Yo, it's a pagan

Follower of the Roman and Greek pantheon—"I asked myself[:] What, Sappho, can you give one who has everything, like Aphrodite?"- Sappho (transl. Mary Barnard)

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

Musings From Discord: Deities and Relationships

Someone from my Hellenic Discord talked about their relationship fading away with their Deity drifts in a non-negative way.

I kind of just recognize it and take time for myself in that situation.

It's like that one thing that either Plato or Aristotle say how our love for the Theoi kind of matches the love we have in humanity in general don't quote me on that. I see it that it's normal that we would spend time away from the Theoi. I just feel like not one person can always spend their time with one person/entity/being generally speaking. Heck, even couples need some time away from each other and they can't be constantly glued together! I'd recommend just acknowledging it and taking time for yourself.

And it's okay if your relationship with that Theos just drifts off and never comes back to what it fully is. It doesn't mean it's a bad thing. That's just my opinion though and it depends on what you want with the Theos.

If you still want to continue a relationship with that Theos, just get yourself back to worshipping after the break. If not, that's fine too.

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

Musing from Discord: Aphrodite and Hephaistos

I'm part of a Hellenic Discord and I occasionally say some stuff that feels thoughtful. Today's post from Discord is about Aphrodite, Hephaistos, and breakups.

Whenever I think of Aphrodite and Hephaistos together in sense of that They're in my mind at the same time, a sense of empathy, compassion, and Agape fosters within me.

Love is universal and it's something that carries many aspects with them, and one of those aspects particularly associated with romantic/sexual love is just falling out of love. No longer loving each other. When you just stop loving someone or fall out of love with them.

I see Aphrodite and Hephaistos in break ups especially the type of break ups where you both are no longer in love with each other, but still love each other enough on a human-to-human level: Agape. There's just this sense of understanding where maybe one or both sides have hurt each other or everything just went wrong one by one but they still find the compassion to be understanding. And it's beautiful.

We may lose Eros and the potential of Philia with that person ever again, but you just can't lose Agape in that situation.(edited)

Whenever I think of Aphrodite and Hephaistos together in sense of that They're in my mind at the same time, a sense of empathy, compassion, and Agape fosters within me. Love is universal and it's something that carries many aspects with them, and one of those aspects particularly associated with romantic/sexual love is just falling out of love. No longer loving each other. When you just stop loving someone or fall out of love with them. I see Aphrodite and Hephaistos in break ups especially the type of break ups where you both are no longer in love with each other, but still love each other enough on a human-to-human level: Agape. There's just this sense of understanding where maybe one or both sides have hurt each other or everything just went wrong one by one but they still find the compassion to be understanding. And it's beautiful. We may lose Eros and the potential of Philia with that person ever again, but you just can't lose Agape in that situation.

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

Kalends Fabariae (Junonius) Text Ritual

Today is the Kalends of June!

Photo by Çağlar Oskay on Unsplash

As you can see in the title, I put "text ritual". I use a blog post to signify the actions of the ritual rather than physically as I do not have the resources or space to do the rituals in real life. There will be a lot of photos and gifs in this post.

You too may use this blog post as a way of conducting the ritual if you are unable to do so in real life or physically.

The ritual used here is written by Nova Roma for Kalends. You may find it here! Though I will be adding my own personal prayers to this ritual.

I will be honoring several Deities below and you are free to change the list of Deities I honor to the ones you do.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's begin the ritual!

————————————

We first begin by purificatio or purification. In this case, you should be physically clean by flowing water. Let the essence of the flowing water from this gif purify you.

Feel free to meditate for a minute or so on this...

After you've been cleansed, your surrounding and ritual tools should be cleansed too through sprinkling pure water on it.

Now kiss your right hand in the direction of the Deorum.

Photo by Jean Luc Catarin on Unsplash Wreaths, garlands, flowers, and/or incense will now be put at the lararium.

Photo by Sayak Bala on Unsplash I choose to leave out my Manes and Lars Familiaris. This is because my family and ancestors would rather be honored or worshipped in another tradition rather than Roman. And to my understanding, the Manes and Lars Familiaris involved ancestors.

