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Roman Festival „Swords, Bread and Games"

While gladiators practise for their big day in the arena, merchants shout their wares in the shady avenues against the dominant background rhythm of hammering by smiths and stonemasons …

Troop of legionnaires marching into the packed arena. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Legionaries of the Ermine Street Guard marching into the arena.

Every two years, the APX hosts "Swords, Bread and Games",
Europe's largest Roman Festival. The next Festival will open
on 27 and 28 June 2009

More than 300 performers from the whole of Europe present their skills in Germany's largest archaeological open-air museum. Everything that is normally only presented in dry books can be experienced first-hand here.

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Little laughing boy dressed in Roman attire. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Young girl in a light blue Roman dress looking at Roman-style pottery. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Even the youngest find something to do here.

Children

"Swords, Bread and Games" is intended as a festival particularly for children with numerous free hands-on activities and games – a truly exciting museum!

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Roman actress giving a girl a sweet. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Several Roman craft products including hooks in different sizes on tanned leather. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Roman actor playing a board game. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Authenticity is extremely important for all participants.

Experimental archaeology

The people who take part in "Swords, Bread and Games" are not actors or dramatists. All participants contribute to the experimental archaeology by ensuring that their equipment is as authentic as possible and test it in everyday use. Questions are welcome!

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A Roman tinsmith working on piece with a hammer and a small chisel watched by a woman dressed in Roman clothes. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Roman smith holding a workpiece on an anvil with iron pliers, while a young visitor is working it with the hammer. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Several tools of a Roman doctor including some brass probes and a brass bone lifter. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Everything is handmade.

Merchants and craftsmen

Most of the people living in the Roman city were craftsmen and merchants: shoemakers, cloth merchants, painters, smiths, spice merchants, … Visitors can watch some and barter with others: there are plenty of opportunities to buy handmade souvenirs or try your own hand.

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Roman horseman in full armour with shield and drawn sword riding in front of a group of visitors. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Girl talking to a Roman legionnaire, with two more legionnaires standing in the background. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Portrait of a Roman legionnaire with bronze helmet. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

The military used to be the empire's fighting backbone.

Military

Several military groups pitch their tents in the APX during the Roman Festival. Their camps are a presentation of everyday life in the legions as well as a demonstration of Roman military power - from their large catapults to battle techniques such as the tortoise.

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Close-up of a gladiator's equipment including a helmet and a padded arm-guard. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Gladiator in the arena raising his arms victoriously in front of the audience. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Germanic actor looking into the packed amphitheatre. Click on the photo to see a larger version.

The gladiators perform admirably – without shedding a single drop of blood.

Gladiators

Vicious battles in the arena are fortunately a thing of the far distant past. The "games" used to be a kind of sport with very strict rules. Today's performances are directed by a leading historian in the field of gladiatoral combat. A spectacle well worth seeing.

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