France 2008 - The Roman Empire on display

This is another clip shot in the historical theme park at Puy du Fou, showcasing its main act: les Gladiateurs. The spectacle lasts for nearly 45 minutes, and draws a lot of attention from the visitors of the park because it's only held twice a day. The show consists of torture of christians and the victory of Christendom (which is the main storyline), a parade of people of animals displaying the economical prowess of the vast Imperium (shown here), chariot racing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr5cWyki-v0), and gladiator fights against animals and one another.
The parade is made up of all kinds of people, animals, and wares from all corners of the then-known world. First up is Roman centurion (commander of a hundred soldiers), followed consecutively by...
- his lieutenant;
- three aquilifers or standard bearers carrying the Roman eagle, a tremendously prestigious position within the Roman legions;
- Roman legionaries in the common testudo formation, a very popular and effective tactic used by Roman soldiers throughout the Antiquity;
- two men carrying the she-wolf that suckled Romulus and Remus, thus symbolysing the very beginning of the city of Rome itself;
- a couple of cornicens or hornblowers, which are an excellent example of the splendid Roman military organization;
- a family of slaves, the economic basis of both Republic and Empire;
- the geese of the Capitoline Hill who, according to legend, saved this lastly standing part of Rome from the raiding Gauls in 390 BC;
- a cart carrying Dyonisos, the god of wine, and his servants;
- an animal carrying a piece of clothing showing the all-important characters "SPQR" (senatus populusque romanus), referring to the government of the Roman Republic;
- emus from Upper Aegyptus;
- lastly, some camels.

About Puy du Fou
"Puy du Fou is a historical theme park in Les Epesses in the heart of the Vendée region of Western France. The park brings in some 1.2 million visitors every year, making it the second most popular attraction in France after Euro Disney[1]. (...) Gladiators is set in a replica of an amphitheater that is 115 meters long and 75 meters wide and recreated the atmosphere of Gaul during Roman times. It features a traditional parade of people and animals, gladiatorial combat, chariot racing and executions. It is set during the time of Diocletian, when there was great unrest."
~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puy_du_Fou

About the Diocletianic Persecution
"The Diocletianic Persecution was the last, and most severe, episode of persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. It took place under the Emperor Diocletian, and lasted eight years.[1] It peaked in 303. Manichaeans were also targeted by the Roman authorities in this period."
~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletianic_Persecution

Device used
Sony Ericsson K850i

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• france
• french
• puy
• fou
• rome
• roman
• total
• war
• gladiator
• christendom
• torture
• christian
• wild
• animals
• parade
• diocletian

[jokey1134]

was there actual people in the testudo? it looked fake

[SimonDuits]

Yes.

[betawarior]

in witch country is it and witch part of it ?

[SimonDuits]

Read the info.

[Bronxguyanese]

france to was part of the roman empire, france known as gaul was a major roman province for soldiers and wine. The only remenent in france about the roman empire is that its language french is from latin and french people are primarily roman catholic like thier neigborhign spanish and italian counterparts. Good post but napoleon was doing the same thing in france 200 years before.

[SimonDuits]

Your point being? :s

[xzaz2]

Wow they had a camera back in those days? Thats awesome!

[hollywoodwerewolf]

I like this video! Especially the geese! The goose was a sacred animal to the Romans. In the very, very early years of the Republic barbarian invaders made it all the way to the walls of Rome. They disturbed a flock of geese which called out in warning and the Romans eventually stopped the siege

[Lockbar]

Can I purchase some slaves there?

[happiness6589746]

holly !! peter pipper and the goose!!

[danroduw06]

Wow. This is awesome. I would love to go to an event like this. What would make it even more awesome is if it were required to wear the style of clothes that the average colloseum dweller would have worn.