Just Wanted More Apollo With Puppies In My Life.

Zeus is a wonderful God! (Aka he and his worshippers don't deserve hate, ever) I mostly worship him as Ktesios and Astrapaios but he's many things:

Zeus is a god of fate, of law and justice.

Zeus is a protecter, he is a king, he is a god of hospitality who protects fugitives, strangers and all who need it.

He is a just and fair God (even if we can't see it), he is the lightning, the thunder and the rain.

He is, many things but he is: The Good God

Saturnalia is coming on soon, so I'd like to speak some more on this peculiar, interesting festive occasion.

It is an Ancient Roman holiday of abundance, feasting, and celebration of harvest, which was supposed to be over by the time the festivities began. After the farmers gathered the crops, they'd celebrate Saturn, God of seed and sowing, for His generosity and richness of the harvest.

The festival, known for its abundant feasts and the peculiar tradition of switching roles of masters and servants, has a complicated history. It laid basis for the modern-day celebration of Christmas with its fairs, markets, street festivities, and gift-giving.

The origins of Saturnalia are much of a mystery as the festival appears to be so Ancient that Roman sources mark it to be older than the city of Rome itself. Saturnalia existed in both Greek and Roman tradition, though it corresponded to the Greek Kronia, which was a similar, but not an identical festival.

Sources speak on different possible origins of the holiday: some mention the temple of Saturn, the largest of the recorded by the pontiffs, being erected in Rome, and thus starting the tradition; whereas others speak on the festival being brought from Greece. Either way, this Ancient tradition is associated with the liberation of the God of harvest.

Saturnalia was officially celebrated on December 17 and, in Cicero's ties, lasted for a week (inclusively), until December 23. The length of the celebration varied depending on the time period as Augustus shortened it to three days only for the sake of letting the civil courts stay closed for less, while Caligula extended the celebration to five days. The original festival, according to Macrobius, appeared to have lasted for only a day; fourteen days before the Kalends of January. The Julian reform shifted the date to the 17th, thus making it into sixteen days before the Kalends. Some believe that the timing for Saturnalia was symbolic, as next followed Winter Solstice, or symbolic Death of the Sun and Birth of the new one.

Regardless, even after the limiting of the festival, Saturnalia seemed to still be celebrated for a full week with the last day being dedicated to Sigillaria, named so after sigillaria, the small earthenware figurines sold in the cities on that day. The original day of celebration was in turn given to Ops, the consort of Saturn and the Deity of abundance and the fruits of the Earth. The celebration in Her honor was called Opalia, and two festivals tended to mix together with Ops' worshippers sitting down during prayer to touch Earth, mother of all.

Saturnalia involved various activities akin to feasts, parties, gift-giving, and ritual rites. The party traditionally started with the guests exclaiming, i Saturnalia, believed to be a shortening from ego tibi optimis Saturnalia auspico, or 'i wish you a happy Saturnalia'. It is believed to be one of the most delightful periods of the year and one of the most beloved Roman festivals. People went into the streets celebrating, marching, setting up shows and street markets. People of all backgrounds could participate in it.

Among the general aspects of Saturnalia were activities such as gift giving, as people exchanged things such as candles, walnuts, dates, and honey. Masters served slaves, whereas slaves became free men as in memory of Saturn's reign when slavery did not exist. Servants walked the streets masked, in Frigio hats, or hats of liberation. The Saturnals were also celebrated in the army; the party was called the Saturnalicium castrense, when the low-rank soldiers sat next to the generals as equals and toasted together. Dice games and public gambling were allowed, but became prohibited again once Saturnalia ended. Mourning was abolished, while courts and schools were closed; starting war or enforce capital punishment was strictly prohibited. The festivities took such a great degree of chaos that some authors of the time report moving to remote suburban houses for the week of the Saturnalia to avoid the noise.

Saturn was one of the few celebrated Deities, as, in Roman times, Dis Pater and Proserpina were also believed to join the festive processions in winter time. They were to be appeased by gifts, festivities, and food; which was believed to make Them return to the Underworld where, as the Gods of subsoil, They would protect the crops and make them sprout in spring.

The official part of the feast consisted of a solemn sacrifice in the temple attended with bare head and during which the wool bandages that wrapped the feet of Saturn's simulacrum melted. A public banquet followed where all the guests exchanged toasts and wishes.

Further celebratory activities were split into days, and precise rites were done on each day of the festival.

