Cn. Salix Astur Quiritibus S.P.D.

Yes, this is just another Academia Announce (we never stop working here
at the Academia!). So you have my explicit permission to delete this
message if you are not interested at all in Roman culture :-).

After the disclaimer above (I have received a few complaints for these
messages), I will proceed :-).

It is a great pleasure for me to inform that the Academia is at full
speed! I would like you all to know that:

a) A new edition of our Basic Latin Course will be held pretty soon.
This course, imparted by Claudius Salix Davianus, from the University
of Barcelona, will teach you the basic things you need to know to speak
Latin. It is your opportunity to learn the language of our forefathers!
Subscription is already open. Visit the Academia web site at:
http://www.insulaumbra.com/academiathules/
and click on "Syllabus Cursuum".

b) You can still subscribe to the Basic Course about Nova Roma. If you
are a new citizen, this will be an excellent opportunity to learn more
about the organization and the history of our young Republic. Learn how
to take advantage of what Nova Roma has to offer!
Subscribe by visiting:
http://www.insulaumbra.com/academiathules/
and clicking on "Syllabus Cursuum".

c) Our Basic Greek History Course begins on Monday, so you still have a
few days to subscribe to it. Remember that Greek history will give you
a general overview of the Roman world (which was mainly a Greek world).
Visit the Academia web site at:
http://www.insulaumbra.com/academiathules/
and click on "Syllabus Cursuum".

d) For those of you who can speak the language of Dante and Petrarca,
the Basic Nova Roma Course has now been translated to Italian. It is an
excellent opportunity for all our citizens from Italia, and your
subscription would certainly encourage *more* courses in Italian (and
in other langauges). Please subscribe at:
http://www.insulaumbra.com/academiathules/
clicking on "Syllabus Cursuum".

e) The Academia web site can now be viewed in Italian and Finnish. If
you, like me, can not wait to see how "Academia web site" sounds in
Finnish [;-)], visit us at:
http://www.insulaumbra.com/academiathules/

Well; that's all for now. With your permission, I will keep you
informed :-).

=====
Bene Valete in Pace Deorum!

CN·SALIX·ASTVR·T·F·A·NEP·TRIB·OVF
PRAETOR·ET·SENATOR
TRIVMVIR·ACADEMIAE
LICTOR·CVRIATVS

___________________________________________________
Yahoo! Messenger - Nueva versión GRATIS
Super Webcam, voz, caritas animadas, y más...
http://messenger.yahoo.es

In summa,

I - Ceres and the Plebs

II -Ceres and Liminality

III - Ceres and Tellus

Ceres and the Plebs

"And likewise games were held and golden paterae placed at the temple of Ceres by the plebeian aediles L. Aelius Paetus and C Fulvius Curvus with the money from fines that they had collected from those convicted of [illegally] using public pasture." - Livy 10.23.13.

With the founding of the Republic in 500 BC, Ceres picked up a new association as the goddess of the plebeian class. They comprised the bulk of Rome's common citizens, and existed in opposition to the Roman aristocratic class, the patricians (Spaeth 6). The archives of the decrees of the Roman Senate and of the Concilium Plebes were stored in her temple by the plebeian aediles (85). The office of the tribune of the plebs was protected by Ceres directly. Anyone who harmed a tribune could be killed with impunity (Dumezil 195), and his goods consecrated to Ceres. The tribunes derived several other important powers from their association with the goddess. Among these were the right to protect plebs from patrician magistrates, ius auxilii, and the right to impede the action of any patrician magistrate, ius intercessionis. These two rights, sponsored by the goddess, helped make the tribune one of the strongest offices in the entire Roman government. The plebeian aediles may owe their very name to Ceres, as it may be derived from aedes Cereris, the Latin for "Temple of Ceres" (Spaeth 86). Fines levied by them were frequently presented to the goddess as gifts. Such fines were described by the legal term in sacram iudicare (90). At the beginning of the Cerealia, plebeian families typically invited each other to special banquets (92).