"Janus Matutinus, mother Vesta, mother Juno, my Penates, Venus, Apollo, my Juno Genialis, on these Kalends, on the beginning of this new day and of this new month, by honoring you with flowers and by offering this incense to you I pray good prayers so that you protect me, my hearth, my family and my household today and this month, so that only good, prosperous, happy and fortunate things happen today and this month to me, to my household and to my family, and that you be benevolent and propitious to me, to my household and to my family."

Here the spelt cake is offered with a sprinkle of salt as the household Deities are honored.

Photo by Felipe Vieira on Unsplash

My Personal Prayers

Penates

Let Father Janus see this message through to You, Penates, and guard it well with Mother Vesta.

Penates,

Guardians of Homes,

Guardian of my house and the storerooms of it.

Inspire cooks and bring forth the creation of delicious meals,

tend to the fire with Vesta,

fending off any vermins and insects that may spoil the food,

ensure the house is fed and keep the fire from going out or become ruining.

We sleep as You all guard.

Guard us well, Penates,

and guard us well throughout the month.

May this share of spelt cake be propitious to You all.

With Lord Janus and Lady Vesta's help,

may this message reach You all.

Vesta

Lord Janus,

see this prayer well to Lady Vesta.

Mother Vesta,

Hearth of every home,

I bid you well on this day with this offering of the spelt cake.

Hearth Goddess whose presence is where the warm home and satiating foods are,

let my house be well and welcoming.

Let happiness flourish within it.

Let fights be resolve amicably and laughter and good cheer ring through it.

I want for my family to feel like they are at home with each other if they're not already.

I also want to find my own definition of home and wish for your assistance in that.

Hearth Goddess, I bid you well.

I now honor the individual Deities I mentioned in the first prayer above. Venus and Apollo. I will also include additional Deities to honor in this Kalends of June. They each shall be offered an incense stick.

Venus

O Mother Venus,

bring forth Your love and gifts

and share it amongst my loved ones.

A gift so beautiful as Yours

I truly cannot stop giving it.

Bless me with love in the realm of romance,

in familial love,

and love of all kinds.

This I ask of You.

Apollo

Where light shines in Dies,

You'll be there.

I ask for healing

of the mind

and of the body.

Where no thoughts hinder me enough to live

and no bodily ails halt me enough to live.

Juno Moneta

She who points out the danger,

She of the Money,

She of the days and of the markets.

Holy Juno Moneta.

Moneta, my dear.

Point out all dangers that comes my way

that are either avoidable or unavoidable.

Help me as you've help the Romans when the Gauls were attacking.

Where the geese flocked and screeched dangers,

and were given a place of honor in Your temple.

Juno Regina

Queen of the Heavens.

The Juno itself already means Queen and many more.

It's why Proserpina is called Juno Inferna too.

We call You Queen twice

as it's only right

that You are twice as much Queen

as all Queens are.

Twice more than us and twice as deserving respect.

All hail the Queen,

She lives and harkens.

The blessing here is Your audience to my words.

Mars

Lord of Death and Life.

With agriculture,

You bring forth crops and cause life to be fed.

Yet in the battle,

You led the bloodshed and train the soldiers.

Master of both.

Mars Ultor

Justice is within You.

Where a wrongdoing is committed,

a correction must be done.

Crime calls

and You answer with vengence.

Tempestates

I stare at awe

when storms come

with or without warning.

You are the storm

that humans cannot predict.

Goddesses who come and go

at Their own will and schedule.

The weathers have been odd on Earth Herself.

Come, Goddesses,

let weathers return to their normalcy.

As the pandemic lifts,

we return to a sense of newfound normalcy.

I ask You all, the weathers, to join us as a humble request.

Neptunus

In the dry land, Your domain sprouts

as rivers and streams

that sustains us in the Aestan heat

where we cannot handle the terrific powers of Sol.

Aestas is here, my Lord.

Let life flourish even in the Summer heat.

