The Roman-Celtic days 2010

[Orio]

This year, the Roman-Celtic days re-enacted the battle of Tannetum (218 b.C.), which happened in the Cisalpine Gaul (today's Northern Italy) between most of the Celtic tribes, lead by the Boii Gauls, and the Romans, allied with the Cenoman Gauls.

The sparkle was Hannibal's descent in Italy, which appeared to the Celtic tribes as a very good occasion to rise up against Roman domination. The Romans, whose army was for most part busy to fight Hannibal, was in big difficulty facing the rise. Some cohortes were sent from Rome to defend Bononia (Bologna) and the other cities along the Via Aemilia. Those soldiers created a castrum at the small village of Tannetum (about 40 kms from where I live) and hosted inside the civilians of the nearby areas to defend them. But they were cut off from all supply lines and would not have been able to last long if they were not supported by the Cenoman Gauls, who lived the other side of River Padus (today's Po) and did not join the rise, staying faithful to the foedus (pact) with Rome. The Cenomans provided the soldiers and people in Tannetum with food and military support.
The battle of Tannetum was very hard and was decided only by the sudden arrival of new Roman troops who would cercle the Boii Gauls.
After that battle, and the end of the Punic wars, the Celtic populations of northern Italy lived peacefully with the Romans and eventually became Roman citizens themselves.

These photos do not show the battle, they show the training and the life in the camps. I have shot videos of the battle, if I have time maybe I will publish them.

Celtic camp:

Contax Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax Distagon 1.4/35


Contax Distagon 1.4/35


Contax Planar 2/100

[Orio]

Roman Camp:
Note: the soldiers as you can see wear weapons typical of the Republican Age of Rome, when the battle of Tannetum happened.
Contrary to Hollywood movies, you don't see lots of shining armors, because those were the privilege of the rich people. Most of the soldiers were poor farmers, and fought with only a tunic and a shield. In many cases they did not even have an helmet.

Contax-Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax-Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax-Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax-Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax Distagon 1.4/35


Contax Planar 2/100


Contax Planar 2/100


Contax Planar 2/100
note: these are the velites, the younger soldiers not yet ready for the contact battle (which resembled a lot today's rugby scrumbles). Velites were charged to disturb the sides of the opposite army with the throw of javelins, and, in case of success battle, they had to run after the fugitives and finish them.


Contax Planar 2/100
the seasoned veterans were employed in the body-to-body battle

[Orio]

Contax Planar 2/100


Contax Planar 2/100


Contax Vario-Sonnar 80-200


Contax Distagon 2/28 "hollywood"
The Celtic women move around


Contax Distagon 2/28 "hollywood"
Practicing for the battle


Contax Planar 2/100


Contax Distagon 1.4/35
Souvenir photo of all the Gaul clans


Contax Distagon 1.4/35
The Roman army on the move

[patrickh]

Orio

You keep saving me these trips to Italy! Another complete winner series. We are fortunate that your eye and technique can demo those fabulous lenses of yours


patrickh

[poilu]

impressive event, lot of actors, great captures
you got great results from the 80-200, so good that the planar 100 don't seems better in this series

[Orio]

[Orio]

[Carlsson]

Wow, it looks almost like a big movie set! Impressive event, I wish I could be there.
Very well captured Orio.
Poilu is right about the 80-200 and the 100, but the 3D from the Planar 100 stands out, a big difference to the Vario-Sonnar!

[Orio]

[karabud]

[poilu]