Birthday list Nova Roma
"Letters from the Provinces" or something else G. Modius Athanasius
Nova Roma Recessions (book Reviews) Senator Palladius et al
Nova Roma " Hay Roman, What' Cooking" F. Galerius Aurelanus Secundus
Nova Roma Major Article Nimes by Coryphaeus Minius Leo Cambosia
Nova Roma Minor Article Brief History of Roman Libraries / Javier Rodrigus
Nova Roma Sodalitas Militarium
Nova R. Poeticae Recessus/ Poets Corner Pompeius Minius Aquila Palladius et al
Nova Roma Youth column Titus Arminius Genialis
Nova Roma "Who was who in the Roman World " Caius Minius Messala Bellator
Nova Roma Letter to the Editors
Nova Roma " This Month in Roman History" Q. Cassius Calvus
Nova R. curiosities & legends of the city of Rome Marcus Iulius Perusianus
Nova Roma interviews Iulia Aenea Apollonia Musa

If you haven't sent in your subscription, ($20.00 ) please do so

Nova Roma Eagle 5496 Ross Court New Market, Maryland 21774


Tiberius Galerius Paulinus
Curator Differum
Fortuna Favet Fortibus


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Subject: [Nova-Roma] EDICTUM AEDILICIUM II DE CEREALIA
From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Lucius=20Arminius=20Faustus?= <lafaustus@yahoo.com.br>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 12:33:22 -0300 (ART)

EDICTUM AEDILICIUM II DE CEREALIA

(12th march 2003)





Ex Officio Plebeian Aediles


The Plebeain Aediles, by this edict, have the pleasure to confirm and announce the date of the Cerealia Ludi this year, 2756 AUC.

The Cerealia Ludi Celebration shall be 12 to 19 of april, inscriptions open to all Nova Roma citizens.

The aediles keep the right to postpone the announce of the winners of the contests up to three days after the ending.

The Cerealia is one of the most famous ludi of Ancient Rome, in honor to Ceres, the goddess of Agriculture as well as a deity deeply worshipped by the plebeian class.

As agreed with our fellow Curules Aediles, future announces of the nature of the celebrations, except the Literary Contest, shall be provided later.

We make together the vows that Mother Ceres be satisfied by this humble Ludi and may she shines upon our Res Publica and enlight it with great accomplishments.



Given three days before the ides of march, in the year of the consulship of Caeso Fabius Quintilianus and Titus Labienus Fortunatus, 2756 AUC.






L. Arminius Faustus and M. Scribonius Curio Britannicus

Plebeian Aediles



---------------------------------
Busca Yahoo!
O serviço de busca mais completo da Internet. O que você pensar o Yahoo! encontra.

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Subject: [Nova-Roma] Re: The Cassii go to Rome
From: "Manius Constantinus Serapio" <mcserapio@yahoo.it>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 16:38:22 -0000
AVETE OPTIMI PATRICIA CASSIA ET MARCE CASSI IVLIANE

I really thank you for your very kind words. I can assure you that it
has been a real pleaure and a honour to meet you both!
Just I must make clear that I am not the Praetor of Provincia Italia.
The propraetor is Franciscus Apulus Caesar: we could say I am his
vice. ;-)

> We would like to publicly thank Manius Constantinus for graciously
> sharing his hospitality and knowledge

Oh, *I* thank you for bearing my terrible english!

>He made a long train
> trip from Turin to see us, and we hope it was worthwhile for him!

It definitely was! ;-)

> The photos are still in the camera's memory, but we'll put some of
them
> online in the next few days.

I look forward to see them!

Thank you for the maple syrup. It's really delcious!

OPTIME VALE
Manivs Constantinvs Serapio


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Subject: [Nova-Roma] Joint declaration of the Consules: The neutrality of Nova Roma
From: Caeso Fabius Quintilianus <christer.edling@telia.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 19:09:46 +0100
The neutrality of Nova Roma

Currently the United States of American and the Republic of Iraq are
poised on the brink of war. Nova Roma is a global community
containing citizens of many nations sharing a common citizenship in
our micronation.