May we find comfort in Your soothing coolness

till Vertumnus turns the Wheel of Seasons and Change again.

Photo by Henry Be on Unsplash

Juno

Goddess of the beginning of months,

may You grant us renewal like new moons of the cycle.

May you be pleased by the offering of this spelt cake.

Janus

Father Janus,

As You see to the beginning,

You shall see to the end too.

Mother Juno presides over the beginning with You,

but the end is Yours and only Yours.

If there was any error within the text ritual, please accept this offering of a libum.

Photo by Zahra Tavakoli fard on Unsplash

[mikeybooch]

Laughter-loving Aphrodite crowned in roses, myrtle, and apple blossoms for Valentine’s Day. 

Aphrodite has always been my favorite Olympian (with Hera and Hermes occupying the other top spots) and I don’t know why. I like to think it’s because she’s the most feared… 

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

Apollon Alexikakos Apotropaios

May the calming Hestia shine Her warm torch on me. For She tends to the sacred house of Lord Apollon, and I pray to Apollon Alexikakos Apotropaios.

When evil walks, the Daimones and Theoi accompanies them with a warning presence.

Kakia warns of people who built an easy life off of everyone’s suffering. Hybris reveals the violence that comes from reckless pride and arrogance. Ate sees the path of ruin and lead then down as they pave their own way for it.

With that, I make prayers and the Litai; ministers, daughters, and maidens of Zeus, follows Ate with my hope in hand. To complete them faster on the path Ate has set far, far away from me.

While the Theoi takes my prayer, I do what I can and do not leave the entire burden to Apollon. I will not cry helplessly hiding behind Apollon and the Litai.

In Their presence, I am not helpless.

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

Ara Pacis

Today is the day where the altar of Peace of Ara Pacis was consecrated!

(https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/OvidFastiBkOne.php#anchor_Toc69367268)

To give you a short summary regarding Pax and this day:

- She was often depicted and offer olives/olive branches - She favors olive offerings (https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/VirgilGeorgicsII.php#anchor_Toc533843194) - Ovid makes a reference to Her bringing greater glory than war - She was sacrificed a shiny/white entity or victim whose brows/forehead were drenched in wine - She’s also known to be the nurse of Ceres - According to Stefan Weinstock, the Roman idea of peace is that. War results in peace not because of war’s absence, but because of submission to one party. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_(goddess)#cite_note-:5-6)

[sisterofiris]

More Basic Basics of Ancient Greek: How to pray the ancient way

So you’re a Hellenic polytheist, and you’ve decided to add a touch of history to your prayers: you want to say them, or part of them, in Ancient Greek. While this is by no means a requirement - the Gods will surely understand you no matter which language you speak - Ancient Greek in prayer and ritual can function like a liturgical language, and can make you feel closer to those who first practised this religion. But where to start? Which words to use? This post is here to help.

The following words and phrases are all drawn from ancient texts, ranging from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. (If you’re curious about where a certain phrase appears, you’re welcome to send me an ask.) Pick the ones that resonate most with you, try them out, and have fun!

Pro tip: before we start, I recommend that you get familiar with the alphabet and standard pronunciation, and for more versatility, check out the basics of Greek grammar and how the case system works.

However, if it’s all too much for you, skip to the end where I’ll offer a few templates ready for you to use! 

Greetings and invocations

The most common Ancient Greek greeting, which you might’ve encountered before, is χαῖρε. When addressing several people or Gods, it’s χαίρετε. It literally means “rejoice!” and has a similar usage to “hail”, “salve/salvete” or simply “hi”.

In the Iliad 23.179, Achilles greets Patroclus’ dead soul with the phrase χαῖρέ μοι, ὦ Πάτροκλε, καὶ εἰν Ἀίδαο δόμοισι: I greet you (litt. “rejoice for me”), Patroclus, even in the home of Hades.

However, in prayers and hymns, χαῖρε/χαίρετε is less common as a greeting than as a farewell. A more common formula is κλυθί μοι: this means “listen to me”. When addressing several deities, use the plural form κλῦτε μοι.

