Every Single Divae...

Every single Divae, every single Divae…

Every single Divae, every single Divae…

Every single Divae, every single Divae…

Every single Divae, every single Divae…

Now put your hands UP!

*****

I have coins in my pocket–along with the usual ones I carry of Antinous, Hadrian, Hermes, Disciplina, and Cú Chulainn–for each of the four Divae above, respectively: Diva Marciana, Diva Plotina, Diva Matidia, and Diva Sabina. You can read about other Divae here.

Today is the date of a festival for an unspecified Diva in the Doura-Europos imperial cult calendar, and while I suspect that it might be Diva Sabina who is honored, there’s no way to know for certain–it’s not Matidia, and probably not Marciana, but it could very well be Plotina as well. So, better just to honor all of them, I think…

Today is also the syncretism festival of Antinous and Pan, as determined through an oracular pronouncement a few years ago. While it is cold and inclement in many parts of the world (including mine!), and thus this may seem a strange date to honor an outdoor god like Pan, I think it makes sense for a few reasons: Pan, and nature generally, are not fair-weather phenomena, they’re there whether you want to go out and frolic in them or not; and, if the weather is colder and more harsh, all the more reason to possibly “panic” as a result of the weather, which is equally well an aspect of Pan. But, for more Antinous-specific reasons, Panantinous on the contorniate medals and as the figure on a ship’s prow would be all about protection and the enduring guiding and protecting presence of the god. It is most often during seasons of stormy seas and difficult weather that we are in need of such guidance and protection, and I think that’s certainly the case for today.

[And, historically speaking, two years ago on this date was a horrible gun massacre; and, we've had several more of those in recent history, too. Panic is very definitely afoot in the world, alas...I had some of that associated with my dreams in the early hours of this day's festival, which may or may not have been connected to it. I may have more to say on that later...]

I suspect Pan would have a lot of fun amongst the Divae as well; the question is, would they have a lot of fun with him amongst them? (See All-Soul, All-Body, All-Love, All-Power for one possible way that could go!)

Ave Diva Marciana Augusta!
Ave Diva Plotina Augusta!
Ave Diva Matidia Augusta!
Ave Diva Sabina Augusta!
Ave Divae Omnis!

Io Io Pan! Io Io Panantinous!
Khaire Khaire Antinoe!