Forum Romanum


Subject:	Re: [Nova-Roma] Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our Gentes....
From:	MLCRASSVS@aol.com
Date:	Thu, 15 Aug 2002 20:10:44 EDT

Salve Pompeia,

I am honoured by your kind words. I sincerely hope that my observations are
helpful.

In my view, anyone serious about Roman Citizenship thinks long and hard about
a suitable praenomen, nomen and cognomen. However, what you desire and what
you end up with are possibly two different things, and I know that the
honourable Censors may have very good reasons for this. Although, I honestly
I feel that other factors currently outside their control may also come into
play exempli gratia inactive Paterfamias or closed Gens.

In my case I originally chose, as you correctly adduced the (famous) Roman
name MARCVS LICINIVS CRASSVS after the celebrated triumphvir in the Late
Republic. Why? Well, CRASSVS help defeated Spartacus and the Slave army
which almost threatened to destroy the Republic, and thus saved Rome. He was
an able administrator - Consul twice - and returned cetain powers to the
Tribunis Plebis id est tribunician veto. I could go on, suffice it to say I
had many reasons for such a choice.

However, having checked the Album Gentium to ensure this name was not already
in use, I applied for Citizenship through the gens Licinia to be told that
this name was already in use! In fairness, I did not contact the
Paterfamlias about this why? Because, quite honestly I was unsure whose
responsiblity such an anomoly is, and in any event if te name were already
taken no other within that gens would be desirable to me.

Anyway, I have now re-applied some 4 weeks ago this time choosing the name
MARCVS CALIDIVS GRACCHVS following ewords of encouragement from honourable
Consul Germanicus and Censor Diocletianus. Why a new gens - well probably I
now feel it may be less hassle. I retain the praenomen Marcus in honour of
CRASSVS, the nomen of CALIDIA is the name of an ally of Caesar and Prefect in
the late Republic one MARCVS CALIDIVS, and why the cognomen of GRACCHVS well
I always admired the efforts of TIBERIVS SEMPRONIVS GRACCVS and his reforms
but wouldn't you know it the gens SEMPRONIA is closed!!

So, there is my tale so far!

Vale

MARCVS ? ?

VINCIT OMNIA VERITAS

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Subject:	Re: [Nova-Roma] Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with
From:	Marcus Octavius Germanicus <haase@konoko.net>
Date:	Thu, 15 Aug 2002 19:19:22 -0500 (CDT)

Salve Marce Calide,

> However, having checked the Album Gentium to ensure this name was not already
> in use, I applied for Citizenship through the gens Licinia to be told that
> this name was already in use!

There's a simple explanation for this: when the program that handles
the new citizen application form tells you a name is already in use,
it looks for that name among all the entries in the Citizen database.
This includes other people who recently applied for citizenship
(and may be waiting for the Censores to process their application);
people who recently failed to obtain citizenship (usually because
they fail to respond to the Censores' requests for more information);
and citizens who have resigned.

Only active citizens are shown in the Album Gentium; it must have been
one of those other types of near-citizens or ex-citizens that was
using the name.

Vale, Octavius.

--
Marcus Octavius Germanicus
Consul of Nova Roma, MMDCCLV a.u.c.
Curator Araneum et Senator


Subject:	Re: [Nova-Roma] Here I go, stirring up the pot again.
From:	"L. Sicinius Drusus" <lsicinius@yahoo.com>
Date:	Thu, 15 Aug 2002 19:00:39 -0700 (PDT)

Salve Titus Octavius,

There is some historic precedent for this idea.
Normally when an indiviual obtained citizenship he
entered the Gens of a "sponser". A Freed slave became
a member of his former master's Gens, ie if you freed
your slave Sticus, he would become Titus Octavius
Sticus. He took your Praenomen and Nomen, aand his
former name became his Cognomen. Sticus would now be
the Paterfamilis of a Plebian family in Gens Octavia,
and your Client.

This was also followed when a forigner aquired Roman
Citizenship. When Balbus of Gades aquired Citizenship
from Pompieus Magnus, he became a Client of a member
of Pompeius staff and became Lucius Cornelius Balbus,
A Plebian member of Gens Cornelia.

I Can't think of any examples where Indiviuals created
a new Gens when aquiring Roman citizenship. An Italian
Gens of a Celtic Clan might be recognized as a Roman
Gens when an entire region aquired citizenship at
once.

I Don't think that too many of us would want all new
citizens to become clients of existing citizens, but
the rest of the process would serve our needs. New
citizens join an existing Gens through approval of any
one of the Paterfamilis of the Gens, but can't form a
new Gens.

--- Kristoffer From <from@darkeye.net> wrote:
> Salvete, quirites.
>
> Here comes another of my increasingly-rare
> proposals: How about putting
> a stop to new gentes, or at least to new citizens
> starting their own?
> Maybe through letting only citizens who've been in
> Nova Roma for more
> than six months, or maybe a year, start their own
> gentes, and that with
> the permission of the censors? This should
> concentrate our citizens into
> fewer gentes with, as the census moves along, a much
> better percentage
> of active paters.
>
> This would work with the gens reform as well, as
> they still can join
> existing gentes only they have to start their own
> families (by
> cognomina) or maybe start in a common (Nemo?) gens
> until they've decided
> which other gens to join...or something.
>
> Just thinking that it'd be much neater with
> (thinking big, here) 1000
> gentes averaging on 1000 citizens each, hitting
> bottom at a 150-gens and
> topping out at a 2500-gens. Or something. One
> million
> citizens...ahh...just consider the flames! :)
>
> Just tossing out some random ideas, as we've got too
> little controversy
> on the list at the moment. It's possible, even
> probable, that I've
> stolen/ripped some/all of this from other people,
> but my memory being
> what it is I claim them as my own ideas. ;)
>
> Valete, Titus Octavius Pius.
>

=====
L. Sicinius Drusus

"Quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est."
(A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand.)
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
HotJobs - Search Thousands of New Jobs
http://www.hotjobs.com


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Gentes and Our Future
From:	cassius622@aol.com
Date:	Thu, 15 Aug 2002 22:15:57 EDT

Salvete Senatores,

A few Senators have now spoken up to say that they are "comfortable" with our
Gens system as it is now. Well, folks, I'm 'comfortable' with things the way
they are too. I'm the head of a large Gens, and have all the benefits
thereof.

However, being 'comfortable' is not necessarily the best thing for our
future.

In five years we've gained roughly 2,000 people. In another five years it is
very likely we'll be in the number of about 5,000 Citizens. In Ten more years
I very much believe we'll have attained enough 'critical mass' to be around
10,000 Citizens.

What will our current unhistorical Gens system be like THEN?

*Do we really want to have our two Censors eventually having to approve 100
or more adoptions *per month*? Under a historical 'independent family' system
large masses of new Citizens could just be put on the rolls. Under our
current flawed system we could see two or three *hundred* Citizens waiting
around at any given time for "Paterfamilias approval" ... for 30, 60, 90 or
120 days!

*Do we really want to have a handful of Pater/Materfamiliae holding complete
individual powers over *hundreds* of Citizens? What ancient Roman had 500 or
more kids in his family? Will that kind of aberration attract historically
minded Citizens who have any understanding of real Roman history?

*Do we really want to have *thousands* of Citizens holding "child" status,
rather than being full Roman Citizens with complete independent rights?

*Under our current system we are encouraging a *major* unbalancing of our
Gentes. Some Gentes have dozens - most only one or two members. If we merely
start using the term Familiae instead, the problem won't go away. Do we want
to have a Rome where some Gens/familiae number in the *hundreds*, but most
other gens, ostensibly having equal status, have only one or two members?

* Do we really want to encourage *thousands* of Citizens to only participate
through their "clans"? Do we want to turn our Citizens into Romans on an
individual level, or do we want merely to teach them to be "Roman mobs?"

I firmly believe that the ONLY way to manage a Nova Roma with 5,000, 10,000
or more Citizens is to do away with mass adoption and to put ALL of our
Citizens on equal individual status. It eliminates potential nightmares of
Censorial paperwork, problems concerning Citizen rights and status, and of
course becoming a "Rome" based on social units that are about as far from
historical as we could possibly get.

Let us choose the easy and direct way and choose the *historical* way. Let us
put our petty emotions aside while we are still young and can still make the
change. When there are thousands more of us the change will be impossible -
no matter how critically it may be needed.

Valete,

Marcus Cassius Julianus

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Oops!
From:	cassius622@aol.com
Date:	Thu, 15 Aug 2002 22:21:17 EDT

Salvete,

I seem to have accidentally posted a Senate post about the future of our
Gentes to the main list. I got the idea for the post while reading another
piece of mail, and started typing into a reply 'template' that wasn't
originally going to the Senate. Unfortunately I forgot to remove the main
list address from the send box.

My apologies for posting an inappropriate thread to the main list!

Valete ,

Marcus Cassius Julianus

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: The "Biblical Festus"
From:	"gcassiusnerva" <gcassiusnerva@cs.com>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 03:53:30 -0000

Salve Crispus,

Yes, I see that the Roman guard aspect makes sense, and those nasty
Sicarri would also have hated Paul, seeing him as a traiter by
promoting a sect which "polluted" their nation by bringing gentiles in
so easily. They could have seen Paul as a kind of 5th columnist.

As for the few chapters I finished, I think I do have them
somewhere. I like about one fourth of it, see one fourth as ok but
needing improvement, and two fourths as excrement. But I know they
are in the archives of the Musarum. You just have to look in the
summer months of 2000, and look for the chapters plainly marked as
"revised".

Nerva

--- In Nova-Roma@y..., "T. Cornelius Crispus" <centuriocornelius@h...>
wrote:
> Ave Nerva,
> I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head, although I had never
> thought about the prearranged agreement angle. Along with Paul's
desire to
> go to Rome, was the problem of his life expectancy if he was released in
> Iudaea. There had already been two very serious conspiracies against his
> life since he was arrested, including one directly before the hearing in
> question. This way he left under Roman guard.
> I would be interested in seeing your manuscript. I love historical
fiction.
> Vale,
> T. Cornelius Crispus
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "gcassiusnerva" <gcassiusnerva@c...>
> To: <Nova-Roma@y...>
> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 5:33 PM
> Subject: [Nova-Roma] The "Biblical Festus"
>
>
> > Salvete,
> >
> > A few years ago, I tried to write a novel set during the reign of
> > Nero and used Nova Romans as characters. It became too much to handle
> > and I was getting saddened by the poor plot, so I dropped it. But
> > Porcius Festus was a major character in the chapters that did get
> > written.
> > His predecessor, Felix, was a disaster as Procurator. He was also a
> > brother of Pallas, one of Claudius freedmen and secretaries.
> > Festus seems to have been a much better sort, and probably wanted
> > to do well at the job. But sadly, he died after about two years in
> > office.
> >
> > I have a theory about Festus. Since Judea was simmering with
> > rebelliousness which would erupt a few years later, Festus, anxious to
> > keep the peace and avoid controversy, may have done some dealing with
> > Paul of Tarsus. I think Paul's appeal to Ceasar was actually part of
> > a prearranged agreement with Festus. Since Festus never tried Paul
> > himself, Paul's appeal to Caesar is very odd. It is like appealing to
> > the Supreme Court when you have not gone through the Circuit Court
yet.
> > Festus' problem rested with Paul's Roman citizenship. If he tried
> > and aquitted Paul, it would antogonize the Temple authorities and more
> > religioulsy observant Jewish factions, whcih Festus needed to have on
> > his side. But if he convicted Paul, who was not accused of any crime
> > under Roman law, the handing over of a Roman citizen to provincial
> > religious authorities may be seen in a bad light at home.
> > So, I guess that Festus met with Paul and arranged a deal. If Paul
> > would remove himself {and Festus' problem} by appealing to Caesar,
> > Festus would benefit by avoiding having to deal with a trial himself.
> > Paul for his part would benefit by being transported to Rome, which
> > he had already planned to visit since he wanted to meet the Christian
> > community already there. A trial based on mostly Jewish religious
> > complaints would mean a likely aquittal anyway. Such is my own theory
> > of Festus and Paul.
> >
> > Gaius Cassius Nerva
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > Nova-Roma-unsubscribe@y...
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] RE: Nomen Meum
From:	Duhacek Jozef <jozef.duhacek@siemens.sk>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 08:36:48 +0200

Salvete,

The reason why I'm calling myself Gaius Marcius Coriolanus is in Plutarch's
Lives. Yes, there are more interesting and exciting storiesthere but Gaius
Marcius Coriolanus immediately became my favorite Roman legend and I'm proud
to carry his name. And BTW Coriolanus sounds great.

Gaius Marcius Coriolanus

-----Original Message-----
From: Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 4:01 AM
To: Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Nova-Roma] Digest Number 111

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Nova-Roma-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are 25 messages in this issue.

Topics in this digest:

1. Classes
From: jmath669642reng@webtv.net
2. Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our Gentes...)
From: MLCRASSVS@aol.com
3. Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our Gentes...)
From: "pompeia_cornelia" <scriba_forum@hotmail.com>
4. The Nova Roman Rally of 2755 in Europe, Photos and diary
From: Emilia Curia Finnica <e.curia@welho.com>
5. Here I go, stirring up the pot again.
From: Kristoffer From <from@darkeye.net>
6. Why I Chose My Name
From: "Pro. Postumius Nero Drusus Sepulchratus"
<postumius@gmx.net>
7. Re: Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our
Gentes...)
From: "Paul Kershaw" <brighn@yahoo.com>
8. Re: Here I go, stirring up the pot again.
From: "Pro. Postumius Nero Drusus Sepulchratus"
<postumius@gmx.net>
9. Census
From: "krebdragonrider" <krebdragonrider@btopenworld.com>
10. Gentes
From: "miguelkelly15" <mjk@datanet.ab.ca>
11. Re: Festus (was Re: More about Gentes...)
From: labienus@texas.net
12. How I Chose My NR Name
From: "aerdensrw" <aerdensrw@yahoo.com>
13. Re: Festus (was Re: More about Gentes...)
From: "Paul Kershaw" <brighn@yahoo.com>
14. Nomen Meum
From: labienus@texas.net
15. Re: Nomen Meum
From: Marcus Octavius Germanicus <haase@konoko.net>
16. Re: Nomen Meum
From: Kristoffer From <from@darkeye.net>
17. Re: Nomen Meum
From: "A. Hirtius Helveticus" <hirtius75ch@yahoo.de>
18. Re: Festus (was Re: More about Gentes...)
From: "T. Cornelius Crispus" <centuriocornelius@hotmail.com>
19. The "Biblical Festus"
From: "gcassiusnerva" <gcassiusnerva@cs.com>
20. Re: Nomen Meum
From: "gcassiusnerva" <gcassiusnerva@cs.com>
21. Re: Nomen Meum
From: "T. Cornelius Crispus" <centuriocornelius@hotmail.com>
22. Re: The "Biblical Festus"
From: "T. Cornelius Crispus" <centuriocornelius@hotmail.com>
23. Re: Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our
Gentes....
From: MLCRASSVS@aol.com
24. Re: Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our
Gentes....
From: Marcus Octavius Germanicus <haase@konoko.net>
25. Re: Here I go, stirring up the pot again.
From: "L. Sicinius Drusus" <lsicinius@yahoo.com>

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 12:30:06 -0400 (EDT)
From: jmath669642reng@webtv.net
Subject: Classes

Mistress Alexandria Iulia Agrippa;

In relation to the Roman Military History courses -- RMH #101, 102, 103
the basic information can be found on the website provided to you when
you registered for the class.

If you do not have such, I would be happy to provide it. The text for
these courses is available at Amazon (that's where I got mine) and is a
very good basic history of the Roman Military.

Respectfully;

Marcus Minucius Audens
Praeceptor

Fair Winds and Following Seas!!!

http://community.webtv.net/jmath669642reng/NovaRomaMilitary

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 13:40:02 EDT
From: MLCRASSVS@aol.com
Subject: Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our Gentes...)

Avete,

As one quitely (and patiently!) awaiting citizenship approval, and may I add

hoping to start a new Gens, I have read the debate on Gens hoping and the
power of Paterfamilias with particular interest.

I am not sure if I may be permitted to speak on the matter ahead of
Citizenship approval but I feel the Honoured Senator, Marcus Cassius
Julianus, makes many valid and practical points about the makeup/
relationship of gens members to each other in real terms. It seems to me
that gens members are in reality a disparate and unrelated, group of adults
in many cases with no prior knowledge or aquaintence of each other, and with

little more possibly upon gens admittance.

Is the dominion (some might even argue domination) of a Paterfamlias or
authority such that it potentially restricts the right of cives to change
gens if necessary? If so, is this practical or will cives vote with their
feet? What is the check and balance to abuse of power?

To what extent is the current notional if not actual authority of a
Paterfamlias consistent with Roma Antiqua, and the best of Roma Antiqua ?
Did the Paterfamilias have this degree of control over branches of familes
in
Roma Antiqua?

While I would accept the sincere concerns of honourable Consul Sulla, it
seems to me that Gaius Cassius Nerva proposes a sensible compromise?

The Senator is right, I feel about the unecessary adoption procedure for new

citizens, it also puzzles me why a Paterfamilias can effectively close a
gens
- I've seen gens with one member and I feel the nett effect is to
artificially and in some cases drastically limit the use of and occurrence
of
some pretty ancient and prevalent nomen from Roma Antiqua.

I would say the length of citizenship approval particularly if it is
predicated on inactive Patermilias approval is another inherent weakness.

I hope I have not spoken inappropriately, or out of turn, I speak to be
constructive.

Respectfully

VALETE

MCG

VINCIT OMNIA VERITAS

LUX ET LEX

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 18:23:19 -0000
From: "pompeia_cornelia" <scriba_forum@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our Gentes...)

Salve Amicus:

My personal thanks for your insights and comments. Although this
thread has not been touched in a couple of weeks in this forum,
except today, those magistrates concerned, are always interested in
the views of it citizens and their ultiimate wellbeing.

May your citizenship be approved soon, Crasse....Marcus Lucinius
Crassus?...looking at your addie....

I am always interested in why people choose the nomens they do.

My Praenomen is Pompeia. Some mistakenly think that it is taken
after the city Pompei, which is a wonder of the world, indeed.
However, I am one of those diehards who appreciate Pompey the Great's
accomplishments. Beating Caesar was not one of them :), but his
naval glories, his temples, theatre are among his good points.

My cognomen, which few women have, is after Strabo the
historian/geographer, and the fact that I do have an eye which is not
crossed, it tends to 'wonder' when I am tired...the name of this eye
weakness is 'strabismus'...hence strabo. Kind of a word twist.

