The Blacktip Island Historical Society will stage an ancient Roman-style naumachia in the island’s central booby pond Saturday to raise money for the island’s museum. (illustration courtesy of Rusty Goby, BIHS)
The Blacktip Island Historical Society will stage a Roman-style naval battle this weekend, featuring replicas of ancient Roman vessels, in an effort to interest island residents in studying history and to raise funds for the small Caribbean island’s museum.
“People these days are so blasé about the past, we thought a proper, large-scale, historical spectacle would be just the thing to pique their interest,” BIHS president Fannie Bottoms said. “And what’s larger scale than a proper naumachia, with two fleets fighting it out for the entire island to see?
“We originally planned on staging it in the lagoon, but the booby pond offered better viewing options,” Bottoms said. “It also adds an added tension—if your boat sinks in the lagoon, no big deal; in the booby pond, there’s no telling what diseases you’ll catch, or if you’ll even survive.”
Organizers say the boats and costumes will be as accurate as possible.
“We’re encouraging participants to build period-correct facsimiles of early Roman biremes, triremes and quadriremes,” BIHS armorer Rusty Goby said. “We aim to give a sense of what it was like to attend a Roman spectacle in Caesar’s day. Nero absolutely loved a garish naumachia. Only in our version, no one will get killed. Intentionally.”
Some island residents were dubious about the event’s historical accuracy.
“You think there’s anyone on this little rock who’ll take the time to build an actual bireme?” chef Corrie Anders said. “And then destroy it? This is Blacktip. It’ll turn out to be Dermott Bottoms and James Conlee standing in rowboats, throwing beer bottles at each other. History-wise, it’ll be rubbish. But it should be a hoot to watch.”
Island leaders have embraced the event.
“Spectacles like these are what the Roman aristocracy staged to let anger citizenry blow off steam, keep ‘em from rioting,” de facto mayor Jack Cobia said. “The way folks around here’ve been complaining lately, something like this’s exactly what we need to keep ‘em from revolting. A lot of ‘em are revolting, but they shouldn’t stage a revolt, you understand.”
Other residents are looking forward to the battle.
“Life here can get a little dull, so it’ll be fun to have something new and different to do,” Sally Port said. “And the thought of someone’s boat sinking in the middle of the booby pond, well, how could you ever look away? And we’ll be learning about history at the same time. I’m bringing a cooler of beer, a toga and may join the battle myself.”
The Blacktip Times 