Ptuj hosts the Roman Games, 18.-21. August 2022
STAAugust 18, 2022 – From Thursday, Ptuj will turn into Roman poetry for four days. 15. Roman Games start in the oldest Slovenian city. Almost 800 costumed actors from six countries will represent life and customs from 2,000 years ago, when the city was a major trade and craft center.
Gladiators, legionnaires, senators, vestal women and other ancient Roman characters will fill the city and the Roman camp Poetovio in the Štuki settlement.
After two years with a reduced program and no visitors, the Roman Games are returning in full glory, the organizers announced.
They emphasized that in 2019 they recorded around 7,000 visitors and talked about the largest presentation of antiquity in this part of Europe.
Things will kick off with a dedication ceremony and an evening party at Rome’s Camp Poetovio. On Friday, there will be a children’s camp with creative workshops and an evening show in the Roman theater acquired last year.
The main event on Saturday will be in the form of a morning procession through the streets of Ptuj, in which all participants of the games will perform. Groups from abroad will participate, and a gladiator fight is also expected.
The Panorama Archaeological Park will be the scene of a horse-drawn chariot race at noon, after which the action moves back to the camp, where a demonstration of Roman crafts and a Roman dinner are on the program.
Sunday is family day and visitors will be able to enjoy themselves the Roman way until 5pm, when the closing ceremony will take place with the dedication of the main pillar of the 16th Roman Games.
Poetovio, first mentioned in written records before 1950, had a population of more than 40,000, including about 10,000 soldiers. It was the largest city in the region.
Poetovio established itself as a trade link due to its location along the ancient trade route of the Amber Road. It also boasted its own mint and customs and tax offices.