FROM ROSTRA TO NAVICHAT
JOT THINKING ALOUD
by Jot Ariston

Learning from S.P.Q.R.

Before AncientWorlds, there was AncientSites. Before AncientSites there was S.P.Q.R., an online game set in a 3D reconstruction of Ancient Rome.

I admit then when starting the creation of the online game, Decimus and I had never created a game before. We did not know anything about the four aspects of online games that are so well established nowadays: exploring, achieving, socializing, and killing. We built the space, and they came! After the launch of S.P.Q.R. on Time Warner's Pathfinder site, we enjoyed more "pageviews" than Time magazine Online at the same site.

In this game, the player could walk around the area of the Forum Romanum by clicking on hyper-linked images to advance forward, left or right. Game state was stored in the URL so that the player could find things and "pick them up," such as the key to the dreaded Tullianum, a prison just off the forum, or the key to the Aerarium, the treasury of the Empire. The game had a simple story line wherein a barbarian spy loose in the city was attempting to find its Achilles Heel and it was up to the player to follow a trail of clues leading her to the plot of the Calamitus.

Space as Content

The mission of S.P.Q.R. was simple: Use the space of the Romanum Forum as a sort of big mnemonic device to teach the players about the civilization of Rome. One primary lesson we felt qualified to teach about the architecture of Rome (Decimus and I are professors of architecture). The spaces were modeled from archaeological reconstructions as accurately as possible. The main drawings we used were found in 3 old tomes: Seure's "Monuments Antique."

We tried to add as much written content to the space as possible by including the journals of 5 characters. These journals were not organized by date at first, but by where in the space the player was at that moment. In a sense, the journals were not only bringing the player into the central mystery of the story and the characters, but also acting as captions to the hyper-linked images, describing what the player was seeing at that point.

People as Content

One comment that we often got from players were "where are all the people?" Sure enough, we had built the city but not allowed for people to see each other in the space. When walking around in the space of S.P.Q.R., one got the distinct impression that the city was completely empty. The cheat that it was early in the morning before anyone was up did not really work, and for the most part players were missing a vital aspect of online games: other people!

Instead, the players formed their own community around the game on a standard bulletin board called "The Rostra" that Time Warner's TWEP division had set up for us. We were amazed by the quality of discussion on that early board (this is in 1995!) and so we set about designing AncientSites to provide these early settlers with Homesites, WhosOnline, Grams, Articles, Trivia, Tours, etc. We also tried to establish some society mechanisms such as memberlevels, professions, site currency, elected positions, and so on.

But it wasn't long before we realized that we had created a means for people to interact, but there was no more space! We had stopped creating new chapters of the game, finding that so much more activity went on in the AncientSites pages than we could ever hope to generate in the empty S.P.Q.R. world.

People in Space

The obvious next step was to bring the people together in the space of the ancient city. But this was technically difficult to do. We looked at a number of technologies available and the time and realized that realtime 3D was just not there yet (it still isn't for most people!) We decided to try superimposing peoples avatars of the rendered images from S.P.Q.R. With a little help from a custom server, we built a prototype environment called NaviChat where one could see people all over the space with their avatars scaled and positioned on each image to show where they were at that moment. In the prototype, one could chat with the other people on the current "node" or one could move to a different node and chat with people one found there. Unfortunately even this technology was too hard for most computers of the time to use and there were some pretty rocky sessions in that first NaviChat world. There were also some great moments. The first time I ever spoke to Julilla was on the alley between the Basilica Julia and the Temple of Castor and Pollux.

Unfortunately, before the NaviChat prototype could get very far along, the company (CyberSites) shifted focus away from this path and towards web-based knowledge systems, dropping the idea of space altogether. When AncientSites was taken out of service, the original game of S.P.Q.R. was also unplugged, lost to the Internet to sink into obscurity much as the ancient city the game was based on.

S.P.Q.R. Lives!

We have been successful in unearthing the ruins of the game S.P.Q.R. and we will be re-launching the first chapter in September during the S.P.Q.R. Lives! festival with contests and prizes. What's more, work on a new version of NaviChat is going well and will eventually bring together people in historically accurate spaces for exploring, socializing, achieving and conflict (well, the combat will be limited to the Colosseum!)

Much has been learned from S.P.Q.R. over the years, and, if we are lucky, this learning will help AncientWorlds continue to become a unique place on the web for lovers of ancient history.

RECENT INNOVATIONS OF THE OLYMPOS
FROM JOT'S DEVELOPMENT DIARY
by Jot Ariston

I developed a new way to get an image into the body of a page. Previously one had to go to one's image gallery, which is still in the "old system", upload the image there, and then copy the special image tag then go back to a post and paste it in. Now one can add an image "inline." Here's how to use the new feature: After posting a message to any board, there is a new link next to the edit link called "Add Image". When that is clicked a dialog first comes up asking to upload an image. Once the image is submitted, it adds the special image tag to the body automatically, making for a fairly seamless work flow.

