In the hubbub around the Jewish and Christian religions’ major holidays this week, we should not forget today, at least by Ovid’s reckoning is also a time to recall the Roman goddess Salus.
Her origins disappear into the mists of antiquity, but she is the patron of health, welfare, and prosperity, or as Wikipedia puts it of “safety and well-being.” Somewhere along the line she was identified with the Greek goddess Hygeia, and as Salus-Hygeia her icon would include a snake and an offering plate, as we see in Gustav Klimt’s famous portrait of her.
While her principal date for celebration in in August, no less an authority than Ovid tells us, as I mentioned, that she, Janus, Concordia, & Pax, should be recalled today, on the 30th of March.
And I am…
I find it interesting that in the season of salvation, Passover and Easter, we have an even older observance of a goddess whose name translates as healing, as salvation.
Not surprising, but interesting…
As the good monk said, and along with the wisdom to be found in the Passover observation, and in Holy Week and Easter, let us all dedicate ourselves to the heart of Salus Hygeia mystery, working out our salvation, our healing with diligence…
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