Cornelia? Well, Mother Cornelia of the Gracchi, Scipio Africanus, and
others.

Anyone else care to share why they chose their Roman name? It would
make for a great discussion.

Bene vale,
Pompeia Cornelia
Praetor

In Nova-Roma@y..., MLCRASSVS@a... wrote:
> Avete,
>
> As one quitely (and patiently!) awaiting citizenship approval, and
may I add
> hoping to start a new Gens, I have read the debate on Gens hoping
and the
> power of Paterfamilias with particular interest.
>
> I am not sure if I may be permitted to speak on the matter ahead of
> Citizenship approval but I feel the Honoured Senator, Marcus
Cassius
> Julianus, makes many valid and practical points about the makeup/
> relationship of gens members to each other in real terms. It
seems to me
> that gens members are in reality a disparate and unrelated, group
of adults
> in many cases with no prior knowledge or aquaintence of each other,
and with
> little more possibly upon gens admittance.
>
> Is the dominion (some might even argue domination) of a
Paterfamlias or
> authority such that it potentially restricts the right of cives to
change
> gens if necessary? If so, is this practical or will cives vote
with their
> feet? What is the check and balance to abuse of power?
>
> To what extent is the current notional if not actual authority of a
> Paterfamlias consistent with Roma Antiqua, and the best of Roma
Antiqua ?
> Did the Paterfamilias have this degree of control over branches of
familes in
> Roma Antiqua?
>
> While I would accept the sincere concerns of honourable Consul
Sulla, it
> seems to me that Gaius Cassius Nerva proposes a sensible compromise?
>
> The Senator is right, I feel about the unecessary adoption
procedure for new
> citizens, it also puzzles me why a Paterfamilias can effectively
close a gens
> - I've seen gens with one member and I feel the nett effect is to
> artificially and in some cases drastically limit the use of and
occurrence of
> some pretty ancient and prevalent nomen from Roma Antiqua.
>
> I would say the length of citizenship approval particularly if it
is
> predicated on inactive Patermilias approval is another inherent
weakness.
>
> I hope I have not spoken inappropriately, or out of turn, I speak
to be
> constructive.
>
> Respectfully
>
>
> VALETE
>
> MCG
>
> VINCIT OMNIA VERITAS
>
> LUX ET LEX
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 21:10:56 +0300
From: Emilia Curia Finnica <e.curia@welho.com>
Subject: The Nova Roman Rally of 2755 in Europe, Photos and diary

Salvete omnes,

The Nova Roman Rally of 2755 in Europe was held between Thursday, 8th
of August and Sunday, 11th of August in Tongeren, that is the oldest
town in Belgium with some interesting Roman sights. A wide range of
Novaromans with different nationalities were present in this first
European gathering. Now a selection of photographs with a descriptive
diary by Caius Curius Saturninus, Scriba Aedilis (Caeso Fabius Q.)
Concursus Primus, are available at:

http://www.insulaumbra.com/nreurope2002/

Enjoy!

Valete,
--

Emilia Curia Finnica
Scriba Araniae Academia Thules ad Studia Romana Antiqua et Nova
Scriba Aedilis (Caeso Fabius Q.) Aranei

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 20:47:40 +0200
From: Kristoffer From <from@darkeye.net>
Subject: Here I go, stirring up the pot again.

Salvete, quirites.

Here comes another of my increasingly-rare proposals: How about putting
a stop to new gentes, or at least to new citizens starting their own?
Maybe through letting only citizens who've been in Nova Roma for more
than six months, or maybe a year, start their own gentes, and that with
the permission of the censors? This should concentrate our citizens into
fewer gentes with, as the census moves along, a much better percentage
of active paters.

This would work with the gens reform as well, as they still can join
existing gentes only they have to start their own families (by
cognomina) or maybe start in a common (Nemo?) gens until they've decided
which other gens to join...or something.

Just thinking that it'd be much neater with (thinking big, here) 1000
gentes averaging on 1000 citizens each, hitting bottom at a 150-gens and
topping out at a 2500-gens. Or something. One million
citizens...ahh...just consider the flames! :)

Just tossing out some random ideas, as we've got too little controversy
on the list at the moment. It's possible, even probable, that I've
stolen/ripped some/all of this from other people, but my memory being
what it is I claim them as my own ideas. ;)

Valete, Titus Octavius Pius.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 6
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 14:40:46 -0400
From: "Pro. Postumius Nero Drusus Sepulchratus" <postumius@gmx.net>
Subject: Why I Chose My Name

Salve Praetor Pompeia Cornelia, et Avete Omnes,

Well, since you asked, I'll go through it name by name.

Proculus: an obsure, very rarely used praenomen.
Postumius: a gens which cranked out a number of consuls in the days of the
Republic, though it seems they died out a little toward the end.
Nero: for the great emperor Nero, and the family Claudia, whom put out a few
Nerones of Consular rank.
Drusus: one of the cognomina of the emperor Nero.
Sepulchratus: this came from my morbidity which is somewhat in a recession.
Perhaps I should just cut the whole name down to the standard
"Praenomen-Nomen and I'll add as the honors grow" format of a name. Such is
the nature of my name. Though now that I think of things, perhaps I should
be more a member of the gens Pompeia, being as how much I orate against
Caesar. But that's just a thought.

Bene Valete,

Pro. Postumius Nero Drusus Sepulchratus,
Scriba Curatoris Araneum
Civis Novae Romae

"Semper Sapiens et Cogitans, ut Cras Meliores Omnes Simus"

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 14:43:24 -0400
From: "Paul Kershaw" <brighn@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our
Gentes...)

Salve Pompeia Cornelia:

Since you asked, here's the basis of my name.

Publius was the pseudonym of the authors of the Federalist Papers, and the
praenomen of Publius Terentius Afer, a Phoenician slave who was emancipated
and became known for his comedies. As both a writer and a libertarian, the
name had double appeal for me.

Ualerius Secundus is the family gens, and was chosen by my wife, Lucia
Ualeria Secunda Ianuaria, when she joined Nova Roma (before me).

Festus was given to me in the true spirit of a nickname: At the Roman event
at Fort Malden this year, Quintus called me "Paullus Festus" after I was
introduced as Paullus. I'm still not sure exactly what he meant by that, but
Festus was a Gallic encyclopedist of the second century AD, and that
appealed to my background in linguistics.

-- Publius Ualerius Secundus Festus of Lacus Magni
----- Original Message -----
From: pompeia_cornelia
Anyone else care to share why they chose their Roman name? It would
make for a great discussion.

Bene vale,
Pompeia Cornelia
Praetor

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 14:53:29 -0400
From: "Pro. Postumius Nero Drusus Sepulchratus" <postumius@gmx.net>
Subject: Re: Here I go, stirring up the pot again.

Pro. Postumius Nero Drusus Sepulchratus T. Octavio Pio et Quiritibus S.P.D.

Salvete,

Your proposal is met with much agreement and approval on the end of Nova
Roma that I hold up, however big or small it may be, we all hold up
something on this boat, and the part I hold up supports this. It keeps the
number of gentes lower and we can eliminate the necessity for there to be
two gentes with the same nomen holding different cognomina, because there
would be a different paterfamilias or materfamilias for each cognomen, if I
am interpreting this correctly. So with this proposal, though perhaps it's
not yet a proposal, I agree.

Bene Valete,

Pro. Postumius Nero Drusus Sepulchratus,
Scriba Curatoris Araneum
Civis Novae Romae

"Semper Sapiens et Cogitans, ut Cras Meliores Omnes Simus"

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 19:35:55 -0000
From: "krebdragonrider" <krebdragonrider@btopenworld.com>
Subject: Census

AVE NOMA ROMA

Salvete

As a person awaiting approval for citizenship of Nova Roma, I have
been acquainting myself with the Leges, Religio Romana, and this e-
group. Just to get the flavour of this micronation.

(Nova Roma seems to me a serious micronation based on the good things
of Ancient Rome minus the bad bits such as slavery and patriarchy -
more about this should be enrolled as citzen)

To the point, there appears to be a Lex announcing a census of Nova
Roma citizens, to be taken every 2 years and ending with the Ides of
September.

Is the Census taking place now, and would this delay my application
for citizenship?

(Normally I would ask the Censores in private, but this message would
be useful to other prospective citizens.)

I await your good reply to this question - this would help me develop
the virtue of Patience!

Pax,

Kreb Dragonrider.

P.S. I will use my Roman name when I become a Nova Roma citizen.

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Message: 10
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 20:27:09 -0000
From: "miguelkelly15" <mjk@datanet.ab.ca>
Subject: Gentes

Salvete Omnes et Pompeia Cornelia Strabo,

You have a good idea for a discussion Pompeia. First let me say that
when I applied for citizenship a had a fair wait. Although the
layout, ogranization and instructions when one first discovers Nova
Roma are great and impressive the data can be quite overwhelming. It
is quite a learning curve. I initially thought that one should apply
to a gens in their local area so I did. Without mentioning who or
what, I applied and wrote several times to gens No. 1. I waited, no
response, tried other email routes but got undeliverable notices. I
was disappointed because the particular gens owner had a few good
websites on other historical subjects. After 4 weeks I wrote to the
Censors and they kindly suggested writing to other gens in my area. I
did so but got no responses or more undeliverable notices. By then I
suddenly learned that the man who had greeted me after my first
message to Nova Roma, offered his assistance and helped me with
various questions was Gaius Lanius Falco. Why not apply to his gens I
thought! In the same evening I went on the chat line on market day
for the first time. I talked to one of the consuls and a lady from
another gens and told them why I was not a citizen yet.They kindly
offered me to apply to their gens but simaltaneously Gaius Falco got
back to me after the chat. He gave me a good rundown on how he picked
his gentes name. To make a long story short, it is named after a
tough little hunting raptor (bird). On further research Lania is a
Latin American girl's name and the lan- stem in the Latin languages
has something to do with wool. I very much admired Gaius' originality
because I hear it can sometimes be a tough sell to our Censors to
apply for an unkown gens name. I picked Quintus out of honour to my
Kelly family because Quintus = 5 and there are 5 children. (sounds
neat too.) Paulinus was a Roman general called out of retirement who
brilliantly put down the Boudiccan rebellion in Britannia in the
reign of Nero. The revolt was so savage, especially for the citizens
of Londinium that Rome never built an unfortified city in her
colonies after that!

One final thought on this gens matter. I believe it should be
manditory that the paterfamilias respond all applicants to their
gens. We all have jobs and careers to look after but no matter who we
are or what we do, we all have a few minutes free each week to
respond. Not doing so may drive away or discourage a lot of
potentially good productive citizens. The only excuse I can think of
is death, serious illness or an accident. That is the hard part about
internet communication. If a citizen dies or is incapacitated we may
not know for months or never know. Also I agree with the previous
writer about gens membership. It seems wrong in my opinion that a
family gens should be closed after having one or two members unless
our Censors see fit to do so. I'll check my sources again but I
believe that in Ancient Rome only the government would shut down or
banish a family for disgracefull or treasonous behavoir.

Vale Bene,

Quintus Lanius Paulinus - Nova Roma Citizen

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Message: 11
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 15:41:01 US/Central
From: labienus@texas.net
Subject: Re: Festus (was Re: More about Gentes...)

Salve Publi Valeri Secunde

> Festus was given to me in the true spirit of a nickname: At the Roman
event
> at Fort Malden this year, Quintus called me "Paullus Festus" after I was
> introduced as Paullus. I'm still not sure exactly what he meant by that...

Perhaps you looked happy. It means festive or joyous.

Then again, there was a Paulus Diaconus who wrote an abridgment of one of
Festus' works (which was itself an abridgment of, IIRC, a grammatical work
of
Varro's). Then again, there was also a Festus who, according to the Bible,
was
a procurator of Judea who tried Paul for being a nuisance (it's in Acts
somewhere).

Vale
T Labienus Fortunatus

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Message: 12
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 20:41:19 -0000
From: "aerdensrw" <aerdensrw@yahoo.com>
Subject: How I Chose My NR Name

Salve, Pompeia--When I first joined Nova Roma, I actually wanted to
start my own gens, Gens Gaudiana, which is the feminine form of my
macronational surname, Gaudiano. But I couldn't find out what I
needed to do to start my own gens, and I decided that it might be
wiser for me to wait until I understood more clrearly what they were,
before founding my own, so I chose one from the Album Gentium,
instead.

My NR name, Renata Corva Cantrix, is basically my macronational
name, 'Chantal Renee Gaudiano,' with the Roman nomen substituted.

'Renata' is for my middle name, Renee, meaning 'reborn.'
'Corva' means 'raven,' a name I have liked for a long time. I
figured, if I couldn't have my real last name, I could at least have
that. (g)
'Cantrix,' meaning 'singer' is for my given name, Chantal, which
means 'song' in Frnech, I'm told.

'Gaudiana' means 'joyful' or 'rejoice.'

So, whether it's 'Raven Singer Reborn' or 'Joyful Singer Reborn,' I'm
happy!

---
Renata Corva

--- In Nova-Roma@y..., "pompeia_cornelia" <scriba_forum@h...> wrote:
> Anyone else care to share why they chose their Roman name? It
would
> make for a great discussion.

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Message: 13
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 17:06:29 -0400
From: "Paul Kershaw" <brighn@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Festus (was Re: More about Gentes...)

Salve T Labienus Fortunatus

"Perhaps you looked happy. It means festive or joyous. Then again, there
was a Paulus Diaconus who wrote an abridgment of one of Festus' works (which
was itself an abridgment of, IIRC, a grammatical work of Varro's). Then
again, there was also a Festus who, according to the Bible, was a procurator
of Judea who tried Paul for being a nuisance (it's in Acts
somewhere)."

As far as looking happy, he did call me "Paullus Defestus" the next day when
I look tired (two days showing the barbarian hoi polloi how the Romans lived
is tiring 8) ), a deliberate pun. I think he may have actually been
erroneously truncating Paul the Deacon with Festus, the encyclopedist.
Biblically, Felix Antonious was the one who arrest Paul on charges of heresy
brought by the Jews; the Jews pressured Festus Porcius (not the
encyclopedist), Felix' replacement, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem
for trial (where he'd surely be executed), but Festus had him tried in Rome
instead.

Given that the person calling me Paullus Festius is a schoolteacher and
university lecturer, he may well have been making a multi-level reference.

Vale,
Festus

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Message: 14
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 16:13:39 US/Central
From: labienus@texas.net
Subject: Nomen Meum

Salvete

I chose my praenomen and nomen in honor of the historic Titus Labienus, C
Iulius Caesar's legatus during the Gallic campaigns. He also served
Caesar's
cause as a tribunus plebis. Being from Picenum like Pompeius Magnus, it's
possible that he was one of Pompeius' clientes, and that he worked for
Caesar
at the behest of Pompeius. This is given some weight due to Labienus'
support
of the Republican cause in the civil war, in which he caused Caesar a fair
amount of difficulty. He seems to have been every bit as able a commander
as
the great Iulius, but rather less lucky. He died in battle with Caesar's
forces in Hispania.

I'm drawn to the ambiguity of Labienus' history as well as to his and his
family's apparent loyalty to the Republican cause. His son fought against
the
triumviri, and another T Labienus issued a series of fiery speeches in favor
of
the Republic during Augustus' reign. He seems to have been quite competent
and, if one believes that he was Pompeius' man, unswerving in his duty.

My cognmen, Fortunatus, is due to the great fortune I've had in life. I've
never truly suffered, and the universe has seemed to take care of me in even
my
worst moments. When I was eleven, I survived a thirty foot fall without so
much as a bruise. Therefore, Fortuna is my personal patrona.

Valete
T Labienus Fortunatus

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Message: 15
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 16:31:28 -0500 (CDT)
From: Marcus Octavius Germanicus <haase@konoko.net>
Subject: Re: Nomen Meum

Salvete Cives,

Just before I joined Nova Roma, I had watched the BBC's "I, Claudius". I
had
a great deal of respect for Augustus, whose birth name was Gaius Octavius.
I chose the nomen of Octavius, and began the modern Gens Octavia, to
honor Augustus.

Germanicus was the father of Caligula, and once was heir apparent to
Tiberius. However, he died under mysterious circumstances; I chose
"Germanicus" as a cognomen in remembrance of a man who was cheated out
of becoming Princeps. This, also, was due to having recently seen
"I, Claudius"; at the time, I was more interested in the early Principate
(Empire) than in the Republic.

My praenomen of "Marcus" has a simpler origin; my birth name is "Matt",
and "Marcus" shares the first few letters. Additionally, my elderly
grandmother had accidentally called me "Mark" several times in her
final years, so I was already used to it!

Valete, Octavius.

--
Marcus Octavius Germanicus
Consul of Nova Roma, MMDCCLV a.u.c.
Curator Araneum et Senator

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Message: 16
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 00:10:25 +0200
From: Kristoffer From <from@darkeye.net>
Subject: Re: Nomen Meum

Salvete, omnes.

Ah well...might as well join in here, and explain my choice of name.

Titus: The only list of roman praenomina I found was rather short, less
than 20 names, and this one seemed most suitable. Also, it went well
with my cognomina, having the same vowels. (i and u) Just sounded good,
I guess. :)

Octavius: Actually not chosen for the name/word in and of itself, I just
decided on gens Octavia. Two reasons: I wanted to be a patrician, which
limited my options, and having talked to Caeso Fabius Quintilianus about
the various paterfamilias of patrician gentes, I decided I would
probably fit best into gens Octavia. A year and a bit later, I feel I
made the right choice.

Just as an aside, with the phrase "limited my options", I'm not saying
there were better suited plebeian gentes, rather that I didn't even
include those in my search. I'm probably badly damaged from using
internet search engines.

Pius: This was really easy. My family name is "From", which is swedish
for "pious", or in latin, "pius". Soo...

Another aside, I've been thinking about applying for "ahenobarbus" as an
additional cognomina, making me "Titus Octavius Pius Ahenobarbus". This
in deference to my recently grown beard, which contrary to my blond hair
turned out a rather fiery shade of red. I believe "ahenobarbus" means
"red beard" or maybe "redbeard", right? Seemed suitable. Though I've yet
to decide if the beard's a keeper, so I'll not try anything radical
until the jury's in. :)

Valete, Titus Octavius Pius.