Several reasons for why Ceres was made goddess of the plebs have been suggested. One of the more convincing notes that her ancient associations with agriculture and fertility would have made her a commonly worshiped deity among Latin farmers. Another suggests that the Aventine Triad was to have grain importations as its focus, an association that would be compatible with Ceres' older associations with grain (9).

The patricians imported the cult of Magna Mater, or Cybele, explicitly so that their social class would have a goddess that served some of the functions that Ceres did for the plebeians. As a result, there was sharp antagonism between the two cults, who became rivals separated only by the social classes they served. The cult was imported from Pessinus in Asia Minor in 204 BCE, and welcomed into the city by a vir optimus, or best man, selected from one of the most distinguished patrician families. The matrons that escorted the goddess on the road from Ostia to Rome were entirely drawn from the patrician class. After the completion of Magna Mater's temple on the Palatine in 191 BCE, games were established in her honor in which patricians received special privileges and patrician families held banquets (92). Magna Mater's games, the ludi Megalenses, directly preceded the Cerialia and were celebrated by the curule aediles, who were drawn largely from the patrician class. The Palatine itself was a district largely associated with the patricians, and the temple of Ceres, Liber, and Libera on the Aventine directly faced the temple of Magna Mater that stood there (94).

The same year the temple of Magna Mater was dedicated, a new festival dedicated to Ceres was established. This festival was called the ieinium Cereris, and may have represented a plebeian response to the new patrician goddess. The festival lasted nine days and was originally held every five years (96), though it was held every year beginning on October 4 by the time of Augustus. In it, women fasted and offered the first wheat harvest to Ceres

Ceres and Liminality

One of the many spheres Ceres had influence over was liminality, boundaries and transitions between different stages of social life. This is a function she shared with Janus. The ritual of the mundus Cereris, for instance, was believed to break down the barriers between the world of the living and the world of the dead and thereby allow ghosts to roam the world. Spaeth suggests that the site of the ritual could be associated with the circular bothros in the Roman Forum. If true, this would indicate that the mundus Cereris was a ritual somehow tied to the very origins of Rome itself. She was also associated with divorce and marriage, and a torch was carried in her honor in wedding processions (Spaeth 5). The "law of Romulus" enumerated the three reasons for which a husband could legally divorce his wife, which included poisoning their children, counterfeiting his keys, and adultery. If he left her for any other reason, then half of his goods would be forfeit to his wife, and the other half consecrated to Ceres (Dumezil 376).

Many laws were associated with Ceres in her liminal aspect. The property of sancrosanctitas, the divine protection the tribune of the plebs was under, was part of Ceres' sphere of influence. So was the law that called for the punishment of anyone who attempted to set himself up as a tyrant. The goods and person of those executed for attempted tyranny were consecrated to Ceres (Spaeth 10). Many literary sources also associate her in general with the concept of law, order, and social tranquility (27). She even assimilated several minor goddesses who embodied the idea of social order. On a denarius from the period of the Civil Wars appear together the wheat stalks of Ceres, the caduceus of Pax the goddess of peace, and the clasped hands of Concordia the goddess of harmony (28).

The goddess also embodied the idea of castitas, or purity, especially as regards ritual purity and the sexual purity of women. As relates to women, sexual castitas or chastity takes on a liminal function. The violation of a woman's chastity forced her to cross a social boundary and leave her previous state of existence forever. To the Romans, the violation of chastity had great political, economic, and social significance (116).

Ceres and Tellus

"Let Tellus, fertile in fruits and herds, present Ceres with a crown of wheat stalks; let the healthy waters and breezes of Jupiter nourish the offspring." - Horace, Carm. Saec. 29- 32

Ceres was part of a special cult with the ancient Italic goddess Tellus, who personified the Earth. They shared an ancient feast day on December 13, which was associated with the end of the sowing season. The Feriae Sementivae, associated with the protection of seeded crops, honored both goddesses in the latter half of January. The festival of Tellus, the Fordicicia, was celebrated on April 15. The Cerealia occurred only four days later, an interval of time often used by the Romans to separate related festivals (Spaeth 5). Tellus was often mentioned alongside Ceres in early Roman funeral sacrifices. Through her association with Tellus, Ceres eclipsed her in the second century BCE and began to be associated directly with the Earth herself.

