Fascinus
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| A '''fascinum''' in [[Ancient Rome]] was a [[phallus]]-shaped [[amulet]] worn around the necks (often of children), to ward off the [[evil eye]] or to bring fertility. The word is ultimately the origin of the English verb ''to [[fascinate]]''. | A '''fascinum''' in [[Ancient Rome]] was a [[phallus]]-shaped [[amulet]] worn around the necks (often of children), to ward off the [[evil eye]] or to bring fertility. The word is ultimately the origin of the English verb ''to [[fascinate]]''. | ||
| + | [[File:Amulettes phalliques gallo-romaines Musée Saint-Remi 120208.jpg|thumb|[[Gallo-Roman]] examples of the '''''fascinum''''' in bronze]] | ||
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| + | In [[Religion in ancient Rome|ancient Roman religion and magic]], the '''''fascinus''''' or '''''fascinum''''' was the embodiment of the divine [[phallus]]. The word can refer to the deity himself, to phallus [[wikt:effigy|effigies]] and [[amulet]]s, and to the spells used to invoke his divine protection. (The [[grammatical gender|neuter]] form ''fascinum'' is used most often for objects or magic charms, masculine ''fascinus'' for the god.) [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] calls it a ''medicus invidiae'', a "doctor" or remedy for envy (''[[invidia]]'', a "looking upon") or the [[evil eye]]. | ||
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| + | A graphic representation of the power of the ''fascinus'' to ward off the evil eye is found on a Roman [[mosaic]] that depicts a phallus [[ejaculation|ejaculating]] into a disembodied eye; a 1st-century BC [[terracotta]] figurine shows "two little phallus-men sawing an eyeball in half." As a divinized phallus, the ''fascinus'' shared attributes with [[Mutunus Tutunus]], whose shrine was supposed to date from the founding of the city, and the imported Greek god [[Priapus]]. | ||
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| + | The [[Vestal Virgin]]s tended the cult of the ''fascinus [[SPQR|populi Romani]]'', the sacred image of the phallus that was one of the tokens of the safety of the state. It was thus associated with the [[Palladium (mythology)|Palladium]]. Roman myths, such as the begetting of [[Servius Tullius]], suggest that this phallus was an embodiment of a masculine generative power located within the hearth, regarded as sacred. [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]], whose primary source on Roman religion was the lost theological works of [[Varro]], notes that a phallic image was carried in procession annually at the festival of [[Liber|Father Liber]], the Roman god [[interpretatio graeca|identified with]] [[Dionysus|Dionysus or Bacchus]], for the purpose of protecting the fields from ''fascinatio'', magic compulsion: | ||
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| + | :"Varro says that certain rites of Liber were celebrated in Italy which were of such unrestrained wickedness that the shameful parts of the male were worshipped at crossroads in his honour. … For, during the days of the [[Liberalia|festival of Liber]], this obscene member, placed on a little trolley, was first exhibited with great honour at the crossroads in the countryside, and then conveyed into the city itself. … In this way, it seems, the god Liber was to be propitiated, in order to secure the growth of seeds and to repel enchantment ''(fascinatio)'' from the fields. | ||
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| + | Phallic charms, often winged, were ubiquitous in Roman culture, from jewelry to bells and windchimes to lamps. The ''fascinus'' was thought particularly to ward off evil from children, particularly boys, and conquering generals. Pliny notes the custom of hanging a phallic charm on a baby's neck. When a general celebrated a [[Roman triumph|triumph]], the Vestals hung an effigy of the ''fascinus'' on the underside of his [[chariot]] to protect him from ''invidia''. | ||
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| + | ==Etymology== | ||
| + | The English word "fascinate" ultimately derives from Latin ''fascinum'' and the related verb ''fascinare'', "to use the power of the ''fascinus''," that is, "to practice magic" and hence "to enchant, bewitch." [[Catullus]] uses the verb at the end of ''Carmen 7'', a [[hendecasyllabic]] poem addressing his lover Lesbia; he expresses his infinite desire for kisses that cannot be counted by voyeurs nor "fascinated" (put under a spell) by a malicious tongue; such bliss, as also in ''Carmen'' 5, potentially attracts ''invidia''.<ref>David Wray, ''Catullus and the Poetics of Roman Manhood'' (Cambridge University Press, 2001), p. 152 [http://books.google.com/books?id=kmmjg7UX19UC&pg=PA152&dq=fascinus&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=1988&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=2010&num=100&as_brr=3&cd=14#v=onepage&q=fascinus&f=false online.]</ref> | ||
