#portunus

Temple of Portunus in Rome, Italy

Melicertes was a Boeotian prince as the son of King Athamas and Ino, daughter of King Cadmus of Thebes.

Ino, pursued by her husband, who had been driven mad by Hera because Ino had brought up the infant Dionysus, threw herself and Melicertes into the sea from a high rock between Megara and Corinth, and both were changed into marine deities: Ino as Leucothea, noted by Homer, Melicertes as Palaemon.

Today, we usher in a new month, and we celebrate the Kalends of November, originally the ninth month. Today is a time for worshipping Ianus, for worshipping Portunus, and a goddess I am a devotee of - Cardea, goddess of doorhinges.

I once heard it said that New Year’s Resolutions are not important simply because they are made on the new year. They are important because they are goals to stick to - there is no difference between making one in January or making one in the middle of July. The important thing is stamina.

I believe the new month can be a sign for renewal. A helpful trick to commit to goals, to start fresh. One thing I want to do is read more books. That’s always my goal; but I am currently planning to start a book review YouTube channel, and to publish my first video, I need to finish the book I’m reading. The trick here is making the goal actionable - and for this, I have decided to read AT LEAST one chapter per day. It’s already helped me get through more of the book.

For me, there is another reason that today is ceremony: my grandfather’s birthday. He died a few years ago, and would now be a Lar. I plan to honor him, to give him offerings and simply talk to him. I do quite miss him. But I hope, wherever he is, whether that is Orcus or what he believed in (I think he was Christian, but I’m not quite sure what he actually believed), that he is happy and content.

I thought I’d work on some portraits for the Roman gods who appear in my post-Ragnarok AU! I don’t know if y’all are interested in seeing these, but they were lots of fun to draw, so I’m going to share them anyway :DDD

At the top is Vesta, goddess of the hearth, home, and family (Greek equivalent is Hestia). Next is Mercury, god of translations and interpreters, and messenger for all other gods (Greek equivalent is Hermes). And last is Portunus, god of ports and gateways (usually conflated with the Greek god Palaemon)!

Photos 1-2 - Carapace, washed up 10-15m away from body

Photos 3-4 - the rest of the body

Photos 5-6 - closeups of claws

Photo 7 - flattened hind leg / Photo 8 - the other legs

Photo 9 - closeup of carapace / Photo 10 - internal structure beneath carapace

Dead crab that washed ashore. The carapace had detached from the rest of the body and washed up separately, but its still a clear match in my eyes.

You can see how its last legs are modified (or flattened I guess) for swimming.

17/09/23 - Portunus sp.

Forum Boarium, Rome

I’ve probably posted several photos of these temples during the previous years, but this tiny park is one of my favourite areas in Rome :-). Circular Temple of Hercules Victor dates back to late 2nd century BCE and was possibly erected by general Lucius Mummius Achaicus (destroyer of Corinth). Temple of Portunus was originally built a couple of centuries earlier, but current building is from late 2nd/early 1st century BCE.

Historically Forum Boarium is a rather interesting area in Rome. Before the construction of Ostia Antica it was the  naturally the hub of Roman trade. Also the first gladiator contest at Rome was fought here in 264 BCE. Earliest known Roman bridge, Pons Sublicius, where Horatius Cocles - according to Ĺivius - fought against invading Etruscans was also near this place.