Quirites: When was born your interest for ancient Rome ?

MMA: Mainly during my study of the ancient world in college. Later, my naval career also added to my growing interest by adding the element of visiting ancient ruins. In the latter portion of my career, my wife and I lived in Spain for two years, and I have been able to visit many European countries as well as North Africa. After my naval career, my civilian travels proved to be even more interesting. My beginning in Nova Roma can be traced to the interest, information, and polite, fulsome greeting I received from Legio IX in San Diego.

Quirites: Apparently, your childhood was not that easy...

MMA: My childhood was not really difficult. I grew up in a middle class family of love, concern, and attention. However, my childhood was marked by frequent moves as my father was in construction, and we moved as he completed one job after another. I averaged a different school for each of the twelve years I was in school!

Quirites: Did you study latin?

MMA: No, I have not. A doctor has indicated that my ability to memorize has been severely damaged by the long undiagnosed health problem.However, I continue to work at it in the hopes of regaining some of my former ability at this skill.

Quirites: Did you visit roman ruins? If yes, what are your best memories of this visit(s)?

MMA: Yes, I have traveled extensively in the ancient world, and seen many of the ancient Greek and Roman ruins. My best memories are the most recent, when I spent three days along Hadrian's Wall in Great Britain. The wall, its restorations and the museums were very impressive, as was the Roman Fort of Vindolanda.

Quirites: What field of ancient Rome civilization do you prefer?

MMA: Roman Military in all of its aspects, particularly engineering. That is the main reason why I founded the Sodalitas Militarium in Nova Roma.

Quirites: How did you get in touch with Nova Roma and why did you enter it?

MMA: I was in correspondence with the IXth Legio in San Diego, California. There, a friend provided me with the identity and history of the man whose name I now hold. My friend also suggested that I might be interested in Nova Roma. When I talked with Cassius Julianus, then the Consul, I was struck with his polite manner and his generous welcome to NR, and so I joined !!!

Quirites: Which is, according yourself, the main quality and the main default of Nova Roma (NR)?

MMA: The main quality of NR, to me, are the many friends that I have here, and the growing list of references, and opportunities for learning more of the ancient world.
The main fault that I see, is a lack of a stronger moderation of the NR Main List, the preoccupation of a verbal few in petty political and augmentative discussion, causing a constant drain off of the newer NR citizens.

Quirites: What would you better up in NR if you could?

MMA: I would like to see a calmer and quieter Nova Roma devoted to the exchange of ideas. So modern politics and argument should be regulated to a given Sodalitas, and the NR Main List reserved for the exchange of ancient roman information, references, etc., as well as the encouragement of accurate fictional creations by Nova Roman.
I should also like to see the Roman experts engaging in more writing of articles and teaching in the Academia Thule rather than arguing over details which do not really matter to the overall aspect of Nova Roma, her place in the present modern world and the direction in which it is moving.

Quirites: Why have you been so productive, creating specially The Eagle/Aquila, Pilum, the Roman Times Quaterly?

MMA: It is how I see that I can best contribute to Nova Roma!!

Quirites: Which Eagle/Aquila’s article are you the proudest of?/p>

MMA: The Roman Story series, "The Rhine River Patrol," specially.

Quirites: Which roman virtue seems to you the most important ?

MMA: Loyalty.

Quirites: Which book or reading has the most impressed you? Why?

MMA: Adkins and Adkins, 'Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome', Oxford Uniiv. Press, New York and Oxford, 1994 (ISBN 0-19-512332-8 (pbk).
This was a gift from my NR friend Sen. Fabius Maximus. It is the most valued book in my roman library. It has an extensive bibliography which I have found to be most valuable, and the book itself has answered many of my questions about ancient Rome.

Quirites: Do you have a motto?

MMA: No, not really. My interest in expressing my ideas and beliefs are found at the end of my messages to Nova Roma.

Quirites: What text would you wish that the sculptor write down on your epitaph?

MMA: This is a difficult question... However, in the end, I suppose I must be taken by my love of the sea, so : "Give me a tall ship and a star to steer her by!!"

Quirites: What wish concerning ancient Rome would you like to realize?

MMA: I should very much like to be deeply involved in constructing some manner of roman military ediface or entity in the present day world, and then be a frequent presentor there to the interested public in period dress and manner.

Quirites: If you were a roman god or goddess, who would you be?

MMA: Mars!!!

Quirites: If you were a roman building, who would you be? Why?

MMA: A curia, because it is the heart of the roman world, deep in the forum. It is where the laws are made, where vital ideas and concerns are discussed and debated. It is a place of friendship and comradeship with one's valued colleagues.

Quirites:If you were a roman historical character, who would you be?

MMA:Scipio Africanus!!!

Quirites: If you were to select just a handful years in the whole history of Rome, which ones would you pick up? Why?

MMA: The rule of the Emperor Augustus. There was much good done under its reign, he formally restored the Republic, army pay was increased, censuses were revived, coinage was produced, he reorganized the Army and Navy, he organized the Praetorian guard, colonization reached a peak, he created the "ursus publicus" (imperial post), was responsible for the custom tax introduction, he introduced the legionary legate, founded libraries, reintroduced the Magistry law, he established the 'vigiles', restored the Via Flamina, passed a roads decree, and was a temple builder.

Quirites: Which latin or related to Rome book would you take with you on a desert island ?

MMA: My 'Handbook To Life In Ancient Rome.'(see supra). I would attempt to memorize it to the best of my poor ability to do so.

Publius Memmius Albucius