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Anna Perenna, an ancient Italian goddess worshipped in Rome and identified with the New Year. Her name comes from the Latin words: annis – year and perennis – eternal. The origin of the original goddess cult remains a mystery. It probably came from the people living on the Iberian Peninsula before the Greeks and Latins. The cult of Anna was therefore appropriated by the Romans, who adapted it to their language. The ancient Romans had various versions of the origins of Anna Perenna.
Ovid’s account
Ovid in his work titled “Fasti” describes many Roman holidays and celebrations. In Book III he describes a festival in honor of Anna Perenna. The holiday was celebrated on March 15 on the Ides of March, considered New Year’s Day. In the old Roman calendar, March was considered the first month of the year. When the Julian calendar came into use (46 BCE), the New Year was moved to January 1. On this holiday, the Roman people organized fun events on the meadows via Flamina. Tents were set up and people drank wine and sang cheerful songs in the open air. Ovid himself participated in these festivals before he had to leave Rome. The poet gives three stories to explain the origin of Anna Perenna and the history of her festival.
Anna and Dido
The first version tells the story of Anne as the sister of the famous Queen Dido. Dido was the queen of Carthage, unhappily in love with Aeneas, who came to visit her. Dido wanted to win the newcomer’s love. However, Aeneas had to sail away faithful to his destiny. The abandoned, heartbroken queen committed suicide. After the queen’s death, Carthage was threatened by native invasion. Anne, forced to flee, reached the coast of Lanzio. There, she was accidentally met by Aeneas, who welcomed Anna hospitably in his palace. Anna’s appearance aroused the resentment of his jealous wife Lavinia. Dido’s apparition appeared to Anna in her dream. The spirit warned her of the coming threat from Lavinia. Anna followed the advice and disappeared. She threw herself into the Numicus River, where the god Numicius welcomed her. Aeneas’ servants looking for her reached the river. They managed to hear the voice of the missing person. Anna told them that she had become a nymph and was now called Anna Perenna because she remained in the river for eternity. The servants, overjoyed at finding the missing woman, spent the day celebrating. According to this version, this is where the custom of joyful celebration comes from – due to finding the missing person, as well as the origin of the goddess. In Virgil’s “The Aeneid” Anna also appears as Dido’s sister.
Secession of the plebeians
The second version takes place during the first secession of the plebeians (494 BCE), where the plebeians fought with the patricians for their political rights. The striking plebeians left the city and came to the Holy Mountain (Mons Sacer). The reason for leaving the city was the patricians’ reluctance to be drafted into the army. Over time, they faced the threat of starvation. An old woman, Anna, fed the starving people by baking cakes and handing them out to the people. After the old woman’s death, a fun festival was organized every year in gratitude. In memory of her kindness.
Anna’s trick
The third story is an explanation of the tradition of singing cheerful songs, often obscene, which the people sang on the Ides of March. Anna as a goddess compared to other goddesses has aged over time. One day, Mars asked Anna for help. God wanted the goddess to help him win the heart of the unapproachable and strict Minerva. Anna Perenna, knowing that she could do nothing, kept deceiving Mars with promises of help. She told him that his beloved would come to his place soon. And so it happened. Mars did not know, however, that it was not Minerva who came to him, but Anna disguised as a bride. Without hesitation, Mars rushed to kiss his beloved. He discovered to his horror that she was not his chosen one. The amused old woman laughed at the shocked god, avoiding making fun of him.
More about the cult
The Roman people sometimes identified Anne Perenne with the moon goddess who marked the time of the months during the year. Places of her cult are attested in Buscemi in Sicily and Rome.