Even before this period, Ceres and Tellus were occasionally alleged to be one and the same. Tellus had some spheres of influence that were similar to Ceres'. For instance, it was customary to sacrifice a pregnant cow to Tellus as part of the wedding of a widow. While it was not specified to whom the sacrifice was dedicated, it was typical to sacrifice a pig at the beginning of a marriage, and the pig was the favorite victim of Ceres. Varro claimed the pig represented the untouched sexual organs of the bride, and the sacrifice the consummation of the marriage. This is consistent with what else is known about Ceres' role in fertility and liminality. The similarity of Tellus' and Ceres' roles in marriage and fertility indicates some sort of unusually close relationship (47).

POST - SCRIPTUM - QUICK AGENDA:

18th April - Last round (postponed) of the Gladiatorial Fight

               - Finals of the Chariot Races

19th April - Ending of Cerealia

22th April - Deadline for judges of the Cerealia Literary Contest evaluating.

25th April - Deadline for the aediles announce the Cerelia Literary Contest 2756 Winners. 

´I invite all novo romans join us on joy on public praiers to the goddess.´

The newest vintage of wines are offered in libation to Iupitter
and Venus on the 23rd of April.Originally a festival dedicated only to
Iupitter, our beloved mater Venus was incorporated into the festival
through the wisdom of the augury.Having contacted us with her
omnipotent wisdom and undying love.May the great father accept all of
our offerings , protect us, and be please by our eternal devotion.


                           AR`VOTUM`SOLVIT`LIBENS`MERITO

Salvete omnes cives,

The Cerealia of this year has ended, citizens.

I wish to thank the efforts and excellent work of our Plebeian Aediles,
Lucius Arminius Faustus and Marcus Scribonius Curio Britannicus, for
their superb organization of the sacred Ludi Cereris.

I also want to thank the support of the honorable Senator and Praetor
Gnaeus Salix Astur.

And, of course, many thanks to all the participants in the games and
the cultural contests.


May Ceres, Goddess of Plebeians, and Her daughter Proserpina, bless our
Res Publica for long years of welfare!

May also Concordia, Goddess of both Patricians and Plebeians, bless our
Res Publica for long years of peace!



Valete optime,

Hadrianus Rutilius Bardulus
Flamen Cerealis Novae Romae


___________________________________________________
Yahoo! Messenger - Nueva versión GRATIS
Super Webcam, voz, caritas animadas, y más...
http://messenger.yahoo.es

PACEM VENIAMQVE DEORVM TIBI EXOPTET IVLIA VOPISCA

              http://www.aztriad.com/cybeleix.html

  * MATRIS DEVM MAGNAE IDEAEAE SACERDOS FILIAQVE *

Good day my fellow citizens.I, hope everyone is
doing well

Today,is the Roman Festival of the pastoral deity,Pales,
known as the Parilia, including decorating sheepfold with
green branches, kindling fires, through whose smoke
the animals were driven;and offering milk and cakes to
the divinity.In more recent times, it has become Earth
Day,when people rememer their responsibility toward
the environment(not here in the Atlanta lately).Sounds,
like Beltane

I, hope my fellow citizens have great day.

Anubis.

Salve Diana
That is beautiful :D  Hopefully you will be able to find
out the history of this little temple - how interesting!
Vale bene,
Helena Galeria

--- In ReligioRomana@yahoogroups.com, "Antonio Grilo"
<antonio.grilo@i...> wrote:
> Diana
>
> Are you sure this is a real temple, or is it a "phantasy" built in the
> XVIIth or XVIIIth century or even later? It's that it does not seem
like a
> roman temple or shrine.
>
> Vale bene
> Graecus


Salvete,

            Some temples or altars that were built in the outer-most
reaches of Roman cultural influence, had some cemblance to the
architecture of the indigenous peoples of the area ( such as the altar
of Mars Altor in G.B.). Could this be the case?  I'm happy to know of
dedications to our gods nonetheless. For example, the stone carving
and shrine of Mercurius in Amsterdam which was carved in 1911.That
still gives me chills even though it was dedicated in the previous
century. Lets build more!