Among these many citizens of Nova Roma it is natural that diverse
opinions exist concerning the appropriateness of a .of an US-led war
vs. Iraq. We do not expect, nor do we request or require that our
citizens adopt any particular position with respect to this conflict,
save only that all citizens shall make every possible effort to
respect the considered opinions of their fellow Nova Roman citizens.

A significant number of Nova Roman citizens are members of the armed
forces of their respective macronations. Some of these citizens may
be called away to serve in the anticipated war. Without endorsing the
position held by any particular nation, we acknowledge and salute
these courageous citizens as they prepare for this coming conflict.
Whatever your individual belief about the rightness or wrongness of
the coalition countries positions please join us in recognizing the
manifestation of the Virtues in these brave people, our brother and
sister citizens.

Nova Roma respects Islam and all other religions as we expect others
to respect the Religio Romana.

Caeso Fabius Quintilianus Titus Labienus Fortunatus
Consul Consul
Nova Roma Nova Roma

--

Vale

Caeso Fabius Quintilianus
Senior Consul et Senator
Propraetor Thules
Sodalitas Egressus Beneficarius et Praefectus Provincia Thules
************************************************
Cohors Consulis CFQ
http://www.insulaumbra.com/cohors_consulis_cfq/
************************************************
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam
"I'll either find a way or make one"
************************************************
Dignitas, Iustitia, Fidelitas et Pietas
Dignity, Justice, Loyalty and Dutifulness


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Subject: [Nova-Roma] To the Tribunes of NR
From: "Stephen Gallagher" <spqr753@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 13:21:21 -0500
Salve Tribunes of Nova Roma

This is a draft do any of you have ANY problems with any of this?

Tiberius Galerius Paulinus
Curator Differum

DRAFT >
Salve Romans the new and Senate approved patron program of the Eagle!!!!!

If you would like to be listed in the EAGLE as a Patron all you have
to do is pick from the following Levels and send in your check.

Clines (client) Level I 50.00 Donation
Cultor (fosterner) Level II 125.00 Donation
Amicus (friend) Level III 250.00 Donation
Comes (partner) Level IV 400.00 Donation
Patronus (patron) Level V 500.00 Donation

"What do I get if I am a Patron of the Eagle", you ask? Good question

If you sign up for the Clines level you will receive
One year subscription to the Eagle and your name on the Patron Page.

If you sign up for the Cultor Level you will receive a ONE year
subscription to the Eagle, your name on the Patron Page and a
special certificate on your patron level.

If you sign up for the Amicus Level you will receive a ONE year
subscription to the Eagle, your name on the Patron Page and a
special certificate on your patron level and a Special Eagle mug
naming you " a friend and ally of the Roman people"

If you sign up for the Comes Level you will receive a ONE year
subscription to the Eagle, your name on the Patron Page and a
special certificate on your patron level and a Special Eagle patron
mug naming you " a friend and ally of the Roman people" and a
special drawing of the Nova Roma Eagle SPQR symbol by the Eagle's
resident artist.

If you sign up for the Patronus Level V you will receive a ONE year
subscription to the Eagle, your name on the Patron Page and a
special certificate on your patron level and a Special Eagle patron
mug naming you " a friend and ally of the Roman people" and a
special self portrait by the Eagle's resident artist and an issue
dedicated to YOU!!!!!

Vale

Tiberius Galerius Paulinus
Curator Differum

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Subject: [Nova-Roma] Welcome Honorable Julia Gladia Quintiliana!
From: Caeso Fabius Quintilianus <christer.edling@telia.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 22:23:10 +0100
Salve Honorable Julia Gladia Quintiliana!

Welcome as a new citizen to Nova Roma, Provincia Thule and Regio
Finnica! Both as Senior Consul and Propraetor (Governor) of Thule I
wish that your new citizenship will bring You many new good friends
and a lot of interesting new knowledge.