The next thing you will need is the name of the deity or deities, in the vocative. This is the most important part: many prayers skip χαῖρε and κλυθί μοι and start directly with the deity. As in the quote above, the name can be preceded by ὦ, which is the equivalent of English “O”.

Here are the names of major Hellenic deities (nominative) with their forms in the vocative:

Ζεύς (Zeus): Ζεῦ

Ἥρα/Ἥρη (Hera): same as nominative

Ποσειδών (Poseidon): Πόσειδον

Δημήτηρ (Demeter): Δήμητερ

Ἀΐδης (Hades): Ἀΐδη

Ἑστία/Ἑστίη (Hestia): same as nominative

Ἀθηνᾶ/Ἀθήνη (Athena): same as nominative

Ἑρμῆς (Hermes): Ἑρμῆ

Ἄρτεμις (Artemis): Ἄρτεμι

Ἀπόλλων (Apollon): Ἄπολλον

Ἥφαιστος (Hephaistos): Ἥφαιστε

Διόνυσος (Dionysos): Διόνυσε

Ἄρης (Ares): Ἄρες

Περσεφόνη (Persephone): same as nominative

Bonus: in both nominative and vocative, God is θεός, Goddess is θεά, Gods is θεοί, and Goddesses is θεαί.

To invoke two or more deities, use και, τε και or τε… τε, which all mean “and”, e.g.: Ἄρτεμι καὶ Ἄπολλον, Ζεῦ τε καὶ Ἥρη, Δημήτηρ τε Περσεφόνη τε.

Another option is καλέω, “I call”, or κικλῄσκω, “I summon”. If you choose one of these, you will need the name of the deity and their epithets in the accusative, not in the vocative as above. (If you have trouble figuring out a certain deity’s name, let me know.)

Epithets

After calling upon the deity, you will need to qualify them using one or more epithets. These will need to be in the same case as the deity’s name (vocative or accusative, depending on the formula you chose). The Theoi Project provides lists of epithets for each deity which you may want to look through. Make sure to choose aspects and areas appropriate to your request, as in the following examples:

ἀλλ᾽ ἄγ᾽ Ἐλευσῖνος θυοέσσης δῆμον ἔχουσα / καὶ Πάρον ἀμφιρύτην Ἀντρῶνά τε πετρήεντα, / πότνια, ἀγλαόδωρ᾽, ὡρηφόρε, Δηοῖ ἄνασσα: but now, you who hold the people of sweet-smelling Eleusis, and Paros encircled by sea and rocky Antron, lady, giver of beautiful gifts, bringer of seasons, queen Deo (Homeric Hymn to Demeter 490-492)

The Homeric Hymn to Demeter is concerned with Demeter in her seasonal, fertility aspects, as well as how she came to be worshipped in Eleusis. The epithets chosen by the author in the above quote reflect this.

ὦ πότνια, πότνια, θύμασιν βροτησίοις / χαρεῖσα: o lady, lady, rejoicing in human sacrifice (Euripides Iphigenia in Aulis 1524-1525)

This line is spoken just before Iphigenia is sacrificed to Artemis, so it makes sense to describe the Goddess as appreciating this kind of ritual.

Ζεῦ ἄνα, Δωδωναῖε, Πελασγικέ, τηλόθι ναίων, / Δωδώνης μεδέων δυσχειμέρου: lord Zeus, Dodonian, Pelasgian, who lives afar, ruler of harsh-weathered Dodona (Iliad 16.233-234)

Here, Achilles is calling on a particularly archaic and venerable aspect of Zeus in the hopes that Patroclus will be kept safe. Dodona, the oldest known oracle of Zeus, and the Pelasgians, pre-Greek peoples, underline this ancient power.

Past worship

If making a request, you may want to mention past offerings and devotions you have made for the deity. This usually takes the form “if ever I…”, as in the Iliad 503-504: εἰ ποτε δή σε μετ’ ἀθανάτοισιν ὄνησα / ἢ ἔπει ἢ ἔργῳ: if ever I, among the immortals, pleased you in words or in actions…

In simpler words: εἰ ποτε σε (sg)/ὑμᾶς (pl) ὄνησα ἢ ἔπει ἢ ἔργῳ, “if ever I pleased you (sg/pl) in words or in actions”.