                           Valete,  Austro

>For example, the stone carving
<and shrine of Mercurius in Amsterdam which was carved in 1911.That
<still gives me chills even though it was dedicated in the previous
<century. Lets build more!

Salve Austro,

In Amsterdam? Thanks for the tip! I'll have to pay my respects the next time
I am in that area.

And I agree with you! Even if this Minerva was built last week, I am still
really excited about it! She was definitely built with love especially when
you see the surroundings she is in!

There is a row of copper sculptures (now green) of Roman Gods on a 600 year
old building overlooking the harbor of Antwerp. Mercurius is the only one
actually facing the harbor. Since Antwerp port was the largest and richest
in the world at that time, I am sure that Mercurius was clearly put there as
a God of Commerce. Statues and sculptures of Jupiter, Fortuna & Justicia are
pretty easy to find here. Most were built around the Renaissance (of
course!). There is a Jupiter made of gold (or at least in extremely shiny
gold plating that never dulls....) on top of a 400 year old building in the
old marketplace of Antwerp. Pretty impressive! I really need to start
bringing my digital camera and start snapping some pictures....

Down the street from me there is a beautiful bronze of Venus about a meter
high built in a niche over a doorway of a bar :-) The building is about 350
years old. It's very odd because in Belgium, you can find Maria's built in
over the doorway on every street corner but this time it is a very much
naked Venus. Maybe it used to be a brothel :-)

Vale!
Diana

<austrolopithicus_robustus@...> wrote:

> Lets build more!

I'm not sure how serious you were when you said this,
but count me in! I have done lots of mosaic, and I'm
itching for another project. :-D

Arnamentia


=====

Arnamentia Moravia Aurelia
Legata, Oregonia Boreoccidentalis
http://ambor.novaroma.org
Accensa Ordinaria Cohors Consulis CFQ
http://www.insulaumbra.com/cohors_consulis_cfq/
http://www.gensmoravia.org


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo
http://search.yahoo.com

Salve Diana,






> In Amsterdam? Thanks for the tip! I'll have to pay my respects the
next time
> I am in that area.
>
> And I agree with you! Even if this Minerva was built last week, I am
still
> really excited about it! She was definitely built with love
especially when
> you see the surroundings she is in!
>
> There is a row of copper sculptures (now green) of Roman Gods on a
600 year
> old building overlooking the harbor of Antwerp. Mercurius is the
only one
> actually facing the harbor.


  Since Antwerp port was the largest and richest
> in the world at that time, I am sure that Mercurius was clearly put
there as
> a God of Commerce.


    In all his glory!



  Statues and sculptures of Jupiter, Fortuna & Justicia are
> pretty easy to find here. Most were built around the Renaissance (of
> course!). There is a Jupiter made of gold (or at least in extremely
shiny
> gold plating that never dulls....) on top of a 400 year old building
in the
> old marketplace of Antwerp. Pretty impressive! I really need to start
> bringing my digital camera and start snapping some pictures....
>
> Down the street from me there is a beautiful bronze of Venus about a
meter
> high built in a niche over a doorway of a bar :-) The building is
about 350
> years old. It's very odd because in Belgium, you can find Maria's
built in
> over the doorway on every street corner but this time it is a very much
> naked Venus. Maybe it used to be a brothel :-)



       All very good reasons to plan a trip to Europe this summer. :)

       Vale, A.



>
> Vale!
> Diana

Good day my fellow citizens.

Today, is festivals for Lord Jupiter, and Venus.

Hope, everyone is doing ok

Anubis

Salvete!

Some research on the net brought up little information
on the small Minerva-temple in Alden Biesen, but it's
definitely an 18th century building:

"Behind the fortress there is a so called 'English
Garden', built by the garden architect Ghislain Henry,
at the order of the Commander. They started in 1786
and finished in 1787. More than 30000 trees were
planted, and as showpiece they built a round temple
with the Roman goddess Minerva." (translated from
http://www.clerx.nl/landcomm.htm)

But of course it's still a nice temple to Minerva!

