Roman Mythology - Blog Posts

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, 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

Oh dear lord... thank you so much for posting this, I'm not the only one who thinks this way. It drives me nuts that pop culture will set a show/movie/book (well, maybe book(s), not entirely sure on that one,) in Ancient Greece, or maybe will just use the Greek names of the Gods, but Heracles will be called Hercules.

I also appreciate that you pointed out how the Greeks also used syncretism

Listen, this is a very specific topic to be iffy about, but for your knowledge, the Roman gods are not the Greek gods.

The Romans were big on syncretism (the combination of different forms of belief or intellectual thought) and the adoption of foreign gods. The Greek deities were known since very early periods via the Etruscan culture, which was heavily influenced by Greece since the middle of the 8th century BC because of trade routes as well as the Greek cultural potential and would come to be completely engulfed around the third century BC with the Roman-Etruscan wars, but just like you’d see the Romans claiming the Germanic tribes worshipped their own gods under different names (the Germania by Roman historian Tacitus, written around 98 AD), the same happened here, and the fusion wasn’t 100% accurate.

While in the case of Zeus and Jupiter, for example, it worked well, Venus is far more motherly and political than Aphrodite (as Mars is the Father of Rome via the myth of Romulus and Remus, Venus is Venus Genetrix, Venus the Mother, and the only time you’ll see Aphrodite being motherly is in… the Aeneid, a distinctively Roman piece), Mars is an agricultural god as well as the god of war and has way more political connotations than Ares (he was a member of the archaic Capitoline Triad), Mercury is far more linked with commerce than the more pastoral Hermes, and the list goes on. Apollo was imported directly and very early (a temple for him, the Temple of Apollo Sosianus, was erected in the city of Rome as early as 431 BC), thus keeping the name but undergoing a very distinct Romanization of his attributes and worship. Janus, Quirinus and Terminus were very important Roman gods which had no Greek equivalent.

Isis, for example, was worshipped as herself, equated with a number of deities in both the Greek and the Roman worlds and some of her methods of worship and symbolism were associated with the Virgin Mary. It’s a far more complicated scenario, babes, especially when you consider Alexander’s conquests and the expansion of Hellenistic culture as well as its contact with many other cultures.

Syncretism is way more complicated than “the Romans just stole the Greek gods and gave them different names, the uncreative fucks”. The traditional date for Rome’s foundation is 753 BC and the Western Roman Empire would last until 436 AD. That’s over a thousand years of conquest, trade and growing and shrinking territories, and none of these factors are likely to leave a religion unaltered.

Besides, the practice of religious syncretism is way older and more common than you’d expect. The Akkadians did it to Summerian deities a few thousand years before this especially after the conquest of Sargon of Akkad in 2340 BC (“Mesopotamia: the Sumerians”. Washington State University). The Greeks were doing much the same with the Roman pantheon itself (Dionysus of Halicarnassus and Plutarch use Greek names for Roman cult), with the Egyptian pantheon and with the Scythian pantheon (Herodotus in both cases, though the associations would outlive him, such as the case of Zeus/Amon).

So, no the Roman gods aren’t the plagiarized versions of the Greek gods, and I could defend this in front of a jury.

My blonde superman

Jason Grace life matters✊

Aeneas, holding the hand of his son Ascanius/Iulus and bearing his father Anchises on his shoulders, flees the burning city of Troy. Terracotta sculpture by an unknown artist; 1st cent. CE. Found at Pompeii; now in the Museo Archaeologico Nazionale, Naples. Photo credit: Alphanidon/Wikimedia Commons.

Diana

Rising with the moon,

She represents me and you.

She’s fierce and brave,

She’ll put you in your place.

She shines brightly,

Her glow never left.

A hand outstretched and her lips upon your cheek.

A bow and arrow raised to the sky.

A breeze chills past you, breathe.

Diana, protect us from the darkness with your light.

Diana bring us children.

Goddess of the hunt, bring forth your love!

Pluto and Proserpine by Edward James Physick (1849)

A snippet of my book since you guys asked for more info! <3 @ze-melon-lord

For context, the setting is supposed to be similar to the Hellenistic Era of Ancient Greece, in a Caveat-like theatre(If you like my writing, and want to see more, PLS send me asks, the fandoms I write for and Nono's are pinned on my page)

Warnings// Depictions of gore and violence, guns and swords, minor cliffhanger if you squint

DO NOT repost w/out using the button on the post or claim as your own, you will be blocked and reported. All rights ARE reserved

Chapter One; Loyalty is Only Obsession

“Ms. Serafina? Ma’am, are you ready?” A young voice spoke up from the darkness of a corner. A dark, private, cavea-like seating area.