Post Scriptum: I pronounce my name
te-toss ("Te" as "me" but with a t. "Toss" as the word, should really be
a different vowel, but I'm not sure english employs that sound.)
ook-tah-v-oss ("Ook" like a monkey noise, only short. "Tah" pronounced
like brittish "far", i.e. with a silent r. "V" like when spelling out
the alphabet. "Oss" like the toss in Titus but without the t, again,
wrong vowel.)
pea-oss ("Pea" like those round green things I keep pushing to the side.
"Oss" - see Octavius.)
This is probably very wrong, but try sounding it out, to see how we
swedes abuse latin. :)

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Message: 17
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 00:15:03 +0200 (CEST)
From: "A. Hirtius Helveticus" <hirtius75ch@yahoo.de>
Subject: Re: Nomen Meum

Salvete Quirites

Well, I chose my name because of Aulus Hirtius, author
of Liber VIII of the Bellum Gallicum and the Bellum
Alexandrinum. He also wrote in 45 BC a libellous
pamphlet against Cato, which is however not preserved.
His active exchange of letters with Cicero had been
published in at least nine books. But unfortunately,
the little fragments to survive cannot be dated
accurately.
Beside that, A. Hirtius was a loyal follower of the
great Caesar (he belonged to Caesar's cohors amicorum)
and accompanied him on his campains. This is proofed
by the fact that Caesar sent Hirtius in December 50 to
Rome, in order to lead there in his name the last
negotiations before the outbreak of the civil war with
Pompeius. According to Cicero (Cic. ad Att. VII 4.2)
Pompeius detected in the fact that Hirtius stayed away
from an arranged meeting without excuse that a war was
inevitable.
Hirtius was, together with Pansa, the last Consul of
the Republic in 43 and died in battle during his great
victory over Antonius on April, 21 close to Antonius'
own tent the same year.

Beside that, Hirtius means "bristly, shaggy"... ;o)

Valete bene,

=====
A. Hirtius Helveticus
------------------------------
paterfamilias gentis Hirtiarum
http://www.hirtius.ch.tt/
------------------------------
Yahoo!/AIM/MSN: hirtius75ch
icq: 155762490

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Message: 18
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 17:23:32 -0500
From: "T. Cornelius Crispus" <centuriocornelius@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Festus (was Re: More about Gentes...)

T Labienus Fortunatus wrote:
>>>Then again, there was also a Festus who, according to the Bible, was a
procurator of Judea who tried Paul for being a nuisance (it's in Acts
somewhere).<<<
Acts 25:27 - 26:32
Vale
T. Cornelius Crispus

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Message: 19
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 22:33:57 -0000
From: "gcassiusnerva" <gcassiusnerva@cs.com>
Subject: The "Biblical Festus"

Salvete,

A few years ago, I tried to write a novel set during the reign of
Nero and used Nova Romans as characters. It became too much to handle
and I was getting saddened by the poor plot, so I dropped it. But
Porcius Festus was a major character in the chapters that did get
written.
His predecessor, Felix, was a disaster as Procurator. He was also a
brother of Pallas, one of Claudius freedmen and secretaries.
Festus seems to have been a much better sort, and probably wanted
to do well at the job. But sadly, he died after about two years in
office.

I have a theory about Festus. Since Judea was simmering with
rebelliousness which would erupt a few years later, Festus, anxious to
keep the peace and avoid controversy, may have done some dealing with
Paul of Tarsus. I think Paul's appeal to Ceasar was actually part of
a prearranged agreement with Festus. Since Festus never tried Paul
himself, Paul's appeal to Caesar is very odd. It is like appealing to
the Supreme Court when you have not gone through the Circuit Court yet.
Festus' problem rested with Paul's Roman citizenship. If he tried
and aquitted Paul, it would antogonize the Temple authorities and more
religioulsy observant Jewish factions, whcih Festus needed to have on
his side. But if he convicted Paul, who was not accused of any crime
under Roman law, the handing over of a Roman citizen to provincial
religious authorities may be seen in a bad light at home.
So, I guess that Festus met with Paul and arranged a deal. If Paul
would remove himself {and Festus' problem} by appealing to Caesar,
Festus would benefit by avoiding having to deal with a trial himself.
Paul for his part would benefit by being transported to Rome, which
he had already planned to visit since he wanted to meet the Christian
community already there. A trial based on mostly Jewish religious
complaints would mean a likely aquittal anyway. Such is my own theory
of Festus and Paul.

Gaius Cassius Nerva

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Message: 20
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 23:28:00 -0000
From: "gcassiusnerva" <gcassiusnerva@cs.com>
Subject: Re: Nomen Meum

I chose my name as follows:

Gaius---just because I liked it.

Cassius---Because I like Cassius and wanted to join his gens. And
Patricia is the "Cassia Honey" of Nova Roma, in my opinion.

Nerva---1}because it sounds cool! And 2} The Emperor Nerva had a
stable reign, died peacefully, and had a decent father who was a
jurist who tried to persuade Tiberius to return to Rome and end the
corruption of Sejanus. He failed in that worthy task, but he did try.
So the name 'Nerva' seems to me to represent decency and
effectiveness, but is not overly pretentious. The Emperor Nerva did
not initiate a new form of government or do anything
"earth-shattering". He just seemed to do his job the best he knew
how, and aquired a very decent reputation in life and death.

Gaius Cassius Nerva

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Message: 21
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 18:45:07 -0500
From: "T. Cornelius Crispus" <centuriocornelius@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Nomen Meum

Salvete,
I choose my noman, Cornelius, after a centurion stationed in Provincia
Iudaea around 790 AUC. He was the first gentile to convert to Christianity.
My Pranomen was, Titus, chosen by my wife.
I wanted my Cognomen to say something about myself, so I chose Crispus,
which means "Curly Haired." It is tongue-in-cheek, since my most noticable
feature, (it seems) is my almost total lack of hair.
For Visual Aid see: http://www.geocities.com/legioxf/Food.htm
Vale,
T. Cornelius Crispus

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Message: 22
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 18:57:39 -0500
From: "T. Cornelius Crispus" <centuriocornelius@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: The "Biblical Festus"

Ave Nerva,
I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head, although I had never
thought about the prearranged agreement angle. Along with Paul's desire to
go to Rome, was the problem of his life expectancy if he was released in
Iudaea. There had already been two very serious conspiracies against his
life since he was arrested, including one directly before the hearing in
question. This way he left under Roman guard.
I would be interested in seeing your manuscript. I love historical fiction.
Vale,
T. Cornelius Crispus

----- Original Message -----
From: "gcassiusnerva" <gcassiusnerva@cs.com>
To: <Nova-Roma@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 5:33 PM
Subject: [Nova-Roma] The "Biblical Festus"

> Salvete,
>
> A few years ago, I tried to write a novel set during the reign of
> Nero and used Nova Romans as characters. It became too much to handle
> and I was getting saddened by the poor plot, so I dropped it. But
> Porcius Festus was a major character in the chapters that did get
> written.
> His predecessor, Felix, was a disaster as Procurator. He was also a
> brother of Pallas, one of Claudius freedmen and secretaries.
> Festus seems to have been a much better sort, and probably wanted
> to do well at the job. But sadly, he died after about two years in
> office.
>
> I have a theory about Festus. Since Judea was simmering with
> rebelliousness which would erupt a few years later, Festus, anxious to
> keep the peace and avoid controversy, may have done some dealing with
> Paul of Tarsus. I think Paul's appeal to Ceasar was actually part of
> a prearranged agreement with Festus. Since Festus never tried Paul
> himself, Paul's appeal to Caesar is very odd. It is like appealing to
> the Supreme Court when you have not gone through the Circuit Court yet.
> Festus' problem rested with Paul's Roman citizenship. If he tried
> and aquitted Paul, it would antogonize the Temple authorities and more
> religioulsy observant Jewish factions, whcih Festus needed to have on
> his side. But if he convicted Paul, who was not accused of any crime
> under Roman law, the handing over of a Roman citizen to provincial
> religious authorities may be seen in a bad light at home.
> So, I guess that Festus met with Paul and arranged a deal. If Paul
> would remove himself {and Festus' problem} by appealing to Caesar,
> Festus would benefit by avoiding having to deal with a trial himself.
> Paul for his part would benefit by being transported to Rome, which
> he had already planned to visit since he wanted to meet the Christian
> community already there. A trial based on mostly Jewish religious
> complaints would mean a likely aquittal anyway. Such is my own theory
> of Festus and Paul.
>
> Gaius Cassius Nerva
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Nova-Roma-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>

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Message: 23
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 20:10:44 EDT
From: MLCRASSVS@aol.com
Subject: Re: Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our
Gentes....

Salve Pompeia,

I am honoured by your kind words. I sincerely hope that my observations are

helpful.

In my view, anyone serious about Roman Citizenship thinks long and hard
about
a suitable praenomen, nomen and cognomen. However, what you desire and
what
you end up with are possibly two different things, and I know that the
honourable Censors may have very good reasons for this. Although, I
honestly
I feel that other factors currently outside their control may also come into

play exempli gratia inactive Paterfamias or closed Gens.

In my case I originally chose, as you correctly adduced the (famous) Roman
name MARCVS LICINIVS CRASSVS after the celebrated triumphvir in the Late
Republic. Why? Well, CRASSVS help defeated Spartacus and the Slave army
which almost threatened to destroy the Republic, and thus saved Rome. He was

an able administrator - Consul twice - and returned cetain powers to the
Tribunis Plebis id est tribunician veto. I could go on, suffice it to say I

had many reasons for such a choice.

However, having checked the Album Gentium to ensure this name was not
already
in use, I applied for Citizenship through the gens Licinia to be told that
this name was already in use! In fairness, I did not contact the
Paterfamlias about this why? Because, quite honestly I was unsure whose
responsiblity such an anomoly is, and in any event if te name were already
taken no other within that gens would be desirable to me.

Anyway, I have now re-applied some 4 weeks ago this time choosing the name

MARCVS CALIDIVS GRACCHVS following ewords of encouragement from honourable
Consul Germanicus and Censor Diocletianus. Why a new gens - well probably I

now feel it may be less hassle. I retain the praenomen Marcus in honour of
CRASSVS, the nomen of CALIDIA is the name of an ally of Caesar and Prefect
in
the late Republic one MARCVS CALIDIVS, and why the cognomen of GRACCHVS well

I always admired the efforts of TIBERIVS SEMPRONIVS GRACCVS and his reforms
but wouldn't you know it the gens SEMPRONIA is closed!!

So, there is my tale so far!

Vale

MARCVS ? ?

VINCIT OMNIA VERITAS

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Message: 24
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 19:19:22 -0500 (CDT)
From: Marcus Octavius Germanicus <haase@konoko.net>
Subject: Re: Re: More about Gentes (was: The REAL problem with our
Gentes....

Salve Marce Calide,

> However, having checked the Album Gentium to ensure this name was not
already
> in use, I applied for Citizenship through the gens Licinia to be told that
> this name was already in use!

There's a simple explanation for this: when the program that handles
the new citizen application form tells you a name is already in use,
it looks for that name among all the entries in the Citizen database.
This includes other people who recently applied for citizenship
(and may be waiting for the Censores to process their application);
people who recently failed to obtain citizenship (usually because
they fail to respond to the Censores' requests for more information);
and citizens who have resigned.

Only active citizens are shown in the Album Gentium; it must have been
one of those other types of near-citizens or ex-citizens that was
using the name.

Vale, Octavius.

--
Marcus Octavius Germanicus
Consul of Nova Roma, MMDCCLV a.u.c.
Curator Araneum et Senator

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Message: 25
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2002 19:00:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: "L. Sicinius Drusus" <lsicinius@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Here I go, stirring up the pot again.

Salve Titus Octavius,

There is some historic precedent for this idea.
Normally when an indiviual obtained citizenship he
entered the Gens of a "sponser". A Freed slave became
a member of his former master's Gens, ie if you freed
your slave Sticus, he would become Titus Octavius
Sticus. He took your Praenomen and Nomen, aand his
former name became his Cognomen. Sticus would now be
the Paterfamilis of a Plebian family in Gens Octavia,
and your Client.

This was also followed when a forigner aquired Roman
Citizenship. When Balbus of Gades aquired Citizenship
from Pompieus Magnus, he became a Client of a member
of Pompeius staff and became Lucius Cornelius Balbus,
A Plebian member of Gens Cornelia.

I Can't think of any examples where Indiviuals created
a new Gens when aquiring Roman citizenship. An Italian
Gens of a Celtic Clan might be recognized as a Roman
Gens when an entire region aquired citizenship at
once.

I Don't think that too many of us would want all new
citizens to become clients of existing citizens, but
the rest of the process would serve our needs. New
citizens join an existing Gens through approval of any
one of the Paterfamilis of the Gens, but can't form a
new Gens.

--- Kristoffer From <from@darkeye.net> wrote:
> Salvete, quirites.
>
> Here comes another of my increasingly-rare
> proposals: How about putting
> a stop to new gentes, or at least to new citizens
> starting their own?
> Maybe through letting only citizens who've been in
> Nova Roma for more
> than six months, or maybe a year, start their own
> gentes, and that with
> the permission of the censors? This should
> concentrate our citizens into
> fewer gentes with, as the census moves along, a much
> better percentage
> of active paters.
>
> This would work with the gens reform as well, as
> they still can join
> existing gentes only they have to start their own
> families (by
> cognomina) or maybe start in a common (Nemo?) gens
> until they've decided
> which other gens to join...or something.
>
> Just thinking that it'd be much neater with
> (thinking big, here) 1000
> gentes averaging on 1000 citizens each, hitting
> bottom at a 150-gens and
> topping out at a 2500-gens. Or something. One
> million
> citizens...ahh...just consider the flames! :)
>
> Just tossing out some random ideas, as we've got too
> little controversy
> on the list at the moment. It's possible, even
> probable, that I've
> stolen/ripped some/all of this from other people,
> but my memory being
> what it is I claim them as my own ideas. ;)
>
> Valete, Titus Octavius Pius.
>

=====
L. Sicinius Drusus

"Quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est."
(A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand.)
Seneca, Letters to Lucilius

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Why I and my wife chose our roman names
From:	tiberius.ann@bluemail.ch
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 10:07:09 +0200

Salvete omnes quirites,

For once, let me talk to you again, in this forum. My work has been concentrated
on translating the website into German for these past weeks, but this is
a thread I will gladly take up and explain to other people, how I became
'Tiberius Annaeus Otho' and how my soon-to-be-wife (we marry 21. September)
became 'Roscia Annaea Pia'.

First to me. In order to understand my choice of name, I have to dig into
my personal history. My real and roman uncle, who is also a citizen of Nova
Roma and whom you might know by the name of 'CALO' (Caius Annaeus Lucanus
Otho) is the founder of a Roman reenactment group here in Switzerland. He
founded the 'Cives Rauraci et Vicani Vindonissenses' (http://www.cives.ch.tt)
11 years ago, together with 2 friends of his. The idea was to show Roman
normal live in the province and NOT the military. Most people choose to
reenact legions because that is more impressive for the spectators. He did
not want to do the same as the others. He also did not want to choose just
any 'cool' Roman name. He wanted a name, which could be explained and which
could somehow reflect his real, legal name. He started to look through thousands
of pages of Roman names and people, in order to find names, which reflect
his legal names. Somehow he came across the nomen 'Annaeus' which is kind
of close to our legal name.

When I decided to join him and went to look for my Roman name, he told me,
that since I had the possibility to look up some more things (I study English,
Latin and ancient history) I should also look up some of the family history.
I went to look for the gens Annaea and found hundreds of comments and dozends
of different names, all linked to the gens Annaea (Lucius Annaeus Seneca,
the famous writer and teacher of emperor Nero is only one of them). This
family history started to interest me and I decided that since CALO is my
real uncle, he could also be my Roman uncle. So my nomen was allready found!!!

As for the praenomen, I wanted something that was not yet very common in
the two groups existing in Switzerland. My real name is Thomas, so the first
choice was one of the two nomen starting with T, giving either Titus or
Tiberius. Since there were allready 3 people by the name of Titus and I
very much like the history of emperor Tiberius, whom I don't only see as
a drunkard, but also as a person who achieved great things, my choice was
made.

As for the Agnomen, that was quite difficult and I am still not very happy
with it. We looked around for 3 years, until deciding on Otho. I am a book
with very many pages and the agnomen I would have liked, should have reflected
that, but we couldn't find one. I play the flute and the piccolo, I do track
and fields, I am a Roman, I am the firstborn in my family, I worked for
the church until some months ago, etc., etc., etc. We simply couldn't find
something that I liked and fitted all these things, so if anyone has an
idea, please contact me!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then, at a seminar at the university,
the professor said something about the emperor Otho and his family. He mentioned
one text fragment, where a brother of the emperor is mentioned, who survived
the year 68 AD and the slaying of the families of the 3 emperors Vitellius,
Galba and Otho. I went to look for people with that nomen and came up with
a blank. Only that one textfragment, which I only heard about, and never
saw!!!!!, mentioned that brother. On that basis, I decided that this brother
could have somehow married into the gens Annaea and that the agnomen of
my uncle CALO (O for Otho because his first real name is Otto) could be
used to show that we have a relation to this other family. I was fascinated
by this mixture of history and fiction and decided that Otho should be my
agnomen. If I ever find another fitting agnomen, I can still use it as a
forth name. (My homepage: http://www.tiano.ch.tt)

Now, that's enough about me. My wife was not that hard to 'rename'. It was
clear, that one of her names should be Annaea, since she was supposed to
be my Roman wife. The search for a praenomen could be dropped, since many
women had the feminine form of the nomen of their father as a praenomen.
My wife is an only child and therefore, could also be an only girl in her
Roman family. So, we went about it the same way again and looked for a nomen,
which reflects her real name and we came about the gens Roscia. This gens
was equitian for sure, some sources also make them patrician, but that does
not really matter for Nova Roma. For the members of the Cives Rauraci however,
it does matter. Since the gens Annaea is also for sure not plebeian, a marriage
between the gens Roscia and the gens Annaea is very probable. The name 'Roscia'
was immediately liked by my wife and so we had 'Roscia Annaea' but we still
needed an agnomen. According to her way of life and her character, we decided
on 'Pia', which is indeed very fitting. Fortunately for us, the lex about
agnomina of destinction was not in action yet and my wife received her citizenship
under the name 'Roscia Annaea Pia'.

So, that's a lot of text, but I hope, that some people take the time to
read it and maybe even help me find a fitting second agnomen for me. Now,
I have to get back to my translations of the website.