After this, you can move straight on to your prayer, or you can specify: μοι κρῆνον (sg)/κρῆνατε (pl) ἐέλδωρ, “fulfill (sg/pl) my wish”, or λιτὰς ἐμῶν δέξο/δέξασθε, “receive my prayers”.

Supplications and thanksgiving

Then, finally, you get to the actual prayer. This can take two forms: supplication (please grant me a thing) or thanksgiving (thank you for granting me a thing).

In a supplication, you can either use a verb in the imperative (grant me a thing) or in the optative (may you grant me a thing). Though giving orders to a deity may seem strange, neither is more polite or appropriate than the other - you can choose whichever you prefer. Here are a few verbs you might find useful:

φέρε/φέρετε (imperative sg/pl), φέροις/φέροιτε (optative sg/pl): to bring (+ accusative)

πέμπε/πέμπετε, πέμποις/πέμποιτε: to send (+ acc.)

δίδου/δίδοτε, διδοῖς/διδοῖτε: to give (+ acc.)

ἰάτρευε/ἰατρεύετε, ἰατρεύοις/ἰατρεύοιτε: to heal (+ acc.)

ἐπιμελέου/ἐπιμελέσθε ὑπέρ, ἐπιμελέοιο/ἐπιμελέοισθε ὑπέρ: to take care of X (+ genitive)

Some things you can pray for:

ἐγω (nom.), με/ἐμε (acc.), μου/ἐμου (gen.): I, me

for “my X”, use “X μου”

μήτηρ (nom.), μητέρα (acc.), μητρός (gen.): mother

πατήρ, πατέρα, πατρός: father

ἀδελφός, ἀδελφόν, ἀδελφοῦ: brother

ἀδελφή, ήν, ῆς: sister

φίλος, ον, ου (male) φίλη, ην, ης (female): friend

οἶκος, ον, ου: home

ἀλκή, ήν, ῆς or βία, αν, ας: strength

θάρρος, ος, ους: emotional strength, courage

ἀγαθή τύχη, ἀγαθήν τύχην, ἀγαθῆς τύχης: good luck

ὑγίεια, αν, ας: health

εἰρήνη, ην, ης: peace

σωτηρία, αν, ας: safety, preservation

In a fragment of a poem by Simonides (PMG 543), Danae prays that her troubles reach an end, saying εὑδέτω δ’ ἄμετρον κακόν: may this endless sorrow sleep. Εὑδέτω κακόν or variants like εὑδέτω φόβον (”may fear/panic sleep”), εὑδέτω νόσον (”may illness sleep”) or εὑδέτω ἔριν (”may quarrel sleep”) could be a nice image to include.

When it comes to thanksgiving, a common phrase is ἐμοῦ ἔκλυες/ἐκλύετε εὐξαμένου, “you listened to me when I prayed”. You can follow it with (καὶ) νῦν χάριν φέρω σοι/ὑμῖν, “(and) now I bring you thanks”. Εὐχαριστῶ σοι/ὑμῖν, “I am thankful to you”, is an alternative which is still widespread in modern Greece, though in ancient times, it was mostly used within Christianity.

Farewells

Once you have spoken your prayers, it is time to take your leave of the deity. This is most commonly done using χαῖρε/χαίρετε, as mentioned above. If you wish, you can name the deity again along with a couple of epithets. Telling them you will remember them in future prayers is a nice touch; the Homeric Hymns use αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ καὶ σεῖο καὶ ἄλλης μνήσομ᾽ ἀοιδῆς: but I will remember you, and another song. A simpler, adapted version would be σοῦ/ὑμῶν μνήσομαι καὶ ἄλλης εὐχῆς, “I will remember you, and another prayer”. Another possibility could be σοῦ/ὑμῶν μνήσομαι ἔπει καὶ ἔργῳ, “I will remember you in words and in actions”.

