News

2008-06-30 - End of Festival

On Sunday, June 29, at 10 p.m. the First Festival of Ancient Rome in Bulgaria "Eagle on the Danube" was officially closed. The program for the day included the Stele Votiva rite, performed by Legio Prima Italica at Novae. Among the guest was H.E. Stefano Benazzo, Ambassador of Italy to the Republic in Bulgaria.

The program went on in the afternoon with gladiator fights at Kaleto arena, performed by skilful stuntmen.

Later in the afternoon was the Final battle between legions and barbarians. It took a great toll, but Legio I ended as the all expected victor in this uneven fight.

At 8 p.m. started the last performances by the Italian guests. The Antique Dance Group from Villadose, Rovigo, earned well-deserved applauses with their Roman and Oriental dance show. Their fellow-citizens from the Group for Social Anthropology played some epigrams by Marziale.

The reason these 2 groups to be present at the festival is the relation of Villadose with Legio I. The soldiers from the legion who had returned to Italy after serving their duty had been awarded lands in the site of nowadays Villadose.

The festival was closed with a magic ritual dedicated to Mithra, performed by Legio I, and giving away gifts to the lottery winners.

Finis coronat opus!