I am also planning a new application for AW that will be called "Encyclopedias." An Encyclopedia is similar to a Journal in a way, but rather than being primarily organized by post date, it will be organized by entry title. In other words, the main interface to the collection of entries in the Encyclopedia will be an alphabet rather than a calendar. Unlike Journals, Encyclopedias will be editable by several people. For example, an encyclopedia in a group might be set to allow entry submission from all members above a certain group member level.

The official Encyclopedia for the site, to which any member may submit an entry will be called the "Encyclopedia Antica." If an editor approves the submission then the entry will appear in the Encyclopedia and the entry will have a byline crediting the author. Additionally, the author will be paid a fee in site currency. If multiple acceptable entries are submitted for the same keyword, they will be ordered by the editor for that subject area or city. An important feature of Encyclopedias will be the ability for people to make bibliographic references.

The old chat system has finally given out. The system that we have been using for chat was developed quickly to provide a temporary chat service for the site. That temporary service ended up slugging away for us for over a year! Today it became obvious that it was time to retire that hard working system and accelerate the introduction of the new chat system. I am currently hoping to have a basic version the new chat server up by next week.

The retirement of the old chat happens to coincide with the planned development of the "NaviChat" based chat system which was slated to begin this week. I am calling the new system "NaviChat" based on a prototype we did way back in the days of AS. The chat is unique among graphical chats in that one may navigate a space and chat with people that one finds there. NaviChat works with hyper-linked images, in much the same way as one navigates graphical adventure games such as the CD ROM of SPQR or the game MYST. The difference is that one will see the avatars of others superimposed on the perspective images to represent where in the space those other people are.

The main "client" for using NaviChat will be Flash MX (Fash 6) which according to macromedia is already installed on 86% of all internet browsers out there today. I will also make the chat accessible from HTML, but that will will be after the initial testing using Flash. So far I have the chat functionality working, as well as displaying the avatars of the personae standing where you are. Next is to set up the navigation and the display od avatars in the distance. I hope to have a 0.1 version running for testing this weekend.

SCRIBE CHASING FOR ROMAN ARTIFACTS
ROME, THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS
Rome, by Diantha Livius

I believe the title of "The City That Never Sleeps" would fit well in our own Rome! It looks as if we've all been busy here. It is fun to read your posts, ideas and suggestions and watch the city grow in wonderful ways!

Maximius is trying to find out what kind of ancient artifacts people who are members of the site have. He's started a collection of sorts at the "Ancient Roman Artifacts" thread on the Palantine. Stop by and share your precious collections with us all. We'd love to hear about what you have acquired and how you came about owning your own piece of Roman History. While you are visiting the Palantine, be sure to look at the thread on Roman Names. It is still a hot topic. In other news, The Forum Romanum has been quite busy. Rome in Television, Movies and the Arts has seen some recent activity with posts about "The Spartans" on PBS. At the Atheists Virtual Club discussions have been hopping as usual - the things you people say still have my head reeling! LOL If it's books you're looking for, check out New Books on Rome. You will also find a lively discussion on Sulla. On the Roman Trivia Quiz, you can test your knowledge on all things Roman.

Our history groups have had quite a bit of activity lately. I'd like to thank those of you who have posted. I personally, have learned some interesting tidbits. Here is a recap on what's happening with our Roman History Groups: Members of The Academy have found The Roman Legions and The Great Commanders of interest. Stop by and see what they've been writing. You may have something to add! Religio Romana has been more active. If Roman religion and quizzes are your passion, then the Religio Romana Quiz is just right for you! But, if gods and goddesses are your cup of tea, then check out the ever popular thread on Mars, and the new topic on Juno. If you are more into the military aspect of Roman history, then I think you'll enjoy reading about Cults of the Roman Military. Pax Romana has a new thread for The Second Triumvirate. It is for the discussion of the blood-stained career of the Second Triumvirate. On this thread you can explore the steps taken by Gaius Octavius/Octavianus, Marc Antony, and Lepidus in the chaos following Caesar's murder. At Aedes Divi Iulii, you can read or take part in a lively discussion on the Dictatorship, Conspiracy and Death of Julius Caesar. This thread is set from the death of Pompey in 47 BC to Caesar's own assassination in 44 BC. It is dedicated to the discussion of the Dictator and the conspiracy which destroyed him.

The winners of the Ars Romana art contest, QUAERO PULCHRITUDINIS, have been announced. The winners are: 1st place: The Portland Vase, posted by Sulpicia, 2nd place: The Silver Elmet of Xanten, posted by Antoninus and 3rd placeThe Boxer, posted by Casta. You can view all the submitted art at Gallery of Treasures. SCHOLA LINGVAE LATINAE and ETRVRIA have both seen more activity of late. To read more about these two groups, please flip through the paper as they are featured in another section.

More exciting news includes an upcoming festival. Currently, Meditrinalia is still in the planning stage. So, if you have any thoughts, ideas or just general encouragement you'd like to add, please stop by and put in your two cents worth. Another interesting tidbit is that a new group is currently on the drawing board. The group will be for the discussion of the Roman Monarchy and Republic history. Maximius and Heraklia are working on setting everything up and hope to have it started in Sept at the latest. If you have any questions or comments about this new addition, please contact Maximius or Heraklia. They'd love to hear from you!

