Roman Temples

[Numerius Antonius Paullus]

Salve!

A subject that I have found constantly interesting is the subject of Roman Temples and sacred space. I know that the books that are being suggested by the leaders of our spiritual leaders have some information, I would like to open a dialogue within our community about Temples and sacred spaces. I can't help but find the architecture fascinating as well. Let us discuss this item as a people!

Vale!

N. Antonius Paullus

[Lucius Metilius Niger]

very interesting subject !

[Gaius Florius Lupus]

Salvete amici!

As you might know Roma Aeterna is planning to build a modern temple, an idea I like very much.
Unfortunately it appears that the temple will be built in the US, which means most likely that only the local commnity will benefit from it. Perhaps we should aim for a similar project, but ours should be in Rome or another historical site (e.g. Pompeii).
I think our Republic has the better chances to succeed, if we are really committed. However we have to expand our base in Italy and our cooperation with the CPR.
But at least we could start the project within our Republic. What do you think about it? Or would you prefer simply to support Roma Aeterna's effort?

Valete!
C. Florius Lupus

[Publius Iunius Brutus]

Brutus sal.

A temple is in our intermediate future.

Step one is aquiring funds, and a strong-growing CDR first and foremost.

Here at the RR we are rapidly establishing funds at a increasing rate. The CDR is also growing and publications are being written at the moment that shall assist in growing a strong and identifiable Roman tradition.

I also think private temples are noteworthy. I hope to build a temple with my own funds in the next few years. I have privately provided financial support to the temple now built in Sarmatia and hope to translate their good work to other locations. This is the type of collaboration we should seek.

It is not a matter of will the RR and its citizens build temples. It is a matter of when.

[Gaius Florius Lupus]

We do not need to worry about the financing of the project at the moment. This will be the last step. Probably it will be financed privately anyway, if it can be combined with a commercial operation with attached hotel, restaurant, travel agency, gift shop etc. It would be an investment rather than a donation, if properly done.

Our very first step has to be establishing a presence in Rome and Italy. This is only possible through the CPR. We need more people from them to join our Republic. Then, when we have enough people on the ground there, we can decide on the exact location and the piece of land that needs to be bought.

The temple in Samatia is nice for the local community. The RA temple may be helpful for the Romans in California. But we are a global community. We have to build a Roman temple for people from all over the world to visit. We have no other choice but building it in Rome.
Because the visitors who will come, will want to see more than just this temple. They will not cross half the world to see a building in a remote place and nothing else. They will want to combine this journey with a visit to the Forum, the Capitoline museum and other historic sites. The location Rome is a sine qua non for our Republic, because our ambitions are higher than those of RA, we are bigger, more international and more inclusive.

Brutus is right, we have to grow the CDR first, we have to establish ourselves as the most important community of the Religio, and we need to establish ourselves physically in Rome, which will not be possible without the Communitas Populi Romani, that has already done a great work in this regard.

Valete!

[Lucius Metilius Niger]

[Gaius Cominius Laenas]

[Gaius Florius Lupus]

The CPR has indeed limitations due to their localized structure.
But the main problem with them is their arrogance. You cannot talk to them without being reminded at the first occasion that Internet based Roman communities are a joke and that they are the only real Romans.
They have to understand that we Romans are spread out all over the globe. We simply do not have the possibility to meet in person regularly. This is why the Internet helps us. We take Romanitas just as serious as them.
Their Italian-only policy is also counter-productive. Not all modern Romans speak Italian. And Italian is not Latin, it is a barbarian dialect of vulgar Latin. Most Italians do not descend from Romans either, but from Germanic invaders like Lombards and Ostrogoths in the North and Normans in the South. Only Italians from the former Papal States can claim full Roman ancestry. This arrogant view ("We are the only true Romans") is something they need to overcome, if they want to succeed.

In fact both is needed, a physical local community like the CPR and a more inclusive community with global outreach like us. The CPR and our Republic, we both need each other. Each of our communities has to offer a lot that the other does not have. We are bound to work together. We should unite somehow and the CPR should allow an Internet tribus that speaks English and keeps the rest of the world connected with the core in Italy.
Probably we are more ready for cooperation than they are. So they have to do more work than we have to do, before we come together. More respect and less arrogance would be a first step.

[Lucius Metilius Niger]

[Publius Iunius Brutus]

Brutus sal.

Niger, I do think you mean well for the CDR.

Why do you come here to bother us?

Respectful and productive criticism is grand. It helps us get better. But I sincerely hope that such criticism is not followed only by words. The RR is about action. The RR can and will continue to improve. But this will require our critics to become part of the solution. To get involved and work with others here to make improvements and start new initiatives.

Niger, I encourage you to help become an active part of the solution. Should the RR work with the CPR? Certainly if a mutually respectful relationship is established. I would be the first person to sign on to that! Should we push for local community development? Certainly, it's a key aspect of our Declaration and reason for existing.

Contrary to the critics, the system established at the RR is not about titles or creating a replica Republic for role-play. Months of work went into developing our system for one purpose. To provide a structure that would allow a balanced coordinating body to exist across many regions, interests and views. The RR as a non-profit needs managers, aka our Consules. It needs secretaries, aka Censores. It needs a consulting body to represent various communities and views, aka the Senate. I suppose we could just call ourselves, Roman Collaborative organization and have managers, secretaries and so on, but we would loose part of the cultural heritage in doing so. Few here thinks the RR is the ancient Republic 1:1. But I do think we strive to be a place where the modern Roman world can meet, coordinate, and collectively develop projects that would not otherwise be possible. This coordination does not remain online. All online activity here is intended to directly lead to offline activity. In the last 13 months of our existence the seeds of this are being laid. We see it in our sacerdotes, our video conferencing, our provincial (local chapters) being developed, in the convention being planned and in our various CDR projects. Our book projects are a good example of such a thing.

Niger, I actually like some of your ideas. I think you could really help us build bridges with the CPR and promote the CPR as a partner. But the critism will need to shift from words to also action. Soon, we will have elections for Quaestor (aka assistant to the manager). In this role you could help shape the RR. Amice, I think this would be a very good first step from being "lone critic" to being "team builder and solution maker".