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| + | [[Fescennine verses]], the satiric and often lewd songs or chants performed on various social occasions, may have been so-named from the ''fascinum''; ancient sources propose this etymology along with an alternative origin from [[Fescennia]], a small town in [[Etruria]].<ref>Gian Biagio Conte, ''Latin Literature: A History'' (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1994), p. 23 [http://books.google.com/books?id=NJGp_dkXnuUC&pg=PA23&dq=fascinum&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=1988&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=2010&num=100&as_brr=3&cd=172#v=onepage&q=fascinum&f=false online.]</ref> | ||
| ==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
Revision as of 18:55, 22 June 2010
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A fascinum in Ancient Rome was a phallus-shaped amulet worn around the necks (often of children), to ward off the evil eye or to bring fertility. The word is ultimately the origin of the English verb to fascinate. [[File:Amulettes phalliques gallo-romaines Musée Saint-Remi 120208.jpg|thumb|Gallo-Roman examples of the fascinum in bronze]]
In ancient Roman religion and magic, the fascinus or fascinum was the embodiment of the divine phallus. The word can refer to the deity himself, to phallus effigies and amulets, and to the spells used to invoke his divine protection. (The neuter form fascinum is used most often for objects or magic charms, masculine fascinus for the god.) Pliny calls it a medicus invidiae, a "doctor" or remedy for envy (invidia, a "looking upon") or the evil eye.
A graphic representation of the power of the fascinus to ward off the evil eye is found on a Roman mosaic that depicts a phallus ejaculating into a disembodied eye; a 1st-century BC terracotta figurine shows "two little phallus-men sawing an eyeball in half." As a divinized phallus, the fascinus shared attributes with Mutunus Tutunus, whose shrine was supposed to date from the founding of the city, and the imported Greek god Priapus.
The Vestal Virgins tended the cult of the fascinus populi Romani, the sacred image of the phallus that was one of the tokens of the safety of the state. It was thus associated with the Palladium. Roman myths, such as the begetting of Servius Tullius, suggest that this phallus was an embodiment of a masculine generative power located within the hearth, regarded as sacred. Augustine, whose primary source on Roman religion was the lost theological works of Varro, notes that a phallic image was carried in procession annually at the festival of Father Liber, the Roman god identified with Dionysus or Bacchus, for the purpose of protecting the fields from fascinatio, magic compulsion:
- "Varro says that certain rites of Liber were celebrated in Italy which were of such unrestrained wickedness that the shameful parts of the male were worshipped at crossroads in his honour. … For, during the days of the festival of Liber, this obscene member, placed on a little trolley, was first exhibited with great honour at the crossroads in the countryside, and then conveyed into the city itself. … In this way, it seems, the god Liber was to be propitiated, in order to secure the growth of seeds and to repel enchantment (fascinatio) from the fields.
Phallic charms, often winged, were ubiquitous in Roman culture, from jewelry to bells and windchimes to lamps. The fascinus was thought particularly to ward off evil from children, particularly boys, and conquering generals. Pliny notes the custom of hanging a phallic charm on a baby's neck. When a general celebrated a triumph, the Vestals hung an effigy of the fascinus on the underside of his chariot to protect him from invidia.
Etymology
The English word "fascinate" ultimately derives from Latin fascinum and the related verb fascinare, "to use the power of the fascinus," that is, "to practice magic" and hence "to enchant, bewitch." Catullus uses the verb at the end of Carmen 7, a hendecasyllabic poem addressing his lover Lesbia; he expresses his infinite desire for kisses that cannot be counted by voyeurs nor "fascinated" (put under a spell) by a malicious tongue; such bliss, as also in Carmen 5, potentially attracts invidia.<ref>David Wray, Catullus and the Poetics of Roman Manhood (Cambridge University Press, 2001), p. 152 online.</ref>
Fescennine verses, the satiric and often lewd songs or chants performed on various social occasions, may have been so-named from the fascinum; ancient sources propose this etymology along with an alternative origin from Fescennia, a small town in Etruria.<ref>Gian Biagio Conte, Latin Literature: A History (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987, 1994), p. 23 online.</ref>
Sources
- Muller, ed.: Turpiculas res, Varro De lingua Latina vii. 97.
- Pliny: Naturalis Historia, xix. 19.
- Smith, William. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. John Murray, London. 1875. p. 521.
