[MR] Coronation through Roman eyes (first of 3)

[GREG FABIC]

Excerpts from the Collected Epistiles of Pliny the
Youngest

Volume V - The Expedition to Atlantis

Chapters VII - With respect to the finding, governance
and traditions of Atlantia

Due to a fortunate accident of nomenclature our
Atlantis Expeditionary Fleet was directed to a distant
land called Atlantia.  To reach this land one must
sail forth from our Middle Sea and venture into
Oceanus.  Within Oceanus there exists a warm river
current even greater than the Nilus that shall bring
any vessel cast adrift upon it unto the shores of
Atlantia.  The crew who attempts this should be well
provisioned and stout of heart as the journey is very
long.

While the lands of Atlantia are congenial and provide
great wealth, it is the people who are most
remarkable.  They choose among the best parts of the
populace those who excel in Learning, Service and
Prowess.  These worthies form a Curia whom advises
their Kings and Queens.  For governance they find
leadership by holding combat between pairs of fighters
until one is counted supreme.  Upon completion of this
combat the King announces the winner as his successor
and thereby crowns a new Prince.  A Princess is also
crowned that day as the combatants only fight if they
each have a worthy consort to fight for. In this way
the Kings and Queens of these lands choose their
successors.

  The author was fortunate to witness such an event
and now travels to the Coronation of one such
remarkable fighter.  Incredibly he is a Roman by the
name of Lucius Aurelius Valharic who came to be in
these lands by virtue of the beauty, nobility and
renown of Arielle the Golden whom he has vowed to make
his Queen.

Respectful of the majesty of their land the Coronation
is held by tradition in rustic environs.  Cabins are
in place for those few who are early to ask but such
is the size of this conclave that many bring tents for
shelter.  In honor of the new King and Queen the
nobles of this land hold games so as to inspire
renewed vigor within the Kingdom.  These games are as
diverse in breadth and scope as the skills of the
people who participate.  The three sections of the
Curia hold games that honor the skills they champion.
The author can but list the many competitions that
shall be.  
First those who prize learning:

I - The people of Atlantia vie to outdo one another in
adornment and dress for the glory of their court.  In
deference to this a competition shall be held with
regard to the best clothing and adornments displayed. 
This clothing is to be in the conservative Western
Roman or modern Eastern Roman traditions. 

II - The cooks of the realm shall strive to make the
best dishes.  These are also to be in the conservative
Western Roman or modern Eastern Roman traditions.

III - To drive away ill luck and spirits objects
displaying the Medusa or Gorgon shall be judged in
competition also.

IV - A competition of verses honoring current or
former Kings and Queens shall be held so as to inspire
future claimants.

V – While the author does not understand this
competition it shall be described best as it can.  An
ongoing competition called the Tempore Atlantia shall
strive to make faithful reproduction of items or
skills dating from the first two hundred and fifty
years after the “Dark Ages”.  The nature of these
“Dark Ages” is a profound mystery as one is told it
comes with the fall of eternal Rome.  One can only
assume that the people of Atlantia are much given to
fancy.  
Never the less they shall pit their skills in the
making of hand made cloth, any items used in archery,
best display of objects and best concise research on
such objects.  Lastly one of the entrants shall be
judged best and greatest of all.

Those who prize Service shall also vie to outdo each
other by participating in an extraordinary labor, one
that shall ultimately be given away with no reward to
the laborers other than the thanks and admiration of
the Kingdom. The scribes of the Kingdom shall strive
to best each other with regard to artistry, accuracy
and profligacy. 

Those who vie for Prowess shall also compete in games
that test skill in battle for the Atlantians are a
martial people well suited and accustomed to war.
These competitions shall be held singly and in large
groups of: heavily armoured combat, lightly armoured
combat and archery.  Even the children of this realm
shall compete in their own fighting games for such is
the martial nature of these people.  

Supplicants who wish to know more are wise to ask of
Mercury    http://coronation.atlantia.sca.org/    the
methods of the gods are a mystery to mortals.