Don't hestitate to contact me personally if You think that I can be
of any assistance. Good luck!
--

Vale

Caeso Fabius Quintilianus
Senior Consul et Senator
Propraetor Thules
Sodalitas Egressus Beneficarius et Praefectus Provincia Thules
************************************************
Cohors Consulis CFQ
http://www.insulaumbra.com/cohors_consulis_cfq/
************************************************
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam
"I'll either find a way or make one"
************************************************
Dignitas, Iustitia, Fidelitas et Pietas
Dignity, Justice, Loyalty and Dutifulness


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Subject: [Nova-Roma] Military Items Update/NR Ring
From: caiustarquitius@gmx.de
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 22:49:25 +0100 (MET)
Salvete!
I have updated my Homepage again and included the military items and their
prices. If anyone of you has any questions, feel free to contact me! Also I
would like those of you that are interested in a NR Ring ask to contact me
soon, so that I will know how many have to be made. Also please let me know if
you want to have it in a different material. The golden ring will be limited to
25 pieces ever.
Valete, Caius Tarquitius Saturninus!

--
Bonis nocet, qui malis parcit.


+++ GMX - Mail, Messaging & more http://www.gmx.net +++
Bitte lächeln! Fotogalerie online mit GMX ohne eigene Homepage!

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Subject: [Nova-Roma] From the AP Science wire
From: Pipar - Steven <catamount_grange@inwave.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 15:57:08 -0600
Salvete Omnes,

An interesting article from earlier this afternoon.

350,000-Year-Old Footprints Discovered

By RICK CALLAHAN, Associated Press Writer

Scientists in Italy have discovered 350,000-year-old tracks that may be the oldest known footprints
made by Stone Age man.

The prints were made by three early, upright-walking humans as they descended the treacherous side
of a volcano — perhaps to escape an eruption, researchers reported in Thursday's issue of the
journal Nature.

Other scientists said that while the prints appear well-preserved, they add little to knowledge
about human evolution, since footprints of far older human ancestors have been found. But they said
the tracks are still a sobering testament to long-ago journeys across a harsh terrain.

One of the footprint trails zigzags to find the safest path down the steep incline. Another includes
handprints someone left as he steadied himself in a precarious spot, only to slide a short ways down
the slope.

"You're looking at an event that happened 350,000 years ago — someone made an imprint on a surface,
walking in a way you'd expect to see someone in these same conditions walk today," said Owen
Lovejoy, an anthropologist at Kent State University who was not involved in the research. "It adds
another cog in the connect between ourselves and our ancestors."

Who left the 56 footprints is not clear. But their discoverers suggest either late Homo erectus or
Homo heidelbergensis — two early human species found in Europe during the Paleolithic era, also
known as the Stone Age. The tracks were dated between 325,000 and 385,000 years old.

Footprints left by the upright-walking, prehuman species Australopithecus afarensis were found in
1977 in Tanzania, imprinted in volcanic mud 3.6 million years old — making them 10 times older than
the new discovery.

"The bottom line is that these are interesting curiosities that do not advance our knowledge of what
happened when in human evolution," said Tim White, a University of California paleontologist who
co-discovered the most famous Australopithecus fossil, dubbed Lucy, in Ethiopia in 1974.

The more recent tracks were found in southern Italy's rugged Roccamonfina volcano complex, north of
present-day Naples.

The footprints' makers were short — just under 5 feet tall — based on the prints' size of less than
8 inches in length, the researchers said.

The trails were left by three individuals who walked across a cooled but recent volcanic flow of
rock fragments, ash and gases. A short time later, the volcano erupted again, blanketing the
footprints with a thick layer of ash that preserved them for the ages, said Paolo Mietto of the
University of Padua, Italy.

The tracks show that their owners were descending, not climbing, he said.

"The idea that these humans were escaping an eruption ... is attractive, and is supported by the
fact that all tracks have the same direction, outwards from the volcano's main crater," Mietto said.

Local residents had long known of the footprints, and referred to them and animal tracks preserved
near the volcano as "devils' trails."

