Nova Britannia Latin Meeting: Octobris MMDCCLXXVIII

Monday, October 20th, MMDCCLXXVIII, 6:00 p.m. - 7:03 p.m.
Participants:    Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia

                        Publius Sextius Laevus

                        Marcus Quintius Clavus

                        Numerius Octavius Astronomus

                        Aulus Iulius Paterculus

    Early in the meeting there were in-person congratulations, first by M. Quintius Clavus and then by P. Sextius Laevus and me, of Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia on her adlection to the Senate. There was some discussion of what responsibilities this entailed, which it was agreed would also be posted in written form on the Nova Britannia list for future reference. Sibylla promised to be a voice for Nova Britannia in the Senate and told everyone to let her know their concerns.

    Quintius then left the call to enjoy dinner. I noted that it would be good to have a version of the phrase " Bon appétit" in Latin, but no one knew it.

    The three of us still present on the call spent some time reading and translating from Familia Romana. We read from the start of Capitulum IX to line 74, leaving on a cliffhanger: the words "Lupus collum ovis petit dentibus..."

    We decided to end the Latin session there, and were cut off just as Laevus was about to make some final comment. I returned just in case Laevus wanted to come back and finish what he was saying.

     This was fortuitous, because shortly thereafter, N. Octavius Astronomus joined the call. Astronomus explained that he had just returned home from school and asked whether there was any vital news in Nova Britannia. I commented on Sibylla's adlection and we discussed this for a while, as well as how the censors usually post the results of the census in general. Astronomus was struck by the fact that the censors hadn't contacted Sibylla beforehand, but had left her to discover her new status along with everyone else.

    Astronomus gave some updates on his work as Triumvir monetalis, working alongside Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus and Marcus Octavius Corvus to plan the creation of new Nova Roman coins. Astronomus said the process was going well but slowly, with the cost of the project being a large factor and an ongoing debate on whether to use modern or ancient minting methods. He added that the reception and use of the new coins by citizens was a major consideration. Astronomus also said he'd communicated with some Rome enthusiasts outside Nova Roma for advice on the project.

    Astronomus asked whether there had been any progress on the conventus. I said there had not, but that I had not tried to get in contact with Cassius recently and should reach out again.

    Astronomus described his busy schedule, but said that he would try to make at least one meeting a month and that he would try to let people know if he was planning to attend, so that we knew to wait for him. He sent greetings to everyone, saying to let them know he was still here.