Societas Via Romana - Discussion Archives

Salvete

to breathe new life in this collegium, I suggest we do something as a group where each individual picks a topic like a deity of any pantheon of the Romans, Celts, Etruscans, Mesopotamians, Hellenes, Egyptians, etc... and work around that topic for a week or a month. I got this idea from someone I know who came up with the whole God of the month club where each month they pick a god and work with said deity for a whole month. I do it from time to time with several Hellenic deities.
Since not everyone is a practitioner or a pagan, we can change it to that people research a particular topic like rituals, deities, etc... and try to publish it here in a form of a essay.
What do you think?
Valete

Quintus

Salve amici,

I seem to remember a post or discussion with Piscinus some time ago regarding the Lares, and Penates. Considering the central importance of these two very Roman deities to the Household Cult. I'd love to read an essay on their nature, worship, rites etc.

Vale,

A. Flavius

The specifics about the Lares and Penates are still shrouded somewhat in mystery. We know several things, like their shrine was often in the entryway to the house, two figures were carved with a snake underneath. Aeneas is described in the Aeneid as carrying his household gods from his home away from Troy.

Vale, Aurelii Orce -

Quam bona notio. Shamash ille Mesopotamianorum Deorum meis affectionibus semper praeclarum habet locum. Ego igitur de hoc antiquo deo aliquod scribere volo.

Vale et omnibus valete.

I could tell a bit about Nemesis and her cult in gladiatorial context. At least I picked her as patron deity of our gladiator school.

Salvete, omnes -

I haven't had a chance to do much on this yet, but I plan one last push for articles and info this weekend coming. With Mesopotamian deities, there doesn't seem to be too much in the way of facts or anecdotes, since the evidence is so scarce - and so ancient.

Nonetheless, the subject is still good. More later.

Omnibus, valete.

Maxime, Alde Marii -

I often forget to look in the Collegia for info on things, but Orcus's Mesopotamian stuff I have kept. I have those essays of his at home as a binder-clip-bound volume; it was the second reference I went to after Wikipedia...

Gratias tibi.

Salvete
Thanks for the praise, but do keep in mind that 90% if those series of posts came from internetsources like Wikipedia, Gateways to Babylon website, Encyclopedia Mythica, Encyclopædia Britannica article. I also used a couple of FAQ on Sumerian and Babylonian mythologie as a source plus Manfred Lurker: Dictionary of Gods and Goddess, Devils and Demons. I can also recommend Religion in Ancient Mesopotamia by Jean Bottero. It goes in detail (not that much really) on religious life of the Mesopotamians.
valete

Quintus