WAIKATO MUSEUM - ROMAN WAR MACHINES EXHIBITION, 2014
Imperium Romana took part in a four-month-long display Roman Nights at the Waikato Museum Hamilton in support of the international traveling exhibition Roman Machines, Julius Caesar Military Genius from Florence, Italy. We presented lectures and demonstrations on aspects of Roman life, military drill and gladiator displays. On the first night Lisa Clark gave a lecture on Women and the Family in Rome. The legionaries did a military drill display in the outdoor courtyard with John Maine as Centurion that included an impressive drawn-sword charge at the crowd. The second night we did displays of military drill and gladiator fighting. On the last two nights the gladiator displays included some acting on the part of members which was well received by the audience!
Club Captain John Maine described the third night thus: "David [Layzell's] informative historical PowerPoint presentation was very well received, and Pete [Rogers] enthusiastic public talk about our club’s Gladiator section, activities and equipment was received with rave reviews from the Museum administration. The impromptu slave girl (Petra White) gladiator combat display won the public over with humour, skill and a magnificent oratory by John Nagels. Once again a world-class display by the Imperium-Romana NZ club members, combining their skills, knowledge, enthusiasm and team-work that involved ideas from everyone participating... the club is a wonderful collection of high-class skilled re-enactors who love what they do as a TEAM!... The gods be praised!"
The last night involved Germanic warrior woman Idunna (Petra White) attacking the Imperial Palace with her bow, being captured, publicly flogged and sent to the arena as a prize for the winning gladiator (Peter Rogers). Everyone acted their roles brilliantly and the performance was greeted with resounding applause from the audience.
Club Captain John Maine described the third night thus: "David [Layzell's] informative historical PowerPoint presentation was very well received, and Pete [Rogers] enthusiastic public talk about our club’s Gladiator section, activities and equipment was received with rave reviews from the Museum administration. The impromptu slave girl (Petra White) gladiator combat display won the public over with humour, skill and a magnificent oratory by John Nagels. Once again a world-class display by the Imperium-Romana NZ club members, combining their skills, knowledge, enthusiasm and team-work that involved ideas from everyone participating... the club is a wonderful collection of high-class skilled re-enactors who love what they do as a TEAM!... The gods be praised!"
The last night involved Germanic warrior woman Idunna (Petra White) attacking the Imperial Palace with her bow, being captured, publicly flogged and sent to the arena as a prize for the winning gladiator (Peter Rogers). Everyone acted their roles brilliantly and the performance was greeted with resounding applause from the audience.
