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Salve! Welcome to the SPQR Homepage of
Gens Vitellia domo Valde Fumidus Mons montis!
Created & Maintained by Lucius Vitellius Triarius

We would like to welcome you to our SPQR Homepage and invite you to browse our web pages to learn more about the Gens Vitellia and Vitellia domo Occasus Valde Fumidus Mons montis Tellus. If you are near our Mountains of Origin, please feel free to visit our towns, shops and historical treasures.
If you are considering joining the Nova Romans, we invite you to join our familia, the Gens Vitellia.

Vitellia domo Valde Fumidus Mons montis Links

NOVAROMA.ORG (Nova Roma Homepage)
ALBUM GENTIUM (Gens Vitellia - Plebian)
GENS VITELLIA (Homepage)
PRO NOVIS CIVIBUS (Application for Nova Roma Citizenship)
Frequently Asked Questions About Nova Roma

Occasus Valde Fumidus Mons montis Tellus,
America Austrorientalis
(Western Great Smoky Mountains Region, Southeastern USA)

Valde Fumidus Mons montis is the great mountainous region, located in the Province of America Austrorientalis.  The Occasus Valde Fumidus Mons montis Tellus ranges from fields to foothills to mountains. 

Feel free to learn more about our region and what it has to offer by clicking the following links:    GSMNP
      Knoxville.org      UTK

Iupiter

Iupiter is the supreme god of the Roman pantheon, called dies pater, "shining father". He is a god of light and sky, and protector of the state and its laws. He is a son of Saturn and brother of Neptune and Juno (who is also his wife). The Romans worshipped him especially as Iupiter Optimus Maximus (all-good, all-powerful). This name refers not only to his rulership over the universe, but also to his function as the god of the state who distributes laws, controls the realm and makes his will known through oracles. His English name is Jove.

He had a temple on the Capitol, together with Juno and Minerva, but he was the most prominent of this Capitoline triad. His temple was not only the most important sanctuary in Rome; it was also the center of political life. Here official offerings were made, treaties were signed and wars were declared, and the triumphant generals of the Roman army came here to give their thanks.

Other titles of Iupiter include: Caelestis (heavenly), Lucetius (of the light), Totans (thunderer), Fulgurator (of the lightning). As Iupiter Victor he led the Roman army to victory. Iupiter is also the protector of the ancient league of Latin cities. His attribute is the lightning bolt and the eagle is both his symbol and his messenger.

Mars

The god of war, and one of the most prominent and worshipped gods. In early Roman history he was a god of spring, growth in nature, and fertility, and the protector of cattle. Mars is also mentioned as a chthonic god (earth-god) and this could explain why he became a god of death and finally a god of war. He is the son of Iupiter and Juno. According to some sources, Mars is the father of Romulus and Remus by the Vestal Ilia (Rhea Silvia). Because he was the father of these legendary founders of Rome, and thus of the Roman people, the Romans styled themselves 'sons of Mars'.

His main sanctuaries where the temple on the Capitol, which he shared with Iupiter and Quirinus, the temple of Mars Gradivus ("he who precedes the army in battle") where the Roman army gathered before they went to war, and the temple of Mars Ultor ("the avenger"), located on the Forum Augustus. The Campus Martius ("field of Mars"), situated beyond the city walls, was also dedicated to him. Here the army was drilled and athletes were trained. In the Regia on the Forum Romanum, the 'hastae Martiae' ("lances of Mars") were kept. When these lances 'moved', it was seen as a portent of war. The warlord who was to lead the army into battle had to move the lances while saying 'Mars vigila' ("Mars awaken"). As Mars Gradivus, the god preceded the army and led them to victory.

He had several festivals in his honor. On March 1, the Feriae Marti was celebrated. The Armilustrium was held on October 19, and on this day the weapons of the soldiers were ritually purified and stored for winter. Every five years the Suovetaurilia was held. During these fertility and cleansing rites, a pig (sus), a sheep (ovis) and bull (taurus) were sacrificed. The Equirria were on February 27 and March 14, on which horse races were held. The Quinquatrus was on March 19 and the Tubilustrium on March 23, on which weapons and war-trumpets were cleansed. The priests of Mars, who also served Quirinus, were called the Salii ("jumpers"), derived from the procession through the streets of the city which they completed by jumping the entire way and singing the Carmen Saliare. Mars' own priest was called the flamen Martialis.

Mars is portrayed as a warrior in full battle armor, wearing a crested helmet and bearing a shield. His sacred animals are the wolf and the woodpecker, and he is accompanied by Fuga and Timor, the personifications of flight and fear. The month March (Martius) is named after him (wars were often started or renewed in spring).