In summary

χαῖρε/χαίρετε: hail

κλυθί μοι/κλῦτε μοι: listen to me

καλέω or κικλῄσκω: I call, I summon

εἰ ποτε σε/ὑμᾶς ὄνησα ἢ ἔπει ἢ ἔργῳ: if ever I pleased you in words or in actions

μοι κρῆνον/κρῆνατε ἐέλδωρ: fulfill my wish

λιτὰς ἐμῶν δέξο/δέξασθε: receive my prayers

εὑδέτω X: may X sleep

ἐμοῦ ἔκλυες/ἐκλύετε εὐξαμένου: you listened to me when I prayed

νῦν χάριν φέρω σοι/ὑμῖν: now I bring you thanks

εὐχαριστῶ σοι/ὑμῖν: I am thankful to you

σοῦ/ὑμῶν μνήσομαι καὶ ἄλλης εὐχῆς: I will remember you, and another prayer

σοῦ/ὑμῶν μνήσομαι ἔπει καὶ ἔργῳ: I will remember you in words and in actions

Prayer examples

With all this, you can now create your own short prayers in Ancient Greek! Below I have written out a few templates you can work with. If you have any questions, or if you need help figuring out a certain phrase, I’m happy to help!

A thanksgiving prayer to Zeus:

Ὦ Ζεῦ, ὕπατε, πάτερ ἀνδρῶν τε θεῶν τε, ἐμοῦ ἔκλυες εὐξαμένου καὶ νῦν χάριν φέρω σοι. Χαῖρε, Ζεῦ ἄνα, καὶ σοῦ μνήσομαι ἔπει καὶ ἔργῳ.

O Zeus, most high, father of men and Gods, you listened to me as I prayed and now I bring you thanks. Hail, lord Zeus, and I will remember you in words and in actions.

A prayer to Artemis for anxiety relief:

Κλυθί μοι, Ἄρτεμι σώτειρα, ἡμερασία, λυσιμέριμνε, καὶ εἰ ποτε σ’ ὄνησα ἢ ἔπει ἢ ἔργῳ, μοι κρῆνον ἐέλδωρ˙ δεῖμα μου πέμποις εἰς ὀρέων κεφάλας, καὶ φέροις εἰρήνην. Χαῖρε, φίλη θεά.

Listen to me, Artemis saviour, of a gentle nature, deliverer of troubles, and if ever I pleased you in words or actions, fulfill my wish: may you send my fear away to the summits of the mountains, and bring down peace. Hail, dear Goddess.

A prayer to Apollon and Asclepios for a sick friend:

Καλέω Ἀπόλλωνα ἰατρόν καὶ Ἀσκληπιόν ἤπιον, φιλολάους˙ ἰατρεύετε φίλον ἐμου καὶ δίδοτε αὐτῷ ὑγίειαν, τε καὶ εὑδέτω νόσον.

I call upon Apollon the healer and kind Asclepios, lovers of the people: heal my friend and give him good health, and may illness sleep.

[verdantlyviolet]

This is the post I meant the other day! For prayer endings …

[phemonoi]

I love this post, thank you very much for explaining to us those things OP! So damn useful!!

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

School has kept me busy lately but I’m planning to have a couple of post on soon regarding Apollon and Sementivae/Paganalia.

Edit & Update: My school load is really crippling my schedule so I will not be making posts on some of the feriae that are occurring. This could possibly go on for two weeks.

[romegreeceart]

Aphrodite Heyl

* 2nd century BCE

* terracotta

* height: 37,5 cm

* Altes Museum, Berlin (acquired from the collection of Maximilian von Heyl)

photo: Ophelia2

Attribution: Altes Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

I’ve updated the Cultus Deorum and Hellenismos page on the side links for a bit. I’ll most likely fully update them tomorrow. I’m also trying to figure out how I can also make the pages accessible on app.

The Cultus Deorum and Hellenismos page will be updated roughly every Saturday.

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

Happy Carmentalia Again!