Having been a very dynamic group in Rome almost from its beginning, the Schola Linguae Latinae (SLL) has been continuously growing ever since. Apparently, there is a need to learn Latin or at least to get some knowledge of the language and so, SLL is the second largest group in AW. Nevertheless, SLL is going through what other groups are going through as well and that is the phaenomenon of the passive members. In the last few months, the praeceptrix and grammatici of the School have been wondering what could be done about this; in fact, an online school can only thrive when its members participate in its actions. In SLL, we have three kinds of participants:

The non-participants or silent ones (i.e. people, members or non-members, who just download the course, as far as it has been brought online, the exercises and some translation texts).

Participants, who just post now and then, either to ask a quick question, or to post a little remark or to say "thank you for having been welcomed as a new member" and then disappear. These people only seldom visit or post in the SLL.

The regular participants, who post and frequently ask or answer questions; these people try to keep some action in the School. These people are only some 10 or 15 personae within the 137 members of the group.

To try to change this a bit (although we realize that an online school is very much different from a school in RL), we already started some time ago with Latin Grammar and Translation Contests with as award the Latin Grammar Contest Award Winning Plaque. Now that many more groups have started issuing contests, the fun of this one seems to have faded a little, but we thought it might be a good thing to re-issue a contest in the form of a Latin Grammar Test To Go, in which you can test yourself on a certain level of the Latin Language. A test like this has been recently made with the html coding help of Bryce Yupanqui, who transferred 7 questions and a multiple choice form of answers, given by Tanaquil Sergius, into a nicely put test, at the end of which you can see how many answers you gave correctly, how many answers were wrong and what should have been the correct answer; finally, everyone who does the test can copy and paste an html code which hands out a nice plaque and a link to the test url to put in your domus/oikos/per/taigh/etcetera.

Next, a couple of new boards has been added to the SLL:

A Quick Translation Board, which is meant for quick translations of sayings and phrases in English (or other languages) into Latin, to be used in stories, roleplay (if one wants to use a Latin phrase or to impress someone with it!)

The Lingua Romana Board, hosted by our newly appointed Magister Linguarum Romanarum, Caius Egus Furtivus, who has great plans with this board, to make it an interaction and discussion medium for people interested in the languages descending from the Latin language.

The LITTERATVRA CLASSICA Board, for advanced Latin learners and Latinists, has recently been boosted up again by one of our members, Bubastis Ramesses. The LC is still there for all advanced learners to post Latin literature texts and commentaries and/or English translations (or eventually in another language)!

Finally, we come to the point of membership levels. Up till recently, membership levels have been the following: praeceptor (level 6); magister exordinatus (level 5); grammaticus (level 5); scriba (level 4); claviger (level 4); auctor voti (level 3); memberum (level 2); member(level 2); lector (level 1). Recently, these levels have been partially changed: the names of the levels have been changed, some new levels have been added and there has been made a rearrangement, according to participation rate, among the "members". The "members" have been rearranged into "discipuli" (students) and "tirones" (beginners): those who participate off and on will be ranked under the "discipuli" and those who appear very seldom or not at all (i.e.as an active member) will be ranked as "tirones". Eventually, of course, a higher participation rate will include an upgrading in rank. The "lector" level (level 1) has been renamed to "aspirantes" (i.e. the ones who try hard). The "grammaticus" level's name has been changed to "grammatici" and "scriba" to "scribae" and a new office has been added, that of "magister linguarum romanarum" (i.e. master of Roman languages). Thus, the new levels are: praeceptor (level 6), magister exordinatus (level 5), magister linguarum romanarum (level 5), grammatici (level 5), scribae (level 4), claviger (level 4), discipuli (level 3), tirones (level 2) and aspirantes (level 1). Some of the grammatici have been demoted as well, since we haven't heard from them for over half a year, neither have they left notice of their not being able to help our members or correct their work. If they get back on their job in the Schola, or if there are other Latinists or classicists, who want to help and teach our learning members, they are most welcome on the job of being a grammaticus/grammatical! It's a rewarding job and real fun!

Arturus Rex has grown in the past two months. Members have been promoted in all different categories. One of our newest RP has been a success and has brought attention to this newly revived group. It is a self-styled fiction that brings adventure, conflict, moral dilemmas, love, betrayal, battle and much more together into a quest of treasures from the sacred Isle of Avalon. It is a Role-Playing adventure based on the 6th-century bard Taliesin's epic poem, Preddiu Annwn, but is not limited to a single object quest. There will be many different treasures to choose from.

