[History] I've been reading about slavery in the Late Roman Empire for a college project. One of the most interesting bits was a ritual in the manumission process. It involved a ritual called the alapa, which was a slap to the face of the slave being freed. It was meant as a mark of passage and the last violence the slave would have to endure.
This got me thinking about other rituals in history that involved a ritual slap. I believe the knighting ceremony also had one? ...I'll have to check to be certain, I'm sure there are more too. I think it would be interesting and cool to write an essay about these. 
That is interesting!
"I sincerely hope the door doesn't hit you on the way out, because I already did"
Pythonmelon: 
"I was freed once, it was a slap in the face!"
"I was freed once, it was a slap in the face!"
Wow - I love details like that!
Bromo_Ivory: Aren't they great I love those little tid-bits that just make you think, oh my gosh what would that feel like?!
Manateehugs: Yeah. Those sorts of things as well as other cultural things bring other era alive and give you a sense of what it might have been like ot live back then!
Tanarian
says
[SCA] The knighting ceremony did indeed involve one. After the dubbing, 'Let this be the last blow you receive unanswered.'
Tanarian
says
The phrasing likely varied from court to court in period, but that's the basic form used at least in Trimaris today. [/SCA]
Tanarian: Sweet! That's what I thought!
THe HBO Series "Rome" is a pretty good picture of late Republic/early Empire. There is a director track on the series talking about the cultural things influencing the interactions. It's fantastic.
My favorite period of Roman history, is 400-600AD. It's when things were changing fast, the vast integration and organization was breaking down
My favorite period of Roman history, is 400-600AD. It's when things were changing fast, the vast integration and organization was breaking down
Yet heroics in that era were commonplace.
Tanarian
says
I forgot to mention it's called a 'buffet'.
Tanarian: fascinating - I wonder how many things continued from one era to the next with minor changes to fit the times?
Bromo_Ivory: I love Rome too! I have the DvD sets, such a great series! Also I love the 400-600 ad period too. I've been writing a book set in 440-460 for the many years now. It's totally my jam. 
So cool! There is a book called "Romans and Barbarians" that I loved that gave the overall survey of the Roman Empire 400-600AD. I learned Vulgate Latin so I could read the few primary sources during that era. I love Love LOVE that era.
(Learned = Learned a little of it)
That is so cool my friend! I've been studying the period since I was 13, I'm 31 now. I could talk about it for hours. Let me know if you want to chat about it.
Tanarian: I don't think so.
We did a SIM a couple of years ago that was inspired by the city of Antioch c700AD - SIM folded, but the builder was a historical architect who took pains to make even the details accurate looking. Was a lot of fun.
Oh my gosh that is amazing! I wish I still had a comp that could SL. I'd love to take my avatar there.
We had to shut down the SIM some time ago. We were doing for a nonprofit, and we could never get the financed worked out, so had to close it. Was a l;ot of fun!
Antiochia: A Sim and a Scholarship Trust
Antiochia: A Sim and a Scholarship Trust
Ooh no I don't think we have met but we clearly share an interest in the Romans!
Tanarian
says
That's better.
dusts off her hands and goes to poke at Blizzard
ashavah: Hi'a Ashavah! It's nice to meet you. Yay Roman history!