Anna Perenna Flashcards
What was Anna Perenna the goddess of?
Long life, renewal, health and plenty
What is the etymology of Anna Perenna?
Anna means “to live through a year” while perenna means “last many years”
When is her festival?
March 15th, Ides
Why did the festival take place when it did?
March was considered the first month of the year that springtime was in fullness
What is one of the stories concerning her identity (old woman from Bollivae in Latium)?
The plebians were tired of paying taxes and being conscripted into the military while having no voice in government.
They holed themselves up on the Sacred Mount.
They were coaxed back to Rome
Anna Perenna kept them them fed (cakes) and so she was popular with the common people
Describe one of the stories concerning her identity (young woman)
She was the sister of Dido who fled to Rome.
She fought with Aeneas’s (the hero who broke Dido’s heart and caused her suicide) wife called Lavinia.
She drowned herself in the River Numicius.
She was worshipped as a nymph and the River is sacred to hero
Describe one of the stories concerning Anna Perenna (old woman, to do with the gods)
Mars was in love with Minerva. He asked Anna to help him tell her he liked her. Instead, she dressed up as Minerva and when he tried to kiss her she laughed.
Minerva’s main Roman festival was held just 4 days after –> they’re linked perhaps??
Who particularly loved this festival?
Common people
What did people do?
People would gather at the 1st milestone on the Via Flamina in her sacred grove of fruit trees by the bank’s of the Tiber and camp out.
How did people celebrate?
They picnicked, feasting, dancing, singing. Some brought rents, some made shelters out of leafy branches.
What was the traditional thing to do?
Get very drunk.
It was believe that one would love as many years as the cups of wine one could drink
What was Via Flamina famous for?
Tombs and cemetaries
Who was Anna equated with?
Luna (Roman moon goddess), Themis (Greek goddess of order), Io (moon goddess)
