The Anathemata

Mabinog’s Liturgy (continued)

West-rites defensor

conservator of provinces

in the fifteenth of his pontificate.

Father of his country, world-sotera 

for four years now on his palmy beach

but to speak once yet

as if from the City to the World.2 

Lucius Ælius Sejanus

senior officer, combined command

(Castra Praetoria). Chief law-officer (criminal jurisdiction) outside the City.

Co-ordinator of groupings:

civil, military

security, secret.

Holder of the key portfolios

David Jones notes

2 The policy of Tiberius was to support the official religion of Rome as against the non-Italic and non-Western cults which were gaining ascendancy. In AD 26 he began his retirement on Capri where he died in AD 37, but in AD 31-2 there was the swift action that liquidated Sejanus and the staged trip up the Tiber as far as the walls of the city, to the applause of the people. He did not come ashore.

additional notes

DJ note 2:

Tiberius became emperor in 14 CE.

Wikipedia tells the story of the relationship between Tiberius and Sejanus; it is not a pretty one. There are parallels between Sejanus and Nazi power-politicians.

“To the City and to the World” (Urbi et Orbi): the traditional papal blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s on solemn occasions.

comments

see also

semantic structures

glossary

a soter: saviour.