Valete bene,

Tiberius Annaeus Otho

Lictor curiatus
Translator linguae Germanicae
Paterfamilias gentis Annaearum
Praefectus scribarum regionis Germaniae Superioris
Tribunus laticlavius militum legionis XI CPF
Homepage: http://www.tiano.ch.tt


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Edictum Propraetoricium V
From:	Sextus Apollonius Scipio <scipio_apollonius@yahoo.com>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 01:08:36 -0700 (PDT)

Ex Officio Propraetoris Galliae

Edictum Propraetoricium V

About the participation of Provincia Gallia to the restoration of the Temple of Magna Mater

1. Declaration

I declare Provincia Gallia a full participant to the project of restoration of the Temple of Magna Mater.

This project is conducted by Illustrious Quaestor Franciscus Apulus Caesar and Illustrious Senior Curule Aedile Caeso Fabius Quintilianus. The project can be checked at: http://italia.novaroma.org/cohorsaedilis/ludi/megalesia/temple.htm

2. Bindings

Provincia Gallia is bound to the contents of the project and will respect the resulting obligations and responsibilities.

I encourage the Citizens of Gallia to take an active role in this project.

3. Effectiveness

This Edictum will become effective after the next 72 hours of its promulgation if no objection is brought by the actual participants to the project.

Given August 16th, in the year of the consulship of Marcus Octavius

Germanicus and Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix 2755 AUC.

Sextus Apollonius Scipio

Propraetor Galliae
Sodalitas Egressus, acting Praefectus for France
French Translator

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Why I and my wife chose our roman names Part 2
From:	tiberius.ann@bluemail.ch
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 10:23:52 +0200

Salvete iterum,

There is one small addendum to my history of our Roman names.

On the provincia Germania mailing list, we have a tendency to abreviating
all the names. It is not intentional, but most of the names can be abreviated
into 4 to 6 letters.

CALO was the first. Nobody ever called him Lucius Otho, or something like
that. Everybody knew who CALO was and everybody wrote to CALO.

Then, somebody came along and and found, that our Censor and Propraetor
of Germania is usually only called Dio, and not Diocletianus.

The next was Gaius Noviodunus Ferriculus, who often posts on this list.
In Germania we usually call him GaNoFe. That has a certain meaning in German,
into which we must not go on this list, in order not to hurt anybody.

Next in line was our legatus Germaniae Superioris, who, just as a joke,
called himself not Quintus Quinctilius Varus Galili, in one of his mails,
but QuQuVaGa, to show that he is going nuts, trying to find the people behind
these abreviations. But in Germania that is enough and there was QuQuVaGa.

Then I was next. Tiberius Annaeus Otho became TiAnO, which is very close
to the Italian 'ti amo'.

My wife is RoAnPi and so on......

Valete bene, TiAnO

Tiberius Annaeus Otho

Lictor curiatus
Translator linguae Germanicae
Paterfamilias gentis Annaearum
Praefectus scribarum regionis Germaniae Superioris
Tribunus laticlavius militum legionis XI CPF
Homepage: http://www.tiano.ch.tt


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: Nomen Meum
From:	"eudocia_bianchia" <katheryn@terra.com>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 08:46:21 -0000

Eudocia Bianchia Catilina Omnibus S.P.D.

I chose the name Eudocia in honor of the Eastern Roman/early
Byzantine empress Eudocia (n�e Athenais -- c. 400 - 460 AD/CE).
She was a convert to Christianity, a poet (in Greek) and a saint of
the Orthodox Church. Since I also like to write poetry (although I
think I am better at fiction) and was received into the Orthodox
Church on St. Eudocia's feast day (August 13/26) in 1990, I consider
her my secondary patron saint. However, since I am not a Romanist
(although I like to read about late antiquity/early Byzantium), I did
not realize when I chose my name that the Empress Eudocia's Roman
name was Aelia Licinia Eudocia Augusta -- i.e., that Eudocia was the
Empress' cognomen, not her pr�nomen.

Bianchia is for Gens Bianchia, of course :-) I wanted to go into a
gens whose patron deity is Jesus Christ. Marcus Bianchius Antonius,
now Propr�tor of Lacus Magni, was quite welcoming and did not mind
that I live in California.

As for Catilina... well, it had nothing to do with the politician,
although I am fond of reading and talking about more recent political
scoundrels from Latin America. (Anybody from Brasilia want to discuss
the comeback of Fernando Collor, Paulo Maluf et al. ad nauseam? Or
chat about the upcoming presidential elections? Contact me privately,
por favor.) I chose Catilina because my macronational first name is
Katheryn and I am fond of it. Since my historical field of research
in grad school is 20th-century Brazil and not Roma Antiqua, I had
forgotten about Lucius Sergius Catilina and his unsavory reputation.

O Brasilienses! I will be visiting Brazil in September. Are any of
you are in the S�o Paulo metropolitan area or in Diamantina, Minas
Gerais? I'll send another e-mail (in Portuguese, claro!) to the
NR_Brasil group with more details.

Bene Valete in Pace Deo!

Eudocia Bianchia Catilina


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] RE: Nomen Meum
From:	=?iso-8859-1?q?Decimus=20Iunius=20Silanus?= <danedwardsuk@yahoo.co.uk>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 10:46:11 +0100 (BST)

As one of republican leanings I wanted to join a gens
of great republican lineage and to me there was only
one choice...the gens Iunia. Lucius Iunius Brutus was
of course one of the founding fathers of the Roman
Republic and holds considerable responsibility for the
deposition of the last king of Roma.

The Iunii Silani held considerable sway and influence
in the late republic and early empire (until the last
of them were eliminated by the tyrant Nero), and I
felt there was certainly a place for this
distinguished familia within Nova Roma.

Valete

Decimus Iunius Silanus.

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] How I chose my name
From:	Patricia Cassia <pcassia@novaroma.org>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 07:38:05 -0400

Both my names were chosen for me! Cassius, my then-boyfriend and
now-husband, had been using the name Cassius in Roman circles for some
time before we met and before NR was founded. Patricia is the first name
my parents gave me -- wasn't it kind of them to give me a Latin-derived
name?

So I took the name very early in NR's history, before I had done much
research into Roman women's naming. My "cover story" is that Cassius and
I have the same nomen because we are from far-distant branches of the
same family, and that my father (who would be very surprised to hear
this) was named Patricius.

At some point I may defy convention and choose a cognomen, for it would
be nice to have one name I chose myself, but for now, two names is
sufficient.

-----
Patricia Cassia
Senatrix et Sacerdos Minervalis
Nova Roma . pcassia@novaroma.org


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: Nomen Meum
From:	=?iso-8859-1?q?Lucius=20Arminius=20Faustus?= <lafaustus@yahoo.com.br>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 10:02:54 -0300 (ART)

Salvete,

Since everyone is opening the familiar parchments to show its name, let me explain the mine, whose has been bringing me many happiness and blessings.
LUCIUS: Since my first name (Andr�-Andrew-Andreas) is greek in origin, Lucius sounds more close to my second, Ludovicus, (Luiz-Lewis). And also because of Lucius, the hero of Apuleio�s The Golden Ass, the funniest book I�ve ever read in all times.
ARMINIUS: The gens name. I wanted a great brazilian gens with a active paterfamilias. The continuous support I�m always receiving from senator Arminius Maior show me how I used to be wise on that time.
FAUSTUS: From the latim, �Of good omen� - As Fortunatus, looking back to my life I saw the continuous help of the Gods. And because I�m always interested on Religio Romana and the art of auguries, I thought that it would be a lucky agnomen. And we have also the great poem of Ovidio.

Vale,

L. Arminius Faustus

Scriba propraetoris Brasiliae, scriba tribuni plebis.

Member of Decuriae Interpretes - (portuguese chair)

Visit my office at http://geocities.yahoo.com.br/lafaustus/index.html

Se de �cio estou, divirto-me escrevendo,

Entre os defeitos meus, este enumero...

Satira Quarta, Hor�cio

---------------------------------
Yahoo! PageBuilder - O super editor para cria��o de sites: � gr�tis, f�cil e r�pido.

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Edictum Propraetoricium VI
From:	Sextus Apollonius Scipio <scipio_apollonius@yahoo.com>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 06:14:46 -0700 (PDT)

Ex Officio Propraetoris Galliae

Edictum Propraetoricium VI

About the management and publication of Apollonia Acta

1. Definition

Apollonia Acta is a weekly newsletter dedicated to Roman Archeology News.
Apollonia Acta is saved on the website of Provincia Gallia at:
http://www.fr-novbaroma.com/Archeology/

2. Responsibilities

The persons responsible for Apollonia Acta are the Curator Araneae Galliae and
the Propraetor Galliae. Only the Propraetor Galliae may veto the actions of the
Curator Araneae Galliae for the general management of Apollonia Acta. Any
insertion of information into this newsletter will have to be accepted by the
Propraetor Galliae or by the Curator Araneae Galliae.

3. Regulation and publishing of Apollonia Acta

Apollonia Acta is managed through �blog� technology. The username and password,
needed to access the �blog�, will be given by the Curator Araneae Galliae and
the Propraetor to any willing participant. All participants must be citizens of
Nova Roma.
A participant can only post in the �blog�. Posting in the blog consists of
inserting a news story in the newsletter.
A news story could be a web page or a written message. If the news story is a
web page, this web page should be saved in full format (in .html) and sent to
the Curator Araneae Galliae or the Propraetor Galliae for archiving.
The publishing of the newsletter on the web site is done by Curator Araneae
Galliae or the Propraetor Galliae. An informative message should be post on the
Nova Roma Main list to announce the publishing.
All archived news stories can be accessed upon request to the Curator Araneae
Galliae or the Propraetor Galliae.

4. Limitations on content

� All the news must be related to Roman subjects only.
� The newsletter must contain at least one explicit link to the main website of
Nova Roma.
� It may not contain any explicit or implicit ideas contrary to the basic
ideals of Nova Roma, as stated in the main website of Nova Roma.
� It may not contain anything that would be considered illegal in any nations
making up the Provincia.
� The posts in the �blog� could be in any language.
� Any post contradicting the present Edictum will be deleted from the
newsletter and the archive. The author of such messages faces the successive
penalties: warning, ban for two weeks and then denial to access the �blog�.

This Edictum becomes effective immediately.

Given August 16nd, in the year of the consulship of Marcus Octavius
Germanicus and Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix 2755 AUC.

=====
Sextus Apollonius Scipio

Propraetor Galliae
Sodalitas Egressus, acting Praefectus for France
French Translator

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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Apollonia Acta
From:	Sextus Apollonius Scipio <scipio_apollonius@yahoo.com>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 07:48:20 -0700 (PDT)

Salvete Omnes,

please find the Roman Archeology News at:

http://www.fr-novaroma.com/Archeology/index.html

There is a lot of news this week, I added some old ones from the previous
years.

Salvete,

=====
Sextus Apollonius Scipio

Propraetor Galliae
Sodalitas Egressus, acting Praefectus for France
French Translator

__________________________________________________
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Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Nomen Uxoris Meae
From:	Fortunatus <labienus@texas.net>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 12:06:27 -0500

Salvete

My wife's father is a surveyor and hydrologist by trade. In light of
that, she chose to honor both him and the memory of an ancient Roman by
adopting the name of Appius Claudius, who was responsible for Rome's
first road and its first aqueduct.

In ancient marriages, the wife didn't take the husband's nomen because
she didn't actually change gentes. My wife's cognomen, Labieni,
signifies that she has married a Labienus and therefore belongs to Gens
Labiena.

Her agnomen, Ursa, is a nickname that fits her quite well. She is
phlegmatic, motherly, a lover of food, and slow to anger. When she
finally does get mad, though, she's pretty fearsome. She has much in
common with bears.

Valete
T Labienus Fortunatus
--
"Since death alone is certain and the time of death uncertain, what
should I do?"


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] ATTN: Lucius Moravius Messala
From:	Fortunatus <labienus@texas.net>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 12:48:00 -0500

T Labienus Fortunatus Praetor L Moravio Messalae SPD

L Moravius Messala, paterfamilias of Gens Moravia, is hereby summoned to
answer the petition of Diana Apollonia Aventina before this praetor.

L Moravius or his representative must contact T Labienus Praetor
directly by whatever means available to him before midnight pridie
Kalendas Octobris (September 30) of this year. If this does not occur,
the praetor shall assume the authority to act in his stead regarding
Diana Apollonia's desire to enter his gens, as allowed by praetorial
edictum.

Anyone who reads this announcement and who is in contact with L Moravius
is requested to ensure that he is aware of the summons.

The praetor's contact information is as follows:

labienus@texas.net

Labienus
10102 Sandyglen
San Antonio, TX 78240, USA

Valete


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] TRANSLATION TO SPANISH
From:	"orden_de_mithra" <orden_de_mithra@yahoo.com>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 16:12:27 -0000

Please:
I will be happy if some of you can help me translation to spanisn the
text above. It is very important to me.
Enos

Avesta: Khorda Avesta
10. MIHR YASHT ("Hymn to Mithra")
This digital edition copyright � 1995 by Joseph H. Peterson. All
rights reserved.
Translated by James Darmesteter (From Sacred Books of the East,
American Edition, 1898.)

