WHEN THE PANEL'S DOWN, YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD TO YOUR JOURNAL
FROM JOT'S DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL, JULY 14
by Jot Ariston

The companel went out twice today. This seems to happen when the WhosOnline server, situated in New York, is not able to contact the site server, which is in Florida. Since this contact seems to get lost now and then, I am going to try to alter the code so that WhosOnline server does not need to contact its peer so often. Since work will begin on the foundation for the new NaviChat server this week, the WhosOnline server could get revamped at the same time.

Another feature made it off the drawing board today. Personal Journals are a way for members to post thoughts, ideas, musings or even reports of what they are up to. In a sense, Personal Journals are like the News feature at groups and cities. If anyone has ever maintained a "blog," then they should have a good understanding of what Personal Journals are. To polish the feature off, I still need to modify the background graphics and also provide a way for people to upload their own background graphics to customize the look of their personal journals. I also have to create the delete entry link.

CAESAR'S BIRTHDAY, AND OTHER TACKY QUESTIONS
A CAESAR TRIVIA CONTEST HELD ON JULY 13
by Heraklia Aelius

Although ancient biographers agree that Caesar was born in the month of Quinctilis, later changed to “July” in his honor, the 13th has long been considered his traditional birthdate, although this is uncertain. This July 13, AncientWorlds held a “Caesar Trivia” contest with XIII questions covering everything from Caesar’s Gallic Wars to his extravagance, the Battle of Pharsalus to his divorce of Pompeia. Several brave warriors from many cities tackled the questions and answers, found on the AncientWorlds Celebrations Trivia Thread.

First Prize was won by the ever-inimitable Petraites Lucretius, while there was a three-way tie for second place between Diantha Livius, Maximius Flavius, and Krystus Domitius. Although Heraklia Aelius had suggested knives for the winners, this was put down firmly by the Cybergods so our heros must luxuriate merely in the praise of their fellows. Well done! (It was a tough quiz!)

NOT A LAZY DAY IN ROME
EVEN THE REPORTER ROARING WITH LAUGHTER
Rome, by Diantha Livius

Another month has flown by here at Ancient Worlds. It has been a busy month with many exciting things happening! I believe the general threads have seen most of the action. There are just so many interesting topics, I don’t know where to begin!

The Forum Romanum has many fascinating topics that have been active. After a long lapse, interest has revived in Britannia with posts by sari Curius and Alex Tullius. A change of pace can be found at the topics aptly named Gladiator vs. Bravehart and Rome in Television, Movies and the Arts. Aulus Sergius had a post, titled "On Excalibur, Braveheart, Gladiator, Caesar: the mini series et al." that had me roaring with laughter!

Let’s not forget the Palatine! Romans have shown interest in thread such as: Ancient Roman Artifacts, Cooking in the Ancient world, and the new All links lead to Rome. But, the one that has seen the most is Roman Names. Under this discussion you will find, not only proper names, but how to pronounce them correctly.

Now we come to the group updates segment. In the group Religio Romana, there is an interesting discussion on Early Christianity, and the latest posts have been on Julian (II) the Apostate. It is also featured on the boardsCentral page. At Schola Linguae Latinae, a new topic for Latin/English translations has been started (check the boards Central for that too). In ARS Romana, the Quaero Pulchritudinis contest winner voting still continues, but it ends on the 14th. The winner is yet to be announced.

ResPublica Romana has many interesting stories unfolding. Voices of Thunder, a story set in the reign of Tiberius is continuing apace as is Nostra Britannia, set just prior to Caesar's invasion of Britannia. The group has a new interactive story, Ashes of Empire which began with the death of Julius Caesar. The group Ancient Mysteries continues to grow. We have many members who have taken an interest in our various topics, resulting in some interesting discussions. Some of the newer boards include: The Shady Side of History ("The Royals" and "Ancient Rome") and What Really Happened: Lizzie Borden.

"The lazy days of summer" don’t seem to apply to Rome this year!

What a month it has been! Consuls for the year of DLX avc are Caius Livius Drusus and Lucius Cornelius Merula, a result that has led to the Plebeians in Rome complaining about the lack of a Plebeian consul. Not fair! says new Sicilian Quaestor, M. Minutius Palus and raises an Assembly lex to prevent the same thing happening again, unfortunately in his zeal he seems to have neglected to make the lex guarantee that the patricians can't be excluded from a similar fate and so the lex is so far getting the "big raspberry award" from the voters.

Newly returned conqueror of Narbonese Gaul, Drakus Domitius Cordatus, meanwhile returns to a nice job as Censor. Unfortunately for him he can't take it up yet as he is still sat on the Campus Martius awaiting approval for his triumph. An approval that doesn't seem to be coming because Tribune of the Plebes Lucius Silius has vetoed it! An incensed Cordatus must now either "convince" Silius to raise his veto or spend more time sitting on the campus martius neglecting his work whilst he works on the problem or alternatively abandoning his claim to a triumph and crossing the pomerium into Rome. (And I didn't say it had to be a realistic option did I!)