At the beginning of Saturnalia, a rite of lectisternium was held. During the ritual, statues of Jupiter and 12 Olympians were seated in a dining position upon a special bed, or couch, and offered food, prayers, and gifts. They were spoken to with due respect and asked for protection of Rome and its people as well as for help with current affairs. After the first step, a procession was sent off to the Temple of Saturn and animal sacrifices were made at the site. A banquet with cheeses, focaccia, olives, and wine was held, to which everyone was invited - all provided by the state.

Starting day one, no-work days began, and gifts as well as greeting cards were exchanged between the citizens. Myrtle, laurel, and ivy - symbolic elements of the Saturna - were given; the trees were respectively sacred to Venus, Apollo, and Bacchus. The first day was signified by banquets, during which the Princeps of Saturnalia, the ruler of the festivities, Princeps Saturnalicius, was elected. During the first day of the festival, people changed from togas to synthesis and pileus; a casual home robe and a cap like headdress.

On the second day of the festival, Rome was still abundant with noise and feasts, to which everyone invited everyone. Stalls and juggles were in the streets alongside dancers and musicians. Celebrations were accompanied by the feast in honor of Epona, Celtic Goddess of horses, much adorned by the equites, whose importance during Saturnalia was due to Her connection to fertility and richness of feasts. The second day of Saturnalia, the 18th of December, marked the beginning of the triad of days of Mercatus, much similar to today's city fairs.

The third day of Saturnalia was the initial day of the celebration (before the reform of the calendar) and was devoted to the Goddess Ops, Deity of Sabine origin introduced to Rome under Titus Tatius. She was praised as the Deity of abundance, protector of rich harvest, giver of fruits of the Earth, and respected consort of the God Saturn. Her Temple at the Capitol hill was erected on that day, and thus received attention and became a center of worship of the Goddess as it was the anniversary of its establishment. Ops was prayed to and asked for blessings of harvest.

The fourth day of the Saturnian festivals, December 20, was dedicated to gift-giving and worship of the Lares, house guardian Deities of Ancient Rome. Terracotta figurines, sigillaria, were made out of paste, wax, or terracotta. Bronze statues were a rarity as bronze was expensive, while sigillaria made out of sweet dough were meant for the children. These statuettes were exchanged as gifts between the citizens as well as given to Saturn as offerings. He was seen as the God of time, and, thus, Death, and the figurines were to be given to Him as ways to redirect Death from coming for the giver, instead letting the figurine take it.

On the fifth day, Rome was filled with visitors from all across the Empire who came to see the city at its peak, blooming with festivals and street activities such as shops, shows, and a multitude of banquet spots. Fod, souvenirs, sigillaria (sigillaria<sigillum<signum+illum), clothes, ornaments and jewels were sold on the street. Artisans from all over the Empire offered goods made of leather, wood, terracotta, bronze, brass, silver and a special alloy of gold and silver, electrum.

On day six of the festivities Rome welcomed dancers, singers, and other performers from across the Empire who came to join the celebration as the entirety of the Empire was involved in it. Gift-exchanging with the guests, also known as xenia, was performed. Marcus Valerius Martialis wrote Xenia and Apophoreta for the Saturnalia, both of which were published in December and intended to accompany the "guest gifts" that were given at that time of year.

On the seventh - and last - day of the celebrations the Gods were thanked for everything given. The streets were full of torches and braziers, and the day passed between banquets and the baths decorated with ribbons and garlands for the occasion. Aulus Gellius relates that he and his Roman compatriots would gather at the baths in Athens, where they were studying, and pose difficult questions to one another on the ancient poets, a crown of laurel being dedicated to Saturn if no-one could answer them.

Saturnalia ended at sunset.

Sources in pinned.

His cunty behavior and odd eyes have captivated me

An easy spell for protection

Ingredients:

A black candle

A piece of paper

A pen

A protective herb, such as rosemary, basil, or lavender

Instructions:

Light the black candle.

Write your name on the piece of paper.

Fold the paper in half and place it under the candle.

Sprinkle the protective herb over the paper.

Close your eyes and visualize a protective shield surrounding you.

Say the following incantation:

“I am protected from all harm. No evil can touch me. I am safe and sound. I am surrounded by love and light.”

Open your eyes and let the candle burn out.

This spell can be used to protect yourself from negative energy, harm, and danger. It can also be used to protect your home, your loved ones, and your belongings.

Here are some additional tips for using this spell:

You can use any protective herb that you like.

You can say the incantation in your own words.

You can perform this spell at any time of day or night.

You can repeat this spell as often as you need to.

This spell is a simple and effective way to protect yourself from harm. By following these tips, you can make sure that the spell is as effective as possible.