0.
May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced!....
Ashem Vohu: Holiness is the best of all good....
I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra,
one who hates the Daevas, and obeys the laws of Ahura;
For sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto [Havani],
the holy and master of holiness....
Unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who has a thousand ears, ten
thousand eyes, a Yazata invoked by his own name, and unto Rama
Hvastra,
Be propitiation, with sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and
glorification.
Yatha ahu vairyo: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness....
[1]
1.
Ahura Mazda spake unto Spitama Zarathushtra, saying: 'Verily, when I
created Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, O Spitama! I created him
as worthy of sacrifice, as worthy of prayer as myself Ahura Mazda.
2.
'The ruffian who lies unto Mithra brings death unto the whole
country, injuring as much the faithful world as a hundred evil-doers
could do. Break not the contract, O Spitama! neither the one that
thou hadst entered into with one of the unfaithful, nor the one that
thou hadst entered into with one of the faithful who is one of thy
own faith. For Mithra stands for both the faithful and the
unfaithful.
3.
'Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, gives swiftness to the horses of
those who lie not unto Mithra.
'Fire, the son of Ahura Mazda, gives the straightest way to those who
lie not unto Mithra.
'The good, strong, beneficent Fravashis of the faithful give a
virtuous offspring to those who lie not unto Mithra.
4.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice
worth being heard, namely, unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures.
'We offer up libations unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who
gives a happy dwelling and a good dwelling to the Aryan nations.
5.
'May he come to us for help! May he come to us for ease! May he come
to us for joy! May he come to us for mercy! May he come to us for
health! May he come to us for victory! May he come to us for good
conscience! May he come to us for bliss! he, the awful and
overpowering, worthy of sacrifice and prayer, not to be deceived
anywhere in the whole of the material world, Mithra, the lord of wide
pastures.
6.
'I will offer up libations unto him, the strong Yazata, the powerful
Mithra, most beneficent to the creatures: I will apply unto him with
charity and prayers: I will offer up a sacrifice worth being heard
unto him, Mithra, the lord ofwide pastures, with the Haoma and meat,
with the baresma, with the wisdom of the tongue, with the holy
spells, with the speech, with the deeds, with the libations, and with
the rightly-spoken words. 'Yenhe hatam: All those beings of whom
Ahura Mazda....
[2]
7.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who is truth-
speaking, a chief in assemblies, with a thousand ears, well-shapen,
with ten thousand eyes, high, with full knowledge, strong, sleepless,
and ever awake;
8.
'To whom the chiefs of nations offer up sacrifices, as they go to the
field, against havocking hosts, against enemies coming in battle
array, in the strife of conflicting nations.
9.
'On whichever side he has been worshipped first in the fulness of
faith of a devoted heart, to that side turns Mithra, the lord of wide
pastures, with the fiend-smiting wind, with the cursing thought of
the wise.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[3]
10.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake.
11.
'Whom the horsemen worship on the back of their horses, begging
swiftness for their teams, health for their own bodies, and that they
may watch with full success those who hate them, smite down their
foes, and destroy at one stroke their adversaries, their enemies, and
those who hate themn,
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[4]
12.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
13.
'Who first of the heavenly gods reaches over the Hara, before the
undying, swift-horsed sun; who, foremost in a golden array, takes
hold of the beautiful summits, and from thence looks over the abode
of the Aryans with a beneficent eye.
14.
'Where the valiant chiefs draw up their many troops in array; where
the high mountains, rich in pastures and waters, yield plenty to the
cattle; where the deep lakes, with salt waters, stand; where wide-
flowing rivers swell and hurry towards Ishkata and Pouruta, Mouru and
Haroyu, the Gava-Sughdha and Hvairizem;
15.
'On Arezahi and Savahi, on Fradadhafshu and Vidadhafshu, on
Vourubareshti and Vourujareshti, on this bright Karshvare of
Hvaniratha, the abode of cattle, the dwelling of cattle, the powerful
Mithra looks with a health-bringing eye;
16.
'He who moves along all the Karshvares, a Yazata unseen, and brings
glory; he who moves along all the Karshvares, a Yazata unseen, and
brings sovereignty; and increases strength for victory to those who,
with a pious intent, holily offer him libations. 'For his brightness
and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth being heard....
[5]
17.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Unto whom nobody must lie, neither the master of a house, nor the
lord of a borough, nor the lord of a town, nor the lord of a
province.
18.
'If the master of a house lies unto him, or the lord of a borough, or
the lord of a town, or the lord ofa province, then comes Mithra,
angry and offended, and he breaks asunder the house, the borough, the
town, the province; and the masters of the houses, the lords of the
boroughs, the lords of the towns, the lords of the provinces, and the
foremost men of the provinces.
19.
'On whatever side there is one who has lied unto Mithra, on that side
Mithra stands forth, angry and offended, and his wrath is slow to
relent.
20.
'Those who lie unto Mithra, however swift they may be running, cannot
overtake; riding, cannot ....; driving, cannot ..... The spear that
the foe of Mithra flings, darts backwards, for the number of the evil
spells that the foe of Mithra works out.
21.
'And even though the spear be flung well, even though it reach the
body, it makes no wound, for the number of the evil spells that the
foe of Mithra works out. The wind drives away the spear that the foe
of Mithra flings, for the number of the evil spells that the foe of
Mithra works out.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[6]
22.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who takes out of distress the man who has not lied unto him, who
takes him out of death.
23.
'Take us out of distress, take us out of distresses, O Mithra! as we
have not lied unto thee. Thou bringest down terror upon the bodies of
the men who lie unto Mithra; thou takest away the strength from their
arms, being angry and all-powerful; thou takest the swiftness from
their feet, the eye-sight from their eyes, the hearing from their
ears.
24.
'Not the wound of the well-sharpened spear or of the flying arrow
reaches that man to whom Mithra comes for help with all the strength
of his soul, he, of the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-seeing,
undeceivable Mithra.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[7]
25.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who is lordly, deep, strong, and weal-giving; a chief in assemblies,
pleased with prayers, high, holily clever, the incarnate Word, a
warrior with strong arms;
26.
'Who breaks the skulls of the Daevas, and is most cruel in exacting
pains; the punisher of the men who lie unto Mithra, the withstander
of the Pairikas; who, when not deceived, establisheth nations in
supreme strength; who, when not deceived, establisheth nations in
supreme victory;
27.
'Who confounds the ways of the nation that delights in havoc, who
turns away their Glory, takes away their strength for victory, blows
them away helpless, and delivers them unto ten thousand strokes; he,
of the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-seeing, undeceivable
Mithra.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[8]
28.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who upholds the columns of the lofty house and makes its pillars
solid; who gives herds of oxen and male children to that house in
which he has been satisfied; he breaks to pieces those in which he
has been offended,
29.
'Thou, O Mithra! art both bad and good to nations; thou, O Mithra!
art both bad and good to men; thou, O Mithra! keepest in thy hands
both peace and trouble for nations.
30.
'Thou makest houses large, beautiful with women, beautiful with
chariots, with well-laid foundations, and high above their
groundwork; thou makest that house lofty, beautiful with women,
beautiful with chariots, with well-laid foundations, and high above
its groundwork, of which the master, pious and holding libations in
his hand, offers thee a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy
own name and with the proper words.
31.
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O powerful Mithra!
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O most beneficent
Mithra!
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O thou undeceivable
Mithra!
32.
'Listen unto our sacrifice, O Mithra! Be thou pleased with our
sacrifice, O Mithra! Come and sit at our sacrifice! Accept our
libations! Accept them as they have been consecrated! Gather them
together with love and lay them in the Garo-nmana!
33.
'Grant us these boons which we beg of thee, O powerful god I in
accordance with the words of revelation, namely, riches, strength,
and victory, good conscience and bliss, good fame and a good soul;
wisdom and the knowledge that gives happiness, the victorious
strength given by Ahura, the crushing Ascendant of Asha Vahishta, and
conversation (with God) on the Holy Word.
34.
'Grant that we, in a good spirit and high spirit, exalted in joy and
a good spirit, may smite all our foes; that we, in a good spirit and
high spirit, exalted in joy and a good spirit, may smite all our
enemies; that we, in a good spirit and high spirit, exalted in joy
and a good spirit, may smite all the malice of Daevas and Men, of the
Yatus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, the blind, and the deaf.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[9]
35.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Victory-making, army-governing, endowed with a thousand senses;
power-wielding, power-possessing, and all-knowing;
36.
'Who sets the battle a going, who stands against (armies) in battle,
who, standing against (armies) in battle, breaks asunder the lines
arrayed. The wings of the columns gone to battle shake, and he throws
terror upon the centre of the havocking host.
37.
'He can bring and does bring down upon them distress and fear; he
throws down the heads of those who lie to Mithra, he takes off the
heads of those who lie unto Mithra.
38.
'Sad is the abode, unpeopled with children, where abide men who lie
unto Mithra, and, verily, the fiendish killer of faithful men. The
grazing cow goes a sad straying way, driven along the vales of the
Mithradrujes: they stand on the road, letting tears run over their
chins.
39.
'Their falcon-feathered arrows, shot from the string of the well-bent
bow, fly towards the mark, and hit it not, as Mithra, the lord of
wide pastures, angry, offended, and unsatisfied, comes and meets them.
'Their spears, well whetted and sharp, their long spears fly from
their hands towards the mark, and hit it not, as Mithra, the lord of
wide pastures, angry, offended, and unsatisfied, comes and meets
them.
40.
'Their swords, well thrust and striking at the heads of men, hit not
the mark, as Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, angry, offended, and
unsatisfied, comes and meets them.
'Their clubs, well falling and striking at the heads of men, hit not
the mark, as Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, angry, offended, and
unsatisfied, comes and meets them.
41.
'Mithra strikes fear into them; Rashnu strikes a counter-fear into
them; the holy Sraosha blows them away from every side towards the
two Yazatas, the maintainers of the world. They make the ranks of the
army melt away, as Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, angry,
offended, and unsatisfied, comes and meets them.
42.
'They cry unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, saying: "O Mithra,
thou lord of wide pastures! here are our fiery horses taking us away,
as they flee from Mithra; here are our sturdy arms cut to pieces by
the sword, O Mithra!"
43.
'And then Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, throws them to the
ground, killing their fifties and their hundreds, their hundreds and
their thousands, their thousands and their tens of thousands, their
tens of thousands and their myriads of myriads; as Mithra, the lord
of wide pastures, is angry and offended,
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[10]
44.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Whose dwelling, wide as the earth, extends over the material world,
large, unconfined, and bright, a far-and-wide-extending abode.
45.
'Whose eight friends sit as spies for Mithra, on all the heights, at
all the watching-places, observing the man who lies unto Mithra,
looking at those, remembering those who have lied unto Mithra, but
guarding the ways of those whose life is sought by men who lie unto
Mithra, and, verily, by the fiendish killers of faithful men.
46.
'Helping and guarding, guarding behind and guarding in front, Mithra,
the lord of wide pastures, proves an undeceivable spy and watcher for
the man to whom he comes to help with all the strength of his soul,
he of the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable
god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[11]
47.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'A god of high renown and old age, whom wide-hoofed horses carry
against havocking hosts, against enemies coming in battle array, in
the strife of conflicting nations.
48.
'And when Mithra drives along towards the havocking hosts, towards
the enemies coming in battle array, in the strife of the conflicting
nations, then he binds the hands of those who have lied unto Mithra,
he confounds their eye-sight, he takes the hearing from their ears;
they can no longer move their feet; they can no longer withstand
those people, those foes, when Mithra, the lord of wide pastures,
bears them ill-will.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[12]
49.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
50.
'For whom the Maker, Ahura Mazda, has built up a dwelling on the Hara
Berezaiti, the bright mountain around which the many (stars) revolve
where come neither night nor darkness, no cold wind and no hot wind,
no deathful sickness, no uncleanness made by the Daevas, and the
clouds cannot reach up unto the Haraiti Bareza;
51.
'A dwelling that all the Amesha-Spentas, in one accord with the sun,
made for him in the fulness of faith of a devoted heart, and he
survevs the whole of the material world from the Haraiti Bareza.
52.
'And when there rushes a wicked worker of evil, swiftly, with a swift
step, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, goes and yokes his horses to
his chariot, along with the holy, powerful Sraosha and Nairyo-sangha,
who strikes a blow that smites the army, that smites the strength of
the malicious.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[13]
53.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
54.
'Who, with hands lifted up, ever cries unto Ahura Mazda, saying: "I
am the kind keeper of all creatures, I am the kind maintainer of all
creatures; yet men worship me not with a sacrifice in which I am
invoked by my own name, as they worship the other gods with
sacrifices in which they are invoked by their own names.
55.
'"If men would worship me with a sacrifice in which I were invoked by
my own name, as they worship the other Yazatas with sacrifices in
which they are invoked by their own names, then I would come to the
faithful at the appointed time; I would come in the appointed time of
my beautiful, immortal life."
56.
'But the pious man, holding libations in his hands, does worship thee
with a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own ame, and with
the proper words.
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O powerful Mithra!
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the groper words will I offer thee libations, O most beneficent
Mithra!
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O thou undeceivable
Mithra!
57.
'Listen unto our sacrifice, 'O Mithra! Be thou pleased with our
sacrifice, O Mithra! Come and sit at our sacrifice! Accept our
libations! Accept them as they have been consecrated! Gather them
together with love and lay them in the Garo-nmana!
58.
'Grant us these boons which we beg of thee, O powerful god! in
accordance with the words of revelation, namely, riches, strength,
and victory, good conscience and bliss, good fame and a good soul;
wisdom and the knowledge that gives happiness, the victorious
strength given by Ahura, the crushing Ascendant of Asha-Vahishta, and
conversation (with God) on the Holy Word.
59.
'Grant that we, in a good spirit and high spirit, exalted in joy and
a good spirit, may smite all our foes; that we, in a good spirit and
high spirit, exalted in joy and a good spirit, may smite all our
enemies; that we, in a good spirit and high spirit, exalted in joy
and a good spirit, may smite all the malice of Daevas and Men, of the
Yatus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, the blind, and the deaf.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[14]
60.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Whose renown is good, whose shape is good, whose glory is good; who
has boons to give at his will, who has pasture-fields to give at his
will; harmless to the tiller of the ground, ...., beneficent; he, of
the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[15]
61.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Firm-legged, a watcher fully awake; valiant, a chief in assemblies;
making the waters flow forward; listening to appeals; making the
waters run and the plants grow up; ruling over the Karshvares;
delivering; happy; undeceivable; endowed with many senses; a creature
of wisdom;
62.
'Who gives neither strength nor vigour to him who has lied unto
Mithra; who gives neither glory nor any boon to him who has lied unto
Mithra.
63.
'Thou takest away the strength from their arms, being angry and all-
powerful; thou takest the swiftness from their feet, the eye-sight
from their eyes, the hearing from their ears.
'Not the wound of the well-sharpened spear or of the flying arrow
reaches that man to whom Mithra comes for help with all the strength
of his soul he of the ten-thousand spies, the powerful all-knowing
undeceivable god. 'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a
sacrifice worth being heard....
[16]
64.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who takes possession of the beautiful, wide-expanding law, greatly
and powerfully and whose face looks over all the seven Karshvares of
the earth;
65.
'Who is swift amongst the swift, liberal amongst the liberal, strong
amongst the strong, a chief of assembly amongst the chiefs of
assemblies; increase-giving, fatness-giving, cattle-giving,
sovereignty-giving, son-giving, cheerfulness-giving, and bliss-
giving.
66.
'With whom proceed Ashi Vanguhi, and Parendi on her light chariot,
the awful Manly Courage, the awful kingly Glory, the awful sovereign
Sky, the awful cursing thought of the wise, the awful Fravashis of
the faithful, and he who keeps united together the many faithful
worshippers of Mazda.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[17]
67.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastares, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who drives along on his high-wheeled chariot, made of a heavenly
substance, from the Karshvare of Arezahi to the Karshvare of
Hvaniratha, the bright one; accompanied by the wheel of sovereignty,
the Glory made by Mazda, and the Victory made by Ahura;
68.
'Whose chariot is embraced by the great Ashi Vanguhi; to whom the Law
of Mazda opens a way, that he may go easily; whom four heavenly
steeds, white, shining, seen afar, beneficent, endowed with
knowledge, swiftly carry along the heavenly space, while the cursing
thought of the wise pushes it forward;
69.
'From whom all the Daevas unseen and the Varenya fiends flee away in
fear. Oh! may we never fall across the rush of the angry lord, who
goes and rushes from a thousand sides against his foe, he, of the ten
thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[18]
70.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Before whom Verethraghna, made by Ahura, runs opposing the foes in
the shape of a boar, a sharp-toothed he-boar, a sharp-jawed boar,
that kills at one stroke, pursuing, wrathful, with a dripping face;
strong, with iron feet, iron fore-paws, iron weapons, an iron tail,
and iron jaws;
71.
'Who, eagerly clinging to the fleeing foe, along with Manly Courage,
smites the foe in battle, and does not think he has smitten him, nor
does he consider it a blow till he has smitten away the marrow and
the column of life, the marrow and the spring of existence.
72.
'He cuts all the limbs to pieces, and mingles, together with the
earth, the bones, hair, brains, and blood of the men who have lied
unto Mithra.
'For his brightness and glory, we offer him a sacrifice worth being
heard....
[19]
73.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who, with hands lifted up, rejoicing, cries out, speaking thus:
74.
'"O Ahura Mazda, most beneficent spirit! Maker of the material world,
thou Holy One!
'"If men would worship me with a sacrifice in which I were invoked by
my own name, as they worship the other gods with sacrifices in which
they are invoked by their own names, then I should come to the
faithful at the appointed time; I should come in the appointed time
of my beautiful, immortal life."
75.
'May we keep our field; may we never be exiles from our field, exiles
from our house, exiles from our borough, exiles from our town, exiles
from our country.
76.
'Thou dashest in pieces the malice of the malicious, the malice of
the men of malice: dash thou in pieces the killers of faithful men!
'Thou hast good horses, thou hast a good chariot: thou art bringing
help at every appeal, and art powerful.
77.
'I will pray unto thee for help, with many consecrations, with good
consecrations of libations; with many offerings, with good offerings
of libations, that we, abiding in thee, may long inhabit a good
abode, full of all the riches that can be wished for.
78.
'Thou keepest those nations that tender a good worship to Mithra, the
lord of wide pastures; thou dashest in pieces those that delight in
havoc. Unto thee will I pray for help: may he come to us for help,
the awful, most powerful Mithra, the worshipful and praiseworthy, the
glorious lord of nations.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[20]
79.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who made a dwelling for Rashnu, and to whom Rashnu gave all his soul
for long friendship;
80.
'Thou art a keeper and protector of the dwelling of those who lie
not: thou art the maintainer of those who lie not. With thee hath
Verethraghna, made by Ahura, contracted the best of all friendships,
and thus it is how so many men who have lied unto Mithra, even
privily, lie smitten down on the ground.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[21]
81.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who made a dwelling for Rashnu, and to whom Rashnu gave all his soul
for long friendship;
82.
'To whom Ahura Mazda gave a thousand senses and ten thousand eyes to
see. With those eyes and those senses, he watches the man who injures
Mithra, the man who lies unto Mithra. Through those eyes and those
senses, he is, undeceivable, he, of the ten thousand spies, the
powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[22]
83.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Whom the lord of the country invokes for help, with hands uplifted;
'Whom the lord of the town invokes for help, with hands uplifted;
84.
'Whom the lord of the borough invokes for help, with hands uplifted;
'Whom the master of the house invokes for help, with hands uplifted;
'Whom the .... in danger of death invokes for help, with hands
uplifted;
'Whom the poor man, who follows the good law, when wronged and
deprived of his rights, invokes for help, with hands uplifted.
85.
'The voice of his wailing reaches up to the sky, it goes over the
earth all around, it goes over the seven Karshuares, whether he
utters his prayer in a low tone of voice or aloud.
86.
'The cow driven astray invokes him for help, longing for the stables:
'"When will that bull, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, bring us
back, and make us reach the stables? when wilt he turn us back to the
right way from the den of the Druj where we were driven?"
87.
'And to him with whom Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, has been
satisfied, he comes with help; and of him with whom Mithra, the lord
of wide pastures, has been offended, he crushes down the house, the
borough, tne town, the province, the country.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[23]
88.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'To whom the enlivening, healing, fair, lordly golden-eyed Haoma
offered up a sacrifice on the highest of the heights, on the Haraiti
Bareza, he the undefiled to one undefiled, with undefiled baresma,
undefiled libations, and undefiled words;
89.
'Whom the holy Ahura Mazda has established as a priest, quick in
performing the sacrifice and loud in song. He performed the sacrifice
with a loud voice, as a priest quick in sacrifice and loud in song, a
priest to Ahura Mazda, a priest to the Amesha-Spentas. His voice
reached up to the sky; went over the earth all around, went over the
seven Karshvares.
90.
'Who first lifted up Haomas, in a mortar inlaid with stars and made
of a heavenly substance. Ahura Mazda longed for him, the Amesha-
Spentas longed for him, for the well-slapen body of him whom the
swift-horsed sun awakes for prayer from afar.
91.
'Hail to Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who has a thousand ears
and ten thousand eyes! Thou art worthy of sacrifice and prayer:
mayest thou have sacrifice and prayer in the houses of men! Hail to
the man who shall offer thee a sacrifice, with the holy wood in his
hand, the baresma in his hand, the holy meat in his hand, the holy
mortar in his hand, with his hands well-washed, with the mortar well-
washed, with the bundles of baresma tied up, the Haoma uplifted, and
the Ahuna Vairya sung through.
92.
'The holy Ahura Mazda confessed that religion and so did Vohu-Mano,
so did Asha-Vahishta, so did Khshathra-Vairya, so did Spenta-Armaiti,
so did Haurvatat and Ameretat; and all the Amesha-Spentas longed for
and confessed his religion. The kind Mazda conferred upon him the
mastership of the world; and [so did they] who saw thee amongst all
creatures the right lord and master of the world, the best cleanser
of these creatures.
93.
'So mayest thou in both worlds, mayest thou keep us in both worlds, O
Mithra, lord of wide pastures! both in this material world and in the
world of the spirit, from the fiend of Death, from the fiend Aeshma,
from the fiendish hordes, that lift up the spear of havoc, and from
the onsets of Aeshma, wherein the evil-doing Aeshma rushes along with
Vidotu, made by the Daevas.
94.
'So mayest thou, O Mithra, lord of wide pastures! give swiftness to
our teams, strength to our own bodies, and that we may watch with
full success those who hate us, smite down our foes, and destroy at
one stroke our adversaries, our enemies and those who hate us.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[24]
95.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who goes over the earth, all her breadth over, after the setting of
the sun, touches both ends of this wide, round earth, whose ends tie
afar, and surveys everything that is between the earth and the
heavens,
96.
'Swinging in his hands a club with a hundred knots, a hundred edges,
that rushes forwards and fells men down; a club cast out of red
brass, of strong, golden brass; the strongest of all weapons, the
most victorious of all weapons;
97.
'From whom Angra Mainyu, who is all death, flees away in fear; from
whom Aeshma, the evil-doing Peshotanu, flees away in fear; from whom
the long-handed Bushyasta flees away in fear; from whom all the
Daevas unseen and the Varenya fiends flee away in fear.
98.
'Oh! may we never fall across the rush of Mithra, the lord of wide
pastures, when in anger! May Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, never
smite us in his anger; he who stands up upon this earth as the
strongest of all gods, the most valiant of all gods, the most
energetic of all god , th swiftest of all gods, the most fiend-
smiting of all gods, he, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[25]
99.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'From whom all the Daevas unseen and the Varenya fiends flee away in
fear.
'The lord of nations, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, drives
forward at the right-hand side of this wide, round earth, whose ends
lie afar.
100.
'At his right hand drives the good, holy Sraosha; at his left hand
drives the tall and strong Rashnu; on all sides around him drive the
waters, the plants, and the Fravashis of the faithful.
101.
'In his might, he ever brings to them falcon-feathered arrows, and,
when diiving, he himself comes there, where are nations, enemy to
Mithra, he, first and foremost, strikes blows with his club on the
horse and his rider; he throws fear and fright upon the horse and his
rider.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[26]
102.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'The warrior of the white horse, of the sharp spear, the tong spear,
the quick arrows; foreseeing and clever;
103.
'Whom Ahura Mazda has established to maintain and look over all this
moving world, and who maintains and looks over all this moving world;
who, never sleeping, wakefully guards the creation of Mazda; who,
never sleeping, wakefully maintains the creation of Mazda;
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[27]
104.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Whose long arms, strong with Mithra-strength, encompass what he
seizes in the easternmost river and what he beats with the
westernmost river, what is by the Sanaka of the Rangha and what is by
the boundary of the earth.
105.
'And thou, O Mithra! encompassing all this around, do thou reach it,
all over, with thy arms.
'The man without glory, led astray from the right way, grieves in his
heart; the man without glory thinks thus in himself: "That careless
Mithra does not see all the evil that is done, nor all the lies that
are told."
106.
'But I think thus in my heart:
'"Should the evil thoughts of the earthly man be a hundred times
worse, they would not rise so high as the good thoughts of the
heavenly Mithra;
'"Should the evil words of the earthly man be a hundred times worse,
they would not rise so high as the good words of the heavenly Mithra;
'"Should the evil deeds of the earthly man be a hundred times worse,
they would not rise so high as the good deeds of the heavenly Mithra;
107.
'"Should the heavenly wisdom in the earthly man be a hundred times
greater, it would not rise so high as the heavenly w'isdom in the
heavenly Mithra;
''And thus, should the ears of the earthly man hear a hundred time
better, he would not hear so well as the heavenly Mithra, whose ear
hears well who has a thousand senses, and sees every man that tells a
lie."
'Mithra stands up in his strength, he drives in the awfulness of
royalty, and sends from his eyes beautiful looks that shine from
afar, (saying):
108.
''Who will offer me a sacrifice? Who will lie unto me? Who thinks me
a god worthy of a good sacrifice? Who thinks me worthy only of a bad
sacrifice? To whom shall I, in my might, impart brightness and glory?
To whom bodily health? To whom shall I, in my might, impart riches
and full weal? Whom shall I bless by raising him a virtuous
offspring?
109.
"'To whom shall I give in return, without his thinking of it, the
awful sovereignty, beautifully. arrayed, with many armies, and most
perfect; the sovereignty of an all-powerful tyrant, who fells down
heads, valiant, smiting, and unsmitten; who orders chastisement to be
done and his order is done at once, which he has ordered in his
anger?"
'O Mithra! when thou art offended and not satisfied, he soothes thy
mind, and makes Mithra satisfied.
110.
'"To whom shall I, in my might, impart sickness and death? To whom
shall I impart poverty and sterility? Of whom shall I at one stroke
cut off the offspring!
111.
'"From whom shall I take away, without his thinking of it, the awful
sovereignty, beautifully arrayed, with many armies, and most perfect;
the sovereignty of an all-powerful tyrant, who fells down heads,
valiant, smiting, and unsmitten; who orders chastisement to be done
and his order is done at once, which he has ordered in his anger."
'O Mithra! while thou art satisfied and not angry, he moves thy heart
to anger, and makes Mithra unsatisfied.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[28]
112.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'A warrior with a silver helm, a golden cuirass, who kills with the
poniard, strong, valiant, lord of the borough. Bright are the ways of
Mithra, by which he goes towards the country, when, wishing well, he
turns its plains and vales to pasture grounds,
113.
'And then cattle and males come to graze, as many as he wants.
'May Mithra and Ahura, the high gods, come to us for help, when the
poniard lifts up its voice aloud, when the nostrils of the horses
quiver, when the poniards ...., when the, strings of the bows whistle
and shoot sharp arrows; then the brood of those whose libations are
hated fall smitten to the ground, with their hair torn off.
114.
'So mayest thou, O Mithra, lord of wide pastures! give swiftness to
our teams, strength to our own bodies, and that we may watch with
full success those who hate us, smite down our foes, and destroy at
one stroke our adversaries, our enemies, and those who hate us.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[29]
115.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake.
'O Mithra, lord of wide pastures! thou master of the house, of the
borough, of the town, of the country, thou Zarathushtrotema!
116.
'Mithra is twentyfold between two friends or two relations;
'Mithra is thirtyfold between two men of the same group;
'Mithra is fortyfold between two partners;
'Mithra is fiftyfold between wife and husband;
'Mithra is sixtyfold between two pupils (of the same master);
'Mithra is seventyfold between the pupil and his master;
'Mithra is eightyfold between the son-in-law and his father-in-law;
'Mithra is ninetyfold between two brothers;
117.
'Mithra is a hundredfold between the father and the son;
'Mithra is a thousandfold between two nations;
'Mithra is ten thousandfold when connected with the Law of Mazda, and
then he will be every day of victorious strength.
118.
'May I come unto thee with a prayer that goes lowly or goes highly!
As this sun rises up above the Hara Berezaiti and then fulfils its
career, so may I, O Spitama! with a prayer that goes lowly or goes
highly, rise up above the will of the fiend Angra Mainyu!
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[30]
119.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastwes, .... sleepless,
and ever awake,
'Offer up a sacrifice unto Mithra, O Spitama! and order thy pupils to
do the same.
'Let the worshipper of Mazda sacrifice unto thee with small cattle,
with black cattle, with flying birds, gliding forward on wings.
120.
'To Mithra all the faithful worshiypers of Mazda must give strength
and energy with offered and proffered Haomas, which the Zaotar
proffers unto him and gives in sacrifice. Let the faithful man drink
of the libations cleanly prepared, which if he does, if he offers
them unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, Mithra will be pleased
with him and without anger.'
121.
Zarathushtra asked him: 'O Ahura Mazda! how shall the faithful man
drink the libations cleanly prepared, which if he does and he offers
them unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, Mithra will be pleased
vvith him and without anger?'
122.
Ahura Mazda answered: 'Let them wash their bodies three days and
three nights; let them undergo thirty strokes for the sacrifice and
prayer unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures. Let them wash their
bodies two days and two nights; let them undergo twenty strokes for
the sacrifice and prayer unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures. Let
no man drink of these libations who does not know the staota yesnya:
Vispe ratavo.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacriace worth
being heard....
[31]
123.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'To whom Ahura Mazda offered up a sacrifice in the shining Garo-
nmana.
124.
'With his arms lifted up towards Immortality, Mithra, the lord of
wide pastures, drives forward from the shining Garo-nmana, in a
beautiful chariot that drives on, ever-swift, adorned with all sorts
of ornaments, and made of gold.
125.
'Four stallions draw that chariot, all of the same white colour,
living on heavenly food and undying. The hoofs of their fore-feet are
shod with gold, the hoofs of their hind-feet are shod with silver;
all are yoked to the same pole, and wear the yoke and the cross-beams
of the yoke, fastened with hooks of Khshathra vairya to a
beautiful....
126.
'At his right hand drives Rashnu-Razishta, the most beneficent and
most well-shapen.
'At his left hand drives the most upright Chista, the holy one,
bearing libations in her hands, clothed with white clothes, and white
herself; and the cursing thought of the Law of Mazda.
127.
'Close by him drives the strong cursing thought of the wise man,
opposing foes in the shape of a boar, a sharp-toothed he-boar, a
sharp- jawed boar, that kills at one stroke, pursuing, wrathful, with
a dripping face, strong and swift to run, and rushing all around.
'Behind him drives Atar, all in a blaze, and the awful kingly Glory.
128.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand bows well-made, with a string of cowgut; they go through
the heavenly space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the
skulls of the Daevas.
129.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand vulture-feathered arrows, with a golden mouth, with a horn
shaft, with a brass tail, and well-made. They go through the heavenly
space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls of the
Daevas.
130.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand spears well-made and sharp-piercing. They go through the
heavenly space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls
of the Daevas.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand steel-hammers, two-edged, well-made. They go through the
heavenly space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls
of the Daevas.
131.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand swords, two-edged and well-made. They go through the
heavenly space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls
of the Daevas.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand maces of iron, well-made. They go through the heavenly
space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls of the
Daevas.
132.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures,
stands a beautiful well-falling club, with a hundred knots, a hundred
edges, that rushes forward and fells men down; a club cast out of red
brass, of strong, golden brass; the strongest of all weapons, the
most victorious of all weapons. It goes through the heavenly space,
it falls through the heavenly space upon the skulls of the Daevas.
133.
After he has smitten the Daevas, after he has smitten down the men
who lied unto Mithra, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, drives
forward through Arezahe and Savahe, through Fradadhafshu and
Vidadhafshu, through Vourubareshti and Vouru-jareshti, through this
our Karshvare, the bright Hvaniratha.
134.
'Angra Mainyu, who is all death, flees away in fear; Aeshma, the evil-
doing Peshotanu, flees away in fear; the long-handed Bushyasta flees
away in fear; all the Daevas unseen and the Varenya fiends flee away
in fear.
135.
'Oh! may we never fall across the rush of Mithra, the lord of wide
pastures, when in anger! May Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, never
smite us in his anger; he who stands up upon this earth as the
strongest of all gods, the most valiant of all gods, the most
energetic of all gods, the swiftest of all gods, the most fiend-
smiting of all gods, he, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[32]
136.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'For whom white stallions, yoked to his chariot, draw it, on one
golden wheel, with a full shining axle.
137.
'If Mithra takes his libations to his own dwelling, "Happy that man,
I think," -- said Ahura Mazda, "O holy Zarathra! for whom a holy
priest, as pious as any in the world, who is the Word incarnate,
offers up a sacrifice unto Mithra with bundles of baresma and with
the [proper] words.
'"Straight to that man, I think, will Mithra come, to visit his
dwelling,
138.
'"When Mithra's boons will come to him, as he follows God's teaching,
and thinks according to God's teaching.
'"Woe to that man, I think," - said Ahura Mazda, - "O holy
Zarathushtra! for whom an unholy priest, not pious, who is not the
Word incarnate, stands behind the baresma, however full may be the
bundles of baresma he ties, however long may be the sacrifice he
performs."
139.
'He does not delight Ahura Mazda, nor the other Amesha-Spentas, nor
Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, he who thus scorns Mazda, and the
other Amesha-Spentas, and Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, and the
Law, and Rashnu, and Arstat, who makes the world grow, who makes the
world increase.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[33]
140.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake.
'I will offer up a sacrifice unto the good Mithra, O Spitama! unto
the strong, heavenly god, who is foremost, highly merciful, and
peerless; whose house is above, a stout and strong warrior;
141.
'Victorious and armed with a well-fashioned weapon, watchful in
darkness and undeceivable. He is the stoutest of the stoutest, he is
the strongest of the strongest, he is the most intelligent of the
gods, he is victorious and endowed with Glory: he, of the ten
thousand eyes, of the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing,
undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[34]
142.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who, with his manifold knowledge, powerfully increases the creation
of Spenta Mainyu, and is a well-created and most great Yazata, self-
shining like the moon, when he makes his own body shine;
143.
'Whose face is flashing with light like the face of the star Tistrya;
whose chariot is embraced by that goddess who is foremost amongst
those who have no deceit in them, O Spitama! who is fairer than any
creature in the world, and full of light to shine. I will worship
that chariot, wrought by the Maker, Ahura Mazda, inlaid with stars
and made of a heavenly substance; (the chariot) of Mithra, who has
ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[35]
144.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who is truth-
speaking, a chief in assemblies, with a thousand ears, well-shapen,
with a thousand eyes, high, with full knowledge, strong, sleepless,
and ever awake.
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra around countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra within countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra in this country;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra above countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra under countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra before countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra behind countries.
145.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra and Ahura, the two great, imperishable,
holy gods; and unto the stars, and the moon, and the sun, with the
trees that yield up baresma. We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of
all countries.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice
worth being heard, namely, unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures.
'Yatha ahu vairyo: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness....
'I bless the sacrifice and p yer, and the strength and vigour of
Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who has a thousand ears, ten
thousand eyes, a Yazata invoked by his own name; and that of Rama
Hvastra.
'Ashem Vohu: Holiness is the best of all good....
'[Give] unto that man brightness and glory, .... give him the bright,
all-happy, blissful abode of the holy Ones!'


