What is this alma mater? Immediately there is an association with the "mother", and this association is very close to the truth. Since we are talking about an educational institution that, like a mother, educates, educates and nurtures its pets. And then, having equipped them with the necessary scientific, moral and spiritual baggage, he is released into the big world. Let's talk more about what the expression "alma mater" means.
Let's turn to the dictionary
In the dictionaries, the meaning of the word "alma mater" is given one. This is a higher education institution that has graduated from some person in question. For example, the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, in which A.S. Pushkin studied in his youth, is often called his alma mater.
Synonyms for this term are such as:
- educational institution;
- institute;
- university;
- University
- college.
The question is, can I call an alma mater school? The answer will be unambiguously positive. After all, the meaning of this expression is not in the rank of the institution. It is associated with that baggage, including spiritual, which the alma mater left in the mind and heart of the graduate.
Nursing mother
That is how the translation of the expression we are considering sounds from the Latin language. There are other similar translation options. This is the “mother-nurse” and “beneficent mother”. So in the old days, starting from the Middle Ages, they called schools.
As a rule, these were the first European universities. Of course, such a name was informal. It reflected a good and even gentle attitude towards the educational institution, which gave young people the road to life.
The fact is that the first universities first gave education that was philosophical and theological (theological) in nature. Thus, medieval teachers "nourished" their wards primarily in the spiritual sense. So there was an association with the mother, which invests in the child that amount of knowledge and values ​​that will help him navigate the future adult life.
Close to the expression we are studying is the phrase "soak with mother’s milk." It denotes the perception and assimilation of certain thoughts, information, rules and norms of behavior from an early age.
Nowadays
Alma mater - what does this mean today? In the modern sense, this is a figurative designation of the educational institution where education was received or is currently being received.
Among professional scientists, this is the place where they are most involved. Today, the studied phrase can be used in an affectionate sense, or maybe in a playful way.
Connection with the Roman goddesses
Studying the question that this is an alma mater, one should pay attention to the connection of this phraseological unit with Roman mythology, which is seen by researchers. If we figured out the second part of it, “mater”, then the first word in the phrase deserves additional narration.
With the term "alma", which, in addition to the above, also meant "nourishing, loving," the Romans associated goddesses who showed special favor to the human race. These included, for example, Venus, Ceres, Cybel. That is, associations with these goddesses also "participated" in the formation of the established expression we are studying.
Venus is not only the goddess of love
As a rule, Venus is associated with the name of the goddess of love and beauty. But not everyone knows that such an interpretation appeared later, when it began to be associated with the Greek Aphrodite. And initially it was associated with prosperity and fertility. In April and August, celebrations related to the grape harvest were held in honor of her and Jupiter. During their holding, the newly prepared wine poured onto the ground. This was done at the temple of Venus in gratitude for the fact that it sends people a generous harvest.
Ceres - giving fertility
This ancient Roman goddess of fertility and harvest corresponds to the ancient Greek Demeter. She was portrayed as a beautiful matron holding fruits in her hands. She had the only daughter of Proserpine, whom she gave birth to from Jupiter.
The myth of the abduction of Proserpine was at the heart of the mysteries that had been prevalent for two thousand years. In it, the mother goddess, who was looking for a daughter, could not fully fulfill her mission. It was to give humanity life and food.
From the fact that Ceres missed her daughter, nature faded. Concerned that life on Earth could fade away, Jupiter ordered the god of the underworld, Pluto, to return Proserpine to his mother for six months.
And then spring comes and nature blooms. And when Proserpine leaves, her mother again falls into sadness, autumn days come, and nature begins to wither.
And also the goddess Ceres could not pass by a hungry child. She also took care of abandoned children and those who remained orphans.
Cybele - mother of the gods
At the end of the consideration of the fact that this is an alma mater, let us dwell on one more Roman goddess related to this expression. This is Cybel, who was first Phrygian, ancient Greek, and then the ancient Roman goddess. She personified mother nature and enjoyed special respect. She was identified with the mother of Zeus Ray and called the "great mother of the gods."
In ancient art, Cybele is represented in the image of a richly dressed matron with a tower crown on its head. In one hand she holds a tympanum (drum), and in the other - a scepter or ears. She sits on a throne that is surrounded by lions. Or she was portrayed in a chariot drawn by lions, sometimes on horseback on a lion. The special splendor of the festival in honor of this goddess was acquired during the empire. Then she began to be revered as the patroness of welfare and the entire Roman state.
So, in an unexpected way, starting with a short combination of the words “alma mater”, we plunged into ancient history and mythology, closely associated with it.