Money

In The Gods We Trust

The term "money" is steeped in an etymological history that traces its roots back to Roman religion. Derived from the Latin word "moneta," the term has its origins in the name of a place rather than a function. The word "moneta" is associated with the ancient Roman temple of Juno Moneta, where the Roman coinage was produced and minted. This historical association effectively connects the term "money" with religious practices and mythology of the time.

The Temple of Juno Moneta, located on the Arx or the citadel on the Capitoline Hill, was not merely a place of religious worship; it also served as the mint for Roman coinage for more than four centuries, from around the 4th century BCE to the 4th century CE. The term "moneta" itself originated from the name of the goddess Juno, in her epithet as Juno Moneta, which can be translated as 'Juno the Warner' or 'the Adviser.'

The association between Juno Moneta and the concept of money can be traced back to a Roman legend. According to this lore, the sacred geese of Juno, housed in her temple, warned the Romans of a forthcoming invasion by the Gauls during the 4th century BCE, thus saving the city. This event endowed the goddess with the epithet "Moneta". In commemoration, the Romans established a mint at the temple of Juno Moneta, where they began to produce their coinage. This historical association is what gives us the English term "money" and its equivalents in various other languages.

The convergence of the sacred and the economic within the Temple of Juno Moneta underscores the interplay between religion and money in ancient societies. It's was the god that gave the coin the value and importance, via the values shared by Juno's followers. Roman coins themselves often depicted images of deities and religious iconography, further emphasizing the entwined relationship between religion and money. This synergy was not unique to Rome; in many ancient societies, temples often served as banks where riches were stored, and priests often acted as financial intermediaries.

In the modern UK, it was not a god that was depicted but his emissary on earth via the ruling Monarch. The modern USA invokes the divine via "In God We Trust" written on its currency.

Juno

Juno was a prominent figure in Roman religion/mythology, holding a high rank among the pantheon of gods and goddesses. As the equivalent of the Greek goddess Hera, Juno embodies the archetype of the queen of the gods. She is the wife of Jupiter, the king of the gods, and is often considered the protectress of the Roman state. Juno is also the mother of Mars, the god of war, and Vulcan, the god of fire and forge.

The etymology of the name 'Juno' is contested amongst scholars, with some suggesting that it is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root '*yeu-', denoting vital force or youthful vigour. Other theories propose that the name originates from the Etruscan deity Uni, which aligns with Juno's association with unity and matrimonial harmony.

Juno is typically associated with all aspects of women's lives, especially pertaining to marriage and childbirth. She was revered as Juno Lucina, 'the one who brings children into the light,' symbolising her role as the goddess of childbirth. Similarly, under the epithet Juno Moneta (the Warner or the Adviser), she was considered the protectress of funds, as previously mentioned in the discussion about the origin of the term 'money'.

The significance of Juno in Roman religion is evident in the numerous festivals dedicated to her, notably the Matronalia on the 1st of March, a day of celebration for women and marriage, and the Nonae Caprotinae on the 7th of July, a festival that particularly involved the participation of serving women. Juno's significance is further demonstrated by her inclusion in the Capitoline Triad, a group of three deities worshipped at the Capitoline temple in Rome, alongside Jupiter and Minerva.

Roman iconography often depicts Juno in a lofty position with a sceptre, signifying her regal status, and a pomegranate, symbolising fertility and marriage. Sometimes, she is depicted with a peacock, an animal sacred to her and a symbol of her heavenly majesty and watchfulness.

Family Tree

In the intricate web of Roman mythology, Juno holds a prominent position. Understanding Juno's family tree requires delving into the Roman interpretation of divine lineage, which is significantly influenced by Greek mythology due to the Roman practice of syncretising Greek gods with their own.

Juno, known as the queen of the gods, is married to Jupiter, the king of the gods. Jupiter, equivalent to the Greek Zeus, is the son of Saturn (Greek: Cronus) and Ops (Greek: Rhea). Saturn and Ops, in turn, were the children of Caelus (Greek: Uranus) and Terra (Greek: Gaia), making them the primordial sky and earth deities, respectively. Thus, Juno is part of a divine lineage that traces back to the very origins of the universe according to Roman mythology.

Juno and Jupiter have several divine children, including Mars, the god of war, Vulcan, the god of fire and blacksmiths, Bellona, the goddess of war, and Juventas, the goddess of youth. In some versions of the myth, Juno immaculately conceives Mars, which mirrors the birth of Athena from Zeus in Greek mythology.

