There are several dates of significance today in terms of the Ekklesía Antínoou’s overall practice that I’d like to briefly note; and, then in a further post, I’ll tell you about another such occasion (not Ekklesía Antínoou-specific) that also occurs today.
I posted the above photo the other day in relation to Polydeukion. Polydeukion’s name is a diminutive form of Polydeukes, one of the Dioskouroi. And, because Polydeukion seems to have had some Spartan heritage, it is possible that he may have been in the direct line of descendants of the Dioskouroi.
Why do I mention all of this? Because today is a Roman festival of the Dioskouroi, which we mark in relation to Antinous (and Polydeukion!) because of their syncretism and relationship to the Dioskouroi. The Romans also observed festivals specifically in relation to Castor (Kastor), who was more popular in Rome than elsewhere, which is odd considering that Castor/Kastor was considered the mortal twin of the two, and yet he had a temple dedicated solely to him. Because other festivals celebrate Kastor/Castor, therefore this one has been nominated to be specifically for Polydeukes instead, to make sure he gets due honors “solely.”
Today is also the death-date of Divus Nerva in 98 CE, the adopted father of Trajan and grandfather of Hadrian, whom Hadrian always included in his official titulature. Without Nerva’s adoption of Trajan, Hadrian’s principate would never have occurred. Therefore, let us remember Nerva on this day.
Another Sanctus also died on this day: Alain Daniélou, a great gay Indologist, who wrote a lot about (and was devoted to) Shiva. His book Gods of Love and Ecstasy was one of my first in-depth explorations of both Dionysos and Shiva, and I read it in the early days of my devotion to Antinous. Ignis Corporis Infirmat, Ignis sed Animae Perstat.
Ave Dive Nerva! Ave Pollux! Khaire Polydeukes! Khaire Dioskouroi! Khaire Khaire Antinoe!
Aww crap, I didn’t know about it! Which holiday is it? I’ll go light incense immediately.
By: John Drury on January 27, 2012
at 7:06 pm
January 27 is the dedication day of the big temple of Castor in the Roman Forum. Livy says the date was July 15, but all other surviving references apparently say January 27. The temple was rebuilt and rededicated several times, so there might be different “dedication” days observed in different eras during the temple’s long history.
There was another temple of Castor and Pollux in or near the Circus Flaminius, with a dedication day of August 13. The famous statues of the Dioscouri that today stand on the Capitoline Hill were discovered near this temple.
From L. Richardson’s “A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome”, a book that I consider an essential reference, although I sometimes don’t agree with all of Richardson’s conclusions.
By: qpoppaeus9 on January 27, 2012
at 9:30 pm
[...] are built. And, on the 27th, we have one of the festivals of the syncretism of Antinous with the Dioskouroi, who were the liberators and saviors of so many people in the ancient Mediterranean [...]
By: Stella Antinoi, Antinous the Navigator « Aedicula Antinoi: A Small Shrine of Antinous on January 29, 2012
at 1:54 pm
Got it, many thanks. I was able to light some incense on that day at least.
By: John Drury on January 30, 2012
at 9:35 am