Natale di Roma 21 Aprile, 2012 (Celebrations for the Anniversary of Rome's Founding)
Apr 9, 2012, 6:02 pm
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Natale di Roma 21 Aprile, 2012 (Celebrations for the Anniversary of Rome's Founding)
I've been posting about upcoming April/May events - so I can't very well leave out the celebrations in honor of Rome's founding on April 21, 753 B.C.
From the Gruppo Storico Romano website here are the scheduled events (to be confirmed) for Rome's foundation anniversary 2012:
And in case there are others out there also intriqued with all things Roman I'll add this: on the topic of Rome's founding, the noted archeologist Andrea Carandini has a new book out, Rome: Day One, where he argues that Romulus and Remus and Rome's founding are more than just myth. From the Amazon.com description:
I haven't picked this book up yet but saw it mentioned in a New Yorker article critiquing several new books on Rome. This one and one that alleges that Caligula wasn't deranged but rather politically shrewd caught my attention:
The Empire Strikes Back: Rome and us (the link only shows an excerpt of the article unless you have a subscription).
From the Gruppo Storico Romano website here are the scheduled events (to be confirmed) for Rome's foundation anniversary 2012:
Friday April 20, 2012
At 4:30pm - Cultural conference at Sala della Protomoteca in Campidoglio
Saturday April 21, 2012
At 9:30am - Lighting of the sacred fire in Piazza del Campidoglio
At 3:30pm - Commemoration of the foundation of Roma at Circo Massimo
At 4:30pm - Musical concert at Circo Massimo
At 6:30pm - Reenactment of the ceremony of Palilia at Circo Massimo
Sunday April 22, 2012
At 11:30am - Great historical parade from Circo Massimo (route: Circo Massimo, Via del Teatro di Marcello, Piazza Venezia, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Colosseo, Circo Massimo)
From 3:00 to 6:00pm - Exhibition of historical reenactment at Circo Massimo
At 4:30pm - Cultural conference at Sala della Protomoteca in Campidoglio
Saturday April 21, 2012
At 9:30am - Lighting of the sacred fire in Piazza del Campidoglio
At 3:30pm - Commemoration of the foundation of Roma at Circo Massimo
At 4:30pm - Musical concert at Circo Massimo
At 6:30pm - Reenactment of the ceremony of Palilia at Circo Massimo
Sunday April 22, 2012
At 11:30am - Great historical parade from Circo Massimo (route: Circo Massimo, Via del Teatro di Marcello, Piazza Venezia, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Colosseo, Circo Massimo)
From 3:00 to 6:00pm - Exhibition of historical reenactment at Circo Massimo
"Historians tell us that there is no more reason to believe that Rome was actually established by Romulus than there is to believe that he was suckled by a she-wolf. But Carandini, drawing on his own excavations as well as historical and literary sources, argues that the core of Rome's founding myth is not purely mythical. In this illustrated account, he makes the case that a king whose name might have been Romulus founded Rome one April 21st in the mid-eighth century BC, most likely in a ceremony in which a white bull and cow pulled a plow to trace the position of a wall marking the blessed soil of the new city. This ceremony establishing the Palatine Wall, which Carandini discovered, inaugurated the political life of a city that, through its later empire, would influence much of the world".
The Empire Strikes Back: Rome and us (the link only shows an excerpt of the article unless you have a subscription).
Apr 15, 2012, 4:10 pm
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ROMA CAPUT MUNDI: The Eternal Musical
In case anyone's interested in checking this out, "Roma Caput Mundi: The Eternal Musical" will give 3 special performances in honor of Natale di Roma at the Auditorium Conciliazione:
Excerpt from the website:
"From the legend of Lupa by Romulus and Remus, from Julius Caesar to Spartacus, from the Christian era to the end of the Roman Empire, all the great history of Rome told in music. A sequence of exciting and engaging through songs, and choreography, especially the three-dimensional video images, leading the viewer to immerse himself in that distant era. SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH."
And here's the link for the musical's dedicated website with a VERY long video showing scenes from the show:
http://www.romacaputmundi.biz/
To purchase tickets on the Auditorium Conciliazione's website click here.
Also, there's a "Flash mob" scheduled for Wednesday, April 18th at 3:00pm at Castel Sant'Angelo with the entire cast.
Friday, April 20 at 9:00pm
Saturday, April 21 at 9:00pm
Sunday, April 22 at 11:00am
The theater is located at 4 Via della Conciliazione (between Castel Sant'Angelo and the Vatican)Saturday, April 21 at 9:00pm
Sunday, April 22 at 11:00am
Excerpt from the website:
"From the legend of Lupa by Romulus and Remus, from Julius Caesar to Spartacus, from the Christian era to the end of the Roman Empire, all the great history of Rome told in music. A sequence of exciting and engaging through songs, and choreography, especially the three-dimensional video images, leading the viewer to immerse himself in that distant era. SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH."
And here's the link for the musical's dedicated website with a VERY long video showing scenes from the show:
http://www.romacaputmundi.biz/
To purchase tickets on the Auditorium Conciliazione's website click here.
