Following yesterday’s Chökhor Düchen rites, the Sôgmô, acting under his authority as Sacra Flameno of the Collegio Sacerdae, has declared the following Sancta week dedicated to the classic epic poems concerning the War against Troy, beginning from today as the last day of Neptunalia. The week shall begin with the reading of the Iliad and the Odyssey, both by Homer, and then finishing with the Roman national epic of the Aeneid, by Publius Vergilius Maro or Virgil. The Sacra Flameno declared a make-shift altar would be created in the Office of the Sôgmô at the Palaso d’Etato, or Palace of State, dedicated to Athena and that the epics would be recited in the form of prayers before the altar. The recitation of the epics may be prolonged for another week to ensure that there will be enough time to recite them and to conduct regular state business on the behalf of the Sôgmô. The Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid will be recited from the versions translated by the late Robert Fagles, celebrated professor of literature at Princeton University.
The make-shift shall be constructed by a small platter which shall hold the image of Athena found within the Office of the Sôgmô. The classics being read shall be placed upon the platter and shall be washed with water from the Altar of the Buddha within the Palaso d’Etato to mark the beginning of the week. Once the reading of the Aeneid is finished, the Sacra Flameno shall consecrate the books with another washing of water from the Altar of the Buddha and shall be prayed over with daily prayers from the Orphic Hymns and the Homeric Hymns. Following this, the Aeneid read during the week shall be given to charity.
Though the reading of all three epic poems may not be completed in a week, be it a Gregorian or Sancta week, the Sacra Flameno has vowed to be finished with the recitation of the poems by XII Sextilo (12 August) when the Festival of Heracles shall be held.
Preparations for this upcoming week shall begin today at 14:00 Sandum Local Time (SLT) at the Palaso d’Etato, Kremlum Sandus. Private religious services shall be held until tomorrow morning when recitations shall begin.
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