This relevant month, gate of summer, owes its name to the goddess Juno , wife of Jupiter and queen of heaven. Greco-Roman syncretism changed the primitive Juno of functions within the divine pantheon. Within her attributions, the goddess was also the guarantor of nature and marriage. Other theories suggest that it was the month of young people, junior . The month was represented in the calendar as a naked young woman who points to a sundial with her index finger while she carries a torch in the other hand. This symbolism stages that from this month the sun begins to go down. The torch has the range of colors that dot the fields in summer. There is another theory that Junius owes his name to the first relevant member of this gens in the history of Rome, Lucius Junius Brutus . This character was the first consul of Rome after the expulsion of his uncle, Tarquin the Proud , last king of Etruscan origin. Once in his new position, ratified by the newly created Senate of the new republic, he made a public sacrifice in pursuit of freedom to the goddess Carna , maker of human life.
Jupiter and Juno on Mount Ida (1790-1799) – James Barry
In the kalends June rituals took place in honor of the aforementioned Carna, Diana's sister and versatile deity who protected the male genitalia, digestions and door frames. She was the goddess of hinges, for her power opened the closed and closed the open. She also chased away parasites and vampires. This day she ate broad beans with bacon, a ritual that, according to the beliefs of the time, maintained virility for a year. Interestingly, there was an outright ban on getting married during the first fortnight of the month…
On the 4th, the destruction of Troy and the escape of Aeneas, the legendary ancestor of the founders of Rome, were commemorated.
On the 5th, Divis Fidis was invoked. , goddess of oaths. These had to be done under the open sky, which is why the temple of the goddess had an open roof.
This ritual was also linked to Semo Sancus , the god of the oath of Sabine origin that over the years was assimilated to the Herculean cult.
The 8th was consecrated to Mens and Venus . Those of Rome were erected to avert the disaster of Trasimeno against the Carthaginians. Mens, goddess of reason, was in charge of endowing newborns with good judgment.
On the 9th the Second Vestals took place :the circular Temple of Vesta could not have any water reserve inside, since this is the enemy of fire. Vesta's sacred flame must always be lit and was jealously guarded by the Vestals. If it went out, it had to be lit by rubbing two pieces of wood from a fertile tree. It could only be turned off once a year, on the last day of Febrarius , so that the flame would be renewed on the first day of Martius , last and first day of the old republican Roman year.
Due to this prohibition to store water, the Vestals had to go daily to the source of Las Camenas to get the water necessary for their routine work. For this they used a special vessel, the futile , a pitcher with a wide mouth and a pointed bottom that could not be held upright once full. The Second Vestals were especially celebrated by the collegium of bakers and millers, since these trades had direct contact with fire to make their products. Donkeys, animals consecrated to Vesta and used to turn the millstone, also participated in these festivities. They were adorned with garlands and necklaces of buns, just like the millstones, inactive on this day. The Roman matrons went to the temple barefoot to be in contact with the Earth, identified with the goddess Hestia / Vesta.
On the 11th the Matrales were celebrated . This rite was dedicated to Mater Matuta , the goddess of the dawn and protector of childbirth. Her attributions also changed over time, being her protector of the navigators in imperial times. Women married only once went to her temple in the Foro Boario together with their nephews carrying the testuacia, some pastries dedicated to the divinity.
The Ides of June the quincuatros took place minors in honor of Minerva .
On the 23rd, the marriage between Jupiter and Juno was celebrated. . It was a very special date, the summer solstice. It was also the day of Servio Tulio , legendary king of Rome born of fire and favorite of Fortuna until he was assassinated by his own daughter. As a tribute to this character, he would spend the night awake, lighting bonfires so that the sunlight would not fade. To get good omens you had to jump these bonfires an odd number of times, preferably three or seven. On the Mediterranean coast we still maintain this ancient ritual. But now it is known as the Night of San Juan .
Obviously, the 24th was dedicated to Jano , god of changes. This day was known as “The Gate of Men ” as opposed to the winter one, known as “The Gate of the Gods ”, because from this date it shortens the day.
The 30th was consecrated to the muses. They were nine sisters, the fruit of nine long nights of love. They are the guarantors of the arts in the world; These are their names and their functions:
Calíope :epic poetry; Clio :history; Polymnia :pantomime; Euterpe :flute; Terpsichore :light poetry and dance; Erato :choral lyric; Melpomene :tragedy; Thalia :comedy; Uranian :astronomy.
Collaboration of Gabriel Castelló author of Archienemies of Rome