The characters are always at a moral dilemma in the story as well. There always seem to be internal battles as well as external ones. While some characters will find dilemmas in dealing with disruptive external sources, others will struggle with utter madness and despair. It was created by our first Knight of the Round Table, Lancealot Lucretius, and our own Evil King, Vortigern Aedui. The story is centered for the moment on the Quest of the Holy Grail entitled "Spoils of Avalon" with beginning characters such as King Arthur (Vortigern Aedui); Lancelot (Lancealot Lurecius) who will be in charge of the expedition to Avalon; the Lady of the Lake (Proserpina Curius); the High Priestess of Avalon (MagesFurri Alexandros); the Acolyte of Avalon (Gillian MacRoth) will play Gillian, a young maiden who is an acolyte of Avalon; Laudine, Lady of the Fountain (Neima Nebet); Gwenddydd, Myrddin's twin sister (Flidais Niafer); Morgana La Fey (Reylari Iceni); Cerridwen (Victoria Aedui).

Another promotion has been earned after dedication and hard work in welcoming members and making them feel at home has been given by the Lady of the Lake and the Evil King to Neima Nebet, our new Agitatrix Belli. She is the female version of Dux Bellorum. She is responsible for nurturing and growing the group. She monitors all boards, she verifies that the content of the posts are within the rules of the community and comes up with ideas to promote the group.

All are invited to visit our boards that are flourishing. Whether it is to discuss literature, fiction, legend & myth, history, archaeology, art & architecture within Druids, Mythical Creatures, Medieval Women, Avalon & Arthurian Legends, a topic is always to be found. An Inn is at your disposal for food, drinks & a place to rest near Avalon. Interesting conversations & tales can be found at the "Dragon Rouge Tavern". In a sacred place when the mist parts, "The Circle" of Priestess will welcome you. Blessed Be!

ETRVRIA, although its members are quite few, is still going strong! Next to the steady input of all there is to know about the masters of Tyrrhenian Land and Sea, Bronze and Iron, Gold Teeth and Diamond Divination, the Cradle of Roman Culture, we have some more to offer as well:

I: a link has been established to the Etruria discussion board on Rome’s Palatine, to get a more overall and lively discussion.

many of you may have seen the posts of the Etruscan Trivia Quiz, Trivia Etrusca, which only recently have come to rest a bit to make way for something else in the Etruscan Games section:

The Etruscan Writing Contest: round 1 will end up on September 1st, 2003 and will deal with the theme: what do you like about Etruscan Culture? Tell a bit about yourself and why you joined this group: what is special about the Etruscans for you? The Prize for the best entry (to be awarded by the Zilathr, i.e. the Leaders) will be a book about Etruscan Culture! Two entries have been done already and we’re waiting for more!!

More ideas for ETRVRIA are being worked out: there are quiz facilities to be thought of, the is a possibility for an Etruscan Scavenger Hunt and how about a real Etruscan festival, with heaps of good food and gallons of wine, since the Etruscans liked to party all year around! WE just have to make sure that the Etruscans are around and not always roaming AW as the RL Etruscans used to roam the seas for good trade and cunning piracy!

AN EPIC AND A GROUP
THE SHORT HISTORY OF EPYLLION
Athens, group Epyllion, by Nikolaos Cleomenes

Athens, our city, has had the opportunity to developed its hall of groups by the creation of the academic group named Sparta, in the early days of May, and finally to reach the fifteenth group in late June, with a group named Epyllion. Thus a second Role Play group is now open in Athens, which unfortunately has had a lack of fiction writing development. Epyllion gives the opportunity for further exploration of your capabilities of cooperation with other authors’ group scenario development and also the competence of a Role Play scenario without rules of advancing progress. Let me now articulate in short what Epyllion is for Athens and the rest of the Ancient Worlds.

Epyllion is a short narrative part(s) in hymns and epics (the song of Demodocus for the love of Ares and Aphrodite in Odyssey 8) and the lyric poetry (Pyth., 4. Pindar, Bakchilides) further was developed in Hellenistic times as one of the major poetic and narrative productions. We can conclude that Epyllion is a small epic or poetic work.

The history of Epyllion began in the early years of the 4th century in Tenos or Telos by a female named Erinna and her “petite” epic named Helakati. The theme was the Erinna’s mourning the death of her best friend Vakida (Bakkida). According to A.P. 9, 190 the work had 300 lines and was composed when Erinna was nineteen years old! Asklibiadis (A.P. 7, 11) stated that nobody could have compete with her if she had not died prematurely.

In addition to a number of texts, which have fragments of her work, a papyrus was discovered with an amount of 50 authentic Helakati’s verses. It is composed in an unusual blend of Doric and Aeolic (Sapphus language) dialect, is by all means the initial work of the later known Hellenistic poetry. From metric specialization and the advance partiality for delicacy demonstrate that Erinna had an immence talent. (M.L. West, “Erinna”, ZPE 25, 1977, 95-119 in addition of the SH 400-406. BLG 463, C. Neri, Studi Sulle Testimonianze si Erinna, Bologna, 1996 pp. 129-138. which introduce that the flourished year of Erinna is in 396).

