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Neo-Romanism is an aesthetic influenced by Bronzepunk, Sandalpunk, Neoclassicism, Futurism and Renaissance, among others. It is also the judicial system that governs many 21st century democracies.

Neo-Romanism began to boom with the popularization of neo-pagan religions such as Hellenism and the Roman Way at the end of the 20th Century, which have influenced its "romantic" vision of those times.

Antecedents[]

Neo-Romanism has had many antecedents before it became what it was. Since the fall of the Roman Empire in 1453 many rulers have tried to rebuild or even consider themselves heirs of the Roman Empire. The most notorious example was Fascist Italy during World War II which unsuccessfully tried to rebuild a kind of Second Roman Empire.

On an artistic level, movements such as the Renaissance and Neoclassicism.

Differences with Bronzepunk and Sandalpunk[]

Its great difference with these two aesthetics consists mainly in how they present technology, looks, architecture and culture. Since Neo-Romanism is much more attached to the present or Science Fiction, with influences from Greek and Roman cultures, than a retro-futuristic vision of how those societies would have advanced.

Political projects[]

Neo-Romanism has not only extended to art or judicial systems. It has also acquired political overtones, with projects such as the Nova Roma organization: an international organization of admirers of the culture of Ancient Rome, claiming to be a nation of modern Romans with the administrative structure modeled on the institutions of the Roman Republic. Nova Roma explicitly states that they are not a micronation, but a civitas or res publica. Their organization, however, fits all the requirements to be classified as such.

Another Neo-Roman micronation project that stands out (especially in the Spanish-speaking world) is the so-called Republic of Tiberia.

Values[]

The Neo-Romans call for a return to the classical values of ancient Rome and Greece, but without disregarding certain modern benefits. They simply consider that the excessive invidualism or collectivism of modern European societies of the 20th and 21st century has been more harmful than beneficial and is what has led these societies into a state of decadence. And to avoid a new Dark Age and for Humanity to prosper they must return to those values that once made them great. In this case, that of one of the most influential cultures, Ancient Rome.

Activities[]

Among the activities of Neo-Romanism, the following stand out:

  • Admire important figures of the Ancient Ages and want to be like them.
  • Read literature from the Ancient Ages.
  • Recreation of activities carried out by ancient Romans, Greeks, Minoans, etc...
  • Participate in political or cultural projects, such as Nova Roma.
  • Being a follower or participant of neo-pagan religions of Greek or Roman origin.
  • Learn dead languages such as Latin or classical Greek.
  • Learning Philosophy
  • Learn Roman Law
  • Learning Esperanto ( since it was planned as a "new" latin )
  • Learning Modern Greek or Romance languages
  • Archive things of interest to you (using the Internet Archive, especially) for future preservation. Since all culture is valuable and influences in one way or another, in the improvement/perfection of that "hypothetical" Neo-Roman world.
  • Digital sculpting ( using a notorious classicism influence)
  • Walking through museums and galleries.
  • Various artistic activities.
  • Doing sport and staying healthy. Using the ancient Greek sportsmen as a reference.
  • Playing modernised versions of Ancient Age sports.
  • Rapping over Ancient Hip-Hop beats ( Like a modernized version of the poetry recitals of ancient Rome and Greece )
  • Doing virtual photography in video games set in Ancient Greece / Rome
  • Read historical novels about the Ancient Greek/Roman era

Music[]

The Neo-Romanism aesthetic has its own music, which is a sub-genre of Bardcore, known as Ancient Bardcore. It recreates contemporary music in the style of the Ancient Ages.

Also, Low Bap, a sub-genre of Hip-Hop that emerged in Greece, Greek Lo - Fi Hip - Hop and Ancient Hip - Hop could be considered part of this aesthetic.

Fashion[]

Neo-Romanism also reached the world of fashion. With companies such as Dolce Gabanna creating clothing collections inspired by the fashion of Byzantium (Eastern Roman Empire).

Jewelry / Accessories[]

Art[]

On an artistic level, as is obvious beyond his influences of the Renaissance, Neoclassicism and the classic world. On the Internet, the Neo-Roman art looks quite influenced by Vaporwave (particularly because of its use of works belonging to the Renaissance) and Hustlewave using the aesthetics of the first and the positivism of the second in order to encourage a return to the values and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome.

Artists[]

Neo-Romanism in sports[]

Neo-Romanism has also reached the world of sports. With companies like the startup Unified Weapons Master wanting to "resurrect" gladiator fights, but in an modernized way.

Neo-Romanism in gastronomy[]

Neo-Romanism has also reached the world of cuisine, as there is a restaurant known as Toro. It is characterised by its Pan-Asian / Latin influences when it comes to its food.

