Javon Ryan is a reincarnated Roman warrior

The enigmatic Javon Ryan is a junior Classics major who genuinely believes he is a reincarnated Roman warrior from the fourth century.

Or at least, we think he does. It’s tough to tell if he’s joking, but if he is, his commitment to the bit is pretty damn commendable.

He speaks like a Roman soldier 100% of the time, roams Prospect Ave in gladiator attire, and recounts his “past life” with extraordinarily vivid detail.

We caught up with Javon—better known by his gladiator name Javonius Flavius—to learn more about his past and current life.

He dropped so many names and places from ancient Roman history that we had to Wikipedia them to see if he was bluffing—but they all seemed to check out. It almost felt like he really was recounting them from memory, but we’ll let you decide for yourself.

So you study Latin here. Can you tell us about that?

Yes I am a classics major, which seems at first to be an oddity but is not when you consider my past history.

Which is?

Currently I know of two lives that I’ve lived. There is this current life and one in the past:

In the fourth century I was born in North Africa to a military family that lived in Carthage, where I would later become a centurion in the Roman army. I received these revelations in dreams throughout my life as episodes, if you will.

A centurion?

Yes, a centurion is an elevated rank within the Roman army. In the depictions that you see in movies, they’re typically the ones wearing the helmets with the red bristles, the very elegant garb that distinguishes their position.

The important thing about a centurion is that he is particularly distinguished by his bravery and his knowledge of tactics in combat. It takes quite some bravery, as you can imagine, to be a centurion. In my past life I fought against particularly brutish barbarians. Do you remember the Goths?

I…do I remember them?

Oh, right…

Do you have an alias?

I use Flavius Severus as one. It harkens back to [Roman emperor] Septimius Severus, who was born in North Africa as well.

Kind of like how Fetty Wap partially named himself after Gucci Mane’s “GuWop” alias?

Yes, exactly. But the proper Latinization for my name is Javonius.

Can we put ‘em together? Javonius Flavius?

That’s fine.

Did your revelations come before or after you started studying classics?

I received my first revelation the night before I had to choose my language elective in seventh grade. I can still recall how as my teacher first wrote the Latin words on the board, this strong sense of reminiscence—a déjà vu if you will—started to stir in my heart. It bewildered me at first.

From then on, I excelled in Latin. I was the first-ranked out of all my peers, as I had been in the army—or at least was progressing toward until I met my demise.

Sorry did you just imply that you died in your first life, like in combat? 

Yes, I received a revelation about that. It was a very inglorious end. I hate to think about it every day.

What happened?

 Well. You probably do not remember when we were fighting against the Goths…

Sorry. Anything before like the 19^th century is pretty hazy to me.

Yes, I understand. Well the Goths were pillaging and raping our beautiful towns and villages. We were sent to stop this most formidable threat. We met outside of Adrianople, which is in Turkey today. Through the foolishness of our Emperor Valens, all of our infantry were surrounded by the Gothic cavalry.

I fought very hard, but I knew there was no way out for me. I stood my ground with my shield in my left hand and my sword in my right hand. I fought and I fought. I ultimately was speared in the neck by a Gothic lancer, and slowly I could feel my spirit departing from my body as the blood drained.

Yikes. I’m not really sure how to segue from that, but um…Yeah can you tell us about your extracurriculars, and maybe how they fit in with Javonius Flavius?

I am involved in the Sympoh Urban Arts Crew, I am involved in Club Power Lifting, and I am also involved in Sprint Football.

If you notice, all my activities are very martial in nature. They require a lot of body strength. Sympoh allows me to add an expressive or artistic side to that physical strength. Power lifting and sprint football are more raw, I would say.

Are you in an eating club?

Yes. I’m in Cannon Dial Elm.

Why did you choose that one?

I esteemed the company of the people that I met there. The Cannon is also quite militaristic in nature. I mean, you have the cannon outside! There is no clearer symbol of war—I mean of course you have the sword, but—and with war comes strength and might and virtue, and all the things you associate with combat. The members are filled with the strength and might that drives them, and I wished to be a part of that.

What’s your role like there? Are the members familiar with your past life?

Many if not all of the Cannon members are familiar with my past life. In fact I recount one experience where, for Initiations, the dress code was a toga outfit, in honor of the honor Greco-Roman tradition. But I decided, “Wait, no, I am not just a citizen. I am a leader. I am the first among equals.” So I decided I would go in my centurion outfit.

Naturally.

Yes. I dressed as a centurion, and I was received, as you might guess…[Pausing, thinking.] I was received as their leader.

[Long silence.] What did that entail?

Before the assembled throngs of the initiates, I delivered a rousing speech that stimulated the very souls of all 80 or so initiates.

