Hubby came up with the title of tonight's post. (It was in reference to a discussion of the show Spartacus: Blood and Sand). I decided I needed to use that as a post title. What subject would possibly fit? It's a bit od a stretch, but who cares: Tonight's topic:
The Rape of the Sabine Women.
Why do they call it that? The actual word is "rapito" which means "kidnapped," not sexually violated. I digress. The story, in brief:
Romulus and Remus founded Rome. Romulus killed his brother Remus (where have we heard that before?) and names the city after himself. He also brought in ex-cons and outlaws to populate the city quickly. Makes for a great army, but not so much a great society when you have no heirs. The Romans needed to populate their city with Women.
They allegedly asked permission to marry from other local tribes but were rebuked. If you saw some big badasses trying to move in on your land, wouldn't you want them to disappear in a generation? The Romans were refused. Using their brains as well as their brawn, The Romans threw a big festival to Neptune and invited everyone to come- what we'd call a "family friendly event" these days. Folks came, especially the local Sabines. While the men were distracted with the games, the Romans kidnapped the women and took off.
By the time the Sabine men were ready to fight, Romulus had already negotiated directly with the women (which they should have done in the first place). He guaranteed them equal civil rights and property rights amongst other things. I wonder if he offered to let them go home if they said no. Anyway, the Sabine men finally get their asses in gear and wage war on the Romans when the Women show up and stop the fight. Livy attributes lovely speeches to the Ladies, something along the lines of "kill me instead, I don't want to live without my father or my husband." The men stop the fighting, the king of the Sabines gets to be co-ruler with Romulus (he died 5 years later... hmmm) and the Sabine families moved to Rome. This is allegedly where the tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold came from.
Do I believe this actually happened? I have no idea. I think it's true on some level. I think they needed Women to survive, but I don't think a mass kidnapping is too bright, and I don't think it would've been all touchy feely with guaranteed rights, "real" marriages (as wiki reports)... what was the concept of "marriage" in those days anyway? (Is this period technically Roman or still pre-Roman? lol). I think the Romans would have had more resources than just having a bunch of ex cons kidnapping the local maidens. Part of the story that's especially fishy is that the women brought their children to the battle to stop it. Wha? FFS it took YEARS for the fathers, husbands and brothers of the Sabine women to get their shit together to get em back? That's what really sends this into the realm of fable for me.
When I'm in a good mood, I romanticize it- the neighboring women loved the Roman men and the mean Sabine daddies were keeping them apart. Bad mood? The evil men kidnapped the women and forced them to bear their children.
So what does this have to do with anything? Yeah.... I don't know. It something that's come up in my reading lately; I don't mean this specific story, but in general the idea that Rome was the America of the ancient world: Show up, found a city, intermarry with the natives (well, the colonists brought whole families here, but I digress), sections of the territory were ruled by several different far off powers until one group comes in and takes over the whole thing, war with one native tribe after another for a land grab until the natives are killed or assimilated... Sound familiar?
Rome was the melting pot of it's day, no matter if they forced some of the melting or not. I find it fitting that so many Italians immigrated to New York City, including my family.
PS: Anita: This rambling post was for you ;)
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Genealogy
I was going to complain about how I need to up my Italian skillz because I can hardly do family research when it takes me forever to translate a web site. No need to blog that, just to stfu and practice, right? One web site, which I've seen before, has my family's coat of arms. There's even a fun little legend about how the name started:
One two Princes kneel before you. That's what I said now.... Ack! Effing Spin Doctors...
There were two Princes, Brothers. Each had a castle on the opposite side of a river. Water grew scarce, each needed it. They fought over the river -the about to take up arms against each other fighting, not the whining to mom that he stole my water kind of fighting. My ancestor came along and built a contraption which split the river and made it flow towards both Princedoms. He was declared Master of the Water and given his own land and title. That's one story of how I became a Mastromarino. Here's our coat of arms:
(had to remove it, will upload it elsewhere! 1/26)
The page that has the coat of arms talks about the ancient origins of the name and traces it back to, I think, Thrace. It tries to follow as the name evolves into Mastromarino and other offshoots. If you're fluent in Italian, please take a look at the page and let me know your take on it. There's a whole big deal about us being related to a Templar. Interesting...