In Hellenistic to Roman times, Epyllion, as is mentioned previously, happen to became the most significant literary was of expression. The interest for short love stories and novels, and the continuously advanced use of books gave Epyllion the first position of attention. Those works were composed in hexameters, but also, were know as novel elegies (Eratosthenes, Herigone. See also Demeter by Philita).

As we can see Epyllion had a history of create artistic production and thoughtful awareness. I thought that Athens needs that. Needs a sub-community for those who wants to continue the art of epos and lyric poetry. Epyllion offers three Novel Scenarios, which are interactive stories and requires cooperation between the registered Authors. It presents, for now, a Role & Play scenario open to all the enlisted members, which is a way to honor the days of the Persian Wars, days of glory. In the future Epyllion will offer a place to its members for an individual writing. Now we have the opportunity to speak about writing in Athens!

References:
W. Allen, TAPhA 71 (1940) 1-26.
W. Bühler, Die Europa des Moschos (Wiesbaden 1960).
Cameron, Callimachus 437-53. M.M. Crump, The Epyllion from Theocritus to Ovid (Oxford 1931).
B. Effe, RhM 121 (1978) 48-77.
Kathryn J. Gutzwiller, Studies in the Hellenistic Epyllion (Königsiein 1981).
S. Koster, Antike Epostheorien (Wiesbaden 1970).
G. Perotta, Seritti Minori II (Roma 1978)

SCRIBAL AND OTHER MYSTERIES SOLVED
IN EGYPT, THINGS COULDN'T BE MERRIER
Egypt, by AzureEyes Ramesses

The most exciting news to come out of Egypt has got to be the appointment of our newest Scribe, Hapshetsut Nebet. Here's what some members had to say about her appointment.

At last, at last! *singing praises to the Gods* ~AzureEyes Ramesses
Hey, grand to have you aboard, Hapshetsut! ~Onions Hatshepsut
You have been an incredible help to me. The "O" celebrates your new position. ~Oset Ramesses
Could not have happened to anyone more deserving or knowledgeable. I am so VERY pleased. ~Neima Nebet
May your future be as bright and shining as the morning star. You deserve this for all the hard work you do. ~Senenmut Hatshepsut
Hapshetsut is quite helpful and a most pleasant conversationalist. Congratulations. ~Isityuyet Isetnofret
I raise my glass (well maybe a few glasses) in toast to your promotion. ~Toman Thutmose
You have been an invaluable help to me and deserve every accolade. ~Nilaja Amenhotep
You are so deserving of the honor for all you have done to help here in Egypt! ~Mari Leonidas
If anyone deserves to become a scribe, it's you! Incense cones off to you! ~Mesedsure Ahhotep

Can you tell we are Hapi? After the official announcement was made, our new Scribe was whisked off to a night of fun and frolic at Alexandria After Dark's infamous Bar "O", where she was accordingly wined, dined, sushied and slimed... which somehow rhymed. Word has it that everyone made it through the event alive, with only the occasional complaint of flying carpet burns and one singed head of hair. If you haven't already congratulated Hapshetsut, please leave a message at her per.

News of a secret marriage proposal at Seven Wonders has leaked from an unnamed source in Mandraki Harbor. After two years at the Colossus of Rhodes Ironworks, craftsmen are nearly one third of the way through to completion. But are they fazed by the drawn out days and nights spent toiling on this colossal wonder? According to Sempronia Sergius at the Rhodeside Rhodehouse... "I don't care if the statue takes 100 years. This is some way to make a living." Also in Seven Wonders, Edwinus Aelius, Shaquilat Sergius, and the caravaners of Adventures in Antiquity, have at long last reached the Pyramids of Giza.

Hot off the presses... In Ancient Expressions, Ssmwt Hapshetsut Nebet and K3ry Hatheputdatfut Hatshepsut (try to say that three times) have begun work on a new area called Speaking in Tongues. Are they actually planning to ask and answer questions in an ancient Egyptian "Tongues"? And what do feet have to do with it? Stay tuned.

Speaking of feet... a fascination with body bits (begun months ago while a party of Egyptians reassembled Osiris) seems to have followed a Hap-hazard pattern all over Kemet. Sementawy Horemheb was nearly driven to drink over Isityuyet Isetnofret's Ear Stelae. After reading the latest Trivia question, it is this reporter's belief that Hatheputdatfut Hatshepsut has caught body bit fever.

The members of KMT continue to display the true spirit of Unified Egypt. After boarding a resplendent barge, and sailing to The Golden Horus city of Waset for the Opet festival, Ta-meri: Heredet ne Hap notables set a northerly course, mooring "The Pride of Min" at the Old Kingdom capitol city of Memphis. While standing on a palace balcony, Akhmin Nebet takes in a delightful panoramic view of the palace garden. Prince Ahmetbey Ptolemy awakens from a portentous dream, in which he is charged with a most ominous task. Hemet-netjer net Sekhmet Luna Nebet also rouses from a disturbing dream, as she prepares for the day of Sekhmet's Repulsion of Set. And just what is going on at Akhenhotep Horemheb's banquet? Meanwhile, back at Gebtu, there is panic on the docks, as an expected shipment of Athenian lavender turns out to be Midru Ptolemy and two mighty elephants from Philae. Midru Ptolemy continues down the pachyderm path in his Alexandria Library submission, "Egyptian War Elephants". What did the brave diver Zelie Hatshepsut retrieve from a sunken chest at the bottom of a frigid lake in a Forbidden Cave? And there is disorder in the court of Qnbt, as simultaneous murders occur in a packed courtroom. After revealing himself to judge and jury, the Great Pharaoh, Seti I, is brutally killed before the eyes of Egypt. Terror reigns supreme in one of the most edge-of-your-seat "live" scenes ever experienced by this reporter. Should you wish to witness the dastardly double deed, you might want to begin here.

