Centurion Giorgio Franchetti inspects his legion at the Coliseum on the “Ides of March.” Like legion members from the 1st century B.C., they wear an armor called “Lorica” and carry a spear, a shield, a knife, and a short sword called “Gladio.” (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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Giorgio Franchetti, 39, is the president of the “SPQR” cultural club. He studies Archeology at La Sapienza University in Rome. His Roman alter ego, Centurion Lucius Valerius Seianus, was commander of Julius Caesar’s favorite legion — the Tenth Gemina Legion. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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Tourists walking to the Coliseum make space for the Tenth Gemina Legion heading toward Julius Caesar’s statue. A soldier with a horn, “Cornicen,” leads the line. Behind him, three lightly armed soldiers carry the signs and standards of the legion. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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A reenactor playing a noble Roman child looks at the statue of General Gaius Julius Caesar near the entrance of the Roman Forum. He carries a laurel wreath brought for Caesar in memory of his assassination 2,053 years ago. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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The Centurion takes the laurel wreath and prepares for the crowning ceremony. The name “centurion” comes from the number of soldiers each Roman commander was in charge of, roughly 100 (“centus” in Latin). (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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Gaius Julius Caesar became “dictator” of Rome in 44 B.C. He forcefully entered Rome with his army in 49 B.C., and became consul after a nine-year campaign during the conquest of Gaul, now France. On March 15, 44 B.C., Caesar was stabbed to death in the Senate, inside the Roman Forum. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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Centurion Giorgio Franchetti places the laurel crown at the feet of Julius Caesar’s statue. On the “Ides of March” affectionate Romans leave flowers here for one of Rome’s most influential leaders. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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Giorgio Franchetti looks at Julius Caesar for inspiration. Both the legion and a crowd of tourists observe the moment of silence. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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The laurel wreath rests at the feet of Julius Caesar’s statue. In Rome, laurel wreaths were symbols of martial victory, and were used to crown a successful commander after his triumph. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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Giorgio Franchetti enjoys his 15 minutes of fame as local media take pictures of the reenactment. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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Andrea Alesiani, 17, reenacts “Vessillifer.” He is one of SPQR’s youngest members and is still in high school, where he studies classic literature, Latin and Greek. The wolf fur on his helmet is actually American coyote, a species that — unlike the Italian wolf — remains unprotected. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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Anthropologist Adriana Serpi leads the Vestal Virgins. In Ancient Rome, the Vestal Virgins were the female priests of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth. Great honor and privilege were bestowed upon women in this role, whose primary task was maintaining the sacred fire of Vesta. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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The Tenth Gemina Legion marches on the “Via Sacra”, the main avenue of the Roman Forum leading to the Coliseum. Behind the legion stands the Arch of Titus, one of the finest examples of architecture from the early Imperial Age. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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Giorgio Franchetti and his fellow SPQR group members rest after marching through the Roman Forum. Franchetti says current Romans should protect the legacy of their city by keeping the memory of ancient Rome alive. (Fulvio Paolocci/GlobalPost)
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