Even before I read Sannion’s most recent blog posts (and I highly suggest everyone do so, even if you’re not a huge Dionysos fan!), an idea was developing in my head based on some work I was doing earlier this evening.
In Devotio Antinoo, I make reference at a few points to Books of Hours, a fairly common medieval Christian devotional tool that people used to keep track of prayers for the day. And, there’s a piece in the Devotio Antinoo book that I wrote in ’05-’06, and then revised slightly not too long ago, which is pretty much a metrical/verse calendar of some of the more important holy-days in the Ekklesía Antínoou’s year (around 40-ish). It occurred to me that this might be very useful as a tool for daily practice for people, if I were to flesh it out further, add verses for every holy-day of the year that we have, add in verses for all of the Sancti, or at least record all of their dates, plus a few further prayers for days on which there isn’t anything, or prayers that can be used at any time or for daily/nightly devotions, and then have facing pages with illustrations. It would end up being not just a Book of Hours, but a Book of Days–in essence, a Liber Dies Antinoi. And, it might be good to publish it through another publisher–not a big-time one, but one that could do a nice, small and easily portable, but hardcover version of it…that might make it more expensive, but it would certainly make it more durable. With all of the pictures/iconography in it, plus the durability of the hardback format, it could literally be a portable shrine/altar…
Now, this would have to be a project for a few months (at very least) down the road, as I have to finish Devotio Antinoo first, and then a further, semi-secret project immediately after that, but then it could be worked in, or at least worked on, after that. It would also solve the issue of having a book which enumerates all of the Sancti, which I had hoped to have in some form or other in the near future as well.
The most difficult thing, of course, would be getting artists for the pictures, who would work for cheap or for near-free…the pictures wouldn’t need to be elaborate, they could be black-and-white/pen-and-ink…hmm. I’d rather not just use public domain photos of Antinoan statuary, although that would also be fine…
Well, anyway…it’s an idea. What do you all think?
Hmmm, yes, this would be wonderful. Do it. Please.
I have sometimes, once in a while, considered writing, or rather compiling, such a book myself, although from a generalized Graeco-Roman point of view rather than specifically devoted to Antinous. At least, I would like to have such a thing, and since no one else seems to have written such a book, perhaps that means that I should do it myself. Make an attempt to manifest my own desires, perhaps. I could certainly use such a thing. My own religious practices continue to tumble about in a state of random and quite often inactive chaos. Something has got to change, and soon.
A Book of Days focused on Antinous is a great idea. And, re publishing – quality counts, a hardcover format and acid free archival paper would be nice. Inexpensive print on demand books can be practical, but are liable to crunble into dust after a few years.
By: qpoppaeus9 on October 21, 2011
at 1:54 am
Well, they’ll probably last a bit longer than a couple of years, but more than 300? Not likely without special archival conditions, etc.
I’m going to do something very odd with all of this: I’m going to propose this as a project to a major artist (I won’t say who yet), and see if that artist would be interested in taking it on and getting all the profits for it. The name recognition of this artist might sell a few more copies, at very least, and get some further connections I’ve desired to have for a while going; and, a larger publisher would pick it up much easier if he were doing it. So, we’ll see…
By: aediculaantinoi on October 21, 2011
at 8:37 am
That is a really great idea. My own preferences tend toward a more formal liturgical style of prayer, so having things like a Book of Hours or a Book of Days strongly resonates. I’ve been working on creating a Sacramentary of sorts; a book containing ritual prayers for weekly observances and observances for important occasions (weddings, births, deaths). I think creating a Book of Days centered on Antinous would be quite rewarding, especially as an aid to maintaining daily observations.
By: atomicfeline on October 21, 2011
at 8:15 am
Excellent! Thank you for commenting!
We shall see what the options are in the near future, then!
By: aediculaantinoi on October 21, 2011
at 8:37 am
My vote is a big fat YES! I am looking forward to Devotio Antinoo, but an Antinoan Book of Days would be spectacular. Even after all this time, I STILL have a hard time keeping track of all the high and low holy days, let alone the days set aside for saints. it would be nice to have them all in one place.
And I am still toying with the idea of setting up a personal web page at some point that is a kind of Antinous 101, with the focus being on how to go from 0 to 60 in 10 seconds or less and gives suggestions on how to start Antinoan practice from scratch. Something VERY basic (maybe too basic) that would help newbies just pick up and start devotional practice.
Anyhoo… you publish it and I will purchase it.
By: Lazarus K on October 21, 2011
at 10:40 am
Thank you for the vote of confidence!
I’m hoping that Devotio Antinoo will give those basics, particularly the first 100-ish pages of it…You shall soon see!
By: aediculaantinoi on October 21, 2011
at 10:52 am
A Book of Days for Antinous? I would be all over that! I hope everything goes well enough that you’ll be able to publish it.
Also eagerly awaiting Devotio Antinoo! My personal practice has pretty much fallen to the wayside, so this’ll be a great incentive to get off my butt.
By: kurgarra on October 22, 2011
at 2:49 am
Thank you!
On further reflection, it would take a lot of work for me to do so, so it will be a few months before I’ll have the ability to work on it too devotedly; but, much will also depend on the availability of artists. If I can’t get one, then I can see about doing it POD through a service that does hardback.
More updates on Devotio Antinoo soon, hopefully! I had intended to have it out by Foundation Day, but it may not be until the week or weekend after that now…and if I have to do the proof process (which I think I have the option to skip now), it may be a bit longer, too…
By: aediculaantinoi on October 22, 2011
at 11:30 pm
[...] have developed. It is also hoped that the metrical calendar will be the basis for the eventual book of days that I intend to produce. But, more on that [...]
By: Stella Antinoi, Antinous the Navigator « Aedicula Antinoi: A Small Shrine of Antinous on January 29, 2012
at 1:54 pm