Also, there's a "Flash mob" scheduled for Wednesday, April 18th at 3:00pm at Castel Sant'Angelo with the entire cast.
Apr 19, 2012, 3:11 am
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In addition to what's posted above, a long list of events have now been scheduled for April 20, 21 and 22.
From the Musei in Comune website:
2.765° Natale di Roma
An event that stood out to me on the list was the multimedia show slated for the Trajan's Markets on April 21, from 11:00pm to 12:00am:
A show of lights and colours projected onto Trajan's Market
The Italian page has more info however (click on visualizza testo):
Spettacolo di proiezioni di luci e colori ai Mercati di Traiano
From the Musei in Comune website:
The celebrations on 21 April are always an opportunity to celebrate the legendary Birthday of Rome but also a moment to reflect on the meaning and values of national and civil identity.
See the 060608 website for the full list of events:2.765° Natale di Roma
An event that stood out to me on the list was the multimedia show slated for the Trajan's Markets on April 21, from 11:00pm to 12:00am:
A show of lights and colours projected onto Trajan's Market
The Italian page has more info however (click on visualizza testo):
Spettacolo di proiezioni di luci e colori ai Mercati di Traiano
Last edited by sk3; Apr 19, 2012 at 3:36 am
Apr 20, 2012, 3:28 am
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"Buzz in Rome" has an easier to view listing of the scheduled events and concerts (compared to the 060608 site):
Rome Turns 2765 on April 21, Here’s How We Celebrate the Eternal City’s Birthday!
Rome Turns 2765 on April 21, Here’s How We Celebrate the Eternal City’s Birthday!
Apr 21, 2012, 2:27 pm
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Assuming others share my interest in this (based on the number of views this thread has received), I thought you might like to see some pictures tweeted today:
Tweeted by @SaveRome ( http://twitter.com/#!/SaveRome ):
“Getting ready to rumble #circusmaximus” (have to admit, this pix is my favorite
)
Tweeted by @AIRomanCulture ( http://twitter.com/#!/AIRomanCulture ):
Getting ready for the festa! #birthday #Rome
Tweeted by @ARoadRetraveled ( http://twitter.com/#!/ARoadRetraveled ):
Romans at Circus Maximus #Rome #Birthday
Roman ladies dancing (Ancient Rome reenactment, circus Maximus) #Rome #Birthday
Setting the stage. #HappyBirthdayRome
Light show (or something interesting) gonna start soon up against Trajan's Market. I think Ennio Morricone on stage
Tweeted by @SaveRome ( http://twitter.com/#!/SaveRome ):
“Getting ready to rumble #circusmaximus” (have to admit, this pix is my favorite
)Tweeted by @AIRomanCulture ( http://twitter.com/#!/AIRomanCulture ):
Getting ready for the festa! #birthday #Rome
Tweeted by @ARoadRetraveled ( http://twitter.com/#!/ARoadRetraveled ):
Romans at Circus Maximus #Rome #Birthday
Roman ladies dancing (Ancient Rome reenactment, circus Maximus) #Rome #Birthday
Setting the stage. #HappyBirthdayRome
Light show (or something interesting) gonna start soon up against Trajan's Market. I think Ennio Morricone on stage
Apr 21, 2012, 7:22 pm
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Il Messaggero reports that 10,000 people turned out
From Il Messaggero a few more pictures of today's reenactment at Circo Massimo:
Rievocazione storica del Natale di Roma
And a brief video:
Celebrazioni per il Natale di Roma
And the accompanying article (in Italian):
Natale di Roma, Alemanno: «Festa sobria, usciremo dalla crisi»
And google's awkward but serviceable translation:
http://translate.google.com/translat...ez%3DHOME_ROMA
And here's an amateur's video of the Ennio Morricone concert held on the Via dei Fori Imperiali earlier tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOidKCs-y5s
Rievocazione storica del Natale di Roma
And a brief video:
Celebrazioni per il Natale di Roma
And the accompanying article (in Italian):
Natale di Roma, Alemanno: «Festa sobria, usciremo dalla crisi»
And google's awkward but serviceable translation:
http://translate.google.com/translat...ez%3DHOME_ROMA
And here's an amateur's video of the Ennio Morricone concert held on the Via dei Fori Imperiali earlier tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOidKCs-y5s
Apr 21, 2012, 7:47 pm
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And from Roma Capitale more of a description of what took place today, and what's scheduled for Sunday:
Natale di Roma, la città festeggia oggi il suo 2.765° compleanno
And google's translation:
http://translate.google.com/translat...%3Ajp_pagecode
(I keep looking for pix and videos of tonight's light show on top of Trajan's Markets.... but figured I might as well post the stuff I've come across).
Natale di Roma, la città festeggia oggi il suo 2.765° compleanno
And google's translation:
http://translate.google.com/translat...%3Ajp_pagecode
(I keep looking for pix and videos of tonight's light show on top of Trajan's Markets.... but figured I might as well post the stuff I've come across).
