Nova Britannia Remote General Meeting: Aprilis MMDCCLXXVI

Nova Britannia Remote General Meeting: Aprilis MMDCCLXXVI

April 24th, 2023, 7:00 p.m.

Attendees: Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia

Numerius Octauius Astronomus

Aula Tullia Scholastica

   The meeting started with some conversation between N. Octauius and Sibylla Fulvia about historical videos on YouTube, with both agreeing on the value of work by Jackson Crawford (https://www.youtube.com/@JacksonCrawford). Mention was also made of Grimfrost (https://grimfrost.com/) a company which sells both Dr. Crawford's books and Viking/Nordic clothing.

  There was some discussion of the technology Sibylla was using to participate in the call, which had recently been upgraded, and of Tullia Scholastica's upcoming drive to Toronto.

   We talked a bit about Roman garb, particularly Sibylla's reenactment of a Danish spice trader. Sibylla mentioned a few other things which had been traded, including grain from Egypt and ivory from Africa.

   We discussed the agenda for upcoming presentations, agreeing that Sibylla would give a presentation on Roman food in July, while I would share one on Roman drink in August. I would also give one comparing the philosophers Iamblichus & Porphyry at a later time, which Sibylla traded to me in exchange for the Roman food presentation.

   Speaking of future events, we discussed the meeting planned by Flavius Vedius Germanicus in Pennsylvania that June. No one had heard from Vedius recently, and the last email about the event had been in March.

   We agreed the plans for Saturnalia were still in place. Sibylla and Octauius continued to consider the possibility of a trip to Wesleyan together. It was also noted that Sibylla would celebrate her 80th birthday in June, for which she was given a thumbs up. State Latin Day was mentioned as well.

    Octauius asked whether any of us had done anything special for Parilia. Scholastica mentioned the videos and pictures of the parade in Rome shared by Cn. Lentulus and noted that this event was a really big deal in Rome.

    We planned to have our next general meeting on May 22nd and the next Latin meeting for May 14th (though the Latin meeting was later postponed).

Remote Roman Birthday Feast

Remote Roman Birthday Feast

April 18th, 2023, 7:00 p.m. - 7:37 p.m.

Participants: Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia

                     A. Iulius Paterculus

                     Cn. Cornelius Lentulus

                     M. Quintius Clavus

                     A. Tullia Scholastica

   Sibylla Fulvia and I joined the call first and engaged in some pleasant conversation about our lives and farmers' markets.

   Cn. Lentulus arrived shortly thereafter. I expressed the hope that Lentulus was not too exhausted, since for him it was 1 a.m., on a weekday. He replied that while it was late, he had come because he had been invited and to honour Scholastica on her birthday. Lentulus added that he expected to leave early.

   The three of us examined the Latin translation of "Happy Birthday" Scholastica had provided to us. Sibylla asked Lentulus to share the Hungarian version of the song, which he did. Sibylla shared a verse of the SCA version.

    Quintius and Scholastica joined around that time. I pointed out that Lentulus had said he wouldn't be staying very long and suggested we jump ahead to the cake, if anyone had made one. No one had, but Sibylla did fetch and light a candle for Scholastica.

    Scholastica showed us photos of her childhood, one being carried as a baby by her mother (whom Lentulus compared to a young Queen Elizabeth), another standing outside her house on the day of her high school graduation (wearing a white gown and rose bouquet, as well as the medal she had been given), and a third sitting next to her younger brother (she was 11 & he was 8). We learned that Scholastica's mother had also been a teacher.

   Scholastica & Sibylla shared some experiences in teaching, which showed that the profession was not for the faint of heart.

   The others told of the meals they had earlier in the evening. Sibylla had enjoyed chicken, which Scholastica also planned to have that night, Quintius had eaten lamb with Greek seasoning, and Lentulus humus with pita bread with vegetables. We agreed that these dishes would likely have been recognisable to the ancients, although Quintius had supplemented his lamb with a thoroughly American side of home fries.

   Sibylla mentioned the fast food restaurant unearthed in Pompeii, and Lentulus told us of the visit he and Tita Popillia Laenas had made to Pompeii & Herculaneum the previous year. Conversation turned to upcoming trips: Lentulus to Rome, Scholastica to Budapest, and Sibylla to give a presentation in southern Connecticut. Scholastica was encountering some challenges in planning her trip. Quintius had some suggestions, but it was clear that Scholastica had research and preparations ahead.

   I told the others of the tour I would be taking of Greece in a few weeks and showed the two Roman dishes I'd prepared: olive relish & fish with cheese.

   We sang Scholastica's translation of "Happy Birthday". Lentulus fetched a candle and I a flashlight, so that Scholastica could ceremonially blow them out alongside the candle Sibylla had burning all along. Lentulus made a toast to Scholastica in Latin, and we drank to her health.

   Quintius was telling us of his intended travels, to CT Latin & Greek Day on April 27th, to Kennebunk on May 6th, and elsewhere when the call ended.

Thanks to Scholastica for feedback on the initial draft.