The most important goal of Nova Roma is to provide a living community for Roman reenactors, scholars and fans of ancient Rome, and to all varieties of people who self-identify as Romans in the present day modern world, and to revive those traditions through which an authentic Roman identity can be experienced and expressed.[19] Since one of the most authentic and traditional forms of cultural self-expression for Romans was the celebration of various festivals, rites and ceremonies, Nova Roma has adopted[10][20] theancient Roman religion as its "state religion", while also guaranteeing thefreedom of religion of its citizens. The British scholarMichael York noted that the traditional Roman way of thinking,Roman philosophy, provides the moral code for Nova Romans.[21]
Nova Romans performing a Roman ceremony inAquincum (Budapest), 2008
Nova Roma holds its own local and international conventions and regularly participates with its affiliated reenactment groups[31] in such history festivals and public events as the Festival of Ancient Heritage[32] inSvishtov,Bulgaria, the Roman Market Day[33][34][35] inWells, Maine's Harbor Park, andForum Fulvii inItaly,Ludi Savarienses Historical Carnival, theAquincum Floralia Spring Festival[36][37][38] inBudapest,Hungary, or theNatale di Roma(a festival linked to thefoundation of Rome) inRome,Italy,[39] where Nova Roma celebrated its twentieth anniversary.
Among the cultural activities of Nova Roma, competitions and games associated with various Roman festivals have an important place. They can include a wide range of various programs from humorous online games up to serious art-competitions like theCertamen Petronianum,[40][41] a literary contest of historical novel writing first held in 2005, where the jury was composed of notables includingColleen McCullough, author of many Roman-themed best-selling novels, andT. P. Wiseman, university professor of Roman history and former vice-president of theBritish Academy, or the second edition of the same competition, where the jury wasJo Walton, World Fantasy Award-winning novelist and poet.[42]
Coinage and sponsorship of Roman cultural projects
Nova Roma has minted two coins with the denomination ofsestertius, one in bronze, issued in 2000, and another in brass, dating from 2005. Each bears the lettersSPQR and has a diameter of 32 mm, a thickness of 1.8 mm. These sesterces are convertible into 50US cents,[43] if sent back to the treasury of the organization, thus they can be used in place of real currency between members of the community.
Regarding the monetary policies of Nova Roma, as a nonprofit organization, its treasury is dedicated to sponsor various Roman cultural projects, including experimental archaeology initiatives, reenactment events, or building Roman temple reconstructions, altars or other reconstructed accessories or any items from the ancient Roman period.
The international governance of Nova Roma permits[44] the Nova Roman communities of each country to create their national subdivision of Nova Roma, calledprovincia, and to form their own not-for-profit or incorporated organizations, established under the respective legislation of their local country.[45] This enables better local recognition and management, as well as provides the means for legal and insurance coverage, such as that offered by the Australasian Living History Federation (ALHF).[46]
Revival of things Roman and their co-option for symbolic importance have a long history.Nova Roma (Latin for 'New Rome') in its deliberate revival of grandiose remnants of the past thus parallels and echoes other New Romes such as:
^Strmiska, Michael:Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives, p. 335-336. ABC-CLIO, 2005
^abDavy, Barbara Jane:Introduction to Pagan Studies, pp. 156, 163, 233. Rowman Altamira, 2007
^abAdler, Margot:Drawing down the moon: witches, Druids, goddess-worshipers, and other pagans in America, p. 549. Penguin Books, 2006
^Eugene V. Gallagher, W. Michael Ashcraft:Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America: Metaphysical, New Age, and neopagan movements. p. 220. Greenwood Press, 2006
^George D. Chryssides, Historical Dictionary of New Religious Movements (2011, 2nd ed.)
^For example:Mommsen, Theodor (1999).A History of Rome Under the Emperors. Routledge Key Guides. Barbara Demandt, Alexander Demandt,Thomas E. J. Wiedemann. Routledge. p. 381.ISBN978-0-415-20647-1.Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved2011-12-16.The result of Constantinople's founding was the end of a national basis for the Empire [...] Milan and Ravenna had been unable to compete with Rome, though they were court residences, butNova Roma could.
^Note for exampleKantorowicz, Ernst Hartwig (1957).The King's two bodies: a study in mediaeval political theology (7 ed.). Princeton University Press. p. 83.ISBN978-0-691-01704-4. Retrieved2011-12-16.Thus it happened that 'Rome' migrated from incarnation to incarnation, wandering first to Constantinople and later to Moscow, the third Rome, but also to Aachen where Charlemagne built a 'Lateran' and apparently planned to establish theRoma futura. [...] Constantinople and Aachen and others claimed to be each anova Roma[...]{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
^Neville, Peter (2004).Mussolini. Historical Biographies Series. Routledge. p. 118.ISBN978-0-415-24989-8. Retrieved2011-12-16.Mussolini made immense efforts to portray an image of Italian greatness, and the memory of Ancient Rome was constantly traded on in the régime's propaganda. Thus the normal handshake [...] was replaced by the 'Roman Salute' and the Mediterranean became 'our sea'. [...] Some streams in Fascism demanded spiritual revival based on the concept of a 'New Rome'.
