Classicists try re-enacting

[Epictetus]

Mary Beard and Peter Stothard discuss doing some re-enacting for the 100th anniversary of the Roman Society.

Beard says:

Deeply silly all round. But you always learn more than you think from these things. And it was in the robing room that I learned most.

Some years ago I went to visit Colchester Museum with one of my favourite colleagues and a group of students. They had on display (for experimentation) a mock up toga, and as the student struggled to put it on, Christopher pointed out that it demonstrated just how dependant the Roman elite were on their slaves -- that is, they wouldn't even have been able to get their togas on without a slave or two to help.

And so it was proved yesterday.

Sir Peter managed his toga rather expertly with the help of a couple of dressers. But, as he discovered, once you are clad in this cumbersome garment, you can't bend down to get your sandals on. So that is yet more reliance on the underclass.

It looks like they had fun.

[M. Demetrius]

...of course, one could put on one's sandals first....

[Robert Vermaat]

It looks like they had fun.

It looks like they had. And they were guided by our friends from Legio II Augusta (UK), if my eyes don't decieve me. I bet they had some trouble with these armchair scientists! :lol:

More: http://www.flickr.com/photos/finds/

[Epictetus]

Those are some good pictures, Robert. It looks like they had quite a crowd.

[Crispvs]

It looks as if they had a good time. I am not sure that their discoveries about the reality of wearing a toga would come as a surprise to many of us here though. I wonder too about that toga palmette. It looks distinctly on the small side.

Crispvs