If you're in the mood for some surname fun, check out where your name is most popular in Italy and in the US: http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/
I'll post about why family lines are important, including the adopted ones, another time. Add it to my growing list of posts to post!
One two Princes kneel before you. That's what I said now.... Ack! Effing Spin Doctors...
There were two Princes, Brothers. Each had a castle on the opposite side of a river. Water grew scarce, each needed it. They fought over the river -the about to take up arms against each other fighting, not the whining to mom that he stole my water kind of fighting. My ancestor came along and built a contraption which split the river and made it flow towards both Princedoms. He was declared Master of the Water and given his own land and title. That's one story of how I became a Mastromarino. Here's our coat of arms:
(had to remove it, will upload it elsewhere! 1/26)
The page that has the coat of arms talks about the ancient origins of the name and traces it back to, I think, Thrace. It tries to follow as the name evolves into Mastromarino and other offshoots. If you're fluent in Italian, please take a look at the page and let me know your take on it. There's a whole big deal about us being related to a Templar. Interesting...
If you're in the mood for some surname fun, check out where your name is most popular in Italy and in the US: http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/
I'll post about why family lines are important, including the adopted ones, another time. Add it to my growing list of posts to post!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
La Befana!
"b?" "p?" "v?" Makes no difference to an Italian.
La Epifania is the name of the holiday... An Italian saying it in dialect? La Befana isn't a stretch...
Do a quick web search and you'll find the wiki entry for the "modern" version of the La Befana story. The christianized version is basically: The 3 Magi are wandering, following the infamous star. They somehow find themselves in Italy and knock on a old woman's door. They tell her they're off see baby Jesus and are bringing gifts, does she want to go with them. She says no, but when she changes her mind it's too late, they've already gone ahead. To make up for it, she goes around giving gifts to all children she comes across in case that's the one they were looking for.
But where did this come from? You don't have to search much to find out:
Ovid, in his work, The fasti, has a Q & A session with Janus. When asked why given gifts of fruit, dates, pure honey and a coin to start off the new year, Janus replies that it's to start the year off both sweet, and prosperous. The gifts were called Strenae- the New Year's Gifts, Janus rules that which is new- that first moment, the threshold and crossing through it.
In Vestiges of ancient manners and customs discoverable in modern Italy and Sicily (which was written in the 1820's) talks about a celebration he witnessed in Florence which included: People running around that eve dressed in "burlesque costumes" with torches in hand, singing, shouting and blowing glass horns. The author even notes a book I can't find about Dea Strenia.
My family has always celebrated New Year's Eve by dressing up (not just fancy dress, but after midnight, the women would dress up in the men's clothing, pretend to smoke cigars, paint on mustaches, etc), blow horns, ring bells, shout and party and have sweet foods (desert) as the first food of the new year. This often included a fruit bowl and struffles, aka honey balls. The celebration might have been a bit toned down this year (I didn't dress up in hubby's clothes), but things haven't changed all that much!
La Befana vien di notte
con le scarpe tutte rotte
con le toppe alla sottana:
Viva, viva la Befana!
La Epifania is the name of the holiday... An Italian saying it in dialect? La Befana isn't a stretch...
Do a quick web search and you'll find the wiki entry for the "modern" version of the La Befana story. The christianized version is basically: The 3 Magi are wandering, following the infamous star. They somehow find themselves in Italy and knock on a old woman's door. They tell her they're off see baby Jesus and are bringing gifts, does she want to go with them. She says no, but when she changes her mind it's too late, they've already gone ahead. To make up for it, she goes around giving gifts to all children she comes across in case that's the one they were looking for.
But where did this come from? You don't have to search much to find out:
Ovid, in his work, The fasti, has a Q & A session with Janus. When asked why given gifts of fruit, dates, pure honey and a coin to start off the new year, Janus replies that it's to start the year off both sweet, and prosperous. The gifts were called Strenae- the New Year's Gifts, Janus rules that which is new- that first moment, the threshold and crossing through it.
In Vestiges of ancient manners and customs discoverable in modern Italy and Sicily (which was written in the 1820's) talks about a celebration he witnessed in Florence which included: People running around that eve dressed in "burlesque costumes" with torches in hand, singing, shouting and blowing glass horns. The author even notes a book I can't find about Dea Strenia.
