The Romanization of Gaul
by Vortigern Aedui

City Guide: (AW) Roma
by M. Fabius Furius

Lindow Man
by Cearas Cumhaill

The Water Puppets of VietNam
by Senex Caecilius

Quietly, many worlds are expanding their 'hood capabilities; Goldfest gave us a chance to see some of the work ongoing, and scribes and volunteers apparently are increasingly party-happy and interested in setting historical events in their 'hoods. A scattered look at some 'hoods of special interest include:

The Island Realms of Scandinavia are developing in multiple districts, including Baffin Island, Dublin, Jarlshof, Thingvalla, and Vinland.

In the Orient, check out Vietnam and its city of Thang Long.

Featured in Egypt's Goldfest, the beautiful 'hood of Akhet-Aten, the City of the (controversial) god, Aten.

In Hellas, tour the great city of Byzantium.

Saturnalia, Yule, Brumalia, Christmas in Jerusalem, Establishing the Celestial Cow? Once again, it’s that season – and from what we hear, many of the Worlds are celebrating the early-winter holidays of ancient times that revolve around the winter solstice. Several worlds are creating "gift cards" to send to your AW friends, and all kinds of plaques and posters with which to decorate your AW home! Picking one artist out of the bunch, here is QuintusCinna Cocceius' 'take' on Roman Saturnalia, which is a sample of the talent around here at the "giving" time of year. Many thanks to all who help us to decorate, celebrate, and share. Looks like this December there will be no lack of great events and activities to participate in!

To help you get a grip on your online holiday plans, don't forget to check the AW calendar of events.

On November 4, 2007, we had our annual Scribal Roast, and while we welcomed a large number of brand new scribes, we also said farewell to some of the best-known and hardest-working contributors to AncientWorlds, with many having served a full two years. There were lots of love, gifts, and appreciation for retiring scribes Katlyne MacRoth, Victoria Aedui and Flidhais Brigantes of Celtia; Maria Marius and Livia Servilius of Rome; Bree Burgundian, Freyja Scylding and Aelfwine Scylding of Germania; Persia Xerxes, ApilIshtar Etana and Flavia Amytas of Mesopotamia; Asenath Amenhotep and Nilaja Amenhotep of Egypt; Lipset YellowStar of The Americas, and Shibori Murasaka of The Orient - not just for their years of AW-building, but as bribes to keep them handy as we go into our sixth AW year.

Also showered with booze, was a barrel-full of new talent welcomed in as new scribes in VII out of VIII of our Ancient Worlds. Incoming scribes include Safiria Caesar and Germaniae Flavius (Rome), Seshat Taharqa, Meritites Hatshepsut and Merneith Ahhotep (Egypt), Apiladey ApilSin, Ashurbanipal Assurbanipal and Xena ApilSin (Mesopotamia), Vortigern Aedui, Jacques Elliott Cruithni and Bridgette Cormac (Celtia), Gisele Grafeldr, Attila The Hun and Elenwe Yngling (Germania), FireStorm Acoma (The Americas) and for The Orient, Lara Vardhana.

If you want to know more about our current scribal teams, click on the links to read their bios or visit their homes:

Happy Holidays!