Ianuarius

[M. Horatius]

M. Horatius Pontifex maximus cultoribus Deorums et omnibus salutem
plurimam dicit:
Salvete vosque bona Strenia auctet ope.

Hodie est Kalendae Ianuariae; haec dies nefastus est: DIE QUINTI TE
KALO, IUNO COVELLA: natalis Vediovi; natalis Aesculapi; Streniae Annum
Nouum bonum faustum felicem!

Dies Solis: Sunrise at Rome 08:37 AM; Sunset 17:49 PM.

Previously I have served as Pontifex Maximus in SVR and in NR, as well
as held other religious posts in such organizations. I am also an
ordained minister in the State of Ohio, USA. Also I have taught as
Praeceptor on the religio Romana at Academia Thules. For the past few
years I have been regularly making daily posts on the Roman religious
festivals and other topics related to Roman history and culture. Some
posts are reposted, some have evolved, some are or will be entirely re-
written. I shall now begin here a new thread each month to cover the
days of that month, beginning of course with January. Some of you
shall recognize my posts, and hopefully I can add in more to keep your
interest.

"A prosperous day dawns: favour our thoughts and speech!
Let auspicious words be said on this auspicious day."
~ P. Ovidius Naso, Fasti 1.71-72

JANUS

"Janus, though You begin each fleeting year, and renew the long ages
wherever You appear, though vows and incense are piously first offered
to You, and the consuls begin each year by laying offerings at Your
feet." ~ M. Valerius Martialis 8.8.1-5

"Why do they suppose Janus to have been two-faced and so represent him
in painting and sculpture? Is it because, as they relate, he was by
birth a Greek from Perrhaebia, and, when he had crossed to Italy and
had settled among the savages there, he changed both his speech and
his habits? Or is it rather
because he changed the people of Italy to another manner and form of
life by persuading a people which had formerly made use of wild plants
and lawless customs to till the soil and to live under organized
government?" ~ Plutarch, Quaestiones Romanae 22

"Why did their ancient coinage have stamped on one side a double-faced
likeness of Janus, on the other the stern or the prow of a ship? Is
it, as many affirm, in honour of Saturn who crossed over to Italy in a
ship? Or, since this might be said of many, inasmuch as Janus,
Evander, and Aeneas all landed in Italy after a voyage by sea, one
might rather conjecture thus: some things are excellent for States,
others are necessary; fand of the excellent things good government is
the chief, and of the necessary things facility of provision. Since,
therefore, Janus established for them an ordered government by
civilizing their life, and since the river, which was navigable and
permitted transportation both from the sea and from the land, provided
them with an abundance of necessities, the coinage came to have as its
symbol the twofold form of the lawgiver, as has been stated, because
of the change he wrought, and the vessel as the symbol of the river."
~ Plutarch, Quaestiones Romanae 41


STRENIA

For Strenia today give gifts (strenae) to loved ones and burn twigs of
laurel as offerings upon altar.


AUSPICIUM MAGISTRATUM

"Omens attend upon beginnings." ~ Ovid, Fasti 1.178

The New Year began with the Auspici Magistratum, where the consuls
took the auspices for the coming year at the Auguralium on the Arx.
Moving past the Temple of Vediovis the consuls next offered sacrifices
to Jupiter at the Capitolium and made vows for the welfare of the City
before calling upon the Senate to formally seek its advice.

After AUC 600 (153 BCE), when magistrates first began to take office
on 1 January rather than 1 March, certain traditions for the New Year
were transferred to this day as well. One was a procession that led
from the sacellum of Strenia at the head of the Via Sacra up to the
Arx where the consuls took their auspices. The consuls would have
begun preparing shortly after midnight, then gone to the Arx to await
sunrise for taking the first signs of day. Symmachus tells us that the
procession from Strenia's shrine was conducted just before sunrise,
and thus it may have conducted as an escort for the inauguration of
the consuls. In this procession sacred twigs from Her grove were
carried. The tradition was said to have gone back to the days when
Tatius was king with Romulus (Symmachus, epistle 10.35). The twigs
could therefore have been the Sabine herb juniper, which was used for
purification rituals. Friends exchanged gifts, called strenae, as a
way of passing on wishes of prosperity and good fortune for the New
Year.

Even into the imperial period, attending the installation of annual
consuls were many religious ceremonies to welcome in the New Year with
good omens.