At Women of the Two Lands' Kaffa Mythology Cafe, Mysti Ramesses, Zoser Sithathor, Autumn Marcius, Habeebee, and Clyde the Camel continue to serve the most potent kaffa this side of the Hap (reputably so powerful that the kaffa mugs require collar and leash), amidst conversations mythological and discussions centered on the lives of ancient Egyptian women, from Cleopatra to serial polygamy.

And Eternal Gods, Eternal Lives, has finally begun to emerge from the Primordial Abyss, having solved the mystery of the missing Waebs, guided by the light of Cornellia, resident Roman goddess of good manners and polite behavior, and the omnipotent and omnipresent AmenJot. Group Goddess Hathor got to the bottom of another abysmal enigma, by discovering that members who resign and rejoin the group overcome the itchy glitch! And as the code Snefrus of Set departed from sight, one group Goddess has this to say of the occasion... "The Slaughters... are performed in Hensu. My belly and back are the belly and back of Sekhmet. My buttocks are the buttocks of the Eye of Horus." What is the organic content of the mysterious sphere that group God Khepera rolls all over the place? What ancient Egyptian words of wisdom did group God Tehuti utter to force his tainted tinted links to do the Tarantella? According to him, reading is fundamental. And what's Min got that other gods aint got, besides somehow ending up with Oset's box of cigars? Could his secret be hidden somewhere in the Council of Nine? Tune in again next ACTA!

FLASH FROM BABYLON
THE POOR REPORTER STILL LOOKING FOR THE CUP
Babylon, by Leah Enkidu

Flash! I traveled to Celtia for their Lughnasadh Celebration, for those that weren't there you missed some great races and Parties!!
MAX was there to torment me as usual. I won't go into the gory details, he attacked me again with no provocation on my part and he broke my nail! I would tell more, but I am sure he would edit it out. Yng was naked more times then I can count! Cathbran and Katlyne steamed up the whole of Celtia. Keep your eye on those two!

Because everyone was getting free drinks and food in Celtia, Babylon was pretty quiet, which gave me time to write in my journal. I decided to steal from Cornellia Cornelius Journal of RP Etiquette. If you are going to drink in Babylon, please read Rules of etiquette at the Kashbowl. Speaking of Journals, did you look at Jojo's Journal Far East"City"? Check it out and voice your opinion.

I will leave you with this: They say a picture is worth a thousand words (I have no idea who says that) so this is for you JOT!

SEE HOW THE BLACK SEA FLOODS
NEW GRAPHICS ADD TO THE EFFECT
Babylon, group Flooding of the Black Sea, by Apiladey ApilSin

In about 10,000 BC, there was a short return to an Ice Age called the Younger Dryas Period. During a typical Ice Age, water in its liquid form becomes much more rare because it is tied up in glaciers and the polar ice caps. During these times, people and any other animals which require water to drink retreat to higher altitudes in order to find it. Some have postulated that the first farming was an attempt to relocate edible plants to the newly established homes in these higher altitudes where the water they needed was more plentiful. People also flocked to whatever oases they could find, including the Black Sea lake. This lake was being filled by water melted from the glaciers to the north, and in these dry times, its coastline was heavily populated. The climate soon warmed up and there was some resettlement into areas further from the Black Sea lake, but another mini-Ice Age started again in 6200 till 5800, concentrating the people even more around the lake.

As explained in Noah's Flood by Ryan and Pitman, the Mediterranean had been gradually rising from the glacier melt during the warm period after the Younger Dryas Period and after the mini-Ice-Age which followed shortly after it. Who among the peaceful farmers and tradespeople below could have predicted the violent times which would follow the little trickle of water over the top of the Bosporus. Of course, the soil eroded where-ever the water decided to flow, and eventually a huge cascade was formed, said to have had 200 times the force of Niagara Falls. The date that the molluscs native to the body of water changed from freshwater to saltwater was 5600 BC, setting that as the date of the flood. The water flowed at such a rate that the already huge lake filled by six inches per day at the peak flow. This would have inundated soils a mile from the previous day's shoreline in the northwest part of the lake, where there was less slope to the land. By the end of the flood, a few years after it started, the water level was 500 feet higher and had flooded as much as 1,000 miles from the original shoreline.

