The most common names found associated with The Old Religion, in Italy, are Diana & Dianus. Dianus is the nature god, associated with the woods, herds, fertility, and so on. He was present in the rites of Diana at the sacred grove of Nemi. He is also known as verbius, and is linked to the title Rex Nemorensis. Oaks were sacred to Dianus, which were present in the groves at Nemi. It seems likely that, in time, he was also associated with the god Janus. Janus was a god of doorways/p- ortals (and of beginnings in general). In this aspect, Janus was a guardian who kept non-initiates away from the Mystery Traditions. He carried a whip and a rod, which could usher in, or drive away. Dianus, as the guardian Rex Nemorensis, is easily linked to Janus, in this aspect. In the Aridian Tradition, Diana and Dianus would be two parts of the Divine One Great Spirit. Usually, Dianus is visualized as a stag god, or a man with antlers. He can also be associated with the forest god, known as Kern (no, Kern, not Herne ...different land, similar story).
Dianus is the consort of Diana, even in Her chaste aspect. Here they are more like brother and sister. In other aspects they are lovers, and so on. Historical references to the cult of Diana and Dianus (other than Classical Age) appear as early as the 4th Century A.D.
Jana is one of the names we Aridians use for the Goddess (the others are Tana & Fana). The Goddess Jana is the Moon Goddess of the Janarric Clan. In Naples, the term Janarra was once used as the word for witch (instead of Strega). The Janarra are the keepers of the Lunar mysteries, in the Triad Traditions. Sometimes they are called the Sea Witches, because they once practiced along the coastal regi- ons, and near the Bay of Naples.
In Italy there are three Clans, known as the Triad. THe first is called the Fanarra, second is the Janarra, and third is the Tanarra. The Fanarra are the "keepers of the earth mysteries", the Janarra are "keepers of the Lunar mysteries", and the Tanarra are the "keepers of the stellar mysteries". Originally they were one Clan, comprised of the covens which Aradia had established in the 14th Century. When the Inquisition began murdering witches, the Clan split up into their respective mystery traditions, in order to preserve at least one of the old Mystery Teachings. As the Fates would have it, however, all three survived. The Aridian Tradition is a rejoining of the three, back into the original state (as practiced in the time of Aradia). Each leader of a Clan, has a working knowledge of the two other Clans. Each Clan has a different aspect of Deity, for their Focus.
Fanus is the basic earth connection of the God. He is lord of the mysteries of the earth. He is primal, and one of the first awakenings of Divine Consciousness (in the Physical Plane). Janus is the awaken- ing of the Divine Consciousness to the Solar System (if you will). He is the connection to the Sun and other planetary influences. Tanus is the awakening of Divine Consciousness to the Universe. He is the connection to higher Divinity, to the Source of All Things. So, ac- tually they are the same Deity, but seen in various aspects (more properly, they are symbols of the stages through which Human Under- standing has marked its contact with Divinity). Dianus is Fanus in a higher aspect. Fanus is more like Pan, while Dianus is more like Kern (stag horned god of the forests of Nemi). The double faces of Janus symbolize (among other things) the stage of a God who is between its base earth aspect, and its higher Divine aspect. These gods may also be thought of as the stages of Child, Adolescent, and Adult (although I would never say that to their face...nor neither face of Janus). Another illustration might help: Fanus is seen with animal horns, while Janus is seen wearing a crown, and Tanus is visualized with a blue flame forming a sort of "halo" around his head. Thus, you have the Nature made (horns), Human made (crown), and Divine made (light) concepts of Deity.
Just a bit of an extension from my first reply (and a bit less emotional I hope). Frazer was not presenting a "Trad- ition" or a "System". He was simply speaking of the ancient practices and concepts of The Old Religion (and other things as well). You asked about our differences and likenesses. We share the common knowledge of Diana at Nemi, and some aspects of Her cult there. Rex Nemorensis is simply another aspect of what was once practiced at Nemi.
In my Tradition there is no office of this title, and his legend is only one of the Mystery Teaching concepts, which we have retained over time. Legend says that Aradia (the Holy Strega) es- tablished a camp in the ruins of Diana's Temple, there at Nemi. I suppose that might be considered a connection somehow. Actually, Aradia was a Tuscan Witch and taught the Old Religion as a whole (not simply as practiced at Nemi). Frazer doesn't go into much depth concerning the Witch Cult in Italy, so I don't know what else to compare it to. I am NOT giving a history of my Tradition here, but my Tradition is a part of what I am posting.
In Leland's book, Aradia is the Daughter of Diana & Lucifer. In the mythos of the Aridian Tradition, Aradia is quite human (and is not the actual "daughter" of Diana). Now, Diana does have three aspects, just as Dianus has. She is Fana, Jana, and Tana just as he is Fanus, Janus, and Tanus. How this all came about, goes back to the Coven which Aradia had founded in the 14th Century . In time as this coven divided and established other covens, the Inquisition arose (by the way, in Italian the word for coven is boschetto - pronounced boss-kett-oh - and means a grove).
Hoping to keep the mysteries alive, they established three Clans. Each Clan was a "Keeper" of one of the mystery traditions. These were the Earth, Lunar, and Stellar Mysteries. Each Clan then named the Deities in accordance with their mystery system. That is how Diana and Dianus came to be known by these many names. It is customary in some Traditions/Systems to have an "inner court" name for the God & Goddess. A name not known to any non-initiates. So, some groups will chose (or create) a secret name, which only they will use when addressing Deity.
For those who both believe, and do not believe, in the anti- quity/survival of The Old Religion, I offer the following: In 30 B.C., the Roman Poet Horace wrote his work called the Epodes of Horace. In part, they deal with a dialogue between he and an Italian witch named Canidia. In Epode 5, he associates Diana & Proserpina with witches in a mystery Cult. In Epode 17, he names these goddesses as patron goddesses of Witchcraft, and states that witches use a book called Libros Carminum, by which they "call down the moon" and make philtres and evoke spirits. Other Roman writers of the period, support this basic theme in their writings (such as Lucan and Ovid). From this we can conclude, that the association of witches with Diana, was general- ly accepted in Italy (circa 30 B.C.). Bear in mind that this is being written about in pre-Christian times, and not in the 1950's of Gerald Gardner. In note titled "The Society of Diana", I will show that this cult continued on (in Historical documentation) through the 19th Century.
EPODE 5 : "...Night and Diana, who command silence when secret mysteries are performed, now aid me: now turn your vengeance and influence against my enemies' house..."
EPODE 17: (to canidia) "Now already I yield to your mighty art, and suppliant beseech you by the realms of Proserpine, and by the powers of Diana, not to be provoked, and by your books of enchantments that are able to call down the fixed stars from heaven, Canidia, at length spare your magic words, and turn backward your swift wheel..."
(Canidia replies)
"...must I, who can move waxen images and call down the moon from the sky by my spells, who can raise the vaporous dead, and mix a draught of love lament the effect of my art, availing nothing upon you ?"
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