#roman deity

[mythologypaintings]

Venus Preparing Herself (La Toilette de Vénus)

Artist: Jean-Baptiste Regnault (French, 1764-1829)

Date: 1815

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia

[horriblehistorieslandfill]

WIP HE LOOKS SO STUPID I LOVE HIM

[thesilicontribesman]

Two carvings of the Roman god, Mars, in sandstone and mudstone, Segontium, Caernarfon, St. Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff, Wales

[unholyleaf]

IO FAUNUS Lord of the Wildwood, Lord of the Green. Keeper of beasts seen and Unseen Faunus, Lupercus, Kernunno, Pan, You are the Horned One who roams the Land, Hail to you Faunus, Primal and True, I sing my praises unto you! IO FAUNUS!

[rhianna]

The goddess Fortuna in mediaeval literature / by Howard R. Patch.

Description

Tools

Cite thisExport citation fileMain AuthorPatch, Howard Rollin, 1889-1963.Language(s)English PublishedCambridge [Mass.] : Harvard University Press, 1927. SubjectsLiterature, Medieval >  Literature, Medieval / History and criticism. Fortuna (Roman deity) Physical Description215 p.

[sofiathewitch]

I love her your honor <3

[sphinx-myth]

so tempted to start worshiping the roman gods just so i can give romulus tomatoes every possible chance. [yes this is an assassins creed reference for thoes who dont know, during one of the missions ezio infiltrates the romulus worshippers temples and takes the treasures. each. box. has. tomatoes. i dont know why but i love it so, also i love the little wolf hats the worshippers wear.]

[that but also i love vulcan, vesta, janus, remus and whatever. tho it just dont feel like a good idea but also a great idea since im british]

[ianitos]

[within-stars]

or like arts and crafts or something

[jez-bez]

If I let you go, can you go back to your room and sleep? [...] Phu. I think... I can help you. Phukan. I've already warned you. You've done it for me before. I just... want to do it for you too. Can I?

[myrtles-and-blood]

Discovering that stuff in your life aligns a lot with correspondences of the deities your worship is so weird and comforting at the same time.

Like, you've been there all my life and you didn't tell me you sneaky bitch, I love you.

[paganpillar]

Floralia is coming up on April 28th-May 3rd!

Flora: Goddess of Flowering Plants

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“Perhaps you may think that I am queen only of dainty garlands; but my divinity has to do also with the tilled fields. If the crops have blossomed well, the threshing-floor will be piled high; if the vines have blossomed well, there will be wine; if the olive-trees have blossomed well, most buxom will be the year; and the fruitage will be according to the time of blossoming. If once the blossom is nipped, the vetches and beans wither, and thy lentils, O Nile that comest from afar, do likewise wither. Wines also bloom, laboriously stored in great cellars, and a scum covers their surface in the jars. Honey is my gift. ‘Tis I who call the winged creatures, which yield honey, to the violet, and the clover, and the grey thyme. ‘Tis I, too, who discharge the same function when in youthful years spirits run riot and bodies are robust.” 

Ovid, Fasti book 5, Line 261.

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The Goddess Flora, originally a figure of the Sabine’s religion, was introduced into the Roman Pantheon by the Sabine king Titus Tatius who ruled alongside Romulus, the founder of Rome. Therefore, Flora was an ancient goddess that appeared before the rise of the Roman Republic. Flora would become conflated with the Greek Nymph Goddess Chloris. 

She became the subject of the famous painter Sandro Botticelli’s “Primavera” (below) and details Her transformation from Chloris into Flora when Zephyrus (also known as Favonius), the Western Winds and soon to be consort, kissed Her. Botanists have identified many of the flower species that adorn Her in the artwork which include: Forget-me-nots, Hyacinths, Periwinkle, Pheasant’s eye, Anemone, Myrtle, Wild Roses, Violets, Cornflowers, and Wild Strawberries, all of which bloom in Tuscany in May. These flowers are suitable offerings to Her.

