VENVS, known to the Etruscans as Turan and to the Greeks as Aphrodite, is honored as the Goddess of Love and Beauty and particularly as a great intercessor between the venerable Gods and Her earthly offspring in the line of Aeneas, said to be the ancestor of the Iulii. Her Latin name is connected with the words venia, divine favor, and venerari, to exert the power of charm. Q Fabius Gurges is reported to have dedicated the first temple to Venus Obsequens in 295 BCE, in appreciation for a victory given in battle against the Samnites. Similarly Her favor was sought when Sicily was contested between Rome and Carthage; Venus Erycina departed Sicilian Mt Eryx for a greater shrine at Rome, near the Porta Collina. She is known by many other epithets and aspects, among them: Felix, Victrix, Verticordia, Castina, and Genetrix.

KAL APR - 1 April: Veneralia, honoring Venus in Her aspect of Verticordia, She who turns the hearts of humanity. Statues of the Goddess were cleansed on this day, and again adorned with jewels and garlands of roses. The Kalends of April is still remembered as April Fools' or Poisson d'Avril (April Fish) a day of harmless pranks and merriment. Venus was anciently associated with the symbol of the fish as the reminder of that gateway through which each of us has in fact entered this world. The simple outline of the fish so prominently displayed on some modern-day chariots thus has a surprising origin... Venus is born of the sea, as in her Greek name of Aphrodite, suggesting the wave-tossed foam of Her birth. The two fish of Pisces were sometimes considered to represent Venus and Adonis, and astrological lore preserves the consideration of a natal placement of Venus' orb in Pisces as its exaltation.

IX KAL MAI - 23 April: Vinalia, This day is the anniversary the dedication of a temple in Rome for Venus Erycina, brought from Sicilia by M Claudius Marcellus in 212 BCE (542 AVC). A wine libation is made to Iuppiter on this same festival while Venus is honored with offerings of myrtle, mint, and incense.

PRID ID AVG - 12 August: Prior Festival of Venus Victrix,

VI KAL OCT - 26 September: Festival of Venus Genetrix, This festival is the central one for the Iulii in honoring Venus as our ancestral Mother and special Protectress.

VII ID OCT - 9 October: Latter Festival of Venus Victrix,

TIBI AVSCVLTAMVS ET VENVS ALMA AMBAE TE OBSECRAMVS ARAM AMPLEXANTES HANC TVAM LACRVMANTES GENIBVS NIXAE IN CVSTODELAM NOS TVAM VT RECIPIAS ET TVTERE ILLAS SCELESTOS QVI TVOM FECERVNT FANVM PARVI FAC VT VLCISCARE NOSQVE VT HANC TVA PACE ARAM OBSIDERE PATIARE NE INVISAS HABEAS NEVE IDCIRCO NOBIS VITIO VORTAS MINVS QVOD BENE ESSE LAVTVM TV ARBITRARE

Kindly Venus, we tearfully entreat Thee, as we kneel and clasp this, Thy altar. Take us under your protection and defend us! Punish the evil ones who have belittled Thy sanctuary; and in your good grace let this altar be our refuge. Be not offended with us, nor hold us at fault, if there be anything about us that to Thee is unclean. --- Plautus, Rodens, 694-701.

Undying Aphrodite on your caparisoned throne, Daughter of Zeus and weaver of ruses, Now I address You: Queen, do not hurt my heart, do not harry it; But come as before when you heard And you hearkened a long way away, And leaving behind the house of your father, Harnessed a golden chariot winged By your beautiful swans ... --- Sappho

AVE FORMOSISSIMA GEMMA PRETIOSA AVE DECVS VIRGINVM VIRGO GLORIOSA AVE MVNDI LVMINAR AVE MVNDI ROSA BLANZIFLOR ET HELENA VENVS GENEROSA

Hail, most beautiful, precious jewel! Hail, honor of maidens, glorious virgin! Hail, Light of the world! Hail, the world's Rose! Helen and Blanchefleur, Abundant Venus! --- from Carmina Burana

To my mind, gravity is a heavy thing. Playing is what I like, sweeter than honey! Whatever Venus commands is easy work, For She never inhabits the hearts of dullards! --- from Carmina Burana

In loving tribute to Divine Venus, the Epitome of all refinement and beauty throughout the ages, this page is given by: to honor VENVS GENETRIX on her feast day, 26 September, VI*KAL*OCT*A*V*C*MMDCCLIV. Return to my index page