Venti Saturday, Jul 5 2008

The Gods of the winds vex my soul,
Their tempests rage, waves tumults roll,
Ye winds! Indulge your rage no more;
Ye sounding billows! Cease to roar!

The naval oak confers Imperium Pelagi; the empire of the seas, on sailors who obey the whims of the Venti, the Gods of the winds and nurture their moods to best effect in battles.

Aquilo – God of the north wind.

Caecius – God of the north-east wind.

 

Volturnus – God of the east wind.

Subsolanus – God of the south-east wind.

Auster – God of the south wind.

Afer ventus – God of the south-west wind.

Favonius – God of the west wind.

Caurus – God of the north-west wind.

O Aeolus! for to thee the King of Heav’n
The pow’r of tempests and of winds has giv’n;
Thy force alone their fury can restrain,
And smooth the waves, or swell the troubled main,
These airy kingdoms, and this wide command,
Are all the presents of your bounteous hand:
The raging winds rush thro’ the hollow cloud,
And dance aloft in air, and skim o’er the ground;
Then, settling on the sea, the surges sweep,
Raise liquid mountains, and disclose the deep,
North, South, East, West; with mix’d confusion roar,
And roll the foaming billows towards shore,
The cables crack; the sailors’ fearful cries,
Ascend; heav’n itself is ravish’d from their eyes,
The face of things a frightful image bears,
And present death in various forms appears.
     The Aeneid, Virgil (translated by Dryden)  

At such times sailors of all nations cry out the 107th Psalm…

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Nox Saturday, Jul 5 2008

Nox, covered in a dark heavy cloak draws the veil of night over the battlefield, allowing two of her sons, Somnus and Mors, to descend to the battlefield to tend the fallen.

Armies who are losing pray for the speedy arrival of Nox, for night puts an end to all battles; under her cloak of darkness it is the time best suited to retreat in safety.

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Phoebus Apollo Saturday, Jul 5 2008

Phoebus Apollo brings light to the battlefield, so sworn enemies can face each other in combat. As the patron God of music, he listens to the distant melodic sounds from the strife; trumpet calls carrying signals, songs to stir faint hearts, and the steady rhythms of fifes and drums which sets the pace that men use to march towards their destiny. Each of these sounds he repeats on his kithara, embellishing them.

Away from the battlefield, the darts of sudden sickness he releases from his bow are endured among the protagonists; these cause anguish like the battlefields of men.

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Jupiter Tonans Saturday, Jul 5 2008

Olympian Jove, thunderous Lord on high,
Flashes the lightning, bringing in its train
Tempestuous storm of mingled rain and hail
Or snow, by winter sprinked o’er the fields;
Thus op’ning wide the vasty jaws of war.

Thundering Jove hurls a lightning bolt down onto the raging battlefield beneath him. Those unlucky to be in its path will feel his rage. The omen is not to be ignored and the survivors perceive the hand of Heaven. One side will have its hopes thwarted; one will succeed.

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