Apr 21, 2012, 8:12 pm
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Found a couple of great shots of Mercati di Traiano! 
Tweeted by @gmcguireinrome ( http://twitter.com/#!/gmcguireinrome )
“Marcello. come here! #ladolcevita”
“natale di roma 2765”
Tweeted by @gmcguireinrome ( http://twitter.com/#!/gmcguireinrome )
“Marcello. come here! #ladolcevita”
“natale di roma 2765”
Apr 21, 2012, 8:36 pm
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The Pantheon on April 21, 2012
Another interesting note about Rome's birthday is that only on a few times each year will the light from the Pantheon's oculus come through in such a way as to light its front door - and April 21, 2012 is one of those days.
So a group of people gathered there today (associated with the Friends of The American Academy In Rome) to witness the event. It all seems very Raiders of the Lost Ark to me.
Here are a few tweeted pix from inside the Pantheon on Saturday, April 21, 2012:
From @saverome ( http://twitter.com/#!/SaveRome )
“Happy birthday old girl #rome”
From @eminchilli ( http://twitter.com/#!/eminchilli )
Waiting for the magic at the Pantheon
From @gmcguireinrome ( http://twitter.com/#!/gmcguireinrome )
“chasing the sun #rome”
“symmetry #rome”
And a great time-lapsed compilation “Roma Dies Natalis MMDCCLXV”
So a group of people gathered there today (associated with the Friends of The American Academy In Rome) to witness the event. It all seems very Raiders of the Lost Ark to me.
Here are a few tweeted pix from inside the Pantheon on Saturday, April 21, 2012:
From @saverome ( http://twitter.com/#!/SaveRome )
“Happy birthday old girl #rome”
From @eminchilli ( http://twitter.com/#!/eminchilli )
Waiting for the magic at the Pantheon
From @gmcguireinrome ( http://twitter.com/#!/gmcguireinrome )
“chasing the sun #rome”
“symmetry #rome”
And a great time-lapsed compilation “Roma Dies Natalis MMDCCLXV”
Apr 22, 2012, 12:30 am
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Saw this article tweeted regarding the Pantheon and April 21 -
From History.com, published August 2011:
Is Rome’s Pantheon a Giant Sundial?
From History.com, published August 2011:
Is Rome’s Pantheon a Giant Sundial?
Apr 22, 2012, 1:23 pm
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Alot of pictures tweeted from today's (April 22) Gruppo Storico parade:
From @ARoadRetraveled ( http://twitter.com/#!/ARoadRetraveled )
Roman legionary #HappyBirthdayRome
Grupo Storico Romano: they rock!! #HappyBirthdayRome
I'd join the parade for the digs!! #HappyBirthdayRome #parade #Rome
The legions in Ancient Rome marched in worst of weather: they can march in a bit of rain today. #KeepItReal #Rome
no rain on Rome's parade
Etruscans!!!! Fitting they'd attend Rome's Bday parade #HappyBirthdayRome
Remus & Romulus sighting #HappyBirthdayRome
2 female Gladiators fighting to the death....or at least they really fought better than the men!!!! #GrupoStoricoRomano
Dancing girls! #HappyBirthdayRome #circusmaximus
Awesome group fighting!!! Great performance in Circus Maximus! #HappyBirthdayRome #video
From @AIRomanCulture ( http://twitter.com/#!/AIRomanCulture )
The ladies have arrived #rome #birthday
From @SaveRome ( http://twitter.com/#!/SaveRome )
Still lots of ancient Romans in circus max
“Getting ready for the main event”
“Circus Maximus alive #rome”
From @moscerina ( http://twitter.com/#!/Moscerina )
“Watching the local legion #rome #birthday”
From @ARoadRetraveled ( http://twitter.com/#!/ARoadRetraveled )
Roman legionary #HappyBirthdayRome
Grupo Storico Romano: they rock!! #HappyBirthdayRome
I'd join the parade for the digs!! #HappyBirthdayRome #parade #Rome
The legions in Ancient Rome marched in worst of weather: they can march in a bit of rain today. #KeepItReal #Rome
no rain on Rome's parade
Etruscans!!!! Fitting they'd attend Rome's Bday parade
#HappyBirthdayRome Remus & Romulus sighting
#HappyBirthdayRome2 female Gladiators fighting to the death....or at least they really fought better than the men!!!! #GrupoStoricoRomano
Dancing girls! #HappyBirthdayRome #circusmaximus
Awesome group fighting!!! Great performance in Circus Maximus! #HappyBirthdayRome #video
From @AIRomanCulture ( http://twitter.com/#!/AIRomanCulture )
The ladies have arrived #rome #birthday
From @SaveRome ( http://twitter.com/#!/SaveRome )
Still lots of ancient Romans in circus max
“Getting ready for the main event”
“Circus Maximus alive #rome”
From @moscerina ( http://twitter.com/#!/Moscerina )
“Watching the local legion #rome #birthday”