Apollo
Apollo was the son of Iupiter and Latona. His twin sister was Diana. He was the god of music, playing a golden lyre. The Archer, far shooting with a silver bow. The god of healing who taught man medicine. The god of light. The god of truth, who can not speak a lie. One of Apollo's more important daily tasks was to harness his chariot with four horses an drive the Sun across the sky. His tree was the laurel.  In our region, there is an abundance of laurel trees.

Diana
The mother of wild animals and forests, and a moon goddess. Oak groves are especially sacred to her. She is praised for her strength, athletic grace, beauty and her hunting skills. With two other deities she made up a trinity: Egeria the water nymph, her servant and assistant midwife; and Virbius, the woodland god.

Minerva
he Roman goddess of wisdom, medicine, the arts, dyeing, science and trade, but also of war. As Minerva Medica she is the patroness of physicians. She is the daughter of Iupiter. In the temple on the Capitoline Hill she was worshipped together with Iupiter and Juno, with whom she formed a powerful triad of gods. Another temple of her was located on the Aventine Hill. The church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva is built on one of her temples. Every year from March 19 - 23 the Quinquatria was held, the primary Minerva-festival. This festival was mainly celebrated by artisans but also by students. On June 13 the minor Quinquatrus was observed.

Nemestrinus
A Roman god of the woods.

Silvanus
The Roman god of forests, groves and wild fields. He also presides over boundaries. As fertility god he is the protector of herds and cattle and is associated with Faunus. The first fruits of the fields were offered to him, as well as meat and wine--a ritual women were not allowed to witness. His attributes are a pruning knife and a bough from a pine tree.

Vesta
The goddess of the hearth, the centre of the Roman home. She was a quiet well-behaved goddess, who didn't join in the arguments and fights of the other gods. She was protector of the sacred flame, which was supposed to have been brought from Troy to Rome by the hero Aeneus. In Roman homes, every day, during a meal, a small cake was thrown on the fire for Vesta. It was good luck if it burnt with a crackle. Vesta's temple was situated on the Forum Romanum and was built in the third century BCE. None of her temples, however, contained a statue of the goddess. Her festival is the Vestalia, which was observed from June 7 - 15. On the first day of this festival, the 'penus Vestae', the inner sanctum of the Vesta temple which was kept closed the entire year, was opened for women who came to bring offerings bare-footed. The temple was ritually cleansed on the last day.

Kalends of Martius, The Festival to Mars, March 1
Equirria, a Festival of Horse Racing dedicated to Mars, March 14
Agonalia, Celebration to Mars, March 17
The Quinquatria, Greater Feast of Mars, March 19-23
Tubilustrium, Purification of the Trumpets, March 23
Ides Aprilis, sacred to Iupiter, April 13
Anniversary of the Dedication of the Temple of Mars near the Capena Gate, June 1
Tubilustrium, Purification of the Trumpets, May 23
Ambarvalia, The Ritual Purification of the Fields, May 29
The Vestalia
, the Festival of Vesta, June 7-15
Minor Quinquatrus, the Lesser Feast of Minerva, June 13
Summanus, Sacred to Summanus, an aspect of Iupiter, June 20
Iupiter Stator, Sacred to Iupiter Stator, June 27
Idus Sextilis, Sacred to Diana, August 13
Nones September, Sacred to Iupitor Stator, September 5
Idus September, Sacred to Iupiter Optimus Maximus, September 13
Sacred to Apollo, September 23
Nones October, Sacred to Iupiter Fulgur, October 5
Armilustrium, Weapons of the Soldiers Ritually Purified and Stored for Winter, October 19
Ludi Plebeii, Public Games Common, November 4-17
Idus November, Sacred to Iupiter, November 13
Saturnalia, Festival of Saturn, December 17-23
Sacred to Apollo
, February 9
Sacred to Diana, February 12
Regifugium, celebration of the founding of the Republic, February 24
Equirria, a Festival of Horse Racing dedicated to Mars, February 27

Suovetaurilia
, Fertility and Cleansing Rites, Every 5 Years

Lucius Vitellius, Concerning Pontius Pilate in Judea
Aulus Vitellius Germanicus
, Roman Emporer (69 AD)
Album Romanorum Legio
, List of Roman Legions, Wikipedia

Temple of Iupiter, The Gens Vitellia Virtual Temple of Iupiter
Temple of Mars
, The Gens Vitellia Virtual Temple of Mars
Lararium
, The Gens Vitellia Virtual Household Lararium