For more information on Alden-Biesen (English):
http://www.alden-biesen.be/E_index.html


>    Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 11:56:16 +0200
>    From: "Diana Moravia Aventina" <diana@...>
> Subject: Temple of Minerva in Limburg Belgium
>
> Salvete,
>
> This email is cross posted to the Religio and the
> ML. sorry!
>
> As some of you may know, I live in the Gallo-Roman
> section of Belgium. In
> every town, small or large, one finds Roman remains
> and statues of Roman
> Gods and Goddesses.
>
> Anyway, yesterday I went for a bike ride in my
> neighborhood to a place
> called Alden-Biesen, which in ancient times was a
> fortress for the Teutonic
> Knights. The castle was built a bit before 1200 CE
> and  is total restored.
> The castle complex must be a square kilometer,
> surrounded by kilometers of
> parks and gardens. The place is just beautiful.
> Anyway, as I stood by the
> moat I looked up and saw the sun shining down on top
> of a beautifully kept
> hill topped by some very ancient looking trees. In
> the middle was something
> which looked amazingly like a Roman temple with a
> statue inside. I assumed
> it was a statue of Saint Maria and thought I would
> go up to take a look.
> Anyway, I walked the 500 meters up the hill and was
> shocked to find that the
> statue was of Minerva and that it was a Temple of
> Minerva.
>
> The entire temple has been restored and so has the
> statue. You can see where
> the glue/cement holds everything together, but it is
> really impressive and
> quite beautiful.  It's too bad that I didn't know
> about this last year
> during the NR Rally in Tongeren. It is only about 20
> minutes from there.
> Here is a photo:
> http://www.gensmoravia.org/minerva.htm
> Anyway, I have no idea how old it is or any other
> history. I'm trying to
> find out, but so far no luck. I know that we have at
> least 2 Belgians on
> this list: have any ideas Solaris or Cicatrix?
>
> Vale,
> Diana Moravia Aventina


Valete bene!

=====
Tiberius Apollonius Cicatrix
----------
Dominus Factionis Russatae
Paterfamilias Gentis Apolloniae
Scriba Propraetoris Galliae
Coryphaeus Sodalitatis Musarum
**HORVM OMNIVM FORTISSIME SVNT BELGAE**

__________________________________________________
Yahoo! Plus
For a better Internet experience
http://www.yahoo.co.uk/btoffer

How's my fellow citizens doing?

Today is St,Mark's Day is the old Roman festival of the Roigalia, the
observance of which waas magically intended to avert the spirit of
mildew, which threatens crops around this time.
For man years, the Litania Major of the Catholic Church
for StMar's Day in Rome folloed the earlier Roman estival.It's urose,
lie the Robigalai, was to gain the blessing of heaven for the
growing crops.

Another, pagan, Roman festival incorpulated in to Christianity.
You, strip the Christian God,Jesus, and the saints,  you would
have a picture of a Imperial Roman State religion.

Everyone, have a great,and safe weekend.

Anubis.

Hello everybody, I have just subscrived to this mailing list. I find
pretty interesting to see that so many persons worlwide are
interested in roman religion.

I am italian and I live in Roma, obviously my english will not be the
best around, so try to be nice with what I wrote, ok?

That's it. Have a nice day, valete!


"Inde lupae fulvo nutricis tegmine laetus
Romulus excipiet gentem et mavortia condet
Moenia Romanosque suo de nomine dicet.
His ego nec metas rerum, nec tempora pono,
Imperium sine fine dedi."

Having said that though you haven't done too badly on the English front, i
think you do it better than i do and i am English! :-)

Sylvestius


>From: "Orazio Coclite" <erwache@...>
>Reply-To: ReligioRomana@yahoogroups.com
>To: ReligioRomana@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [ReligioRomana] [Nova-Roma] New entry
>Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 19:09:23 -0000
>
>Hello everybody, I have just subscrived to this mailing list. I find
>pretty interesting to see that so many persons worlwide are
>interested in roman religion.
>
>I am italian and I live in Roma, obviously my english will not be the
>best around, so try to be nice with what I wrote, ok?
>
>That's it. Have a nice day, valete!
>
>
>"Inde lupae fulvo nutricis tegmine laetus
>Romulus excipiet gentem et mavortia condet
>Moenia Romanosque suo de nomine dicet.
>His ego nec metas rerum, nec tempora pono,
>Imperium sine fine dedi."
>
>


_________________________________________________________________
It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today!
http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

PACEM VENIAMQVE DEORVM TIBI EXOPTET IVLIA VOPISCA

              http://www.aztriad.com/cybeleix.html

  * MATRIS DEVM MAGNAE IDEAEAE SACERDOS FILIAQVE *

How are my fellow citizens doing?

