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I know some of you go into school regularly, but for me its one day a year for the past four years! Today was fantastic, 60 x 10 year olds, well-behaved attentive, intelligent questions ...
And this time I was able to show a clip from the Constantine TV documentary that aired earlier this year/last year. (edited of course!). They saw me dressed and kitted as a Late Roman soldier, then saw the same types of Romans on the march, following the standards, in camp and fighting at the Milvian Bridge. It really made a difference, the clash of armies in that clip is chaotic and violent, gives a good sense of the horror of the soldier's situation. It was great to have them see Late Romans on film instead of the 1st century Romans they are familiar with.
As always I went through tools, the fort, food and rations and ended with volunteer garum tasting - at which point hilarity ensues as a line of volunteers is whittled down just by the smell of the stuff!!
What makes things easy is the use of an interactive whiteboard, where I can put up pictures of all kinds, many I took in Comitatus, others scounged from books. These give a background and a context to the items I show them.
Anyway, been asked to do it again next with the same clips ... looking forward to it!
This is a photo from last years day...
![[Image: MrElliottasaRoman026.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/lord_mithras/MrElliottasaRoman026.jpg)
~ Paul Elliott
The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
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Good to see you in kit again,still guarding the coast.Glad it was a successful day for you. 
Fasta Ambrosius Longus
John
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
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Must be a rewarding experience !
Virilis / Jyrki Halme
PHILODOX
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It really is great to have an audience who hang on your every word and who have gasps of amazement!
And great to tell them about the 'missing half of Roman history' the school books seem to miss out!
Fasta - it was very good to be back in kit again, its more of a solo recreation at the moment. lthough I did watch 'The Last Legion' with my younger son the other day. (Nothing to do with my book, BTW, good RATers!)
"To the last breath"
Paul E
~ Paul Elliott
The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
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Quote: it was very good to be back in kit again, its more of a solo recreation at the moment.
How come? Are you out of re-enactment? Now that you mention it, you seem to be missing from pictures of Comitatus events lately.. 
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I've not really been able to get to shows much in 2008 so I've concentrated on finishing up some Late Roman research and some writing.
While I'm stuck at home I've been dabbling in a little bronze age reconstruction. 
~ Paul Elliott
The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
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Quote:While I'm stuck at home I've been dabbling in a little bronze age reconstruction.
How could you!  hock:
What, if I may ask? You're making me curious!
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The bronze age is very interesting. Due to work I spent some of the summer sourcing and making "bronze age" equipment. A bronze sword or even an axe is a lovely creation, and the qualities of the metal is startling. I'm starting a collection.
Paul, the best school talk is the next one  By Christmas I will have taught close to 3,500 children this term. It is very rewarding. And I really enjoy purchasing all the artefacts/toys we get to play with.
John
John Conyard
York
A member of Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
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That's really cool. I wish that I would have had a chance to see something like that back when I was in school. I would have been absolutely enthralled.
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Quote:I'm starting a collection.
You mean you've finally decided to build an extension to your house? Oh, I'd love to be able to visit the John Conyard museum some time....
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Over the summer we needed to put together large amounts of Bronze Age equipment, but the equipment room can cope. I think it's interesting to consider what reconstruction can bring to the period. Of course people have been reconstructing the finds for some time, especially in bronze. Much of the technology is applicable to other periods. But later technology is not always applicable to the Bronze Age. So the field can be perceived as limited. However I suspect "primative technology" has a great appeal, certainly in America.
There is a small Bronze Age Forum not unlike RAT where Paul has popped up. I found that very helpful, as well as information from Eastern Europe. And of course Cornishmen are closer to tin and copper than most
After giving a school day I often go riding. I'm used to riding as a Roman, although training a new horse has meant making and trying out lots of new tack. But riding when dressed as anything from a Greek to a WWII officer provides a fun challenge. I've put togther a little collection of saddles which live in the wargames room. They defintely do not fit in the equipment room The coldest I've been for a while was when riding as Greek on a freezing cold evening. I put a cloak on. I put my armour on. I tried to work the horse and myself hard just to get warm. The horse felt he'd had enough. And after a while so did I. It was the opposite of fun.
John Conyard
York
A member of Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
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Hi Robert ... I feel I am contaminating the Roman Army Talk forum with this bronze age link, but its what I've been up to for the last 4 or 5 weeks
[url:2d1ti5we]http://www.geocities.com/zozergames/bronzeman1.html[/url]
Of course my love for the Late Roman period is undying
~ Paul Elliott
The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
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Undying? Is that like taking the color back out of wool?
:lol:
(don't kill me)
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
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