What of Oppius Philipus? I hear you ask! yes what indeed! after sensationally dropping out of last month's consular election to instead run as Tribune of the Plebes the newly elected tribune has run into what appears to be a well orchestrated campaign of intimidation. Firstly he has to swallow a blow to his pride and his heart when his courtship of Julia Cornelia, the widow of murdered former Tribune C. Cornelius Messala, a courtship in which he vied for her hand against ProConsul Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, ended in disappointment for both men as Julia chose instead to marry the bald, aging but extremely wealthy cousin of her former husband.

If this were not bad enough, he is then shocked to discover that his chariot team's lead horse's head in his bed one morning, in a scene I am sure I have seen somewhere before... then, just as he is trying to shake off the sadness caused by these two events, he is accosted in the forum by a greek youth acting protege who accuses him of being his former lover, now jilted over his attempt to become "respectable" by marrying Julia. A Roman should take these things stoically but unfortunately, Oppius snaps and taking some bodyguards, raids the acting school, kidnaps the boy and roughs him up. Now facing a civil case for damages from the boy's owner, Marcus Fulvius Sesquiculum, Oppius is just hoping that Februarius will be a better month.

In Lycia, M. Aemilius Scaurus is smarting from an ambush that took 3,300 of his best legionaries, when asked why he hadn't sent the next to useless Egyptian auxilleries through the narrow mountain pass instead, the ProConsul is said to have slapped his forehead and said "Doh!" Perhaps he too was just pining after Julia? Elsewhere in the east, rounding off a dismal month for the "war against terror," I mean, Seleucia, newly prorogued ProConsul, Decimus Junius Pompeius stole a fighting withdrawal from the huge Seleucid force facing him by using subterfuge. Unfortunately this subterfuge could not prevent him from leaving all his heavy equipment and baggage behind in the camp and he suffered 10,000 casualties in the retreat. Half dead and thirsty his men have now made it to the relative safety of Gaza where they hope to rest and recuperate whilst the Senate argues whether to send assistance or not.

In newest Roman province Narbonensis, the new Praetor, G. Ulpius Sisenna has arrived to find that his official mansion is a large round wooden hut with a huge fire and an aging bull in the middle. A disgusted Sisenna has ordered a new villa be constructed more befitting a man of rank, a man that fully intends to make the most of what Narbonese Gaul has to offer, and take it all home with him. In Tarraconensis, a new praetor, Lucius Urgulanius Longinus has been giving the locals coaching lesson the proper pronunciation of his name. Inbetween he has been busy raising a thousand men armed with thongs to add to the two legions that paragon of selfless Roman virtue, Marcus Oppius Philipus raised for him last month. In his spare time the bored Praetor has taken up a hobby, that of sending unsolicited, small gifts to Roman officials. By small we mean small by cosmic standards, as his latest offer to Public Works Aedile, M. Junius Silanus, a man who just happens to control the public grain dole, was enough to have bought the man three villas on the Aventine! When the Aedile reported Longinus' improper approach a shocked Longinus protested that the gift was "small in nature and... carried no strings..."

When asked to define "small" the Praetor reportedly said.. "well, the Circus Maximus is big..." Obviously the censor doesn't agree with him, he's been called for trial in January of next year for attempting to bribe a public official.

Elsewhere in Etruria.. a freshly clean and enigmatically smiling Commander, Seneca Livius Atrebas emerged from M. Fulvius Sesquiculum's bath house to receive news of the imminent arrival of three more legions. His reported reaction was.."...but how do those morons expect me to feed all these damn men?" Fortunately Sesquiculum eased matters slightly by removing his two legions to the Campus Martius where he awaits a vote on an Ovation before heading off to also rape... err... govern Baetica.

Add to this the ongoing attempts by Lucius Valerius Flaccus to get a couple of legions out of the Senate to go and fight a war of conquest in northern Iberia and that's about it for Imperium for this month.

STILL HUNTING FOR THE SOURCE OF NILE
EGYPTIAN GROUPS JUST DON'T STOP
Egypt, by Onions Hatshepsut

The Egyptians have been busy, going southwards, hunting down the source of the Nile, for the fabled swimming hole. We've discovered it has branched off into three main trunks, and so, we are considering which toss of the dice to believe, and to swim in.

Our most important news is that the roleplay and informational group, Eternal Gods, Eternal Lives, has now been formed. Self-described, it is a "Role Play that focuses on the ancient Egyptian Netjeru- the Gods and Goddesses of Egypt". As of this writing, it is still in the construction phase, but looks intruiging, as people form up to roleplay the various gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt. Between having fun and doing serious roleplay, the idea is also to learn about the Netjer (gods) of Ancient Egypt.

The roleplays of KMT continue to go strongly, especially The Golden Horus (~1280 BCE, reign of Seti I), The Old Kingdom, Ta-meri: Heredet ne Hap (Post-Cleopatra), and The Chasm (Mystic Realm of KMT). In addition, the Alexandria Library continues to add in some excellent resources concerning ancient Egypt, both in book and journal format, as well as online web resources. Stop on by! And, another favorite stop-off place is Ancient Expressions, where one can learn all manners of information about ancient Egyptian heiroglyphics and other forms of writing.

