Aedes Minervae (Nova Roma)

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Minerva

Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom, also knowed as Pallas Athena in Greek mythology.

Dedicationes

Dies admoniet et forti sacrificare deae, quod est illa nata Minerva die.

Pallada nunc oremus. Qui bene placavit Pallada, doctus erit.

Nec quisquam invita Pallade faciet bene licet antiquo manibus conlatus Epeo sit prior, irata Pallade mancus erit.

Vos quoque, Phoeba morbos qui pellitis arte, munera de vestris pauca referte deae.

Nec vos, turba fere censu fraudante, magistri, spernite; discipulos attrahit illa novos.

Mille dea est operum. Si mereramus, studiis adsit amica nostris.

This day reminds us to sacrifice to the strong goddess, for today is Minerva's birthday.

Let us pray now to Pallas, for whosoever wins Pallas' favour shall be learned.

No one, though more cunning in handiwork than old Epeus, can do well; he shall be helpless, if Pallas be displeased with him.

You too, who banish sickness by Phoebus' art, bring from your earnings a few gifts to the goddess.

Schoolmasters, do not spurn her either, nor cheat her of your earnings: she will bring you new students.

She is the goddess of a thousand works. May she be friendly to our pursuits, if we deserve it.

Ovidus (Fastes)

Daughter of aegis-bearing Jove, divine,

Propitious to thy vot'ries prayer incline;

From thy great father's fount supremely bright,

Like fire resounding, leaping into light.

Shield-bearing goddess, hear, to whom belong

A manly mind, and power to tame the strong!

Oh, sprung from matchless might, with joyful mind

Accept this hymn; benevolent and kind!

The holy gates of wisdom by thy hand

Are wide unfolded; and the daring band

Of earth-born giants, that in impious fight

Strove with thy sire, were vanquish'd by thy might.

Once by thy care, as sacred poets sing,

The heart of Bacchus, swiftly-slaughter'd king,

Was sav'd in aether, when, with fury fir'd,

The Titans fell against his life conspir'd;

And with relentless rage and thirst for gore,

Their hands his members into fragments tore:

But ever watchful of thy father's will,

Thy pow'r preserv'd him from succeeding ill,

Till from the secret counsels of his sire,

And born from Semele through heav'nly fire,

Great Dionysius to the world at length

Again appear'd with renovated strength.

Once, too, thy warlike axe, with matchless sway,

Lopp'd from their savage necks the heads away

Of furious beasts, and thus the pests destroy'd

Which long all-seeing Hecate annoy'd.

By thee benevolent great Juno's might

Was rous'd, to furnish mortals with delight:

And through life's wide and various range 'tis thine

Each part to beautify with arts divine:

Invigorated hence by thee, we find

A demiurgic impulse in the mind.

Towers proudly rais'd, and for protection strong,

To thee, dread guardian, deity belong,

As proper symbols of th'exalted height

Thy series claims amidst the courts of light.

Lands are belov'd by thee to learning prone,

And Athens, O Athena, is thy own!

Great goddess, hear! and on my dark'ned mind

Pour thy pure light in measure unconfin'd; -

That sacred light, O all-protecting queen,

Which beams eternal from thy face serene:

My soul, while wand'ring on the earth, inspire

With thy own blessed and impulsive fire;

And from thy fables, mystic and divine,

Give all her powers with holy light to shine.

Give love, give wisdom, and a power to love,

Incessant tending to the realms above;

Such as, unconscious of base earth's control,

Gently attracts the vice-subduing soul;

From night's dark region aids her to retire,

And once more gain the palace of her sire:

And if on me some just misfortune press,

Remove th'affliction, and thy suppliant bless.

All-Saving goddess, to my prayer incline!

Nor let those horrid punishments be mine

Which guilty souls in Tartarus confine,

With fetters fast'ned to its brazen floors,

And lock'd by hell's tremendous iron doors.

Hear me, and save (for power is all thy own)

A soul desirous to be thine alone.

Proclus