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] TRANSLATION TO SPANISH
From:	"orden_de_mithra" <orden_de_mithra@yahoo.com>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 16:14:25 -0000

Avesta: Khorda Avesta
10. MIHR YASHT ("Hymn to Mithra")
This digital edition copyright � 1995 by Joseph H. Peterson. All
rights reserved.
Translated by James Darmesteter (From Sacred Books of the East,
American Edition, 1898.)

0.
May Ahura Mazda be rejoiced!....
Ashem Vohu: Holiness is the best of all good....
I confess myself a worshipper of Mazda, a follower of Zarathushtra,
one who hates the Daevas, and obeys the laws of Ahura;
For sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and glorification unto [Havani],
the holy and master of holiness....
Unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who has a thousand ears, ten
thousand eyes, a Yazata invoked by his own name, and unto Rama
Hvastra,
Be propitiation, with sacrifice, prayer, propitiation, and
glorification.
Yatha ahu vairyo: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness....
[1]
1.
Ahura Mazda spake unto Spitama Zarathushtra, saying: 'Verily, when I
created Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, O Spitama! I created him
as worthy of sacrifice, as worthy of prayer as myself Ahura Mazda.
2.
'The ruffian who lies unto Mithra brings death unto the whole
country, injuring as much the faithful world as a hundred evil-doers
could do. Break not the contract, O Spitama! neither the one that
thou hadst entered into with one of the unfaithful, nor the one that
thou hadst entered into with one of the faithful who is one of thy
own faith. For Mithra stands for both the faithful and the
unfaithful.
3.
'Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, gives swiftness to the horses of
those who lie not unto Mithra.
'Fire, the son of Ahura Mazda, gives the straightest way to those who
lie not unto Mithra.
'The good, strong, beneficent Fravashis of the faithful give a
virtuous offspring to those who lie not unto Mithra.
4.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice
worth being heard, namely, unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures.
'We offer up libations unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who
gives a happy dwelling and a good dwelling to the Aryan nations.
5.
'May he come to us for help! May he come to us for ease! May he come
to us for joy! May he come to us for mercy! May he come to us for
health! May he come to us for victory! May he come to us for good
conscience! May he come to us for bliss! he, the awful and
overpowering, worthy of sacrifice and prayer, not to be deceived
anywhere in the whole of the material world, Mithra, the lord of wide
pastures.
6.
'I will offer up libations unto him, the strong Yazata, the powerful
Mithra, most beneficent to the creatures: I will apply unto him with
charity and prayers: I will offer up a sacrifice worth being heard
unto him, Mithra, the lord ofwide pastures, with the Haoma and meat,
with the baresma, with the wisdom of the tongue, with the holy
spells, with the speech, with the deeds, with the libations, and with
the rightly-spoken words. 'Yenhe hatam: All those beings of whom
Ahura Mazda....
[2]
7.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who is truth-
speaking, a chief in assemblies, with a thousand ears, well-shapen,
with ten thousand eyes, high, with full knowledge, strong, sleepless,
and ever awake;
8.
'To whom the chiefs of nations offer up sacrifices, as they go to the
field, against havocking hosts, against enemies coming in battle
array, in the strife of conflicting nations.
9.
'On whichever side he has been worshipped first in the fulness of
faith of a devoted heart, to that side turns Mithra, the lord of wide
pastures, with the fiend-smiting wind, with the cursing thought of
the wise.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[3]
10.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake.
11.
'Whom the horsemen worship on the back of their horses, begging
swiftness for their teams, health for their own bodies, and that they
may watch with full success those who hate them, smite down their
foes, and destroy at one stroke their adversaries, their enemies, and
those who hate themn,
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[4]
12.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
13.
'Who first of the heavenly gods reaches over the Hara, before the
undying, swift-horsed sun; who, foremost in a golden array, takes
hold of the beautiful summits, and from thence looks over the abode
of the Aryans with a beneficent eye.
14.
'Where the valiant chiefs draw up their many troops in array; where
the high mountains, rich in pastures and waters, yield plenty to the
cattle; where the deep lakes, with salt waters, stand; where wide-
flowing rivers swell and hurry towards Ishkata and Pouruta, Mouru and
Haroyu, the Gava-Sughdha and Hvairizem;
15.
'On Arezahi and Savahi, on Fradadhafshu and Vidadhafshu, on
Vourubareshti and Vourujareshti, on this bright Karshvare of
Hvaniratha, the abode of cattle, the dwelling of cattle, the powerful
Mithra looks with a health-bringing eye;
16.
'He who moves along all the Karshvares, a Yazata unseen, and brings
glory; he who moves along all the Karshvares, a Yazata unseen, and
brings sovereignty; and increases strength for victory to those who,
with a pious intent, holily offer him libations. 'For his brightness
and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth being heard....
[5]
17.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Unto whom nobody must lie, neither the master of a house, nor the
lord of a borough, nor the lord of a town, nor the lord of a
province.
18.
'If the master of a house lies unto him, or the lord of a borough, or
the lord of a town, or the lord ofa province, then comes Mithra,
angry and offended, and he breaks asunder the house, the borough, the
town, the province; and the masters of the houses, the lords of the
boroughs, the lords of the towns, the lords of the provinces, and the
foremost men of the provinces.
19.
'On whatever side there is one who has lied unto Mithra, on that side
Mithra stands forth, angry and offended, and his wrath is slow to
relent.
20.
'Those who lie unto Mithra, however swift they may be running, cannot
overtake; riding, cannot ....; driving, cannot ..... The spear that
the foe of Mithra flings, darts backwards, for the number of the evil
spells that the foe of Mithra works out.
21.
'And even though the spear be flung well, even though it reach the
body, it makes no wound, for the number of the evil spells that the
foe of Mithra works out. The wind drives away the spear that the foe
of Mithra flings, for the number of the evil spells that the foe of
Mithra works out.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[6]
22.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who takes out of distress the man who has not lied unto him, who
takes him out of death.
23.
'Take us out of distress, take us out of distresses, O Mithra! as we
have not lied unto thee. Thou bringest down terror upon the bodies of
the men who lie unto Mithra; thou takest away the strength from their
arms, being angry and all-powerful; thou takest the swiftness from
their feet, the eye-sight from their eyes, the hearing from their
ears.
24.
'Not the wound of the well-sharpened spear or of the flying arrow
reaches that man to whom Mithra comes for help with all the strength
of his soul, he, of the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-seeing,
undeceivable Mithra.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[7]
25.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who is lordly, deep, strong, and weal-giving; a chief in assemblies,
pleased with prayers, high, holily clever, the incarnate Word, a
warrior with strong arms;
26.
'Who breaks the skulls of the Daevas, and is most cruel in exacting
pains; the punisher of the men who lie unto Mithra, the withstander
of the Pairikas; who, when not deceived, establisheth nations in
supreme strength; who, when not deceived, establisheth nations in
supreme victory;
27.
'Who confounds the ways of the nation that delights in havoc, who
turns away their Glory, takes away their strength for victory, blows
them away helpless, and delivers them unto ten thousand strokes; he,
of the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-seeing, undeceivable
Mithra.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[8]
28.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who upholds the columns of the lofty house and makes its pillars
solid; who gives herds of oxen and male children to that house in
which he has been satisfied; he breaks to pieces those in which he
has been offended,
29.
'Thou, O Mithra! art both bad and good to nations; thou, O Mithra!
art both bad and good to men; thou, O Mithra! keepest in thy hands
both peace and trouble for nations.
30.
'Thou makest houses large, beautiful with women, beautiful with
chariots, with well-laid foundations, and high above their
groundwork; thou makest that house lofty, beautiful with women,
beautiful with chariots, with well-laid foundations, and high above
its groundwork, of which the master, pious and holding libations in
his hand, offers thee a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy
own name and with the proper words.
31.
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O powerful Mithra!
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O most beneficent
Mithra!
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O thou undeceivable
Mithra!
32.
'Listen unto our sacrifice, O Mithra! Be thou pleased with our
sacrifice, O Mithra! Come and sit at our sacrifice! Accept our
libations! Accept them as they have been consecrated! Gather them
together with love and lay them in the Garo-nmana!
33.
'Grant us these boons which we beg of thee, O powerful god I in
accordance with the words of revelation, namely, riches, strength,
and victory, good conscience and bliss, good fame and a good soul;
wisdom and the knowledge that gives happiness, the victorious
strength given by Ahura, the crushing Ascendant of Asha Vahishta, and
conversation (with God) on the Holy Word.
34.
'Grant that we, in a good spirit and high spirit, exalted in joy and
a good spirit, may smite all our foes; that we, in a good spirit and
high spirit, exalted in joy and a good spirit, may smite all our
enemies; that we, in a good spirit and high spirit, exalted in joy
and a good spirit, may smite all the malice of Daevas and Men, of the
Yatus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, the blind, and the deaf.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[9]
35.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Victory-making, army-governing, endowed with a thousand senses;
power-wielding, power-possessing, and all-knowing;
36.
'Who sets the battle a going, who stands against (armies) in battle,
who, standing against (armies) in battle, breaks asunder the lines
arrayed. The wings of the columns gone to battle shake, and he throws
terror upon the centre of the havocking host.
37.
'He can bring and does bring down upon them distress and fear; he
throws down the heads of those who lie to Mithra, he takes off the
heads of those who lie unto Mithra.
38.
'Sad is the abode, unpeopled with children, where abide men who lie
unto Mithra, and, verily, the fiendish killer of faithful men. The
grazing cow goes a sad straying way, driven along the vales of the
Mithradrujes: they stand on the road, letting tears run over their
chins.
39.
'Their falcon-feathered arrows, shot from the string of the well-bent
bow, fly towards the mark, and hit it not, as Mithra, the lord of
wide pastures, angry, offended, and unsatisfied, comes and meets them.
'Their spears, well whetted and sharp, their long spears fly from
their hands towards the mark, and hit it not, as Mithra, the lord of
wide pastures, angry, offended, and unsatisfied, comes and meets
them.
40.
'Their swords, well thrust and striking at the heads of men, hit not
the mark, as Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, angry, offended, and
unsatisfied, comes and meets them.
'Their clubs, well falling and striking at the heads of men, hit not
the mark, as Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, angry, offended, and
unsatisfied, comes and meets them.
41.
'Mithra strikes fear into them; Rashnu strikes a counter-fear into
them; the holy Sraosha blows them away from every side towards the
two Yazatas, the maintainers of the world. They make the ranks of the
army melt away, as Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, angry,
offended, and unsatisfied, comes and meets them.
42.
'They cry unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, saying: "O Mithra,
thou lord of wide pastures! here are our fiery horses taking us away,
as they flee from Mithra; here are our sturdy arms cut to pieces by
the sword, O Mithra!"
43.
'And then Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, throws them to the
ground, killing their fifties and their hundreds, their hundreds and
their thousands, their thousands and their tens of thousands, their
tens of thousands and their myriads of myriads; as Mithra, the lord
of wide pastures, is angry and offended,
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[10]
44.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Whose dwelling, wide as the earth, extends over the material world,
large, unconfined, and bright, a far-and-wide-extending abode.
45.
'Whose eight friends sit as spies for Mithra, on all the heights, at
all the watching-places, observing the man who lies unto Mithra,
looking at those, remembering those who have lied unto Mithra, but
guarding the ways of those whose life is sought by men who lie unto
Mithra, and, verily, by the fiendish killers of faithful men.
46.
'Helping and guarding, guarding behind and guarding in front, Mithra,
the lord of wide pastures, proves an undeceivable spy and watcher for
the man to whom he comes to help with all the strength of his soul,
he of the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable
god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[11]
47.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'A god of high renown and old age, whom wide-hoofed horses carry
against havocking hosts, against enemies coming in battle array, in
the strife of conflicting nations.
48.
'And when Mithra drives along towards the havocking hosts, towards
the enemies coming in battle array, in the strife of the conflicting
nations, then he binds the hands of those who have lied unto Mithra,
he confounds their eye-sight, he takes the hearing from their ears;
they can no longer move their feet; they can no longer withstand
those people, those foes, when Mithra, the lord of wide pastures,
bears them ill-will.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[12]
49.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
50.
'For whom the Maker, Ahura Mazda, has built up a dwelling on the Hara
Berezaiti, the bright mountain around which the many (stars) revolve
where come neither night nor darkness, no cold wind and no hot wind,
no deathful sickness, no uncleanness made by the Daevas, and the
clouds cannot reach up unto the Haraiti Bareza;
51.
'A dwelling that all the Amesha-Spentas, in one accord with the sun,
made for him in the fulness of faith of a devoted heart, and he
survevs the whole of the material world from the Haraiti Bareza.
52.
'And when there rushes a wicked worker of evil, swiftly, with a swift
step, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, goes and yokes his horses to
his chariot, along with the holy, powerful Sraosha and Nairyo-sangha,
who strikes a blow that smites the army, that smites the strength of
the malicious.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[13]
53.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
54.
'Who, with hands lifted up, ever cries unto Ahura Mazda, saying: "I
am the kind keeper of all creatures, I am the kind maintainer of all
creatures; yet men worship me not with a sacrifice in which I am
invoked by my own name, as they worship the other gods with
sacrifices in which they are invoked by their own names.
55.
'"If men would worship me with a sacrifice in which I were invoked by
my own name, as they worship the other Yazatas with sacrifices in
which they are invoked by their own names, then I would come to the
faithful at the appointed time; I would come in the appointed time of
my beautiful, immortal life."
56.
'But the pious man, holding libations in his hands, does worship thee
with a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own ame, and with
the proper words.
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O powerful Mithra!
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the groper words will I offer thee libations, O most beneficent
Mithra!
'With a sacrifice, in which thou art invoked by thy own name, with
the proper words will I offer thee libations, O thou undeceivable
Mithra!
57.
'Listen unto our sacrifice, 'O Mithra! Be thou pleased with our
sacrifice, O Mithra! Come and sit at our sacrifice! Accept our
libations! Accept them as they have been consecrated! Gather them
together with love and lay them in the Garo-nmana!
58.
'Grant us these boons which we beg of thee, O powerful god! in
accordance with the words of revelation, namely, riches, strength,
and victory, good conscience and bliss, good fame and a good soul;
wisdom and the knowledge that gives happiness, the victorious
strength given by Ahura, the crushing Ascendant of Asha-Vahishta, and
conversation (with God) on the Holy Word.
59.
'Grant that we, in a good spirit and high spirit, exalted in joy and
a good spirit, may smite all our foes; that we, in a good spirit and
high spirit, exalted in joy and a good spirit, may smite all our
enemies; that we, in a good spirit and high spirit, exalted in joy
and a good spirit, may smite all the malice of Daevas and Men, of the
Yatus and Pairikas, of the oppressors, the blind, and the deaf.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[14]
60.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Whose renown is good, whose shape is good, whose glory is good; who
has boons to give at his will, who has pasture-fields to give at his
will; harmless to the tiller of the ground, ...., beneficent; he, of
the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[15]
61.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Firm-legged, a watcher fully awake; valiant, a chief in assemblies;
making the waters flow forward; listening to appeals; making the
waters run and the plants grow up; ruling over the Karshvares;
delivering; happy; undeceivable; endowed with many senses; a creature
of wisdom;
62.
'Who gives neither strength nor vigour to him who has lied unto
Mithra; who gives neither glory nor any boon to him who has lied unto
Mithra.
63.
'Thou takest away the strength from their arms, being angry and all-
powerful; thou takest the swiftness from their feet, the eye-sight
from their eyes, the hearing from their ears.
'Not the wound of the well-sharpened spear or of the flying arrow
reaches that man to whom Mithra comes for help with all the strength
of his soul he of the ten-thousand spies, the powerful all-knowing
undeceivable god. 'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a
sacrifice worth being heard....
[16]
64.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who takes possession of the beautiful, wide-expanding law, greatly
and powerfully and whose face looks over all the seven Karshvares of
the earth;
65.
'Who is swift amongst the swift, liberal amongst the liberal, strong
amongst the strong, a chief of assembly amongst the chiefs of
assemblies; increase-giving, fatness-giving, cattle-giving,
sovereignty-giving, son-giving, cheerfulness-giving, and bliss-
giving.
66.
'With whom proceed Ashi Vanguhi, and Parendi on her light chariot,
the awful Manly Courage, the awful kingly Glory, the awful sovereign
Sky, the awful cursing thought of the wise, the awful Fravashis of
the faithful, and he who keeps united together the many faithful
worshippers of Mazda.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[17]
67.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastares, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who drives along on his high-wheeled chariot, made of a heavenly
substance, from the Karshvare of Arezahi to the Karshvare of
Hvaniratha, the bright one; accompanied by the wheel of sovereignty,
the Glory made by Mazda, and the Victory made by Ahura;
68.
'Whose chariot is embraced by the great Ashi Vanguhi; to whom the Law
of Mazda opens a way, that he may go easily; whom four heavenly
steeds, white, shining, seen afar, beneficent, endowed with
knowledge, swiftly carry along the heavenly space, while the cursing
thought of the wise pushes it forward;
69.
'From whom all the Daevas unseen and the Varenya fiends flee away in
fear. Oh! may we never fall across the rush of the angry lord, who
goes and rushes from a thousand sides against his foe, he, of the ten
thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[18]
70.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Before whom Verethraghna, made by Ahura, runs opposing the foes in
the shape of a boar, a sharp-toothed he-boar, a sharp-jawed boar,
that kills at one stroke, pursuing, wrathful, with a dripping face;
strong, with iron feet, iron fore-paws, iron weapons, an iron tail,
and iron jaws;
71.
'Who, eagerly clinging to the fleeing foe, along with Manly Courage,
smites the foe in battle, and does not think he has smitten him, nor
does he consider it a blow till he has smitten away the marrow and
the column of life, the marrow and the spring of existence.
72.
'He cuts all the limbs to pieces, and mingles, together with the
earth, the bones, hair, brains, and blood of the men who have lied
unto Mithra.
'For his brightness and glory, we offer him a sacrifice worth being
heard....
[19]
73.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who, with hands lifted up, rejoicing, cries out, speaking thus:
74.
'"O Ahura Mazda, most beneficent spirit! Maker of the material world,
thou Holy One!
'"If men would worship me with a sacrifice in which I were invoked by
my own name, as they worship the other gods with sacrifices in which
they are invoked by their own names, then I should come to the
faithful at the appointed time; I should come in the appointed time
of my beautiful, immortal life."
75.
'May we keep our field; may we never be exiles from our field, exiles
from our house, exiles from our borough, exiles from our town, exiles
from our country.
76.
'Thou dashest in pieces the malice of the malicious, the malice of
the men of malice: dash thou in pieces the killers of faithful men!
'Thou hast good horses, thou hast a good chariot: thou art bringing
help at every appeal, and art powerful.
77.
'I will pray unto thee for help, with many consecrations, with good