Did you know that matrons originally were given the honor to ride in carriages? The word for carriage is “carpenta” which Ovid said were named after Evander’s mother. Though a look on the etymology of the words “Carpenter” and “carpenta” reveals that the word was borrowed from Gaul.

(https://www.etymonline.com/word/carpenter) (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/carpentum#Latin)

Ovid recounts that the honor was taken away so every women vowed not to give birth until it was given back. Their wombs were freed from the burden of childbirth through a “unpredictable force“. I read other translations of the Fasti and some would translate it as a “secret thrust“ or a “secret stroke“.

(https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/OvidFastiBkOne.php#anchor_Toc69367264)

(https://www.theoi.com/Text/OvidFasti1.html)

(https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t48p78f21&view=1up&seq=45)

I get the impression that they may have been purposefully causing their own miscarriage through physical force.

The honor was given back and two festivals will be held in honor of Carmenta.

(https://books.google.com/books?id=IKqOUfqt4cIC&pg=PA46#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Regarding the story about Nicostrate, Ovid’s Fasti does acknowledge a Greek origin for Her as Hercules was entertained in a Tegean house. Tegea is noted to be one of the important towns from Arcadia, Greece. I have not done much research or found academic sources yet on Her Greek name or identity. Feel free to take a look at the links down below.

(https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Tegea)

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimmerian_Sibyl)

(http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/camenae.php) 

Though I have found a source that explicitly links the Carmenae with the Greek Muses. When translating the Odyssey into Latin, Titus Andronicus translated “Mousa“ as “Camena“. This choice was reportedly made since “Camena“ links to the word “Carmen“ which means poem.

(https://www.academia.edu/4852617/Translating_a_translation_the_Odusia_by_Livius_Andronicus_and_its_English_versions)

She is also recorded in De Mulieribus Claris (On Famous Women) which is the first collection to dedicate to women in Western literature.

(https://books.google.com/books?id=pArYB6VgRq8C&pg=PA14&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=3#v=onepage&q=Carmen&f=false)

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

Ides of January

Today is the Ides of January and is sacred to Jupiter. I don’t have any offerings or prayers to offer as of right now, but I keep Him in my thoughts on this day. Even for just a moment.

Traditionally, Iuppiter was offered ram on this day as told by Ovid. Ovid also mentions a little bit of etymology regarding “august” and “augury” as Iuppiter “augments things by his power”.

(https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/OvidFastiBkOne.php#anchor_Toc69367263)

[sensorygif]

sensory

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

I’m planning to do a couple of posts on the devotions I’ve dedicated to 6 of the Dii Consentes, and a closet of dream outfits dedicated to Aphrodite.

I’ve also been thinking of doing some learning of etiquette and grace for Aphrodite~ I’ve always admire how posh people looked with those perfect etiquette and graceful moves~ I know it’s okay if I don’t nail it down but I feel more beautiful that way. I wanna be beautiful that way~

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

Happy (Belated-ish) Carmentalia!

Carmentalia is a festival on January 11th and the 15th that’s dedicated to the Goddess Carmentis or Carmenta. She is noted to have domain over childbirth, prophecy, and healing! (https://pantheon.org/articles/c/carmenta.html)

She’s one of the Camenae/Casmenae/Carmenae/Carmentis, and She was said to be the chief/leader of them. (http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/camenae.php) Though I can’t find any academic sources reporting this. If you know or can find a source, send me a message!

She’s said to be the mother of Evander who was fathered by Mercurius. Her other possible family members are Porrima and Postverta. It was not sure if the two are Her sisters or Her companions. (https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/OvidFastiBkOne.php#anchor_Toc69367262)

She was also credited by Hyginus in Fabulae to add onto the Roman alphabet! Interestingly, She’s noted to be the mother of Cadmus.(https://topostext.org/work/206)

Her current name is said to be derived from the Latin word “Carmen“ meaning song, charm, incantation, and oracle. (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/carmen)

I say current as other traditions notes that Her name was originally Nikostrate. In addition, She and Her son were said to be from Tegea, a town in Arcadia, Greece. I will divulge in that and other aspects of Carmentalia as the second date for it draws near!