"O Sol, whose light embraces the world, You orbit inexhaustible,
forever returning, Your face glowing on each day, Your horses
harnessed as a team to drive Your chariot, with manes braided
pleasantly they rise high, passing over rose-red clouds as You rein
their frothing fires. Already yet another year begins, measured by the
footsteps of brothers, who as new consuls gladly offer their prayers
and vows." ~ Claudius Claudianus, In Olybii et Probini fratres
Consules Panegyricus 1-7


AUC 460 / 293 BCE: Arrival of Aesculapius

"Latona's grandson, revered Aesculapis, by whose mild herbal remedies
too briefly are the Fates beguiled." ~ M. Valerius Martialis 9.17

"The year had been a happy one in many ways, but this was hardly
adequate consolation for the one major disaster: the plague that raged
through town and countryside alike. The devastation it caused was
thought to be an evil omen, and thus the Sibylline Oracles were
consulted to find what limits or remedy the Gods proposed for it
ravages. The Books revealed that Aesculapius must be summoned from
Epidaurus to Rome; however because the consuls were busy engaged in a
war, nothing was done about it that year except that one day was set
aside for a supplicatio for the God." ~ Titus Livius 10.47.6

"When the people suffered from a plague, envoys were sent to bring a
statue of Aesculapius from Epidaurus to Rome. They brought with them a
snake that had joined them in the ship, and which no doubt was a
manifestation of the god; from the ship, it went to the island in the
Tiber, to the place where the temple of Aesculapius has been erected."
~ Titus Livius, Perioche 11.3

"Why is the shrine of Aesculapius outside the city? Is it because they
considered it more healthful to spend their time outside the city than
within its walls? In fact the Greeks, as might be expected, have their
shrines of Asclepius situated in places which are both clean and high.
Or is it because they believe that the god came at their summons from
Epidaurus, and the Epidaurians have their shrine of Asclepius not in
the city, but at some distance? Or is it because the serpent came out
from the trireme into the island, and there disappeared, and thus they
thought that the god himself was indicating to them the site for
building?" ~ Plutarch, Quaestiones Romanae 94


AUC 559 / 194 BCE: Insula Temple of Vediovis

L. Furius Purpureo vowed a temple for Vediovis during his victory over
the Carthaginians under Hamilcar and their Gallic allies at Cremona in
200 BCE (Livy 31.21). The temple was then dedicated six years later on
the Insula in (Livy 34.53).


AUC 865 / 112 CE: Dedication of Trajan's Forum.


AUC 946 / 193 CE: Ascension of Publius Helvius Pertinax.

"After Commodus was slain, Laetus, the prefect of the guard, and
Eclectus, the chamberlain, came to Pertinax and reassured him, and
then led him to the camp. There he harangued the soldiers, promised a
donative, and said that the imperial power had been thrust upon him by
Laetus and Eclectus. It was pretended, moreover, that Commodus had
died a natural death, chiefly because the soldiers feared that their
loyalty was merely being tested. Finally, and at first by only a few,
Pertinax was hailed as emperor. He was made emperor on the day before
the Kalends of January, being then more than sixty years old. During
the night he came from the camp to the senate, but, when he ordered
the opening of the hall of the senate-house and the attendant could
not be found, he seated himself in the Temple of Concord. And when
Claudius Pompeianus, Marcus' son-in-law, came to him and bemoaned the
death of Commodus, Pertinax urged him to take the throne; Claudius,
however, seeing that Pertinax was already invested with the imperial
power, refused. Without further delay, therefore, all the magistrates,
in company with the consul, came to the senate-house, and Pertinax,
who had come in by night, was saluted as emperor." ~ Historia Augusta,
Pertinax 4.5-11


Our thought for today is from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.8.1:

"Just as we must understand when it is said, that Aesculapius
prescribed to this man horse-exercise, or bathing in cold water or
going without shoes; so we must understand it when it is said, that
the nature of the universe prescribed to this man disease or
mutilation or loss or anything else of the kind. For in the first case
Prescribed means something like this: he prescribed this for this man
as a thing adapted to procure health; and in the second case it means:
that which happens to every man is fixed in a manner for him suitable
to his destiny."

[M. Horatius]

M. Horatius Pontifex Maximus cultoribus Deorum s. p. d.

While today may be the First of January, according to the Gregorian
calendar of the nazarenes, the Kalends arrive with the New Moon late
at night in Rome on 3 January. In Rome around 11:00 PM 3 Jan, and
around 4 AM where I am on 4 Jan. The moon is then at the Dragon's
head, on the ascending node, as the earth will be at perihelion
(closest to the sun). There are a few things you should consider
performing on the night of 3 Jan and the day of 4 Jan.

At the oldest tree, or perhaps on a large rock, or down by a stream,
rites should be offered to the genius locii of your land. Take out an
oil lamp filled with olive oil. Providing light, it should be left as
an offering when you finish your rite. Candles may also be used
together with or instead of the oil lamp, but bring some oil as an
offering as well. A little wine or other beverage, some cakes, and
carolling to toast the genius locii, Lares compitalii, and Praestites.
At any outlying buildings, rap about the doors and windows to
ward off ill, and leave the Penates cakes and drink.