consecrations of libations; with many offerings, with good offerings
of libations, that we, abiding in thee, may long inhabit a good
abode, full of all the riches that can be wished for.
78.
'Thou keepest those nations that tender a good worship to Mithra, the
lord of wide pastures; thou dashest in pieces those that delight in
havoc. Unto thee will I pray for help: may he come to us for help,
the awful, most powerful Mithra, the worshipful and praiseworthy, the
glorious lord of nations.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[20]
79.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who made a dwelling for Rashnu, and to whom Rashnu gave all his soul
for long friendship;
80.
'Thou art a keeper and protector of the dwelling of those who lie
not: thou art the maintainer of those who lie not. With thee hath
Verethraghna, made by Ahura, contracted the best of all friendships,
and thus it is how so many men who have lied unto Mithra, even
privily, lie smitten down on the ground.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[21]
81.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who made a dwelling for Rashnu, and to whom Rashnu gave all his soul
for long friendship;
82.
'To whom Ahura Mazda gave a thousand senses and ten thousand eyes to
see. With those eyes and those senses, he watches the man who injures
Mithra, the man who lies unto Mithra. Through those eyes and those
senses, he is, undeceivable, he, of the ten thousand spies, the
powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[22]
83.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Whom the lord of the country invokes for help, with hands uplifted;
'Whom the lord of the town invokes for help, with hands uplifted;
84.
'Whom the lord of the borough invokes for help, with hands uplifted;
'Whom the master of the house invokes for help, with hands uplifted;
'Whom the .... in danger of death invokes for help, with hands
uplifted;
'Whom the poor man, who follows the good law, when wronged and
deprived of his rights, invokes for help, with hands uplifted.
85.
'The voice of his wailing reaches up to the sky, it goes over the
earth all around, it goes over the seven Karshuares, whether he
utters his prayer in a low tone of voice or aloud.
86.
'The cow driven astray invokes him for help, longing for the stables:
'"When will that bull, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, bring us
back, and make us reach the stables? when wilt he turn us back to the
right way from the den of the Druj where we were driven?"
87.
'And to him with whom Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, has been
satisfied, he comes with help; and of him with whom Mithra, the lord
of wide pastures, has been offended, he crushes down the house, the
borough, tne town, the province, the country.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[23]
88.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'To whom the enlivening, healing, fair, lordly golden-eyed Haoma
offered up a sacrifice on the highest of the heights, on the Haraiti
Bareza, he the undefiled to one undefiled, with undefiled baresma,
undefiled libations, and undefiled words;
89.
'Whom the holy Ahura Mazda has established as a priest, quick in
performing the sacrifice and loud in song. He performed the sacrifice
with a loud voice, as a priest quick in sacrifice and loud in song, a
priest to Ahura Mazda, a priest to the Amesha-Spentas. His voice
reached up to the sky; went over the earth all around, went over the
seven Karshvares.
90.
'Who first lifted up Haomas, in a mortar inlaid with stars and made
of a heavenly substance. Ahura Mazda longed for him, the Amesha-
Spentas longed for him, for the well-slapen body of him whom the
swift-horsed sun awakes for prayer from afar.
91.
'Hail to Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who has a thousand ears
and ten thousand eyes! Thou art worthy of sacrifice and prayer:
mayest thou have sacrifice and prayer in the houses of men! Hail to
the man who shall offer thee a sacrifice, with the holy wood in his
hand, the baresma in his hand, the holy meat in his hand, the holy
mortar in his hand, with his hands well-washed, with the mortar well-
washed, with the bundles of baresma tied up, the Haoma uplifted, and
the Ahuna Vairya sung through.
92.
'The holy Ahura Mazda confessed that religion and so did Vohu-Mano,
so did Asha-Vahishta, so did Khshathra-Vairya, so did Spenta-Armaiti,
so did Haurvatat and Ameretat; and all the Amesha-Spentas longed for
and confessed his religion. The kind Mazda conferred upon him the
mastership of the world; and [so did they] who saw thee amongst all
creatures the right lord and master of the world, the best cleanser
of these creatures.
93.
'So mayest thou in both worlds, mayest thou keep us in both worlds, O
Mithra, lord of wide pastures! both in this material world and in the
world of the spirit, from the fiend of Death, from the fiend Aeshma,
from the fiendish hordes, that lift up the spear of havoc, and from
the onsets of Aeshma, wherein the evil-doing Aeshma rushes along with
Vidotu, made by the Daevas.
94.
'So mayest thou, O Mithra, lord of wide pastures! give swiftness to
our teams, strength to our own bodies, and that we may watch with
full success those who hate us, smite down our foes, and destroy at
one stroke our adversaries, our enemies and those who hate us.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[24]
95.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who goes over the earth, all her breadth over, after the setting of
the sun, touches both ends of this wide, round earth, whose ends tie
afar, and surveys everything that is between the earth and the
heavens,
96.
'Swinging in his hands a club with a hundred knots, a hundred edges,
that rushes forwards and fells men down; a club cast out of red
brass, of strong, golden brass; the strongest of all weapons, the
most victorious of all weapons;
97.
'From whom Angra Mainyu, who is all death, flees away in fear; from
whom Aeshma, the evil-doing Peshotanu, flees away in fear; from whom
the long-handed Bushyasta flees away in fear; from whom all the
Daevas unseen and the Varenya fiends flee away in fear.
98.
'Oh! may we never fall across the rush of Mithra, the lord of wide
pastures, when in anger! May Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, never
smite us in his anger; he who stands up upon this earth as the
strongest of all gods, the most valiant of all gods, the most
energetic of all god , th swiftest of all gods, the most fiend-
smiting of all gods, he, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[25]
99.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'From whom all the Daevas unseen and the Varenya fiends flee away in
fear.
'The lord of nations, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, drives
forward at the right-hand side of this wide, round earth, whose ends
lie afar.
100.
'At his right hand drives the good, holy Sraosha; at his left hand
drives the tall and strong Rashnu; on all sides around him drive the
waters, the plants, and the Fravashis of the faithful.
101.
'In his might, he ever brings to them falcon-feathered arrows, and,
when diiving, he himself comes there, where are nations, enemy to
Mithra, he, first and foremost, strikes blows with his club on the
horse and his rider; he throws fear and fright upon the horse and his
rider.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[26]
102.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'The warrior of the white horse, of the sharp spear, the tong spear,
the quick arrows; foreseeing and clever;
103.
'Whom Ahura Mazda has established to maintain and look over all this
moving world, and who maintains and looks over all this moving world;
who, never sleeping, wakefully guards the creation of Mazda; who,
never sleeping, wakefully maintains the creation of Mazda;
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[27]
104.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Whose long arms, strong with Mithra-strength, encompass what he
seizes in the easternmost river and what he beats with the
westernmost river, what is by the Sanaka of the Rangha and what is by
the boundary of the earth.
105.
'And thou, O Mithra! encompassing all this around, do thou reach it,
all over, with thy arms.
'The man without glory, led astray from the right way, grieves in his
heart; the man without glory thinks thus in himself: "That careless
Mithra does not see all the evil that is done, nor all the lies that
are told."
106.
'But I think thus in my heart:
'"Should the evil thoughts of the earthly man be a hundred times
worse, they would not rise so high as the good thoughts of the
heavenly Mithra;
'"Should the evil words of the earthly man be a hundred times worse,
they would not rise so high as the good words of the heavenly Mithra;
'"Should the evil deeds of the earthly man be a hundred times worse,
they would not rise so high as the good deeds of the heavenly Mithra;
107.
'"Should the heavenly wisdom in the earthly man be a hundred times
greater, it would not rise so high as the heavenly w'isdom in the
heavenly Mithra;
''And thus, should the ears of the earthly man hear a hundred time
better, he would not hear so well as the heavenly Mithra, whose ear
hears well who has a thousand senses, and sees every man that tells a
lie."
'Mithra stands up in his strength, he drives in the awfulness of
royalty, and sends from his eyes beautiful looks that shine from
afar, (saying):
108.
''Who will offer me a sacrifice? Who will lie unto me? Who thinks me
a god worthy of a good sacrifice? Who thinks me worthy only of a bad
sacrifice? To whom shall I, in my might, impart brightness and glory?
To whom bodily health? To whom shall I, in my might, impart riches
and full weal? Whom shall I bless by raising him a virtuous
offspring?
109.
"'To whom shall I give in return, without his thinking of it, the
awful sovereignty, beautifully. arrayed, with many armies, and most
perfect; the sovereignty of an all-powerful tyrant, who fells down
heads, valiant, smiting, and unsmitten; who orders chastisement to be
done and his order is done at once, which he has ordered in his
anger?"
'O Mithra! when thou art offended and not satisfied, he soothes thy
mind, and makes Mithra satisfied.
110.
'"To whom shall I, in my might, impart sickness and death? To whom
shall I impart poverty and sterility? Of whom shall I at one stroke
cut off the offspring!
111.
'"From whom shall I take away, without his thinking of it, the awful
sovereignty, beautifully arrayed, with many armies, and most perfect;
the sovereignty of an all-powerful tyrant, who fells down heads,
valiant, smiting, and unsmitten; who orders chastisement to be done
and his order is done at once, which he has ordered in his anger."
'O Mithra! while thou art satisfied and not angry, he moves thy heart
to anger, and makes Mithra unsatisfied.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[28]
112.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'A warrior with a silver helm, a golden cuirass, who kills with the
poniard, strong, valiant, lord of the borough. Bright are the ways of
Mithra, by which he goes towards the country, when, wishing well, he
turns its plains and vales to pasture grounds,
113.
'And then cattle and males come to graze, as many as he wants.
'May Mithra and Ahura, the high gods, come to us for help, when the
poniard lifts up its voice aloud, when the nostrils of the horses
quiver, when the poniards ...., when the, strings of the bows whistle
and shoot sharp arrows; then the brood of those whose libations are
hated fall smitten to the ground, with their hair torn off.
114.
'So mayest thou, O Mithra, lord of wide pastures! give swiftness to
our teams, strength to our own bodies, and that we may watch with
full success those who hate us, smite down our foes, and destroy at
one stroke our adversaries, our enemies, and those who hate us.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[29]
115.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake.
'O Mithra, lord of wide pastures! thou master of the house, of the
borough, of the town, of the country, thou Zarathushtrotema!
116.
'Mithra is twentyfold between two friends or two relations;
'Mithra is thirtyfold between two men of the same group;
'Mithra is fortyfold between two partners;
'Mithra is fiftyfold between wife and husband;
'Mithra is sixtyfold between two pupils (of the same master);
'Mithra is seventyfold between the pupil and his master;
'Mithra is eightyfold between the son-in-law and his father-in-law;
'Mithra is ninetyfold between two brothers;
117.
'Mithra is a hundredfold between the father and the son;
'Mithra is a thousandfold between two nations;
'Mithra is ten thousandfold when connected with the Law of Mazda, and
then he will be every day of victorious strength.
118.
'May I come unto thee with a prayer that goes lowly or goes highly!
As this sun rises up above the Hara Berezaiti and then fulfils its
career, so may I, O Spitama! with a prayer that goes lowly or goes
highly, rise up above the will of the fiend Angra Mainyu!
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[30]
119.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastwes, .... sleepless,
and ever awake,
'Offer up a sacrifice unto Mithra, O Spitama! and order thy pupils to
do the same.
'Let the worshipper of Mazda sacrifice unto thee with small cattle,
with black cattle, with flying birds, gliding forward on wings.
120.
'To Mithra all the faithful worshiypers of Mazda must give strength
and energy with offered and proffered Haomas, which the Zaotar
proffers unto him and gives in sacrifice. Let the faithful man drink
of the libations cleanly prepared, which if he does, if he offers
them unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, Mithra will be pleased
with him and without anger.'
121.
Zarathushtra asked him: 'O Ahura Mazda! how shall the faithful man
drink the libations cleanly prepared, which if he does and he offers
them unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, Mithra will be pleased
vvith him and without anger?'
122.
Ahura Mazda answered: 'Let them wash their bodies three days and
three nights; let them undergo thirty strokes for the sacrifice and
prayer unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures. Let them wash their
bodies two days and two nights; let them undergo twenty strokes for
the sacrifice and prayer unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures. Let
no man drink of these libations who does not know the staota yesnya:
Vispe ratavo.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacriace worth
being heard....
[31]
123.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'To whom Ahura Mazda offered up a sacrifice in the shining Garo-
nmana.
124.
'With his arms lifted up towards Immortality, Mithra, the lord of
wide pastures, drives forward from the shining Garo-nmana, in a
beautiful chariot that drives on, ever-swift, adorned with all sorts
of ornaments, and made of gold.
125.
'Four stallions draw that chariot, all of the same white colour,
living on heavenly food and undying. The hoofs of their fore-feet are
shod with gold, the hoofs of their hind-feet are shod with silver;
all are yoked to the same pole, and wear the yoke and the cross-beams
of the yoke, fastened with hooks of Khshathra vairya to a
beautiful....
126.
'At his right hand drives Rashnu-Razishta, the most beneficent and
most well-shapen.
'At his left hand drives the most upright Chista, the holy one,
bearing libations in her hands, clothed with white clothes, and white
herself; and the cursing thought of the Law of Mazda.
127.
'Close by him drives the strong cursing thought of the wise man,
opposing foes in the shape of a boar, a sharp-toothed he-boar, a
sharp- jawed boar, that kills at one stroke, pursuing, wrathful, with
a dripping face, strong and swift to run, and rushing all around.
'Behind him drives Atar, all in a blaze, and the awful kingly Glory.
128.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand bows well-made, with a string of cowgut; they go through
the heavenly space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the
skulls of the Daevas.
129.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand vulture-feathered arrows, with a golden mouth, with a horn
shaft, with a brass tail, and well-made. They go through the heavenly
space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls of the
Daevas.
130.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand spears well-made and sharp-piercing. They go through the
heavenly space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls
of the Daevas.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand steel-hammers, two-edged, well-made. They go through the
heavenly space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls
of the Daevas.
131.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand swords, two-edged and well-made. They go through the
heavenly space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls
of the Daevas.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, stand
a thousand maces of iron, well-made. They go through the heavenly
space, they fall through the heavenly space upon the skulls of the
Daevas.
132.
'On a side of the chariot of Mithra, the lord of wide pastures,
stands a beautiful well-falling club, with a hundred knots, a hundred
edges, that rushes forward and fells men down; a club cast out of red
brass, of strong, golden brass; the strongest of all weapons, the
most victorious of all weapons. It goes through the heavenly space,
it falls through the heavenly space upon the skulls of the Daevas.
133.
After he has smitten the Daevas, after he has smitten down the men
who lied unto Mithra, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, drives
forward through Arezahe and Savahe, through Fradadhafshu and
Vidadhafshu, through Vourubareshti and Vouru-jareshti, through this
our Karshvare, the bright Hvaniratha.
134.
'Angra Mainyu, who is all death, flees away in fear; Aeshma, the evil-
doing Peshotanu, flees away in fear; the long-handed Bushyasta flees
away in fear; all the Daevas unseen and the Varenya fiends flee away
in fear.
135.
'Oh! may we never fall across the rush of Mithra, the lord of wide
pastures, when in anger! May Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, never
smite us in his anger; he who stands up upon this earth as the
strongest of all gods, the most valiant of all gods, the most
energetic of all gods, the swiftest of all gods, the most fiend-
smiting of all gods, he, Mithra, the lord of wide pastures.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[32]
136.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'For whom white stallions, yoked to his chariot, draw it, on one
golden wheel, with a full shining axle.
137.
'If Mithra takes his libations to his own dwelling, "Happy that man,
I think," -- said Ahura Mazda, "O holy Zarathra! for whom a holy
priest, as pious as any in the world, who is the Word incarnate,
offers up a sacrifice unto Mithra with bundles of baresma and with
the [proper] words.
'"Straight to that man, I think, will Mithra come, to visit his
dwelling,
138.
'"When Mithra's boons will come to him, as he follows God's teaching,
and thinks according to God's teaching.
'"Woe to that man, I think," - said Ahura Mazda, - "O holy
Zarathushtra! for whom an unholy priest, not pious, who is not the
Word incarnate, stands behind the baresma, however full may be the
bundles of baresma he ties, however long may be the sacrifice he
performs."
139.
'He does not delight Ahura Mazda, nor the other Amesha-Spentas, nor
Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, he who thus scorns Mazda, and the
other Amesha-Spentas, and Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, and the
Law, and Rashnu, and Arstat, who makes the world grow, who makes the
world increase.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[33]
140.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake.
'I will offer up a sacrifice unto the good Mithra, O Spitama! unto
the strong, heavenly god, who is foremost, highly merciful, and
peerless; whose house is above, a stout and strong warrior;
141.
'Victorious and armed with a well-fashioned weapon, watchful in
darkness and undeceivable. He is the stoutest of the stoutest, he is
the strongest of the strongest, he is the most intelligent of the
gods, he is victorious and endowed with Glory: he, of the ten
thousand eyes, of the ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing,
undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[34]
142.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, .... sleepless,
and ever awake;
'Who, with his manifold knowledge, powerfully increases the creation
of Spenta Mainyu, and is a well-created and most great Yazata, self-
shining like the moon, when he makes his own body shine;
143.
'Whose face is flashing with light like the face of the star Tistrya;
whose chariot is embraced by that goddess who is foremost amongst
those who have no deceit in them, O Spitama! who is fairer than any
creature in the world, and full of light to shine. I will worship
that chariot, wrought by the Maker, Ahura Mazda, inlaid with stars
and made of a heavenly substance; (the chariot) of Mithra, who has
ten thousand spies, the powerful, all-knowing, undeceivable god.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth
being heard....
[35]
144.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who is truth-
speaking, a chief in assemblies, with a thousand ears, well-shapen,
with a thousand eyes, high, with full knowledge, strong, sleepless,
and ever awake.
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra around countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra within countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra in this country;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra above countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra under countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra before countries;
'We sacrifice unto the Mithra behind countries.
145.
'We sacrifice unto Mithra and Ahura, the two great, imperishable,
holy gods; and unto the stars, and the moon, and the sun, with the
trees that yield up baresma. We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of
all countries.
'For his brightness and glory, I will offer unto him a sacrifice
worth being heard, namely, unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures.
'Yatha ahu vairyo: The will of the Lord is the law of holiness....
'I bless the sacrifice and p yer, and the strength and vigour of
Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who has a thousand ears, ten
thousand eyes, a Yazata invoked by his own name; and that of Rama
Hvastra.
'Ashem Vohu: Holiness is the best of all good....
'[Give] unto that man brightness and glory, .... give him the bright,
all-happy, blissful abode of the holy Ones!'