In Rome, it was pertinent to assign a Flamen (“he who burns offerings”), or devoted high priest, to certain major and minor gods. The Goddess Flora was assigned a Flamen, called Flamen Floralis, along with fourteen other Gods of the Roman pantheon.

As a minor Goddess, being assigned a flamen was out of the ordinary. According to Ovid, this was the result of the birth of Mars. When Jupiter birthed Minerva from his head, Juno became jealous because she felt betrayed. She was upset that Jupiter did not need her help conceiving and birthing a child. So, Juno went to her friend Flora who had a magick flower that impregnated anyone or anything that touched it. Flora touched Juno with her magick flower and Juno immediately became pregnant with Mars. When he was birthed, he was forever grateful to Flora and promised to watch over her blooming fields and have a flamen assigned to her. This, of course, contradicts the Greek myth in which Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. Additionally, this explains Mars’ role as an agricultural and war deity.

Flora is known as the goddess of flowers, and fruit-bearing and flowering plants. She is heavily revered in May springtime and a six day festival known as Floralia was dedicated to her which began on April 28th and ended on May 3rd. The festival included adorning one’s bodies with flowers and bright colors, dancing, drinking, feasting, theater, singing,wearing perfumes, and general merriment that accompanies the beginning of Spring. 

Painting by: Evelyn De Morgan, 1894, Flora.

Her spring and flower associations brought forth symbols of youth, nature, vegetation, gardens, fertility, sex, desire, transformation, and abundance. Her marriage to the West Winds also contributes to her Springtime associations. With these associations in mind, some offerings that would appease her might include:

┌──❀*̥˚───❀*̥˚─┐

🍊Spring garden fruits and vegetables 

💮Pressed and dried flowers

🕯Citrus scented candles

🌼Freshly picked flowers

🌿Hand-made wreaths

🧺Hand-made baskets

🧴Floral Perfumes

👑Flower Crowns

💐Bouquets

🌺Garlands

🫒Olive oil

🍯Honey

🍷Wine

🥛Milk

└───❀*̥˚───❀*̥˚┘

Some activities that you can do in Her honor can include things like planting flowers in the garden, growing seasonal fruits and vegetables, general upkeep of gardens and soils, creating scented cleansing sprays and soaps, making flower crowns and other inspired crafts, writing poetry and prayers dedicated to Her, strolling the countryside, wearing brightly colored outfits, and taking care of the gorgeous Earth we live on today. 

Pray to Her for abundance, personal growth, positivity, protection of gardens, and thank Her for bountiful spring fruits and vegetables. She is a very loving goddess and deserves recognition for the many qualities She has brought to my life and to that of others. 

Paganpillar

Sources:

Ovid Fasti

https://apercu.store/journal-archive/a-brief-history-of-the-goddess-flora

https://www.vindolanda.com/blog/flora-the-goddess-of-flowers

[horriblehistorieslandfill]

this is how it’s gonna go down

[thesilicontribesman]

Two Romano-Celtic Deity Carvings, 1st to 2nd Century CE, The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.

[cursecuelebre]

“Don’t fear the Gods. Don’t worry about death. What’s good is easy to get. What’s bad is easy to endure.” - Epicurus a Greek Philosopher

[dionysianivy]

𝐋𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚

What is Lupercalia?

Celebrated on February 13th - February 15th, Lupercalia was an ancient Roman holiday dedicated to the god Faunus, the wild horned spirit of nature, and the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. The festival is believed to have far more ancient origins than its association with these mythical figures, likely stemming from earlier fertility rites and purification ceremonies.

The name of the festival, Lupercalia, is derived from the Latin word lupus (wolf), tying it to the legend of the she-wolf who rescued and nursed Romulus and Remus in the cave known as the Lupercal. This cave, located on Palatine Hill, became the heart of the festival’s rituals, emphasizing the protective and nurturing symbolism of wolves.

At its core, Lupercalia celebrated the themes of fertility, purification, and the harmony of nature. It honored two deities: Faunus, the primordial spirit of wild nature and fertility, and Juno Februata, the aspect of Juno associated with purification and the passions of love. The name "February" itself originates from Februare (to cleanse) and Juno Februata, underscoring the month’s ties to this festival.

