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Ancient Roman Holidays
Pervigilium Veneris
…Tomorrow Dione—propped up on her exalted throne—proclaims the laws.
The one who has never loved, let him love tomorrow! And the one who has loved before, tomorrow, let him love!
The one who has never loved, let him love tomorrow! And the one who has loved before, tomorrow, let him love!
Then a sea from the blood of the gods, in a frothy mass, in the midst of the azure swarms and in the midst of the horses stepping on two feet, brings forth Dione, quivering from the marital rainshower.
The one who has never loved, let him love tomorrow! And the one who has loved before, tomorrow, let him love!
…
Born from the blood of Cyprus and from the winds and from the purples of the Sun, wedded only in vow, tomorrow she will not be ashamed to show off that blush which lies hidden, covered by a fiery robe.
The one who has never loved, let him love tomorrow! And the one who has loved before, tomorrow, let him love!
The same goddess ordered the Nymphs to go to the consecrated myrtle grove. The boy goes along as a companion to the girls, but nonetheless, it is not possible to believe that Love was taking a holiday from his work, since he’d carried his arrows with him.
Go now, Nymphs! Love has laid down his weapons, he is idle! He was ordered to go unarmed, he was ordered to go nude, without any bow nor with arrows nor with anything that injures by the fire of passion.
But nevertheless, beware, Nymphs, because Cupid is beautiful. He’s the same even when he is nude—Love is fully armed.
The one who has never loved, let him love tomorrow! And the one who has loved before, tomorrow, let him love!
–tr. Mab Borden
Venus was not merely Goddess of individuals looking for love—she had an important role in the state. Venus was believed the mother of the seafaring hero Aeneas who was the ancestor of Romulus and Remus and of Julius Caesar. Her imagery includes seashells, mirrors and doves and the Goddess’ many titles indicate her roles as patron of the Julian dynasty as well as freedwomen, a changer of hearts, purifier and indulgent benefactor of hopeful lovers. Her titles do not reflect her role in agriculture, but at this festival, she is paired with Jupiter perhaps in his role as rain-bringer—to bless the vines.
The Vigil of Venus poem excerpted above was written by an unknown author on the night before a festival of Venus, sometime before the fourth century CE.
