Scriba Propraetoris Octavia Bianchia Crispiana

Salve citizens of Lacus Magni and Nova Roma:

My name is Octavia Bianchia Crispiana. Like so many others, my love of history began with my father. He loved to read and talk about it. His interest encompassed everything from ancient history to modern day. For myself my particular interests are ancient and medieval.

I took a few college courses on English History and was fascinated by the person Eleanor of Aquitaine who later became the wife of Henry the II. I enjoy Shakespeare and Dickens. I also enjoy attending the Renaissance Festival in Waynesville, OH.

After college I started to read more about ancient history and was captivated by the beginnings of Rome with the Etruscans. When a friend told me about Nova Roma I found the idea unique and a new way to learn more about Rome.

I joined in 2000 and have enjoyed being involved with the annual Lacus Magni Roman Day Festivals. Last year I help coordinate the Oratory contest. In preparation for that I read Cicero, which was very informative. These Roman Day Festivals are a good learning experience for me due in large part to Drusila who has a great knowledge of the daily life during the period and is also an excellent cook. She prepares the best Roman Feast I have ever had.

Outside of Nova Roma, I live in Columbus, OH with my boyfriend and daughter (both citizens of Nova Roma) and three cats. I like to sew and recently sewed a Renaissance dress for myself and a Roman tunic for my boyfriend. I work for a bank in the Charitable Foundation department, which is different from most areas of the bank since we are mainly concerned with giving money away and not making it. I am a Roman Catholic and as such have always been interested in Latin. I have never taken a formal course but I have a few books and a software program to teach myself.