Post by lorna on Jul 18, 2017 9:09:50 GMT -1
When I was researching devotional poetry I came across the following origin of the term 'devotion' from the Latin 'devotio' which is a fascinating concept/act in itself.
'In ancient Roman religion, the devotio was an extreme form of votum* in which a Roman general vowed to sacrifice his own life in battle along with the enemy to chthonic gods in exchange for a victory. The most extended description of the ritual is given by the Augustan historian Livy, regarding the self-sacrifice of Decius Mus.[1] The English word "devotion" derives from the Latin...
The prayer is uttered by Publius Decius Mus, the consul of 340 BC, during the Samnite Wars. He vows to offer himself as a sacrifice to the infernal gods when a battle between the Romans and the Latins has become desperate:
The pontifex instructed him to don the toga praetexta, to veil his head and, with one hand held out from under his toga touching his chin, to stand on a spear laid under his feet and speak as follows: 'Janus, Jupiter, Mars Pater, Quirinus, Bellona, Lares, divine Novensiles,[8] divine Indigetes, gods whose power extends over us and over our enemies, divine Manes, I pray to you, I revere you, I beg your favour and beseech you that you advance the strength and success of the Roman people … As I have pronounced in these words … I devote the legions and auxiliaries of the enemy along with myself, to the divine Manes and to Earth.'[9]
Both the Lares and the Manes are often regarded in ancient sources as the deified dead. The intended recipients were evidently gratified by this sacrifice, as the Romans were victorious.'
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devotio
*In a religious context, votum, plural vota, is a vow or promise made to a deity.
Whilst this instance is extreme I do like the notion of devotio(n) as self-sacrifice, of giving oneself or something of oneself to a deity in an act of devotion.
I also find it intriguing that it is associated first and foremost with the underworld gods.
Any other thoughts?
'In ancient Roman religion, the devotio was an extreme form of votum* in which a Roman general vowed to sacrifice his own life in battle along with the enemy to chthonic gods in exchange for a victory. The most extended description of the ritual is given by the Augustan historian Livy, regarding the self-sacrifice of Decius Mus.[1] The English word "devotion" derives from the Latin...
The prayer is uttered by Publius Decius Mus, the consul of 340 BC, during the Samnite Wars. He vows to offer himself as a sacrifice to the infernal gods when a battle between the Romans and the Latins has become desperate:
The pontifex instructed him to don the toga praetexta, to veil his head and, with one hand held out from under his toga touching his chin, to stand on a spear laid under his feet and speak as follows: 'Janus, Jupiter, Mars Pater, Quirinus, Bellona, Lares, divine Novensiles,[8] divine Indigetes, gods whose power extends over us and over our enemies, divine Manes, I pray to you, I revere you, I beg your favour and beseech you that you advance the strength and success of the Roman people … As I have pronounced in these words … I devote the legions and auxiliaries of the enemy along with myself, to the divine Manes and to Earth.'[9]
Both the Lares and the Manes are often regarded in ancient sources as the deified dead. The intended recipients were evidently gratified by this sacrifice, as the Romans were victorious.'
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devotio
*In a religious context, votum, plural vota, is a vow or promise made to a deity.
Whilst this instance is extreme I do like the notion of devotio(n) as self-sacrifice, of giving oneself or something of oneself to a deity in an act of devotion.
I also find it intriguing that it is associated first and foremost with the underworld gods.
Any other thoughts?