My family has always celebrated New Year's Eve by dressing up (not just fancy dress, but after midnight, the women would dress up in the men's clothing, pretend to smoke cigars, paint on mustaches, etc), blow horns, ring bells, shout and party and have sweet foods (desert) as the first food of the new year. This often included a fruit bowl and struffles, aka honey balls. The celebration might have been a bit toned down this year (I didn't dress up in hubby's clothes), but things haven't changed all that much!
La Befana vien di notte
con le scarpe tutte rotte
con le toppe alla sottana:
Viva, viva la Befana!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Reading List
I've been asked what is currently on my reading list.
You already know about two from my last post, assuming you made it that far. I don't think I was all that ranty yesterday, nevertheless, I'll post those two first. You might see a theme emerge:
Roman Religion and the Cult of Diana at Aricia, Green
This book assumes you've read the already published accepted theories from the 30s and 60s. If you haven't, it's not hard to catch up (liberal quoting and explanation).
The Aeneid
I want a copy that has the English translation alongside the original Latin, but I'll deal with this one
Odes, Epodes, Epistles, Satires, Ars Poetica, Carmen Seculare, Horace
The History of Rome, Livy
The Histories, Herodotus
There are 3 more, 2 are reference but since I can't recall the correct titles, I'll have to come back and amend the list.
What am I reading for fun? The Percy Jackson series is good fun! Yeah, it's a kid's series, but he uses the legends well and it's eons better than that piece o crap movie they made of the first book.
Signing off for now, but I plan to post later about the Dark Moon!
You already know about two from my last post, assuming you made it that far. I don't think I was all that ranty yesterday, nevertheless, I'll post those two first. You might see a theme emerge:
Roman Religion and the Cult of Diana at Aricia, Green
This book assumes you've read the already published accepted theories from the 30s and 60s. If you haven't, it's not hard to catch up (liberal quoting and explanation).
The Aeneid
I want a copy that has the English translation alongside the original Latin, but I'll deal with this one
Odes, Epodes, Epistles, Satires, Ars Poetica, Carmen Seculare, Horace
The History of Rome, Livy
The Histories, Herodotus
There are 3 more, 2 are reference but since I can't recall the correct titles, I'll have to come back and amend the list.
What am I reading for fun? The Percy Jackson series is good fun! Yeah, it's a kid's series, but he uses the legends well and it's eons better than that piece o crap movie they made of the first book.
Signing off for now, but I plan to post later about the Dark Moon!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Scholars, ranty.
Scholar: A specialist in a given branch of knowledge.
Paganism is not a branch of knowledge. It's a forest. Someone might be well versed in the modern origins of Wicca, or the Qbl, or Norse lore, or Italic deities.... One will not be a scholar of "Paganism." There is just too much.
I don't put much stock in folks who style themselves as "Pagan Scholars." I trust the research done by several anthropologists, especially when they admit when they don't know things and are willing to change previously held opinions. But again, I can take it or leave it. Give me the information and I'll process it myself, tyvm.
I'm not a scholar, nor do I pretend to be. I know a little about a lot, and a lot about a little. I'm the muggle's "Pagan Friend." I can give you the basics of many different traditions and tools like astrology, tarot, numerology, etc. I can point you towards resources and teachers for your interests, but I will never try to teach something I have not Mastered. When I am asked to teach a subject I have not Mastered, I will point the person to trusted sources where they can get the information they need. If that isn't possible, only then will I agree to impart what I have been taught, including full disclaimers on my level of learning and progress.
I am not a Tarantella expert, but I know enough to lead others through the dance, introduce them to the tool, and point them towards teachers who can take them to the next level. I am not a labyrinth scholar, but I can build one and lead you through it. No matter how much I learn, no matter how close I come to "mastering" a subject or being a "scholar" in a certain area, I know that there will always be others who have information to add: I will never stop learning new things about these subjects, even if it's through personal gnosis, a highly underrated form of learning.
I suppose that brings me to my next point of annoyance: Not all scholars can teach and not all teachers are scholars. Just because you know something (or everything) about a subject, doesn't mean you have the ability to impart it. Just because you learn something doesn't mean you can teach it. Just because you read a book doesn't mean you're qualified to impart that information. It makes me sick that some people have the audacity to hold workshops on a subject after reading a book or two and dare to charge you money for the privilege of regurgitating what they've read.
