JACOB TOLLIUS'S

CHANCE FINDINGS.

CHAPTER I.

An Ancient Inscription Explained.

ENTER. FOR HERE TOO ARE THE GODS. original: INTRATE. NAM ET HIC DII SUNT. A famous remark attributed to the philosopher Heraclitus, who invited guests into his humble kitchen by reminding them that the divine is present even in common places. And behold, at the very entrance, Juno PATULCIA original: PATULCIA; an epithet of Juno derived from the Latin patere, meaning "to stand open." is present to spread open the doors. She invites us to know her more deeply, and having begun our auspices with her, to also know Janus PATULCIUS and other GODS from their origin. This was inscribed on an ancient stone found in the work of Reinesius, Thomas Reinesius (1587–1667) was a German physician and scholar known for his massive collection of ancient inscriptions.

original: Tabularius; an official in charge of public records or archives.

original: Procurator Fisci; a high-ranking official responsible for managing the imperial finances.

original: Collegium Lenunculariorum; 'lenunculi' were small skiffs or rowing boats used in the harbor of Ostia.

original: IIII VIR QUINQUEN.; one of four municipal magistrates elected every five years to oversee the census and public morals.

original: D. D., an abbreviation for Dedit Dedicavit.

Regarding this inscription, a man of most profound learning and infinite reading has commented thus: The reason why JANUS was sometimes called PATULCIUS (the Opener), as found in the works of Ovid, and sometimes CLUSIUS (the Closer), is obvious: it refers to the doors of his temple being opened or closed depending on the time Janus’s temple doors were famously open during war and closed during peace.. Why JUNO is called PATULCIA, however, is not so clear. Perhaps only Fabatius, the chief initiate original: ἀρχιμύστης (archimystes); a high priest or someone initiated into the highest level of sacred mysteries. of this rite (for we know of no one else who has even named her), would have used the term. We must, therefore, conjecture and try to see if we can bring some light to this obscure and unmentioned matter. Since it has just been said that Juno is the assistant of women in labor original: puerperarum; women giving birth., and that she fosters, protects, and facilitates successful births; and especially by accelerating and making the labor easier...