“Indeed, I should like to see the show begin…,” A heavenly deep voice responded, “Maybe this one will be different?”

On the guards’ ends, they passed a small cue down to the stage before replacing themselves behind the Goddess’s chair, “Ladies and gentlemen, let the show… begin!”

A disarming smile displayed on the Woman's lips, Her slender hand leaning softly against Her cheek. As She shifted Her hands, the off-shoulder sleeves on Her velvety black dress— garnished with silk roses—, wrinkled and slid ever so slightly up Her arms.

 A messily beautiful display of tricks and twists went on at the infant stage below. The dear, dejected Serafina just couldn’t be satisfied by pulling rabbits out of hats, anymore. Of course, She couldn’t control that She was like this, She had simply existed for just… so long.

Some sorrowful display cast over Her smile whilst staring upon what the people thought Her upbringing had been, “This is all wrong…!”

“Would you like me to inform them?” A fit, armored, young woman knelt beside Her Grace.

“Absolutely not, Anthea; I would rather they not know than they be aware and revolt… Ignorance is bliss, afterall,” She kept Her stern facade through Her disgust.

“As you wish, My Liege,” The soldier of sorts returned to her post in the corner, armor clanking softly against itself.

The show continued, seemingly harmless. No one in the theatre nearly had the chance to catch the barrel of a gun in an actress’s boot. An evil grin consistently mistaken for one of enjoyment.

“and now…,” The man from earlier announced an hour since the start, “Let the beginning of the end commence!”

“Haah, finally…; this one was starting to bore me more than some of the others have… And I thought it would be different,” Serafina, ever the infamous one for never giving up pride, therefore, even when a show appalled Her, She stayed.

“You know, it would be a shame if-,” The lights went out, accompanied by the ping of a bullet ringing through the air — the result of Her own foolishness. 

A deep chuckle slipped from Her mouth, “Oh, is it going to be interesting, afterall? Save the best for last, I suppose.”

“No, Miss, I-I don’t think that is part of the show,” Ethaan called, across from Anthea.

“Not part of the show? So you believe it may be an attack?”

“It is possible, yes,” He adjusted his glasses as if they had miraculously slid down his nose, which they were too tight to do.

“Then should we not evacuate the Lady?” Anthea protested.

“Err…” A small stutter sounded from the boy.

“If I am not in any immediate danger then what is the point?” Serafina stood up, turning around to face the two guards with a perky chuckle, “If it comes down to, then you shall fight.”

“If it is your order, My Lady,” Ethaan hesitantly obeyed, nodding as he turned and looked to his colleague.

The Woman placed a hand on the chair’s armrest from where she stood beside it. The young soldiers exchanged glances; they had only met fairly recently, though they figured they got along just fine.

“We can make that-” Bullets split the mount of one last burning candle, hurling flames towards the ground.

“Well, this means we fight?” Ethaan adjusted his glasses once more, the nerves shaking his fingertips.

“It does. Lady Serafina, please get back.” Anthea stood her ground, moving slightly in front of her superior.

 With the Goddess safely behind Her guards, they readied themselves. Combat may be approaching.

“Where is it coming from? Do you think it is one person or multiple?” Her trusted guards quickly questioned the Lady.

“The first shot sounded like it came from the stage, when the lights went out. And if the one from just now managed to hit our only light left… then it had to of also come from the stage; so, it is at least one of the actors.” Serafina always had such an unnatural sense of hearing. Quite convenient, yes…

Stampeding footsteps raced up the stairs, just so happening to stop in front of their target —There were two of them.

The five of them only needed the slivers of moonlight, seeping in through scream-soaked curtains, to spot each other’s silhouettes. Second by second, breath by labored breath, the anticipation of who would move first—or even breathe first.

Ethaan and Anthea were too slow, the attackers too fast. The darkness blinded Serafina. How unfortunate, She just can’t see in the dark.

Pew, one bullet shot was all it took. Where was it going? To the Goddess? To the guards? The latter. Who? Anthea; she pushed her partner away, taking the bullet to her own abdomen. Wait…, a second shot? So quickly? Did they both have guns?

Ethaan didn’t risk it, he lunged at the anonymous—too late… He landed his blade in a shoulder, yes, but The Lady had already taken the blow.

Her senses had failed Her. She had only been hit in Her right eye, communication was still possible; unless it had gone too deep?