Mietto said the prints are unmistakably human in origin, as some preserve the foot's plantar arch
and individual toe prints.
--
=========================================
In Amicus sub Fidelis
- Piperbarbus Ullerius Venator
Civis Nova Romana et Paterfamilias
Legatus Occidentalis pro Magna Lacus

Domus Familias
http://www.geocities.com/gens_ulleria/index.html

Dominus Sodalis
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sodalis_Coq_et_Coq/

Hostes alienigeni me abducerunt; qui annus est?
(Aliens kidnapped me; what year is it?)



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Subject: [Nova-Roma] Annulus - Roman rings - Nova Roman Rings
From: Caeso Fabius Quintilianus <christer.edling@telia.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 23:18:32 +0100
Salvete Quirites et Salve Illustrus Caius Tarquitius Saturninus!

I would like to propose that we discuss if we in Nova Roma should
have ab official Citizen's Ring. Such a ring seem to have been in
existance during the Republic, but mostly done in Iron. There where
also rings of gold. What do you the citizens of Nova Roma think?

The article below has been edited by me to suit my purpose. ;-)

The following article is by Leonhard Schmitz, Ph.D., F.R.S.E., Rector
of the High School of Edinburgh on pp 95-97 of William Smith, D.C.L.,
"A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities", John Murray, London,
1875. LL.D. It was found at RomanSites at :
http://www.ukans.edu/history/index/europe/ancient_rome/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Annulus.html



ANNULUS (daktuvlioV), a ring.

RINGS IN GREECE
Every freeman in Greece appears to have used a ring; and, at least in
the earliest times, not as an ornament, but as an article for use, as
the ring always served as a seal. Rings were mostly worn on the
fourth finger (paravmesoV, Plut. Sympos. Fragm. lib.iv; Gellius,
x.10). The Lacedaemonians are said to have used iron rings at all
times (Plin. H.N. xxxiii.4). With the exception perhaps of Sparta,
the law does not appear to have ever attempted in any Greek state to
counteract the great partiality for this luxury; and nowhere in
Greece does the right of wearing a gold ring appear to have been
confined to a particular order or class of citizens.

RINGS IN ROME
The custom of wearing rings was believed to have been introduced into
Rome by the Sabines, who are described in the early legends as
wearing gold rings with precious stones (gemmati annuli) of great
beauty (Liv. i.11; Dionys. ii.38). Florus (i.5) states that it was
introduced from Etruria in the reign of Tarquinius Priscus, and Pliny
(l.c.) derives it from Greece. The fact that among the statues of the
Roman kings in the capitol, two, Numa and Servius Tullius, were
represented with rings, can scarcely be adduced as an argument for
their early use, as later artists would naturally represent the kings
with such insignia as characterized the highest magistrates in later
times.

IRON RINGS - CITIZEN'S RINGS
But at whatever time rings may have become customary at Rome, thus
much is certain, that at first they were always of iron, that they
were destined for the same purpose as in Greece, namely, to be used
as seals, and that every free Roman had a right to use such a ring.
This iron ring was used down to the last period of the republic by
such men as loved the simplicity of the good old times. Marius wore
an iron ring in his triumph over Jugurtha, and several noble families
adhered to the ancient custom, and never wore gold ones (Plin. H.N.
xxxiii.6).

GOLDEN RINGS AND SENATORIAL AMBASSADORS
When senators in the early times of the republic were sent as
ambassadors to a foreign state, they wore during the time of their
mission gold rings, which they received from the state, and which
were perhaps adorned with some symbolic representation of the
republic, and might serve as a state-seal. But ambassadors used gold
rings only in public; in private they wore their iron ones (Plin.
H.N. xxxiii.4).

IUS ANNULI AUREI - THE RIGHT TO WEAR A GOLDEN SEAL RING
In the course of time it became customary for all the senators, chief
magistrates, and at last for the equites also, to wear a gold
seal-ring (Liv. ix.7, 46, xxvi.36; Cic. c. Verr. iv.25; Liv.
xxiii.12; Flor. ii.6). This right of wearing a gold ring, which was
subsequently called the jus annuli aurei, or the jus annulorum,
remained for several centuries at Rome the exclusive privilege of
senators, magistrates, and equites, while all other persons continued
to use iron ones (Appian, de Reb. Pun. 104).