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] The correct way to make the "ADORATIO!"
From:	GAIVS IVLIANVS <ivlianvs309@yahoo.com>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 09:29:38 -0700 (PDT)

SALVETE OMNES! Lately I have come across some
descriptions of how to perform the ritual act of the
"adoratio." First of all it is not just a twisting of
the body, or merely waving ones hand or just kissing
the hand in salute! From the ancient Roman accounts
that we have, it could be performed in a manner of TWO
ways! The first way consists of stretching out the
right arm and hand straight ahead of you (similar to
the Fascist salute) towards a statue or picture of the
deity and then immediately bringing the hand back to
then kiss the fingertips of that right hand, and then
thrust the hand and arm back out again towards the
deity. Then as you do so you wave that arm and hand
back and forth (left to right), twisting your body
left and right as well in union with the arm. If you
happen to be praying at an altar or the Lararium you
should be grasping the altar with your left hand as
you make the adoratio with your right arm and hand!

The second adoratio can be simply performed by
repeating the first gesture, EXCEPT when after the
salute part and you bring the hand back you join the
index finger and thumb together to make a hole or
circle and kiss the tips of the index finger and thumb
and then thrust out your arm and hand as you blow the
kiss. Then you wave the arm and hand, twisting as
before.
In relation to any Roman act of prayer,
especially at the Lararium, it is NECESSARY that one
grasp or touches the altar as you pray for any pray or
sacrifice to be valid! This is according to our Mos
Maiorum in order to create a proper link and contact
with the Numina!
VALETE! FRATER GAIVS IVLIVS IVLIANVS, PGI

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Subject:	Re: [Nova-Roma] TRANSLATION TO SPANISH
From:	"Claudius Salix Davianus" <salixdavianus@terra.es>
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 21:09:46 +0200

Please for extra-Roman purposes use:
http://www.babelfish.com/

We can not translate extremely long text only partial related with the topics of this Maling List.

Cl. Salix Davianus
==============
Spanish Interpreter

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


Subject:	[Nova-Roma] Re: Nomen Meum - more than one meaning
From:	MVariusPM@aol.com
Date:	Fri, 16 Aug 2002 17:38:07 EDT

Salveto,

There are actually two versions of why I chose my Roman name as it is and
hope to aquire the nickname "Maximus" when I have made suitable contribution
to NR.

The first version:

Marcus: because my modern "given" name is "Mike" and "Marcus" was pretty
close (at least it started with an "M" and sounded more familiar to my ear)

Varius: this worked for both my wife and I as a nomen. Varius c. 12 BCE was
a friend of Virgil and Horace who wrote tragic and epic poetry. My wife and I
are authors, so we thought this would work well for us. Uncapitolized, varius
means "varigated, varying, various, changeable," etc. This worked well for
our many hobbies and interests. It also worked well with my cognomen.

Pullus: means "grey." (in one form) Putting this together with Varius gives
the translation of "many shades of Grey." My father's family were descended
from the Greys in England and it seemed appropriate to use the two together
to give the meaning "and yet another form of Grey."

If I am able to get the nickname (or agnomen) of Maximus at some point in the
future, it will give additional meaning to the three names in combination: M.
Varius Pullus Maximus gives the translation of "Marcus the Great Grey One."
This harkens back to my mother's heritage from Ireland and is about as close
as Latin could get to transliterating the "Grey Man" symbol from Gaelic
mythology. The "Grey Man" being given many forms over the centuries of oral
tradition. Some picturing him as the "angel of death," some as the one who
"moves between worlds and influences men's dreams," some as the capricious
diety who can grant wishes in ways that do not always benefit the wisher
(i.e. "be careful what you wish for, you might get it.").

The second version for the name is one of completely humorous intent. My
understanding is Romans (at least the well educated ones) loved plays on
words and puns. Double entendres were tossed back and forth at dinner parties
as contests of skill with language and to prove the literary capability of
those participating. So... I decided to use my very best tongue in cheek
humor and do a complete flip with the alternate translation of my name. It
does have a practical side to it that is completely likely. So, in a way,
there are actually *three* possible renditions.

I will leave my wife to give her own version of her name: "Flaminia Varia"
However, it is probably fairly obvious what the basic translation is. And, in
my opinion, it is a name quite befitting her depth and beauty. She will
always be my "many colored fire" and I am a very luckly man indeed.

Valate,
M. Varius


Subject:	Re: [Nova-Roma] Question
From:	=?iso-8859-1?q?Gnaeus=20Salix=20Astur?= <salixastur@yahoo.es>
Date:	Sat, 17 Aug 2002 00:26:17 +0100 (BST)

Salve, Alexandria.

Sorry for the delay.

--- Theresa Irwin <tirwin56@vol.com> wrote:
> I had looked up the courses I signed up for(all of the open ones) and
> I was concerned because I read an email on this list that said
> somebody had already ordered the student text for one of the courses
> and I was confused because I hadn't gotten any mails about that.
> Alexandria

The only course thus far that requires a textbook is Marcus Minicius
Audens's Roman Military course. He has ordered it from Amazon.com;
perhaps you will also want to order it from there.

Anyway, I am sure that Marcus Minicius will be more than happy to
assist you in any problem you might have. As for the book itself,
having read that book (and many others) by Peter Connolly, I can assure
you that it is worth both the money and the effort. It's an excellent
book (I am a enthusiastic Peter Connolly fan :-) ).

=====
Bene Valete in Pace Deorum!
Gnaeus Salix Astur.
Tribunus Plebis
Legatus Externis Rebus Provinciae Hispaniae
Triumvir Academiae Thules
Scriba ad Res Externas Academiae Thules
Lictor Curiatus.

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