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JUPITER, JUPITERES, JUPPITER. Jupiter, Saturn's son and Juno's husband, was the chief god of the Roman pantheon. He was the god of light, fire, and air (Etym VIII.xi.69). Because of his affairs with Alcmena, Europa, Io, Semele, and Ganymede, Isidore calls him extremely lewd (Etym VIII.xi.34).

Jupiter tries to stop the argument between Venus and Mars, KnT 2442. Arcite prays that Jupiter guide his soul and keep part of it, KnT 2786-2792. Theseus calls Jupiter prince and cause of all things, KnT 3035-3037, and thanks him for his grace, KnT 3067-3069. Cresus dreams that Jupiter washed him, MkT 2743; his daughter interprets Jupiter as snow and rain, MkT 2752. Jupiter is the heathen god whom Cecile refuses to worship, SNT 364-413. Jupiter's metal is tin, CYT 828. Venus appeals to Jupiter to save her son, Eneas, HF I.215, and Jupiter takes care of him, HF I.465. The dreamer reasons that he is not Ganymede to be taken up to heaven, HF II.588-592. The learned eagle lives with Jupiter, god of thunder, HF II.605-611. He says that Jupiter pities the poet, who serves Cupid and Venus without reward, HF II.612-626. Jupiter slays Phaeton when the sun's chariot goes out of control, HF II.944-949. Pandarus swears by Jupiter, who makes the thunder ring, Tr II.233. Criseyde beseeches Jupiter to reward with bad luck those who brought the treaty in which she is exchanged for Antenor, Tr IV.666-672. She prays that Jupiter grant to herself and Troilus the grace to meet again after ten nights, Tr IV.1681-1687. Dido prays to die if it be Jupiter's will, LGW 1338. Jupiter is "Jupiter the likerous" because of his many love affairs, The Former Age 57.

Jupiter is also the sixth and largest planet, counting away from the sun (see Ptolemaic map). The beneficent planet, it governs touch, the lungs, the arteries, and semen (Tetrabiblos III.12). Gower points out that the planet "Jupiter the delicat" causes peace; those born under it are meek and patient, fortunate in business and lusty in love. Clerks call it the planet of "delices," Confessio Amantis VII.909-923. Jupiter aids those born under him in greater decorum, restraint, and modesty (Tetrabiblos III.14).

Ypermestre is born under Jupiter and thinks that happiness consists of truth, good conscience, dread of shame, and true wifehood, LGW 2584-2589. The first inequal hour and the ninth hour of the day belong to Jupiter, Astr II.12. 24. [Almena: Calistopee: Europe: Ganymede: Jove: Juno: Pheton: Ypermystra]

Jupiter, derived from Sanskrit Dyaus-pater, "sky-father," occurs once initially, HF II.642; nine times in medial positions, HF I.215, 464; II.955; Tr II.233; IV.669, 1683; LGW 1806, 2585; Form Age 57; and throughout the Astrolabe. Jupiteres, the ME genitive case, occurs once, in medial position, HF I.199. Juppiter occurs in medial positions, KnT 2442, 2786, 2792, 3035, 3069, 3934, 3942; SNT 364, 413; CYT 828.


John Gower, The Complete Works, ed. G.C.Macaulay, III: 257-258; Isidore, Etymologiae, ed. W.M. Lindsay, I; Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos, ed. and trans. F.E. Robbins, 319, 373; B. Witlieb, "Jupiter and Nimrod in The Former Age." Chaucer Newsletter 2 (1980): 12-13.
From CHAUCER NAME DICTIONARY
Copyright © 1988, 1996 Jacqueline de Weever
Published by Garland Publishing, Inc., New York and London.

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