KING GONE MISSING WHILE WAR IS BEING FEARED
NASTY RUMOURS ABOUT BABYLONIANS - AND EVEN REPORTERS
Babylon, by Leah Enkidu

Where is King Zig! Nasty people want to have war with Babylon! Someone better drag him off his women and out of the Palace! I will be so angry if we get overrun and sold into slavery!

I got this message from the King awhile back: "Drinks for a lap dance." I told him, "Geez... you must be desperate, or I got the wrong tablet again. Besides, Leah gets more then a drink for a lapdance! Throw in a lapiz ring and you might have a deal!" *sigh* I never heard from him again. But that tells you what our KING is doing when he should be planning a battle!

What is going on at the Kashbowl? Dwarf bowling, egg hatching, Apiladey is a floor mat - it boggles the mind, go look. Also, I want to stop some rumors right now. You may have heard stories during the Rome Floralia, about me and Max. There was a mix up of togas and some body parts did touch other body parts in the confusion of the dark, small room, but nothing at all happened - at least nothing that I can recall at this time, so I would like this rumor stopped now! Thank you. (...when was my last moon cycle...)

One last thing. Don't think I forgot about the CUP, Mr. Jot! Those 15 smelly, dirty camels you found in your bedroom, is only the start of the stepped up campaign we have going to get the cup back! Be afraid. Very afraid.

CELTS BREEDING AT FESTIVAL TIMES
SHOULD ROMANS BE AFRAID OF AN INVASION?
Babylon, by CathBran Niall

Activities in Celtia seem to be picking up. We have had at least 60 more Celts arrive since the beginning of June. A very large and still unknown number arrived during the July 4th weekend. With so many new additions to the city, we cannot but hope for much more to come.

Most all of the Groups in the City show some activities, but the “Rath of Celtia” & Bardic College" are far & above the most active; due in no small part to the Niafer clan. Flidais is doing an excellent job stimulating new works & giving all a positive direction at “Bardic College”. MacMorna & Fenian both seem to excel in their creativity there. Vortigen Aedui has also put a lot of work into rejuvenating “Cilipeid Celtica - Gaul” for which we are all most grateful.

Now as to the future! Celtia plans to celebrate Lugnasad on August 1st through the 3rd on The Feis of Celtia board. There is to be a wedding also during the feis & we are in want for some Druids to oversee the activities. In addition, anyone with appropriate graphics or just ideas for the games are most welcome to chime in on the planning board.

NORTHERN NIGHTS AT THEIR LIGHTEST
HIGH BEER SALES DO NOT STOP GROUP ACTIVITY
by Yngvildr Scylding

You guys in Rome, Greece or Babylon might think Germania is a cold and obscure country. This might be certainly valid for the winters but it is not always so: now the nights in the Northern parts of Germania today known as Scandinavia are long and full of light, and in the more Southern parts of Germania summer has come big time. It has been hot for weeks now, and this might be the reason that group activity is somewhat on the low side at the moment. Group leaders seem to hang around outside spending their time going swimming or enjoying warm summer evenings at the beergardens, though not all of them - Rood and Raven, our group for roleplay and interactive storywriting sees constant activity and growth, as does Germania's youngest group, Valinor. Theodoric Ostrogoth, the group leader, has set up the Vision Contest for all group members to participate and share their views on the work of J. R. R. Tolkien!

Speaking of contests, the Germania Homesite Graphics Contest has just come to its end. The aim of this contest was to find suitable pictures to replace the default graphics at the homes of Germania members - so far those graphics have been Roman ones, but with all the many entries the Germania homesites will soon shine in a more authentic decor! The decision of which graphics shall be used is now in the hands of the cyberdeities, but I want to use this opportunity to thank all contributors for their efforts. You have come up with some really amazing stuff! What comes to things amazing, Germania has seen a surprising number of new members during the past couple of weeks. A warm welcome to all of you, make your voice heard in our beautiful city and help to let it thrive. For a start, join the crowd at the Red Boar Tavern which is much more than just a place to quench your thirst - a place where you will find romance, mysteries and a sauna should you feel the need to remove the dust after your long trip to the Northern realms - or have a go at the Germanic Trivia and test your knowledge. See you in Germania!

WHEN THE PANEL'S DOWN, YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD TO YOUR JOURNAL
AW, by Jot Ariston

CAESAR'S BIRTHDAY, AND OTHER TACKY QUESTIONS
AW, by Heraklia Aelius

NOT A LAZY DAY IN ROME
Rome, by Diantha Livius

NEW OFFICIALS CONFUSE THE IMPERIUM
Rome, Group Imperium, by Caius Livius

STILL HUNTING FOR THE SOURCE OF THE NILE
Egypt, by Onions Hatshepsut

KING GONE MISSING WHILE WAR IS BEING FEARED
Babylon, by Leah Enkidu

CELTS BREEDING AT FESTIVAL TIME
Rome, by CathBran Niall

NORTHERN NIGHTS AT THEIR LIGHTEST
Machu Picchu, by Yngvildr Scylding

The Bazaar of the Seven Wonders group in Egypt has been opened by Reylari Ramesses. Treasures for sale!