Within the first few weeks, fish would have begun dying in the lake. This would have added to the problem that there would have been little time to harvest any crops. Not only that, but the lands these heavy populations would have tried to migrate through would have had much scarcer population densities making their food supplies totally inadequate for providing enough to share. The starvation must have been horrendous and, I'm sure, caused a great deal of theft and even wars throughout the migrations. The peoples involved may have included the Pre-dynastic Egyptians, the Ubaids (who became the Sumerians), the Proto-Indo-Europeans, the LinearBandKeramik (who migrated clear across to the Paris Basin), the Semites, the Hamangians, the Vinca, the Danilo-Hvar (who became a sea-people till they reached half way up the Adriatic), and the little known Kartvelians. Some of these peoples would never again settle near a large body of water.

The group is now ready to start roleplaying and more info is located at The Flooding of the Black Sea group. The graphics may take some time to load, but there's plenty to read at the top to keep you entertained, and are darn-well worth it.

CELTS GO NUTS WITH LUGHNASADH
THE FESTIVAL DECLARED A SUCCESS
Celtia, by CathBran Niall

From near the end of July until August 3rd Celtia celebrated “Lughnasadh,” the last holiday of the Celtic year. (Also see Vortigern Aedui's article in H & A section.) It is a feast of the first harvest of summer honoring the Sun God Lugh & his mother. The holiday actually started whit Crom Dub on the Friday the week before Lughnasadh. Quite a few of our citizens participated in the pilgrimage to the top of the mountain & Mac Morna Niafer along with Vortigen Aedui reenacted a mock battle between Crom Dub, & Lugh.

On August 1st thru the 3rd we held the Festival of Lughnasadh proper. There were contests of skill & strength as well as a Bardic contest & a berry-picking event for nature lovers. The event had a good attendance considering it was held on a fine summer’s weekend. All went with out a hitch until Sunday. There we had a bit of a problem with the com panel being down through the last event. Since people showed up it went ahead pretty much on schedule how ever the closing ceremony was postponed until the panel was back in service later that evening. For those wishing to view the events & the winners they can be found on The Feis of Celtia board of the city.

Celtia also added two new threads at The Celtia Board. The first is a tavern called The Stag & the Hound operated by Aillinn MacRoth & the other a clan-meeting place put up by Oengus Niall.

GERMANICS GO WORLD-WIDE
NEW ACADEMIC GROUPS ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Germania, by Yngvildr Scylding

Summer in Germania, still - and a summer of historic dimensions! Unfortunately the oppressing heat has the effect of slowing down your German Germania scribe big time, so it is only good that my colleague Thiudareiks Gunthigg did an excellent job whilst I can do nothing but hope for cooler weather. Not only did he completely renovate his Stathigg which can now without overstatement be called a role model for a scribal homesite, but he also made excellent use of one of AW's newest featurse, the Journals. He created the World Wide Germanic Web and regularly posts links to and information on websites that are of particular interest to Germania and its members.

Other Germanics have started journals too, like Amleth Yngling, who in his journal Vita Hamletus writes - in his own words "a bit of fun, historical-fantasy-fiction dealing with the life of a legendary figure called Amleth (Shakespeare's Hamlet) living out his autumn years in Arthurian Britain." Or Silke Siling who has her focus on German Castles - well worth reading.

Most significant with regard to the current ongoings in Germania though is the creation of a fascinating new academic group. Its leader, Ahtaswintha Chattian, has been so kind as to furnish a summary for the Acta:

"Theudokuntho ("Knowledge of the Tribe") is Germania's newest academic group which covers all aspects of the history of the early Germanic tribes and peoples, from 100 BC to 300 AD. During this period the Germanic peoples were first mentioned in recorded history (Caesar, BG) and clashed with the Roman Empire. It's the age of Drusus and Tiberius conquering the Germania Magna, the rebellion of Arminius and the following Roman attempts to re-conquer the lands between Rhine and Elbe, until Drusus’ son Germanicus was recalled to Rome, and later the revolt of the Batavian and Chattian uprising under Iulius Civilis and the Marcomannic Wars, lead by Marcus Aurelius.

Of course it’s not all about war. Tacitus is telling us about religion and culture, archaeology provides us with an enormous amount of testimonies, bits and pieces from which we will be trying to reconstruct society, culture, religion and economy as well as the relationships between the different tribes, between Germanics and Celts and Romans.

The group is lead by Ahtaswintha Chattian, who graduated in classics and now is a writer of historic fiction, supported by Thiudareiks Gunthigg, the illustrious scribe of Germania with high expertise in this subject."

FROM MYSTICAL TOWNS TO LLAMA FARMS
TOURS AND WORKSHOPS IN THE ANCIENT AMERICA
Machu Picchu, by ChanChan Tupac

The following tours have been started in Machu Picchu! Tours are all-inclusive, and optionals should be booked in advance. The pyramid tour takes you to visit famous pyamids build by our Mayan and Zapotec inhabitants and the wonders of our ancestors at Teotihuacan.

