Happy New Year – 800 BC Style

[sberry]

My latest diorama is entitled “The Dance of the Salians”.
The Salians were priests of Mars and belonged to those ancient priest collegia whose origins are hidden in the mists of Roman prehistory.
They were active in the months of March and October, at the beginning and end of the campaign season, respectively.
In particular the whole month of March was sacred to the God of war (Martius mensis = the month belonging to Mars). And it was for a long time also the first month in the Roman calendar, until the beginning of the year was shifted to January in 153 BC.

So the Dance of the Salians on March 1appears exceedingly well suited as a topic for New Year’s Day!

Here are some first test shots; there will be more pics and info on the diorama soon.

But for now I wish
A Happy New Year to everybody!

[C M Dodson]

Happy New Year!

That bonfire is very effective and the light it emits works well to illuminate the warriors.

Best wishes,

Chris

[MABO]

Happy new year to you and all the others. I like the role the Linear-A figs play here in this dio. I am looking forward to see more of it and get more infos. Keep up you inspiring work in 2021!

[sberry]

Thank you guys!

I like the role the Linear-A figs play here in this dio.

The availabilty of these figures was actually the reason that I decided to do this scene at all...

[Peter]

Great campfire and happy new year!

PS: last picture, figure in the top middle? Optic illusion?

[Graeme]

And a Happy new year to You. This wonderful scene is a very nice start to it.

[Wiking]

How do you make it that the plastic figures so close to the fire do not melt ?

[PhilC]

I'm sure I already wrote a comment, but I must have forgotten to submit...
Very nice scene, sberry! I have to buy those Villanovans... Is the house scratchbuilt ?

[sberry]

Okay, there is a number of questions to be answered:

PS: last picture, figure in the top middle? Optic illusion?

No, he is not jumping into the fire, if that was your question. An illusion, indeed.
Generally speaking, there were no plastic figures harmed during the production of this diorama.
(Well, except for some heads and arms being cut off and glued onto other figures,)

How do you make it that the plastic figures so close to the fire do not melt ?

That was possible only by using a large cooling fan throughout the photo shoots. After a shoot, the figures retreat immediately into the hut.

Is the house scratchbuilt ?

Yes, a styrodur core with modelling clay and wood.

[Peter]

Thank you for the answers, but my question was something else. I see something hanging on that figure!

[sberry]

Thank you for the answers, but my question was something else. I see something hanging on that figure!

Yeah, now I know what you mean. It's the scabbard. Really.
There are some more remarks to be made on the figures themselves, the choice of poses, sculpting etc.
I will do that when the main batch of pictures is ready for uploading.

[Emperor]

Great dio Sberry...Romans changed New year from March to January because some tribe attacked Rome and Romans could fight only after New Year or Mars month (so I heard)... January was month of god Janus, February was moth dedicated to cleaning temples Septembar was Seventh month(Septimus/Seven in Latin) October eith, November nine and July was after Julius Caesar and Agust after Octavian August...
Interesting also German Kaiser and Russian Tsar are from Caesar...

[Santi Pérez]

Wonderful diorama, sberry. A very original idea and very well executed. I love the effect of the fire light.

My best congratulations.

Santi.