CONFERRING THE RIGHT TO WEAR RINGS
Magistrates and governors of provinces seem to have had the right of
conferring upon inferior officers, or such
persons as had distinguished themselves, the privilege of wearing a
gold ring. Verres thus presented his secretary with a gold ring in
the assembly at Syracuse (Cic. c. Verr. iii.76, 80, ad Fam. x.32;
Suet. Caes. 39). During the empire the right of granting the annulus
aureus belonged to the emperors, and some of them were not very
scrupulous in conferring this privilege.

THE STATUS OF THE RING-WEARER
The status of a person who had received the jus annuli appears to
have differed at different times. During the republic and the early
part of the empire the jus annuli seems to have made a person
ingenuus (if he was a libertus), and to have raised him to the rank
of eques, provided he had the requisite equestrian census (Suet.
Galb. 10, 14; Tacit. Hist. i.13 ii.57), and it was probably never
granted to any one who did not possess this census (Juv. Sat. xi.42;
Mart. viii.5, ii.57).

THE PRACTICAL PURPOSES
The practical purposes, for which rings, or rather the figures
engraved upon them, were used at all times, were the same as those
for which we use our seals. Besides this, however, persons, when they
left their houses, used to seal up such parts as contained stores or
valuable things, in order to secure them from thieves, especially
slaves (Plat. de Leg. xii. p954; Aristop. Thesmoph. 414, &c.; Plaut.
Cas. ii.1.1; Cic. ad Fam. xvi.26, de Orat. ii.61; Mart. ix.88). ...
The signs engraved upon rings were very various, as we may judge from
the specimens still extant: they were portraits of ancestors, or
friends, or subjects connected with the mythology, or the worship of
the gods; and in many cases a person had engraved upon his seal
symbolical allusions to the real or mythical history of his family
(Cic. in Catil. iii.5; Val. Max. iii.5.1; Cic. de Finib. v.1; Suet.
Tib. 58, 63; Plin. H.N. ii.7, &c.). Sulla thus wore a ring with a
gem, on which Jugurtha was represented at the moment he was made
prisoner (Plin. H.N. xxxvii.4; Plut. Mar. 10). Pompey used a ring on
which three trophies were represented (Dion Cass. xlii.18), and
Augustus at first sealed with a sphinx afterwards with a portrait of
Alexander the Great, and at last with his own portrait, which was
subsequently done by several emperors (Plin. H.N. xxxvii.4; Suet.
Aug. 50; Dion Cass. li.3; Spartian. Hadr. 26).

THE VALUE OF A RING
The principal value of a ring consisted in the gem framed in it, or
rather in the workmanship of the engraver. The stone most frequently
used was the onyx (sardw'noV, sardovnux), on account of its various
colours, of which the artists made the most skillful use. In the art
of engraving figures upon gems, the ancients in point of beauty and
execution far surpass every thing in this department that modern
times can boast of. The ring itself (sfendovnh), in which the gem was
set, was likewise in many cases of beautiful workmanship. The part of
the ring which contained the gem was called pala. ...
--
Valete

Caeso Fabius Quintilianus
Senator et Senior Curule Aedile
Propraetor of Thule
AUCTOR LEGIONIS, Legio VII "Res Publica"

The Opinions expressed are my own,
and not an official opinion of Nova Roma
************************************************
The homepage of Senior Curule Aedile
Caeso Fabius Quintilianus and his Cohors Aedilis
http://italia.novaroma.org/cohorsaedilis/
************************************************
The homepage of the Nova Roma Provincia Thule:
http://thule.novaroma.org/
************************************************
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam
"I'll either find a way or make one"
************************************************
"Do not give in to hate. That leads to the dark side."
************************************************
Caeso, he who also is known as Christer Edling.
************************************************
PRIVATE PHONE: +90 - 10 09 10

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Subject: Re: [Nova-Roma] Annulus - Roman rings - Nova Roman Rings
From: "L. Cornelius Sulla" <alexious@earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 14:18:20 -0800
Ave,

This has been an issue that has been thrown around in the Gens Cornelia. We are slowly working on the formation of a Gens ring. I do not think it necessary to have a Nova Roma ring...but instead each gens should have its own "signet ring."