It should be noted that the genealogy of gods in mythology can vary, depending on the source. However, this rendition of Juno's family tree represents a widely accepted version based on the most common narratives in Roman mythology. It is also important to consider that myths evolve over time, reflecting the social, cultural, and political dynamics of different eras. Consequently, multiple versions of these divine relationships may coexist, each offering unique insights into the ancient Roman world's belief systems and values.

Money Idioms

Betting your bottom dollar: This phrase means that you're so certain of something that you would be willing to bet all your money on it.

Break the bank: To spend a large amount of money on something, sometimes leading to financial hardship.

Cash cow: A project, company, or product that generates a continuous flow of money or a high proportion of overall profits, often used to support other business endeavours.

Costs an arm and a leg: Something very expensive.

Dime a dozen: This phrase means that something is common and inexpensive.

Don't take any wooden nickels: Be careful in your dealings and beware of getting cheated.

Foot the bill: To take responsibility for paying the cost of something.

In the red: Being in debt or losing money.

Made of money: Very wealthy.

Minted: To have a lot of money; being rich.

Money doesn't grow on trees: Money is not easily obtained and one should be careful how they spend it.

Money for old rope: Money earned for something that is considered easy or not much work.

Pay through the nose: To pay a lot of money for something, especially when you think it's too expensive.

Penny pincher: A person who is reluctant to spend money; someone who is very frugal.

Penny for your thoughts: A way of asking what someone is thinking, not literally offering money for thoughts.

Put your money where your mouth is: If you believe in something, you should support it financially or take actions reflecting your words.

Rolling in it: To have a lot of money; being rich.

Save for a rainy day: To save money for a time when it might be needed unexpectedly.

Spend money like water: To spend too much money in a careless manner.

Time is money: Time is a valuable resource, so do things as quickly as possible.

Tighten your belt: To spend less money.

Worth its weight in gold: Something very valuable, useful, or important.

Money as Liquid

Cash flow: The total amount of money being transferred into and out of a business.

Dip into your savings: To spend some of your saved money.

Drain one's resources: To use up or consume all of one's money or resources.

Drowning in debt: To have a lot of debts.

Financial liquidity: The ease with which an asset, or security, can be converted into ready cash without affecting its market price.

Frozen assets: Assets that cannot be converted into cash easily.

Keep your head above water: To just be able to manage when you have financial difficulties, especially to be able to pay the bills and debts when they are due.

Liquid assets: Cash or assets that can be easily converted into cash.

Money down the drain: Money wasted or spent unnecessarily.

Money laundering: The process of making large amounts of money generated by a criminal activity appear to have come from a legitimate source.

Pouring money into something: Spending a lot of money on a project or an object.

Sink or swim: A situation where one must save oneself by one's own means or fail.

Slush fund: A reserve of money used for illicit purposes, especially political bribery.

Spend money like water: To spend too much money in a careless manner.

Tide someone over: To help someone through a difficult financial period.

Wash one's hands of something: To refuse to have any more to do with something, often regarding financial responsibility.

Homophones

Cent/Scent: "Cent" is a monetary unit, while "Scent" refers to a smell or a fragrance.

Sell/Cell: "Sell" means to give something in exchange for money, whereas "Cell" refers to a small room in which a prisoner is locked up or a small compartment.

Principal/Principle: "Principal" can refer to the most important or senior person in an organisation, or to the original sum of money invested or loaned, while "Principle" is a basic truth or law.

Billed/Built: "Billed" refers to being charged for a service or product, whereas "Built" is the past tense of "build", meaning to construct something.

Stake/Steak: "Stake" can mean a sum of money invested in a business, while "Steak" is a cut of meat.

Current/Currant: "Current" can refer to the present or to the flow of water, electricity, or money in economics, whereas "Currant" is a small dried fruit.

Profit/Prophet: "Profit" refers to a financial gain, while a "Prophet" is a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God.

Depreciate/Deprecate: "Depreciate" refers to decrease in value over time, often used in accounting, while "Deprecate" means to express disapproval of something.

Capital/Capitol: "Capital" can refer to a city that serves as the seat of government, wealth in the form of money or other assets, or a letter in upper case. "Capitol", on the other hand, refers to a building where a legislative body meets.

Cite/Site/Sight: "Cite" means to quote as evidence, "Site" refers to a specific location or place, and "Sight" relates to the ability to see or a thing that one sees.

Bare/Bear: "Bare" means naked or to uncover, while "Bear" can refer to the animal, or to carry a burden – financial or otherwise.

Lend/Lent: "Lend" is the act of giving something to someone for a short period of time, expecting it to be given back, while "Lent" is the past tense and past participle of "Lend". In another context, Lent is also a period of forty days' fast preceding Easter in the Christian calendar.