K. Qt. Etruscus--
The legion was invited by Joe Balmos to the UPenn Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology for their Founding of Rome event and so we loaded up the chariot and popped down to Philadelphia. Etruscus, Albina, and Gerbulo of the XIIIth met up with our friends from Legion III, XX, and XXIV and checked out Joe's excellent display for all the visitors. The event was held in one of the courtyards and the setting was really beautiful. The weather was perfect and the cherry blossom trees were "snowing" their petals on everything, making the sight utterly idyllic. We were also very pleased to pick up three new scuta from Richard Campbell of Legion XX and these will be painted up and ready to go for the season.
The event ran from 11-4 and the public got to watch gladiator shows in the lower courtyard and check out the military and civilian life displays on the "middle" level. Joe had an enormous collection of excellent helmets and armaments and also took the extra leap to outfit a "Kiddie Cohort" with very nice plastic shields, helmets, and swords. Andy Volpe of Legion III and Gerbulo of our own XIII drilled the kids in the lower courtyard opposite the gladiators and honed their martial spirits into a ferocious killing machine for expanding the empire. At least until lunch time. The lunch, it must be said, was had from the museum cafe and was very good!
All in all, it was very well attended with excellent company, excellent material, excellent interaction with the public, and magnificent weather. They treated us like gold. If it is done again, Legion XIII will be sure to support it. The staff at the museum and Joe Balmos have earned a huge round of thanks.
The legion was invited by Joe Balmos to the UPenn Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology for their Founding of Rome event and so we loaded up the chariot and popped down to Philadelphia. Etruscus, Albina, and Gerbulo of the XIIIth met up with our friends from Legion III, XX, and XXIV and checked out Joe's excellent display for all the visitors. The event was held in one of the courtyards and the setting was really beautiful. The weather was perfect and the cherry blossom trees were "snowing" their petals on everything, making the sight utterly idyllic. We were also very pleased to pick up three new scuta from Richard Campbell of Legion XX and these will be painted up and ready to go for the season.
The event ran from 11-4 and the public got to watch gladiator shows in the lower courtyard and check out the military and civilian life displays on the "middle" level. Joe had an enormous collection of excellent helmets and armaments and also took the extra leap to outfit a "Kiddie Cohort" with very nice plastic shields, helmets, and swords. Andy Volpe of Legion III and Gerbulo of our own XIII drilled the kids in the lower courtyard opposite the gladiators and honed their martial spirits into a ferocious killing machine for expanding the empire. At least until lunch time. The lunch, it must be said, was had from the museum cafe and was very good!
All in all, it was very well attended with excellent company, excellent material, excellent interaction with the public, and magnificent weather. They treated us like gold. If it is done again, Legion XIII will be sure to support it. The staff at the museum and Joe Balmos have earned a huge round of thanks.