I've seen more confusion in the Pagan community over the last 20 years thanks to unqualified teachers as opposed to unqualified students.
Thanks, I felt the need to get that off my chest.
So where are my scholarly interests these days? Lately, Pre-Roman Italy. I'm once again reading Roman Religion and the Cult of Diana at Aricia and The Aeneid and studying the maps of the time. I would love to know how the Triskelion emerged in both Sicily and The Isle of Mann well before the Normans showed up in Sicily around 1000 - 1100 c.e. Sicily is the triangle shape, not Mann. Just sayin... I'm also quite interested in the Orphic and Homeric Hymns, but they will have to wait. I have two other books to read first.
And now that I've gotten off topic and I don't want to gather up my rant steam once again, I'm signing off!
Cheers!
Paganism is not a branch of knowledge. It's a forest. Someone might be well versed in the modern origins of Wicca, or the Qbl, or Norse lore, or Italic deities.... One will not be a scholar of "Paganism." There is just too much.
I don't put much stock in folks who style themselves as "Pagan Scholars." I trust the research done by several anthropologists, especially when they admit when they don't know things and are willing to change previously held opinions. But again, I can take it or leave it. Give me the information and I'll process it myself, tyvm.
I'm not a scholar, nor do I pretend to be. I know a little about a lot, and a lot about a little. I'm the muggle's "Pagan Friend." I can give you the basics of many different traditions and tools like astrology, tarot, numerology, etc. I can point you towards resources and teachers for your interests, but I will never try to teach something I have not Mastered. When I am asked to teach a subject I have not Mastered, I will point the person to trusted sources where they can get the information they need. If that isn't possible, only then will I agree to impart what I have been taught, including full disclaimers on my level of learning and progress.
I am not a Tarantella expert, but I know enough to lead others through the dance, introduce them to the tool, and point them towards teachers who can take them to the next level. I am not a labyrinth scholar, but I can build one and lead you through it. No matter how much I learn, no matter how close I come to "mastering" a subject or being a "scholar" in a certain area, I know that there will always be others who have information to add: I will never stop learning new things about these subjects, even if it's through personal gnosis, a highly underrated form of learning.
I suppose that brings me to my next point of annoyance: Not all scholars can teach and not all teachers are scholars. Just because you know something (or everything) about a subject, doesn't mean you have the ability to impart it. Just because you learn something doesn't mean you can teach it. Just because you read a book doesn't mean you're qualified to impart that information. It makes me sick that some people have the audacity to hold workshops on a subject after reading a book or two and dare to charge you money for the privilege of regurgitating what they've read.
I've seen more confusion in the Pagan community over the last 20 years thanks to unqualified teachers as opposed to unqualified students.
Thanks, I felt the need to get that off my chest.
So where are my scholarly interests these days? Lately, Pre-Roman Italy. I'm once again reading Roman Religion and the Cult of Diana at Aricia and The Aeneid and studying the maps of the time. I would love to know how the Triskelion emerged in both Sicily and The Isle of Mann well before the Normans showed up in Sicily around 1000 - 1100 c.e. Sicily is the triangle shape, not Mann. Just sayin... I'm also quite interested in the Orphic and Homeric Hymns, but they will have to wait. I have two other books to read first.
And now that I've gotten off topic and I don't want to gather up my rant steam once again, I'm signing off!
Cheers!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Art of Devotion
Do you have Patrons? How do you deal with them? Are you a devotee? Do they "overshadow" you? Are you partners? Is it a parental figure relationship? A relationship of lovers? A business arrangement?
I've had all of the above, some concurrently.
Some of the relationships I've read about, have been old about and have witnessed first hand have been along the lines of extortion. A relatively well known example from Italian circles:
To sell a house: 1) Dig a hole in the dirt on your property. 2) Take a statue of Saint Joseph and put him in the hole head first. 3) bury the statue while speaking words to condemn him to suffer in that hole until your house is sold. 4) When the house is sold, dig him up, clean him off, and give him a place of honor in your new home.
This practice is nothing new; The ancient Romans kept a statue of Saturn bound with ropes every day of the year except for the Saturnalia. Funny how nothing on the internet mentions WHY he was bound, just that the ropes were untied on this date.