Isn't it actually so beautiful that deities take the time to try and guide and teach us? How wonderful is it that they care for us so deeply that they'd share their wisdom, knowledge, and insight so freely? I think a deity's love is something to be cherished, and I cherish this. 🧡✨

this is my world and all i can think about

not sure if you're still doing these but i literally love them and if you are still doing them then I'd love to see a Gaia moodboard !

thanks !

i've been away from here for a long time, but this request of yours made my day, thank you! i hope you like it as well💚

𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒂 ; 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 🌸🍃

[please reblog or like if you saved]

Roman Polytheism Resources

Roman Polytheism, also known as Roman Paganism, Religio Romana, and Cultus Deorum Romanorum, is the modern worship of the deities, deified virtues, genius loci (spirits of places), heroes, and deified humans of ancient Rome.  This intersects with Hellenistic polytheism, which includes Hellenic, Egyptian, Phrygian, Assyrian, Phoenician, and Syrian deities and Mysteries.

This list of resources is by no means exhaustive, and additions are welcome! Just send me an ask or pm with the book titles or links you recommend, or a note if you wish your blog to be included on the list.

Sources and Introductory Material

Roman Religion Reading List   Because it’s best to base your own conclusions on solid source material.

Nova Roma is generally a good source of information about the cultus deorum. This is not, though, an endorsement of the organization itself.

Roman Religion: Beliefs, Practices, And Institutions

Introduction to the Roman deities (pdf) Again, not an endorsement of the Res Publica Romana organization.

Major and Minor Roman Deities

Genii Loci

Mos Maiorum (Roman Virtues)

The Lararium and Household Religion

Prayers, rites, and worship

The prayers and rites listed here are in no way definitive, as there is no unbroken tradition of Roman worship. They represent modern interpretations that have worked for other people; feel free to respectfully modify them to suit your own needs, understanding of the gods, and lifestyle.

How to start practicing private rites

Simple Daily Home Rites and Prayers

Lararium rite

Daily Lararium rite

Kalends Lararium rite

Kalends rite for Janus

The Great Greco-Roman Polytheist Ritual Masterpost

Calendars of Roman Festivals:

http://www.novaroma.org/calendar/index.html

http://romanpagan.blogspot.com/2014/01/roman-calendar.html

http://www.musesrealm.net/rome/festivals.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_festivals

http://www.unrv.com/culture/roman-festivals.php

Places to buy oil lamps, altars, statues, etc.

I have no relationship or affiliation with these shops, and cannot guarantee your experience - I only browse their wares with longing.

Venetian Cat

The Roman Shop

Sacred Source

Celtic Web

Other Roman polytheists at tumblr:

@hearthglow @dorkilypagan  @sassyromanspirits  @dimagnitemplum  @heliosthedemiurge  @redlotuscult  @evodije  @sonnefur @redrokingpunkwitch

Treating Jupiter & Zeus kindly and respectfully despite what some old myths not brought into votive acts claim of the God(s) is actually a very important step towards dismantling misogyny within certain parts of the polytheistic community or communities that worship Jupiter & Zeus.

Not letting toxic people believe that the main God(s) of the Greco-Roman Pantheon(s) would ever support criminal treatment of others is a very important step towards barring the worshipping community from people as such. It is especially prominent with Pater Jupiter & Father Zeus as embodiments of Justice, but it’s sort of like that with all bigoted beliefs when they affect Gods:

Artemis & Diana and/or Athena & Minerva would never hate men, Gods are not hateful nor hate-driven. Hating an individual for their birth-given or chosen identity is against the rules of hospitality; your identity does not bring you Their ire. Thus, we do not wish for hateful individuals within the community.

Aphrodite & Venus would never hate trans, nonbinary, intersex individuals, and those who fall out of the gender binary in other ways than that - nor would They ever support bioessentialism. Thus, we do not wish for bioessentialists within the community.

Ares & Mars would never support oppression of the mistreated or violent aggression towards others, unless it’s a fight for self-protection. The Gods are not anyone’s way to deify and excuse oppression. Thus, we do not wish for militarists and warheads within the community.

Jupiter & Zeus would never support nor promote ideas of sexual assault in any form or any non-consensual limiting of one’s self-autonomy. The Gods are not a punishing power but rather They are loving hosts accepting of us as guests. Thus, we do not with for harassers, agressors, and/or assaulters within the community.

To agree with the harmful and slandering rhetoric is to give opressors power. Jupiter & Zeus deserve better.