Ideology[]

Pan-Latinism[]

Although it does not have a defined ideology, the Pan-Latinism ideology is considered part of the aesthetics and the movement, as it has influenced many of its members. Pan-Latinism as an ideology is a pan-nationalist ideology that first appeared in France which supports the unity or unification of the Romance language-speaking ethnic groups, including Italians, French people, Spaniards, Portuguese people, Romanians, Moldovans and every other Romance ethnic group such as the Catalans, Walloons, Occitans, Galicians, Sicilians, among many others. Sometimes they may also include the ex-colonies of the Romance-speaking countries.

Pan-Latinism[]

Like the anarcho-frontierism and their aesthetics known as Space Cowboy. They support the idea of transhumanism, but with certain limits.

Religion[]

Although there is freedom and many types of cults, within Neo-Romanism, there are four main groups: Roman Way (those who try to recreate the Ancient Roman religion as faithfully as possible) Hellenism, Cult of Mars ( Inspired by the Cult of Mars from the fictional universe of Fallout ) [ See Khorne ideology for more information on movements, cults, ideas, etc...Very much based on fictional counterparts ] and Christianity ( Though not so much like the modern branches, but more inspired by early Christianity ).

Other notable religious groups / organizations[]

Media[]

  • Roma Eterna (book)
  • Fallout: New Vegas (videogame) (Legion ending)
  • Fallout: Lanius (live action fan film)
  • Cyberpunk V3.0 (pen and paper RPG) (gangs like the Daughters of Hecate, Hippolyte and the Spartans)
  • Nova Roma 2011 (short movie)
  • Roma Nova (books)
  • Roman Justice SPQR: Too Roman To Handle (book)
  • Dune (franchise)
  • Stellaris (videogame)
  • Mythical Galaxy (webcomic)
  • Coriolanus (2011 film, adaptation of Shakespeare play of the same name )
  • Assassin's Creed (franchise) ( Some parts of Isu technology and culture )
  • Eclipse Phase (pen and paper RPG)
  • Telefrag VR (videogame)
  • Well I Never Knew That! Did Romans Design the Space Shuttle?: The Roman Empire - Fascinating Facts and Everyday Phrases Explained (book)
  • Foundation ( 2021 Apple TV show adaption of the books of the same name)
  • Pietas (book)
  • Through my window [A través de mi ventana] (2022 movie adaption of the book of the same name)
  • Sailing to Byzantium (novella )
  • The Outer Worlds (videogame )
  • American Gods ( book )
  • Fallout : Van Buren Design Documents ( cancelled videogame ) ( sections of the Daughters of Hecate and Caesar´s Legion )
  • Space Gladiator (comicbook)
  • Fallout : The Frontier (mod)
  • Old World Blues ( Hearts of Iron IV mod)
  • Halo ( franchise )
  • John Carter ( 2012 movie )
  • Thor Love & Thunder (2022 movie)

Videos[]

Notes[]

  • There is a trope which influenced this aesthetic, Space Romans.
  • The Neo-Romans have no problem with Christianity and other more recent religions. As a matter of fact, in Nova Roma there is freedom of worship, but it is true that many within this organisation/micronation have a certain repudiation of monotheistic religions, as they consider that in part, these caused the fall of empires such as the Roman Empire (both in its western and eastern part). Yet, they also consider Byzantium as part of their legacy and have been influenced (albeit to a lesser degree) by it.
  • Only some parts of Assasins Creed's Isu culture and technology could be considered part of this aesthetic, as the Isu are also influenced by Bronzepunk and Sandalpunk.
  • Although in a much lesser way, the Holy Roman Empire has an influence on this aesthetic.
  • The Neo-Romans, like the ancient Romans, try to incorporate elements of other aesthetics/cultures into their own. Although in the case of modern Romans, these cultures are limited to Greek cultures or cultures that were part of the Roman Empire (mainly).
  • The Daughters of Hecate from Fallout : Van Buren and Cyberpunk have nothing to do with each other, they just share the same name.
  • Media that romanticise or are not properly historical (with the exception of Sandalpunk and Bronzepunk works) the Greco-Roman era, could also be considered part of this aesthetic (albeit to a much lesser extent).
  • Although Warhammer is Grimdark and has many elements that do not fit with the Neo-Romanism aesthetics, being so vast and complex, it has many others that do (The figure of the Worshipped Emperor, taken directly from the Roman Imperial era, the Golden Age of Humanity, the Ultramar Kingdom, which has a Greco-Roman aesthetic, etc...).

Derived aesthetics[]

Gallery[]

Sources[]

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