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In classical Roman religion, a genius loci (pl.: genii locorum) was the protective spirit of a place. It was often depicted in religious iconography as a figure holding attributes such as a cornucopia, patera (libation bowl), or snake. Many Roman altars found throughout the Western Roman Empire were dedicated to a particular genius loci.
The Roman term for spirit of place was Genius loci, by which it is sometimes still referred. This has often been historically envisaged as a guardian animal or a small supernatural being ( puck , fairy , elf , and the like) or a ghost .
Each individual place had a genius (genius loci) and so did powerful objects, such as volcanoes.The concept extended to some specifics: the genius of the theatre, of vineyards, and of festivals, which made performances successful, grapes grow, and celebrations succeed, respectively.
genius loci: spirit of place: The unique, distinctive aspects or atmosphere of a place, such as those celebrated in art, stories, folk tales, and festivals. Originally, the genius loci was literally the protective spirit of a place, a creature usually depicted as a snake. generatim discite cultus: Learn each field of study according to its kind.
The Genius of Palermo (in Italian Genio di Palermo, also called Genio or Palermo) is one of the city symbols and the lay patron of Palermo. He was the ancient numen and genius loci of the Sicilian city. The Genius is the emblem of Palermo, the personification of the city, and symbol of its inhabitants.
The architecture of a granary featured niches for images of the tutelary deities, who might include the genius loci or guardian spirit of the site, Hercules, Silvanus, Fortuna Conservatrix ("Fortuna the Preserver") and in the Greek East Aphrodite and Agathe Tyche. [20]
The emphasis on Gothic literature, on the sublime in general, and the poet as spokesman of a nation's consciousness allowed the declining meaning of "genius" as "natural spirit of the place" and the emergent meaning of "genius" as "inherent and irrational ability" to combine. At the same time, Romanticism's definition of genius as a person ...
Thus, "genius loci" means "spirit of a place," while "genus loci" would mean something like "kind of a place" (if it even made any kind of sense put together like that). Myself, I've always wondered why it's not genius locus considering it's supposed to be a spirit of a single place, not a multitude of places, and loci is the plural form.