A Statue of Quirinus on the Quirinal

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A Statue of Quirinus
On the Quirinal

Flamen Quirinalis: Aelianus Sempronius Longus


((Closest picture I could find))


A small plaque rests upon the bottom of the statue which reads:
"Gifted by Aelianus Sempronius Longus to the people of Rome for the worship of Quirinus until such a time as a temple is built."

[Rhapture]

Lucius Valerius approached the statue after the short hike up the Quirinal Hill. Lucius, togate, arrived with one servant, who had carried a large sack of wheat.

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Aelianus would have just finished overseeing erecting the statue and would stand back with a smile of satisfaction - sighting Valerius he would smile and wave him over.

"Valerius, I must congratulate you, a mighty piece of craftmanship. I look forward to when I can begin the official festivities soon. Though, what brings you here on this day?"

[Rhapture]

"Greetings, Aelianus. I cannot claim to have had anything to do with the craftsmanship besides hiring the sculptor, although you may want to offer a sacrifice to Minerva. But I came to offer my own small sacrifice, so that I may have a good harvest this year."
Valerius greeted Longus.

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Aelianus would nod,

"An admirable purpose - if you need any help do call me over, I still have to work some more on the site so I will leave you to do it. I hope the site does get more people coming for sacrifices - we seem to have a lack of general respect for the gods these days."

[Rhapture]

"As the Flamen Quirinalis I thought you would oversee the sacrfice? "
Valerius commented then continued with his sacrifice.

"Oh great Quirinus, if that is the name you wish to be called, please accept this gift of grain from your humble servant, Lucius Valerius Poplicola. I place before your statue grain, that which you yourself a watch over, in honor to your previous blessing, and ask for a blessing on this coming harvest, so that if may be bountiful. " The servant places the sack of grain on the ground. Valerius continues.
"All the pieces of grain have been hand selected by myself, so that no fungus or mildew is given to you. Accept this sacrifice, Quiriinus, if that is the name you wish to go by."
Valerius then bent down and lit the sack on fire.

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Aelianus would have moved quickly, lighting the small amounts of incense he had already gathered by the statue in front of it's feet in preparation of the sacrifice. Folding the toga over his head he stood by Valerius as he finished.

"Oh mighty Quirinus, I beseech of you to accept this gift on both the behalf of your servant, Lucius Valerius, along with the entirety of the city of Rome which pays homage to you. As you place your hands over the farmers who go out to fight in wars, so may you rest your hands over their fields and give them a bountiful harvest."

[Rhapture]

"Thank you Aelianus,
I wish you well in your endevour to make this a more respectable site for Quirinus."

Valerius said. "I bid you good day."

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Aelianus would nod,

"And a good day to you - I hope to try gain the funds for a temple soon enough. Perhaps afer Quirinalia next year..." ​Aelianus would continue to muse to himself as the man left.

[removeduser_456328]

Robigalia

Aelianus stood over the small altar in front of the statue, the lifeless bodies of both a puppy and lamb resting, entrails delicately by their side, the blood still warm by them - threatening to stain the white marble.
Gathering the entrails gently into his arms he began to descend the hill, the other worshippers who had come to witness the affair behind him – all dressed in white with their togas folded over their heads in respect.
After possibly a few miles out of the city they reached a small grove, the oaken trees around the area twisting to form a sheltered area.
At the centre of the grove a small fire had been lit by one of the flamen's attendants, beginning to burn brightly.
Resting the entrails on a small slab to the side Aelianus moved slowly, preparing incense and wine next to the fire before lifting the entrails once more and casting them into the fire.
Picking up the incense and wine he also consigned them to the fire, lifting his covered head slightly before beginning the prayer.

“Oh Robigus, if it is that name you choose us to address you by, mighty god of rust and blight, spare Ceres’ grain; let the blades of wheat quiver upon the soil’s skin safely in knowledge of the granting of Roman citizens a safer harvest.
Let growing crops be nourished by a friendly sky and stars and be un-touched by blight until they ripen for the scythe. Spare us, I pray keep scabrous hands from the harvest of all citizens of Rome. Harm no crops. The power to harm is enough.”

Aelianus paused for a moment, before beginning again, this time praying to Quirinus as more incense was placed upon the fire along with the sheep’s entrails this time.

“Oh Quirinus, Mighty protector of the harvests, hear our words as we beseech you to place your hands over the harvests and bless them with your touch so they may grow and feel no mildew or fungus until such time as the scythe takes them.
Bless the Roman peoples with bountiful food so as they can recover from the horrors of the past wars and ease their burdens as they no longer have as many men to work their fields in your name.
Let those who did return once more hammer their swords into scythes and take up the harvest – we beseech you to help them return to peace and prosperity and give them a bounty of grain so they may grow happy and worship your name.”

As the ceremony finished Aelianus let himself smile a little, he hoped he had performed well in the first real ceremony of the year – next would come Larentalia.

ooc: If anyone ever wants to jump into some rp by attending a ceremony, feel free. Gonna try do a much bigger one for Qurinalia soon.

[Rhapture]

Lucius Valerius, watched the Flamen Quirinalis make the appropriate sacrifices in front of the statue, the he marched with the procession to the grove. It was one of the few occasions he had left the city all year. For some reason, he was worried about the next harvest. He was rather disappointed that the Pontifex Maximus had had to be seen in a religious ceremony.