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Genius
"Begetter," a Roman word for a spirit of paternal ancestry, cognate with the Arabic djinni or genie. Each Roman man had his personal genius as a guardian angel or familiar, each woman had a corresponding female spirit called a juno.1 In the time of the empire, the word genius came to be applied to both sexes. Official prayers were addressed to the "Genius of Rome, whether masculine or feminine, whether god or goddess."2
The meaning of genius changed again in the Middle Ages, when it was virtually synonymous with "spirit." One could speak of a genius loci, spirit of a place; or an "evil genius," a demon. The modern meaning, an exceptionally intelligent or inspired person, was of late origin. In 1875 A.D., James Hinton defined genius as "the woman in man."3 In this sense a genius was very similar to a Muse or a Shakti.
Source:
The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets by Barbara G. Walker
- Rose, H.J. Religion in Greece and Rome, p.193, 1959
- Dumézil, Georges. Archaic Roman Religion p.39, 1970
- Pearsall, Ronald. The Worm in the Bud, p.490, 1969
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URL:
http://deoxy.org/define/Genius hyperdictionary—index |