Today, starts three days of the Roman festival of Floralia,
which commenorates the Goddess Flora,deity of flowers and
the pleasures of youth.Her feast was noted for it's license, and
medallions showing various positions of sexual enjoyment were
distributed to the revelers.Beans and other seeds were thrown
into the crowds,denoting fertility and fecundity.

I, am sure  some of my fellow citizens would of enjoyed
this festival for sure.

Take care all my fellow citizens.

Anubis.

Salve Orazio,


            What are your thoughts on the parade in honor of Roma's
birthday, held last week?

                       Gratias

>
>
> >From: "Orazio Coclite" <erwache@e...>
> >Reply-To: ReligioRomana@yahoogroups.com
> >To: ReligioRomana@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [ReligioRomana] [Nova-Roma] New entry
> >Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 19:09:23 -0000
> >
> >Hello everybody, I have just subscrived to this mailing list. I find
> >pretty interesting to see that so many persons worlwide are
> >interested in roman religion.
> >
> >I am italian and I live in Roma, obviously my english will not be the
> >best around, so try to be nice with what I wrote, ok?
> >
> >That's it. Have a nice day, valete!
> >
> >
> >"Inde lupae fulvo nutricis tegmine laetus
> >Romulus excipiet gentem et mavortia condet
> >Moenia Romanosque suo de nomine dicet.
> >His ego nec metas rerum, nec tempora pono,
> >Imperium sine fine dedi."
> >
> >
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today!
> http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger

Since,we are in the festival of Floralia.I, offer a prayer to
the Goddess Flora.

                          Each flower that stands in all the world's gardens
                           is a tribute to you, Queen Flora.

                           Every one that blooms in the wild places of the Earth
                           is an offering both from and to you.

Hope, my fellow citizens has fun during Floralia.

Anubis.

<austrolopithicus_robustus@y...> wrote:
"What are your thoughts on the parade in honor of Roma's birthday,
held last week?"

I was there with some friends, as we usually do every XXI of april,
to pay homage to our Gods and ancestors, leaving some flowers in
the 'forvm' and in front of the main temples and statues, a short
prayer, a roman style salute and that's it. So I was not there for
the parade, nor I had much interest in it, but on the way back we
bumped into the parade and decided to stay there and to watch for a
while.

My honest opinion, concerning also all the other things that nowadays
are organized to commemorate or to imitate the ancient splendor of
the classical times, is that these things always turns out as a mere
parody, most of the time pretty trivial and devoid of any real
meaning or spirit. So, even if it was nice to see roman legionaries
walking in line in the streets of Roma, I finded it non interesting
at all. In fact we left after few minutes. :)

To regain the spirit of the ancestors, that's what really counts. And
to see again the Eagle of Juppiter flying high over the skies of
Europa.

'HIC MANEBIMUS OPTIME!'

Valete!



"I see the torchlights
I hear voices echo from the past
I see black angels washed in silver rays
Embracing beauty and crushing slaves
Blood against gold"
[Sol Invictus, Blood against gold]

lei di Lazio o la Roma? :)

Happy May Day my fellow citizens.

Although modern May festivals in Italy are associated with Mary and
other saints,their history dates back to ancient Roman paganism.The
people of ancient Rome honored Maia and Floria,the Goddesses of flowers
and springtime.Their statues were wreathed in galands and carried in a
procession o singers and dancers past a sacred,blossom-becked tree,
the forerunne of the modern Maypole.Later,festivals of this kind spread to other
lands the Romans settled and conquered.In man regions of modern Italy,
boys often serenade their sweethearts today.

Anubis.