Plenty of flowers bloom at Tulum
Yax Kuk's ball is displayed here in Tikal
Remove your backpack as we climb to Bonampak
Abracadabra: watch the shadow of Kulkulkan in Chichen Itza
Midgets mêlée: take DEET with you to the mystical town of Palenque
In the region of the Zapotec clan we' ll see some dances at Monte Alban
Did you know that it all began underneath the Sun Temple in Teotihuacan

The Aztec Chinampas tour will let you see the Little Venice of Ancient America. Tenochtitlan, the capital is build on small islands, so we'll go by boat. After half an hour we will arrive at the largest market of our city where you will find exotic spices, the best fish of the continent, colourful rugs and textiles, the most precious jewellery, nicely decorated pottery, obsidian artifacts. Make sure to bring your bag of beans (this is what you need to pay in for most of the goods that are sold here). This tour includes a lunch at the Inn of the Blue Macaw. After lunch we will visit the ceremonial square with the great double Temple of Huitzilopochtli (our wargod) and Tlaloc (our raingod). Then we will attend a performance in the house of instruments. We dine outside the city, in a little village where they serve an exquisite goose a la cacti (the fruits, not the prickly needles). We return to the Inn of the Blue Macaw for a nightcap and some well-deserved rest. Optional for this tour are: May-pole bungee-jumping, Visit Teotihuacan - the place where gods are born, Learn your first words of Nahuatl, and Maquey workshop (what can you do with a magey).

The Inca trail proceeds along the new road that leads to Machu Picchu.

Four day journey to Machu Picchu,
climb the mountains, see the amazing
structures of the Llactapata, feel like dying
on the dead womans pass (Huarmihuañusca)
hear the echoes in the very dark Inca tunnel
drink chicha with the couriers at Runkurakay
Refresh yourself at the wells of Puyapatamarca
visit one of the terraces of the beautifull Huiñay Huayna
than hope for a clear sky at the Intipunka and if you get lucky
you will see the wonderful city of Machu Picchu lying beneath you
The city has its own guides and we will spend the rest of the day here
We then retreat to the beautiful palace of the princess for a banquet and bed

Optional to this tour are: Visit a llamafarm, Learn your first words of Quechua, and Visit a Inca Sjaman.

The Lake Titikaka tour, which has to be reserved, is based on building a reed boat and sailing across the largest lake on earth. Optional items include: Chew and brew (chicha making for beginners), and Visit Tihuanacu - the ancient city. The Iquitos Amazon tour, also with reservation, gives you the chance to experience the exitement of a jungle-tour.

In addition, workshops can also be booked individually. These include: Build a Tortora (reed) boat, Visit a sjamaan, Learn how to make tortillas, Fly like a bird (bungeejump from a maypole), Make a rich Xocolatl, What can you do with a maguey (the most versatile plant), Birdwatching, How to take care of your llama, Chew and brew (make your own chicha), How do we count the months, Visit the temple of... (several temples will be open to the public), as well as Visit Tihuanacu.

Contents of these tours and workshops can be subject to change, depending on the climate.

FROM ROSTRA TO NAVICHAT
AW, by Jot Ariston

RECENT INNOVATIONS OF THE OLYMPOS
AW, by Jot Ariston

SCRIBE CHASING FOR ROMAN ARTIFACTS
Rome, by Diantha Livius

LANGUAGE ANCIENT, TECHNOLOGY MODERN
Rome, Group Schola Linguae Latina, by Tanaquil Sergius

THE ROUND TABLE OF ROME
Rome, Group ArturusRex, by Proserpina Curius

HUNTING THE NEIGHBORING TRIBE
Rome, Group Etruria, by Tanaquil Sergius

AN EPIC AND A GROUP
Athens, Group Epyllion, by Nikolaos Cleomenes

SCRIBAL AND OTHER MYSTERIES SOLVED
Egypt, by AzureEyes Ramesses

FLASH FROM BABYLON
Babylon, by Leah Enkidu

SEE HOW THE BLACK SEE FLOODS
Babylon, Group Flooding of the Black Sea, by Apiladey ApilSin

CELTS GO NUTS WITH LUGHNASADH
Celtia, by CathBran Niall

GERMANICS GO WORLD-WIDE
Germania, by Yngvildr Scylding

FROM MYSTICAL TOWNS TO LLAMAFARMS
Machu Picchu, by ChanChan Tupac

A New travel agency that specializes in tours on the Ixachilan Continents is looking for: Tour leaders and guides, perferably with travel or reading experience. We can use guides that are interested in the following areas: Iquitos/Amazon, Lake Titikaka, the Inca road to Machu Picchu, and the cities of Bonampak and Tikal. Also needed are: Archeologists to guide tourists in the sites of Teotihuacen and Tiwanaku. Send your application letter with a short description of what makes you the perfect guide to: Machu Picchu Tours.

Visit Sparta, the most recent academic group, named after its bestowed city, of Sparta, which is devoted to her spiritually, academically by researching of the known, but still unfamiliar, region of Laconia and Messina and especially to the city-state, Sparta’s, culture and way of life!