“Ms. Serafina!” Ethaan called out, watching as his boss dropped to Her knees.

She kept silent, still, and silent.

The only audible thing being the labored breaths of the others.

Panicked, the attackers left. Was that it? They thought the bullet took Serafina’s life; so, that was it? How awfully pathetic.

“They’re gone now; please tell me you’re alive, Milady!”

“Yes, I am fine. I only dropped, so they would leave. Though, My eye is definitely going to be blinded; the shrapnel got in it.” She paused, looking at the frightened boy, “Is Anthea alive?”

A withered, “Yes…” sounded from the ground, Anthea lay there, broken and defeated.

“Come now, we shall get you the medical attention you require; we can’t have My best in centuries dying on Me, now, can we?” Serafina carefully cradled the maimed maiden in Her arms, “You aren't injured, as well, are you Ethaan?”

He shook his head, thankfully in good physical health. Yes, physical, at the very least. Had anyone more been injured She wouldn’t have known what to do with Herself. She already didn’t know what to do with Herself; this whole moment felt oddly evocative, almost as if this had maybe happened to Her before. But it hadn’t, it couldn’t have! Or could it. Had it?

© a-yciecat

have you done the constellation Orion yet?

I have actually, I did a few this morning!😊 It's one of my favorites too!

My favourite gods are Apollo and Hera(I CAN EXPLAIN THIS ONE I SWEAR, DM FOR THIS ONE WHOLE ESSAY ABT IT)

Get well soon <3

Tyyy, and also I completely agree Apollo and Hera are THE BOMB(Zeus pls don't smite me lol) Anyway, pls ignore the mess up on Aquarius, my brother distracted me

I'm super bored rn, and semi-bedridden, so put ur fav constellations in my askbox and I'll doodle them! If u don't have a fav constellation, then uh, who's ur fav Greek/Latin God/Goddess and I'll doodle whatever constellations belong to them in mythology!☺️

Roman gods

If the roman god of beginnings, transitions and ending had demigod children would, they see an alternate version of themselves in their shadows and mirrors, like things that happened to them in the past or will happen to them ?

Just to add, these reflections and shadows can move independently and show different images

You guys know what would be amazing and hilarious? I would love to see a full series of chaptered SeaFam fanfics where it is just Poseidon being a whole Dad and SeaFam Slice of life and Hijinks. Hear me out. I would love to see Poseidon reading parenting books for all age groups cause you never know, you know. In his mind Percy is essentially a toddler. I want him to start a swear jar. I think it would be so amusing if the swear jar is so full that they cannot put anything else in. I would love to see Poseidon tag-team co-parenting along side Sally, Paul, and Amphitrite. I would love to see him laying down rules such as no caffeine after 5:00pm because it will ruin Percy’s sleep quality and he cares very much about Percy getting a full 8 and a half to 9 hours sleep. I would love to see Poseidon, Amphitrite, and Triton trying to make sure Percy eats healthy balanced meals. I want to see Kym be the fabulous rebellious big sister Percy is both terrified of and greatly adores in equal measure. I think it would be hilarious if she sneaks him or just straight up hands him sweets and other stuff their parents have deemed off-limits. I want to see Kim teach him how to create massive destructive storms and play pranks on triton and even Poseidon. I have this vision in my head of Poseidon wading in balloons up to his neck in his office with Percy and kym giggling like little kids at the door. I would love to see Rhodes and Ben as sisters who are very supportive and always there to tutor or simply hang out. They are usually the ones to share the funny embarrassing stories and taking Percy on adventures or teach him some of their own things like how to control waves effectively and efficiently for example. I would love to see triton switching from dad mode to big brother mode constantly, teaching Percy how to fight with a trident, and Percy teasing him to kingdom come with all the little mermaids. I would love a prank war between all the kids. And Tyson is as he has always been a perfect wonderful cinnamon roll of a Cyclopes. I like both regular Percy Jackson fics and Fem!Percy fics. I like percebeth ships and perpollo ships as well. If anyone knows of any stories like this tag me please. And if you write anything like this please tag me.

This is a uuuuuuuuh recreation of Bacchus by Caravaggio, for a Uni assignment, except with one of my ocs yippeeee yippeee!!

This is Darner, i feel like he has a similar vibe to the basic caricature of Dionysius/Bacchus, sooo I chose him

we are the next prometheus. will we end up like our own creator?

"Nemesis was a Romano-Egyptian deity in the form of a griffin. She was associated with fate, and complete statuettes often showed one paw resting upon a wheel representing fate."

Pose Reference