Vale,

Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix
----- Original Message -----
From: Caeso Fabius Quintilianus
To: Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com
Cc: caiustarquitius@gmx.de
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 2:18 PM
Subject: [Nova-Roma] Annulus - Roman rings - Nova Roman Rings


Salvete Quirites et Salve Illustrus Caius Tarquitius Saturninus!

I would like to propose that we discuss if we in Nova Roma should
have ab official Citizen's Ring. Such a ring seem to have been in
existance during the Republic, but mostly done in Iron. There where
also rings of gold. What do you the citizens of Nova Roma think?

The article below has been edited by me to suit my purpose. ;-)

The following article is by Leonhard Schmitz, Ph.D., F.R.S.E., Rector
of the High School of Edinburgh on pp 95-97 of William Smith, D.C.L.,
"A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities", John Murray, London,
1875. LL.D. It was found at RomanSites at :
http://www.ukans.edu/history/index/europe/ancient_rome/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Annulus.html



ANNULUS (daktuvlioV), a ring.

RINGS IN GREECE
Every freeman in Greece appears to have used a ring; and, at least in
the earliest times, not as an ornament, but as an article for use, as
the ring always served as a seal. Rings were mostly worn on the
fourth finger (paravmesoV, Plut. Sympos. Fragm. lib.iv; Gellius,
x.10). The Lacedaemonians are said to have used iron rings at all
times (Plin. H.N. xxxiii.4). With the exception perhaps of Sparta,
the law does not appear to have ever attempted in any Greek state to
counteract the great partiality for this luxury; and nowhere in
Greece does the right of wearing a gold ring appear to have been
confined to a particular order or class of citizens.

RINGS IN ROME
The custom of wearing rings was believed to have been introduced into
Rome by the Sabines, who are described in the early legends as
wearing gold rings with precious stones (gemmati annuli) of great
beauty (Liv. i.11; Dionys. ii.38). Florus (i.5) states that it was
introduced from Etruria in the reign of Tarquinius Priscus, and Pliny
(l.c.) derives it from Greece. The fact that among the statues of the
Roman kings in the capitol, two, Numa and Servius Tullius, were
represented with rings, can scarcely be adduced as an argument for
their early use, as later artists would naturally represent the kings
with such insignia as characterized the highest magistrates in later
times.

IRON RINGS - CITIZEN'S RINGS
But at whatever time rings may have become customary at Rome, thus
much is certain, that at first they were always of iron, that they
were destined for the same purpose as in Greece, namely, to be used
as seals, and that every free Roman had a right to use such a ring.
This iron ring was used down to the last period of the republic by
such men as loved the simplicity of the good old times. Marius wore
an iron ring in his triumph over Jugurtha, and several noble families
adhered to the ancient custom, and never wore gold ones (Plin. H.N.
xxxiii.6).

GOLDEN RINGS AND SENATORIAL AMBASSADORS
When senators in the early times of the republic were sent as
ambassadors to a foreign state, they wore during the time of their
mission gold rings, which they received from the state, and which
were perhaps adorned with some symbolic representation of the
republic, and might serve as a state-seal. But ambassadors used gold
rings only in public; in private they wore their iron ones (Plin.
H.N. xxxiii.4).

IUS ANNULI AUREI - THE RIGHT TO WEAR A GOLDEN SEAL RING
In the course of time it became customary for all the senators, chief
magistrates, and at last for the equites also, to wear a gold
seal-ring (Liv. ix.7, 46, xxvi.36; Cic. c. Verr. iv.25; Liv.
xxiii.12; Flor. ii.6). This right of wearing a gold ring, which was
subsequently called the jus annuli aurei, or the jus annulorum,
remained for several centuries at Rome the exclusive privilege of
senators, magistrates, and equites, while all other persons continued
to use iron ones (Appian, de Reb. Pun. 104).