The festival began with sacrifices of goats, symbolizing fertility, and dogs, representing purification. These sacrifices were followed by ceremonial rituals performed by Faunus’ priests, known as the Luperci. After consuming the sacrificial meat, the Luperci smeared themselves with the blood of the animals and dressed in strips of goatskin, referred to as "Juno’s cloak." They then ran through the streets of the Palatine Hill, carrying whips made from goatskin called februa.

Women who wished to conceive strategically positioned themselves to be struck by the whips, believing this act would enhance fertility, ensure conception, and guarantee safe childbirth. This ritual also served as a broader purification rite for the community, cleansing it in preparation for the coming New Year, which in the Roman calendar began at the vernal equinox.

The nine days of Lupercalia, from February 13th to the 21st, were believed to be a liminal time when the souls of the dead wandered the earth. Offerings of food and drink were left for them, with the living honoring the spirits as part of the festival's traditions.

Over time, the festival's elements shifted and evolved, blending with other traditions. February 14th, now celebrated as Valentine’s Day, originally marked the first day of Lupercalia, dedicated to Juno Februata and Faunus, when women prayed for fertility and blessings.

Lupercalia continued to be celebrated for centuries until it was officially abolished in 495 AD by Pope Gelasius I, who replaced it with a Christian feast day. Now, in modern times, even though Lupercalia is no longer a widely celebrated festival, it is often associated with modern Valentine’s Day or even a celebration of self-love. Today, it’s all about love, fertility, and connection. You can spend the three days of Lupercalia by offering yourself love and understanding, doing things that nurture your self-appreciation, and spending special time with your loved ones.

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Magic Correspondences:

Colors: red, white, pink

Crystals: rose quartz, milky quartz, selenite, moonstone, ruby, garnet, lepidolite, green aventurine, emerald

Deities: Juno, Lupercus, Faunus, Venus, Aphrodite, Pan, Hera, Dionysus, Eros, Mars, Freyja, Cernunnos (deities associated with love, fertility, and abundance)

Animals: dog, goat, wolf, dove, swan, dolphin, ladybug, lovebirds, horse

Flowers: lavender, roses, snowdrops, hyacinths, tulips, orchids

Herbs: cinnamon, basil, jasmine, vanilla

Fruits: figs, cherries, grapes, bananas, strawberries, pomegranate, raspberries, apples

Symbols: phallus, hearts, wolves, whips, goat

Magick: fertility and abundance spells, self-love magick, sex magick, purification

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Activities to do:

🐺 Take a relaxing long bath, and add some rose essential oil if you like

🐺 Spend time with your dog(s)

🐺 Watch some romance movies

🐺 Treat yourself to things that make you feel good, like lotions, perfume, or new clothes

🐺 Light red, pink, or white candles

🐺 Collect flowers and put them in your altar or room

🐺 Drink goat milk

🐺 Perform love, fertility, and purification spells

🐺 Give flowers to loved ones

🐺 Spend some time in your home, simply being naked because why not?

🐺 Bake heart-shaped cakes

🐺 Support dog shelters with a donation

🐺 Spend time with your lover

🐺 Listen to your favorite music

🐺 Show appreciation for your body

🐺 Take your health medicine

🐺 Decorate your space or altar with heart-shaped objects

🐺 Spend time and meditate in nature

🐺 Eat lots of chocolate

🐺 Practice yoga

🐺 Connect with deities associated with love, fertility, and purification

🐺 Drink some red wine

🐺 Dedicate a day to self-care, doing what feels healthy and good for you

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Food and Drinks:

Drink red liquids like wine, cranberry or strawberry juice, consume goat dairy, cakes, muffins, chocolate, honey, cherries, champagne, grapes, hazelnuts, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, any food with meat, apple pie, strawberries.

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sources: Wicca: A Modern Guide To Witchcraft & Magick; Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World by Judika Illes