The Beauty & Mystery of Carmen

The name "Carmen" is an ancient and beautiful one.  In Hebrew, it means "garden" or "orchard," and in ancient Latin it is the word for "song."

Carmen is actually an age-old spell or incantation which was often sung by priests in ancient Rome.  It is one of the oldest known prayers in world history.  Some libraries have preserved books containing this old incantation, which is also known as the Carmen Arvale or Carmen Saliare.

The words to the Carmen Arvale are as such:

enos Lases iuvate
enos Lases iuvate
enos Lases iuvate

neve lue rue Marmar sins incurrere in pleoris
neve lue rue Marmar sins incurrere in pleoris
neve lue rue Marmar sins incurrere in pleoris

satur fu, fere Mars, limen sali, sta berber
satur fu, fere Mars, limen sali, sta berber
satur fu, fere Mars, limen sali, sta berber

semunis alterni advocapit conctos
semunis alterni advocapit conctos
semunis alterni advocapit conctos

enos Marmor iuvato
enos Marmor iuvato
enos Marmor iuvato

triumpe triumpe triumpe triumpe triumpe

The traditional interpretation of this chant is that it is a prayer to Mars, the ancient god of war and agriculture.  The incantation also asks for help from the Lares, who are ancient guardians of the home and the fields, as well as the sacred harvesters, "Semones," which were like ancient patron saints.  The chant wards against plague and other natural disasters, asking Mars to be happy and satisfied with the farmers' work, and to help the Semones protect the people as they tend their fields.

Meanwhile, the Carmen Saliare goes like this:

divum  empta cante, divum deo supplicate
cume tonas, Leucesie,    prae tet tremonti
quot ibet etinei de is cum tonarem
cozeulodorieso. omnia vero adpatula coemisse.
ian cusianes duonus ceruses dunus Ianusve
vet pom melios eum recumcarmen Saliare
divum empta cante,    divum deo supplicate
cume tonas, Leucesie,    prae tet tremonti
quot ibet etinei de is cum tonarem
cozeulodorieso. omnia vero adpatula coemisse.
ian cusianes duonus ceruses dunus Ianusve
vet pom melios eum recum

Not all of the words are able to be translated.  However, the words which scholars recognize involve thunder, god Janus and goddess Ceres.  It is thought that this song is a hymn of praise to these gods and their might.