Plenty of spells and works in the Roman tradition call for the tying, burying, covering and otherwise threatening the being, deity or otherwise. Conversely, many promises are also extracted from petitioners for favor from small things such as specific devotions and offerings, to the promise of a new temple. How many Roman temples were built by leaders who wished to please one deity of another? Add it to my list of things to look up.
I have Patrons I have chosen, and I have Patrons who have chosen me. Lately I've been realizing how intimately they are related, but I will be posting about that a lot, I'm sure, as I use this space to work things out "on paper." I like to make daily offerings. It gives me a chance to practice gratitude and a more intimate connection with those I have invited into my life. I change the form and practice of my devotions seasonally, typically committing to 45 day stretches, approximately. It could be offerings of water, or incense, candles, energy, practical work if I'm in an Earthy mood, etc.
I'm going to close here for the moment. I'll likely revisit this post again soon.
I've had all of the above, some concurrently.
Some of the relationships I've read about, have been old about and have witnessed first hand have been along the lines of extortion. A relatively well known example from Italian circles:
To sell a house: 1) Dig a hole in the dirt on your property. 2) Take a statue of Saint Joseph and put him in the hole head first. 3) bury the statue while speaking words to condemn him to suffer in that hole until your house is sold. 4) When the house is sold, dig him up, clean him off, and give him a place of honor in your new home.
This practice is nothing new; The ancient Romans kept a statue of Saturn bound with ropes every day of the year except for the Saturnalia. Funny how nothing on the internet mentions WHY he was bound, just that the ropes were untied on this date.
Plenty of spells and works in the Roman tradition call for the tying, burying, covering and otherwise threatening the being, deity or otherwise. Conversely, many promises are also extracted from petitioners for favor from small things such as specific devotions and offerings, to the promise of a new temple. How many Roman temples were built by leaders who wished to please one deity of another? Add it to my list of things to look up.
I have Patrons I have chosen, and I have Patrons who have chosen me. Lately I've been realizing how intimately they are related, but I will be posting about that a lot, I'm sure, as I use this space to work things out "on paper." I like to make daily offerings. It gives me a chance to practice gratitude and a more intimate connection with those I have invited into my life. I change the form and practice of my devotions seasonally, typically committing to 45 day stretches, approximately. It could be offerings of water, or incense, candles, energy, practical work if I'm in an Earthy mood, etc.
I'm going to close here for the moment. I'll likely revisit this post again soon.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Janus/Jana = Ianus/Iana = Dianus/Diana?
Say each name with an Italian accent.
They sound the same! In a language where "capacola" is pronounced "gah-bah-GHOUL" there are many ways to say the same thing without realizing it and even more ways to spell it. Remember too that, Italy, as we know it, was not one unified country until relatively recently. In antiquity it was divided into several regions which had their own distinct language and traditions. There are areas where one local dialect is so foreign to another that the countrymen cannot understand each other.
Diana, it has been claimed, is just an imported version of Artemis. Janus, it is said, was a Deity native to pre-Roman Italy and worshiped above others before the Romans took over. Both Dianus and Jana are allegedly their opposite aspect, not their consort but more like an Intelligence.
Do you have an opinion? Insight? Personal Gnosis?
I'm not ready to post my research and conclusions. I am once again reading The Aeneid. I've just started. There are free (legal) copies on line if you'd like to join me!
They sound the same! In a language where "capacola" is pronounced "gah-bah-GHOUL" there are many ways to say the same thing without realizing it and even more ways to spell it. Remember too that, Italy, as we know it, was not one unified country until relatively recently. In antiquity it was divided into several regions which had their own distinct language and traditions. There are areas where one local dialect is so foreign to another that the countrymen cannot understand each other.
Diana, it has been claimed, is just an imported version of Artemis. Janus, it is said, was a Deity native to pre-Roman Italy and worshiped above others before the Romans took over. Both Dianus and Jana are allegedly their opposite aspect, not their consort but more like an Intelligence.
Do you have an opinion? Insight? Personal Gnosis?
I'm not ready to post my research and conclusions. I am once again reading The Aeneid. I've just started. There are free (legal) copies on line if you'd like to join me!
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