On Carmentalia, it was unlawful and forbidden to bring leather or any kind of dead animal skin into Her temple near or at Porta Carmentalis. Her festival was also mostly observed by women. (https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/OvidFastiBkOne.php#anchor_Toc69367262) (https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Dionysius_of_Halicarnassus/1B*.html)

Her festival was said to be lead by the Vestal Virgins, sacred priestesses of Vesta. (https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/carmenta) In addition, Vestals were said to make a two mile trip to her sacred spring/well to draw water from it to sprinkle on Vesta’s altar or to use it in other rituals. Again, I have not found any direct sources mentioning this so please let me know if you find a direct/reliable source mentioning this. (http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/camenae.php)

It’s also said that no blood sacrifices or anything that would require the taking of a life would be made. Another offering that is a big no-no in offerings to Her is anything that has iron in it. It was even noted that wine was not usually offer to Her on this day but milk instead. Nova Roma reveals that Her offerings may have been very simple as Her cult is very ancient. Along with that people may have entered Her temple barefooted. (http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Carmentis)

Juturnalia is also today but I’ll do a piece about the festival and the Goddess next festival dedicated to Her

Onto my celebration of the first date of Carmentalia.

What I did was that I avoided sitting in my wooden chair for the whole day since the padding was leather. If I had to sit on the chair, I’d use my pillow as padding so I was not sitting directly on it. I also didn’t wear any socks when my feet didn’t have to touch the ground to be “barefooted“.

Carmentalia Prayer

Father Ianus, God of Doorways, Time, Gates, and Space.

If You would kindly deliver this prayer to the one of the Camenae,

Goddess of Prophecy and Childbirth: Lady Carmenta.

Carmenta,

You are Goddess of Birth and Prophecy.

In the birth of 2021,

what prophecy can You give in dreams and divination for this year?

Do share kindly, if You will,

for what the days, month, and future beholds

as previous years has shown that many can happen and change even in just a minute.

It feels like the worst of the worst has passed and the future seems brighter;

just as bright as flames of Vesta.

I end this prayer here on a comforting note.

May the Goddess of Hearth bless us all.

[tumbling-to-the-deities]

Ode To Ianus

Januspater,

Father of Time and First of Deities,

whose domain is the extreme.

Whether it’d be the limits of the Earth or the extremity of the Heavens.

Beginnings and endings rest in You, Patulcius and Clusivius,

akin to the proverbial door that opens and closes opportunities,

marking the transitions of life.

You're at every door I walk through, dear Geminus.

You rule space but also time.

Aurora comes and Dies ensues,

there the mortal calls You our Matutine Pater:

our Morning Father,

as mornings are Your domain.

The first hours of light and beginnings are Yours

and so are the beginnings of months.

Ianus Iunonius:

Patron of Kalends and Days of New Moons

with our Queen Iuno Kalendaris,

who is Ianualis in Ianuarius

and Covella on new moons.

With the Goddess of Birth,

You and Iuno Lucina mark

the beginning of oncoming months

and the birth of new lives.

Consivius,

life propagates in Your name

as You open the way for it.

The key is your symbol

and mothers clutch it in labor as they call for Iuno.

As you rule transitions through doors,

you will rule it in life with the rite of passage.

We recount our birthdays in our youths as we slowly cross the threshold into adulthood.

In adulthood,

we hope to have more of the skills and freedom to worship You.

[honorthegods]

Janus-head cup Mold-blown pale glass, 1st century CE, Eastern Mediterranean. Collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California (X). Image license: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Today, January 1, Roman polytheists honor Janus, the deity who presides over doorways (januae) and archways (jani), and, by extension, all beginnings and endings. As the gate-keeper of Olympus, he permits the prayers of mortals to enter and to be received by the gods, for which reason he is invoked at the beginning and end of all prayers and religious rituals.

“Greetings, Father Janus! Bless the beginning of this year. Keep me safe this year, and guard my family, my friends, and my home.”