Template:Short description Template:For multi {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Refimprove Template:Infobox deity In ancient Roman religion, Ops or Opis (Latin: "Plenty") was a fertility deity and earth goddess of Sabine origin. Her equivalent in Greek mythology was Rhea.
IconographyEdit
In Ops's statues and coins, she is figured sitting down, as Chthonian deities normally are, and generally holds a scepter, or a corn spray and cornucopia. In Roman mythology the husband of Ops was Saturn.<ref name=EB1911>Template:Cite EB1911</ref> Ops is identified as Rhea in Greek mythology, whose husband was Cronus, the bountiful monarch of the golden age; Cronus was Rhea's brother.
NameEdit
In Latin writings of the time, the singular nominative (Ops) is not attested; only the form Opis is used by classical authors. According to Festus (203:19), "Ops is said to be the consort of Saturn by whom they wanted to signify the earth, because the earth distributes all wealth to the human genus." ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}).
The Latin word ops means "riches, goods, abundance, gifts, munificence, plenty".<ref>Template:Cite dictionary</ref> The word is also related to opus, which means "work", particularly in the sense of "working the earth, ploughing, sowing". This activity was deemed sacred, and was often attended by religious rites intended to obtain the good will of chthonic deities such as Ops and Consus. Ops is also related to the Sanskrit word ápnas ("goods, property").
WorshipEdit
According to Roman tradition, the cult of Opis was instituted by Titus Tatius, one of the Sabine kings of Rome. Opis soon became the matron of riches, abundance, and prosperity. Opis had a famous temple in the Capitolium. Originally, a festival took place in Opis's honor on August 10. Additionally, on December 19<ref name="EB1911" /> (some say December 9), the Opalia was celebrated. On August 25, the Opiconsivia was held. Opiconsivia was another name used for Opis, indicating when the earth was sown. These festivals also included activities that were called Consualia, in honor of Consus, her consort.
Mythology and literatureEdit
She is remembered in De Mulieribus Claris, a collection of biographies of historical and mythological women by the Florentine author Giovanni Boccaccio, composed in 1361–1362. It is notable as the first collection devoted exclusively to biographies of women in Western literature.<ref name="Brown_xi">Template:Cite book</ref>
ReferencesEdit
Primary sourcesEdit
- Boccaccio, Giovanni. (1362) De mulieribus claris.
- Livy Ab urbe condita libri XXIX.10.4–11.8, 14.5–14
- Lactantius, Divinae institutions I.13.2–4, 14.2–5
Secondary sourcesEdit
- Virginia Brown's translation of Giovanni Boccaccio's Famous Women, pp. 12–13; Harvard University Press 2001; Template:ISBN
External linksEdit
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