CONFERRING THE RIGHT TO WEAR RINGS
Magistrates and governors of provinces seem to have had the right of
conferring upon inferior officers, or such
persons as had distinguished themselves, the privilege of wearing a
gold ring. Verres thus presented his secretary with a gold ring in
the assembly at Syracuse (Cic. c. Verr. iii.76, 80, ad Fam. x.32;
Suet. Caes. 39). During the empire the right of granting the annulus
aureus belonged to the emperors, and some of them were not very
scrupulous in conferring this privilege.

THE STATUS OF THE RING-WEARER
The status of a person who had received the jus annuli appears to
have differed at different times. During the republic and the early
part of the empire the jus annuli seems to have made a person
ingenuus (if he was a libertus), and to have raised him to the rank
of eques, provided he had the requisite equestrian census (Suet.
Galb. 10, 14; Tacit. Hist. i.13 ii.57), and it was probably never
granted to any one who did not possess this census (Juv. Sat. xi.42;
Mart. viii.5, ii.57).

THE PRACTICAL PURPOSES
The practical purposes, for which rings, or rather the figures
engraved upon them, were used at all times, were the same as those
for which we use our seals. Besides this, however, persons, when they
left their houses, used to seal up such parts as contained stores or
valuable things, in order to secure them from thieves, especially
slaves (Plat. de Leg. xii. p954; Aristop. Thesmoph. 414, &c.; Plaut.
Cas. ii.1.1; Cic. ad Fam. xvi.26, de Orat. ii.61; Mart. ix.88). ...
The signs engraved upon rings were very various, as we may judge from
the specimens still extant: they were portraits of ancestors, or
friends, or subjects connected with the mythology, or the worship of
the gods; and in many cases a person had engraved upon his seal
symbolical allusions to the real or mythical history of his family
(Cic. in Catil. iii.5; Val. Max. iii.5.1; Cic. de Finib. v.1; Suet.
Tib. 58, 63; Plin. H.N. ii.7, &c.). Sulla thus wore a ring with a
gem, on which Jugurtha was represented at the moment he was made
prisoner (Plin. H.N. xxxvii.4; Plut. Mar. 10). Pompey used a ring on
which three trophies were represented (Dion Cass. xlii.18), and
Augustus at first sealed with a sphinx afterwards with a portrait of
Alexander the Great, and at last with his own portrait, which was
subsequently done by several emperors (Plin. H.N. xxxvii.4; Suet.
Aug. 50; Dion Cass. li.3; Spartian. Hadr. 26).

THE VALUE OF A RING
The principal value of a ring consisted in the gem framed in it, or
rather in the workmanship of the engraver. The stone most frequently
used was the onyx (sardw'noV, sardovnux), on account of its various
colours, of which the artists made the most skillful use. In the art
of engraving figures upon gems, the ancients in point of beauty and
execution far surpass every thing in this department that modern
times can boast of. The ring itself (sfendovnh), in which the gem was
set, was likewise in many cases of beautiful workmanship. The part of
the ring which contained the gem was called pala. ...
--
Valete

Caeso Fabius Quintilianus
Senator et Senior Curule Aedile
Propraetor of Thule
AUCTOR LEGIONIS, Legio VII "Res Publica"

The Opinions expressed are my own,
and not an official opinion of Nova Roma
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Subject: Re: [Nova-Roma] Annulus - Roman rings - Nova Roman Rings
From: "Gnaeus Octavius Noricus" <cn.octavius.noricus@gmx.at>
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2003 23:47:40 +0100
Caeso Fabius Quintilianus wrote:
<<I would like to propose that we discuss if we in Nova Roma should
have ab official Citizen's Ring.>>

and Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix responded:
<<I do not think it necessary to have a Nova Roma ring...but instead each gens should have its own "signet ring.">>

I like the idea of a Novaroman Citizens' ring. As Senator L. Cornelius points out, each gens should be allowed to design its own ring. Great idea! Maybe we could agree on a symbol (the NR laurels?) to be embossed into the ring so that it is a symbol both for Nova Roma and for the individual gens.

Gnaeus Octavius Noricus

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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