Monday, October 6th, MMDCCLXXVIII, 6:00 p.m. - 6:56 p.m.
Participants: Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia
Marcus Quintius Clavus
Aulus Iulius Paterculus
Upon joining the call, I asked Sibylla, who was already present, "What's new?"/"Quid novi?" She responded to both the English and Latin version of the question with a shrug.
This prompted me to ask whether the shrug was used in ancient Rome, noting that in ancient Greece we knew nods to have a different usage than in most of the modern West. Quintius, who had joined about this time, concurred that nods and other gestures were different in ancient Greece. Quintius added that Jan Fraizer, whose YouTube series on Alexander the Great Quintius had found very enjoyable, had gone into this topic, as had some historical novels. However, the gestures used by the Romans had not been explored by the same sources. Quintius did comment that the shrug in particular was sometimes associated with the Jews. I wondered aloud how far back any such cultural connection might have gone.
This lead to a discussion of Jewish history, and particularly of the Babylonian exile. Quintius clarified that the Babylonians had actually taken two groups of Jews captive at different times, both times primarily elites, while much of the lower class was permitted to remain in Israel. Quintius stated that these captives did not appear to have been enslaved, and added that slavery was somewhat less pervasive in Babylon than in Rome, though still extant. Also discussed was the origin of the Jewish diaspora with these events and the decision of some communities of Jews to remain abroad when the Persians ended the exile. Quintius wondered how far back the synagogue found at Dura Europus might have been found to date.
I commented that the Romans also would probably not have enslaved members of a foreign elite, even if they were taken captive, as this would have compromised the broader project of co-opting the elites of subject peoples. Quintius agreed, citing the examples of Arminius taken as a hostage for his father and the of Claudians an elite clan of a non-Roman (non-Etruscan) people which had joined the Romans back in the Regal Period.
I then asked about plans the others had for the Autumn season. Sibylla stated that farmer's markets were tapering off for the year. Quintius stated that he would be attending the East Kingdom Coronation for the Society of Creative Anachronism in Wooster, followed by the Providence Columbus Day Parade with Legio III Cyrenaica. He commented that it might rain, and that while they would march rain or shine, it was a bit miserable dealing with wet armour.
This led to conversation about the weather, which Sibylla deftly brought back on topic by asking whether there had been frost in Rome. Both Quintius and I asserted that there had been. Quintius more specifically stated that there was cold weather on north shore of Mediterranean, but that the climate was mildness due to the temperature-moderating effect of the sea. He added that during the height of the western Roman empire, the climate worldwide was warmer and that archaeologists were able to measure drought.
Quintius also mentioned that grapes in Britain during this time, another sign of warmer temperatures. I mentioned Concord grapes, developed during the era of the North American British colonies, as a form of grape which could endure a cooler climate. Sibylla stated that the Concord grapes were likely bred from indigenous wild grapes and I agreed.
Quintius stated that humanity had engaged in selective breeding from time immemorial. Sibylla cited the examples of corn, bred originally from a kind of grass, and of the various exotic breeds of dogs. Quintius brought up cats as a species which had not been quite as heavily modified through breeding as dogs. I mentioned that there was a certain breed I'd heard of with dog-like behavior patterns, though I didn't recall which one. Quintius recalled something similar and also did not remember the breed, although he did mention that Siamese cats could become very attached to a single person.
Sibylla stated that dogs were frequently mentioned by Romans in their literature and that cats had likely come north with the Roman Empire, although the Norwegian forest cats may have already been there from an earlier migration. Sibylla mentioned that these were the ancestor of the Maine coon cat (which she also later mentioned was the breed she'd had at home while growing up). Quintius recalled a genetic test which revealed some Siberian cat ancestry.
Zoom then ended the call. Sibylla had time to warn us that she would not be coming back that evening, as it was time for bed.
However, Quintius and I rejoined for a while. I asked Quintius whether the proposed date of December 21st for Saturnalia would work for him. He cited a potential conflict with the Yule celebration for the local SCA and agreed to discuss this with Sibylla once the SCA's dates were finalized.
Quintius shared the sad news of having read an obituary on the Main List. I was shocked to learn that this obituary was for P. Annaeus Constantinus Placidus and we spent some time reflecting on his character and achievements.
Quintius asked after Astronomus, and, after a bit of further conversation, signed off.