Just after the New Moon (the time will vary according to where you
are), be the first to enter your house, stepping with the right foot
first, and bearing a plate that has salt for health and purity, coins
for wealth, firebrands of warmth and light, bread and wine, along with
other items to represent your family members. This platter is placed
on the table where your family dines together. Present offerings to
your Lares and patron deities and fill your house with laughter with
family and friends while drinking, feasting and love-making.

The next day begin your morning rites, including the rite for the the
Kalends, but do not complete them at first. Begin at your lararium or
hearth, with your head veiled. Light a fire and offer bay leaves to
Vesta, Janus, and Juno, each in turn:

'Ave, Ave, Vesta Mater, flammæ tuæ semper nos ad Deos immortales
ducant. Hodie omnia fausta sint domo nostro.'

'Jane Pater, Deus initii boni venero. Orire Jane Matutine, Custos
portarum Lucis Matutinæ Jane, Viæ Apertor, te precor ut omnia bona
faustaque hodie nobis sint et ut fauste familiæ meæ faveas.'

'Ave, Ave Juno Mater, ades Regina Deorum supernorum. Hóc dié Kalendis
Ianuaris nos, filii filiæque tuæ familiæ (nomen familiæ), tibi munera
sancta præbemus ut benigne faveás familiæ domóque nostræ. Semper nobis
prodes ominibus tuis salús, secundí, letitiæ.'

Next offer libum drizzled with honey, or some other sweet bread, to
Juno:

'Tibi Junoni, purissimæ Deæ supernæ, hoc libum proebens bonas preces
precor ut mihi familiæque et domo meæ indulgens et clemens sis.'

Next pour a libation of milk for Juno:

'Juno Mater, accipe libenter hanc libationem, adorare hác culigná
viní.'

At this point you should call upon your Lares and Penates to aid you
in purifying the house by ritual sweeping. As Cato tells us:

"Daily must she sweep clear around the hearth fire, and also the
dining area before supper. At the Kalends, and whenever in each month
the Nones, and the Ides shall come, a wreath she shall place in the
hearth, and on these same days she gives thanks to the family's Lares
for granting abundance and wealth, caring for the family's
nourishment, and caring that the family is well considered." ~ M.
Porcius Cato, De Re Agrilutura 142.2

Regular sweeping to clean the house is different from the ritual
sweeping performed on the Kalends, Nones, and Ides. As in Ovid's
ceremony for Lemuria, you should strew a mixture of course ground
grain, salt, and maybe uncooked beans, for the Manes and sweep this
up. This should later be carried outside and buried beneath the roots
of a tree. The walls and ceiling are also "swept" to remove the
capelli angeli (cobwebs) and any evils attached to them. Sometimes
this kind of sweeping of the walls was done in my family by a
measuring motion. Using a cloth, held at both ends, hands beside each
other and beginning at a doorway, one then stretches the length of the
cloth and "measures" around the room. You can likewise asperse you
house with boiling water or an herbal simple of vervain. Do not
forget, too, to pour libations of vinegar in your drains for Venus
Cloaca.

At the center of your house place a censer and light frankincense.
This is not necessarily the physical center of the house, but likely
the table where the family takes its meals together. Set out offerings
for your Lares on the table, where also sits the items you brought in
that night for the New Year. If you use images for your Lares, these
should be brought to the table as well. Also take a bite to eat and
some drink as you share a meal with your ancestors.

Then complete your morning ritual. Place the images of your Lares back
in the lararium and perform an adoratio (kiss the back of your hand,
touch the lararium, and then twist to the right as you lift your hand
away:

'Valete Lares Familiares. Focilate familiam nostram quam fundaviste.'

Perform another adoratio for your Penates:

'Valete Penates divini, servate semper domum nostram.'

Place some olive oil on the head of the image of your Lar familiaris
and allow it to drip into a glass of water. If it disperses it is a
good omen of evil being dispersed. With another adoratio for your Lar
familiaris:

'Lar familiaris, duce nos ad omnia felicia faustaque.'

Place cut flowers by your lararium and on the table:

'His floribus Lares familiares veneror, domus nostra benefiat ominibus
vestris salús, secundí, letitiæ.'

Place bread and oil by the lararium:

'Præbeo panem olivo ornatum, ut familia domusque nostra salute et vitá
longá juventur.'

Then pour a libation of wine into a bowl at the lararium:

'Hoc vinum libenter a vobis accipiatur, Lares venerabiles.'

And then complete your ritual:

'Precor deos ut omnia futura fausta sint. Valete Dí immortales. Si quo
modo hunc ritum violavi, accipite volentes propitii hoc tús, ut expiem
errores mortales meos.'

'Illicet. Di immortales faciant, tam felix quam pia.'

'Nil amplius vos hodie posco, superi, satis est.'


By doing your sweeping in the middle of your ritual it becomes part of
the ritual, the work you perform is blessed and benefits from the
Gods.

Valete optime et vadete in pace Deorum