I said that I had fought in many battles and many wars, and that I had served alongside and made many companions, and that there was no better alliance than the Cannon Alliance. To which I received a very vigorous and great response. I was carried off by a man by the name of Connor Kelley, the great…[Thinking]

The Great?

Connor Kelley The Great, yes.

Sprint Football has lost a lot of games, er—battles…why do you keep going back?

I look back on my past life, and often our armies did not receive the numbers of allotted men that were required. But even lacking men, we still fought our hardest, and with our excellent training in discipline, we were able to overcome our enemies in combat.

And so I thought the Sprint team being as undermanned as they were, they would serve from the resources of a strong and stout soldier such as myself. And so I enlisted in the ranks of General [Coach] Morey and his fine army.

The battles have been difficult with Sprint being as undermanned as we are, but through discipline and through training, I’ve been able to improve my fighting techniques—or rather my football techniques.

Not only that, I believe it has improved my stoicism and improved my virtue. I believe my valor has attained a level on par with the level that I achieved as a centurion fighting that very last battle. Against the Goths. When I died.

A general’s role is to get the people hype. When you’re in the locker room before a game, how do you get hype?

My view has been not to suppress the emotions of the soul, but to restrain them in such a way that they can properly be used when the moment most calls for it. When the heat of battle arrives, I come charging in with a strong force of mind and body. But at the same time, should the tides turn, I cannot falter. If that makes sense.

Everything you’ve said has made perfect sense to this point. Can you talk about your outfit?

My garb?

Your garb, yeah

Unfortunately my centurion outfit got torn in the Initiations, but alas. I have this one, which is medieval supposedly. I’m not really from that time period, so I don’t take as much of a liking to it. But it is a military outfit, so I thought it would do.

Do you ever not speak in battle metaphor? Like around professors or classmates?

Well with my professors, I think they don’t understand my past life quite as much. I’m not sure if they’ve received any revelations for themselves.

I will speak in this way pretty much everywhere. I’ll call it the Contemplative Mode. It earns me a lot of humor, many people are humored by it, as you are, but I also believe people respect it. I believe I have become a respected member of the community because of it.

Of course, in some situations a more rapid form of communication may be required, and I’m able to adapt as circumstances require. I mean, how else do you think I would have served successfully as a centurion in the past? [Chuckles] 

Speaking of adapting to circumstances – how are your midterms going?

Well, I faced three assaults this week. The results…they were all decisive victories.

Alright! So are you going out to celebrate?

Unfortunately I have a bit more fortifying to do, but alas. I face two more assaults this week.

Damn. Do you have a favorite theme night, or a favorite night of the year?

[Long pause, thinking hard] Terrace raves. The vigor of them really stirs up the passions and energies in my soul.

What’s a typical Saturday night for Javonius Flavius?

Usually I’m sleeping until around 12, letting my body rest after some combat from the night before. I.e. homework assignments. That, or doing diplomatic alliances. I.e. going out. The Alliance of Charter is good for that. So I let myself recover from busying myself in either military or diplomatic affairs.

I will feed my troops, then I will build up my defenses [I think he means study?] for the next week, then around 5 I will feed my troops once more. Then I will maybe do a little more fortifying in preparation for the week’s battles [more studying?], then if my defenses are looking reasonable, I will go out and do diplomacy at various clubs, starting with Cannon.

What do you do there?

Usually I go there to dance for my own edification. But if the opportunity arises, of course, as it sometimes does, I will pursue a liaison (grinning).

A liaison?

A diplomatic one, yes.

Can you define that?

It will typically involve ascending your envoys on another country, usually of the opposite gender, and establishing physical contact.

A country of the opposite gender.

Yes.

And how are the ladies treating you these days?

I believe there may be slight diplomatic interest in me, for sure. Not as many have been able to see me lately because I’ve been so busy fortifying [studying], but when they do they take a liking to me. And when a period of peace from the academic battle comes, I believe there will be much opportunity for liaison. Of course the opportunities will be there, but I’m not sure if I will pursue them.

Why wouldn’t you pursue them?

Well many of them are…I would consider them to be of common rank. I’m only searching for deities.

Your Helen of Troy?

Precisely.

When you say, “Of common rank,” do you mean…like, “Basic?”

[Thinking] Yes, I would say that’s apt.

What do you say to people who think you’re either delusional about your past life or being facetious about it?

I tell them, “Wait until you’ve experienced it yourself.”

If you could give one piece of advice to Princeton students what would it be?

Well, if you’re like me and you receive revelations, then go where they take you.

For everyone else who does not—which I think is absurd, everyone must receive at least some kind of premonition—but if you really don’t, then I think the best piece of advice is to keep a stoic heart and mind. Change is a fundamental aspect of life. Do not be afraid to let the currents help push you in slightly different directions.