Reepicheepfan said:
a.c. mean Before Christ (b.c.)
I give you some more informations take by NARNINEW Forum
"Have you enjoyed “The Chronicles of Narnia - Lion , Witch and Wardrobe”, Walt Disney’s latest movie yet?
Did you open that wardrobe finding yourself thrown into a fantastic, magical world?
Are you really sure that this movie is just the fruit of a writer’s fantasy? Have you ever wondered if Narnia can be more than an imaginary town?
Here you’ll find the answers to these questions, and something more.
Narnia is not just a dream, it does exist indeed !!
The writer Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) gave Walt Disney’s authors the inspiration for this blockbuster, describing in his books a fictional, fantastic world named Narnia.
Narnia is actually the Latin name of Narni, a beautiful medieval Umbrian town, right in the middle of Italy, filled with charming towers, buildings and protected by huge city walls. A beautiful castle on the top of a hill still overlooks the town and the valley, where the river Nera flows. The ruins of the world famous Augustus Bridge (27. A.D.) crossing the river still bear witness of the past times, when people had to cross the bridge, and its the Flaminia Road to get to Rome.
Narni has always been a sort of last bulwark on the way to Rome, since the Roman times, up to the present days, being the last town within 100 miles from the capital city of the empire.
Although we have no historical evidence of this, we are convinced that the town history and its symbols (firstly the griffon, real speaking sign of the town itself) have been a major inspiration to C.S. Lewis’ work, his novels about Narnia actually deal with the endless fights between good and bad, and they are rich of symbols and fantastic characters.
Narni is today also renowned for being Italy’s geographical centre; its history dates back to pre-roman times, though it reached its major splendour during the middle ages, as a free town, dealing with most Umbrian towns (Perugia, Asssisi, Todi etc..) on an equal footing.
The main feast in medieval Narni is dedicated to the Patron Saint Giovenale, taking place each year on the 3rd of May.
During this festival the whole town of Narni contributes to recreate the atmosphere of 1371, year of the first written city laws. Following the rules and regulations prescribed by the medieval laws, riders participate in the historical “Race to the ring” - wearing their medieval costumes - riding their horses, trying to drive their lances through a silver ring.
Narni is proud to be the fatherland of many important historical characters in the past centuries: among them the roman Emperor Cocceio Nerva, even though the most important son of this town is Erasmo Gattamelata, military leader who led the Venetian army for a long time, and whose beautiful equestrian statue (a masterpiece by Donatello) is in Padua.
The poet D’Annunzio dedicated one of his most famous poems to Narni, describing the charming beauties of the town, a real treasure in the green heart of Italy.
Are you willing to get to know more and more about our town and the connections to Lewis’ Narnia? Well, here are some web pages which will lead you through its history, tradition and people: "
more informations on
http://www.narnia.it
