Minos

Minos, known as Minar in some southern regions, is one of the more popular deities, enjoying both a large clergy and following among the merchant class of most cities. Politically powerful, Minos is one of the younger gods and is often viewed as too interested in material gain by more philosophic deities. He is favored by his father, Pavor, God of Travel, and enjoys a close alliance with Vitulus, God of Cities.

Despite his commercial interests, Minos encourages his worshippers to be fair in their dealings, though a contract is considered inviolate regardless of how fair it is. Because of this, Minos is often at odds with Amphitritus, who often covets the Merchantlord’s political and economic power, as well as his own mother, Bellona, who encourages theft and trickery as a means to amass one’s fortune.

Minos

God of Commerce

Descriptive Info

Gender: Male

Avatar: Minar; Treliste of the Golden Hand

Consort(s): None

Allies: Adrasteia, Goddess of Rivers and Streams (paternal grandmother); Baelthor, God of the Earth (paternal great-grandfather); Furinus, God of Wine; Gyges, God of Thunder; Innus, God of Friendship; Pavor, God of Travel (father); Terpsichore, Goddess of Language; and Vitulus, God of Cities.

Foes: Amphitritus, God of Greed; Bellona, Goddess of Wealth (mother); Britomaris, Goddess of Thievery; Clementia, Goddess of Mercy and Taltos, God of Water.

Spiritual Info

Rank: Intermediate

Nature: Harmonious

Ethos: Agathocacological

Major Influence: Commerce

Minor Influence(s): Contracts, Mercantilism, Teamstering

Spheres: Creation, Travel, Mercantilism, Messenger

Servants

Saint Amandus the Venerable, Saint Pomerius the Young

Doctrine

The doctrine of Minos holds that commerce is a sacred force binding the world in order, and that all contracts - whether written or spoken — are inviolable under divine law. Worshippers are expected to deal fairly, work diligently, honor their debts, and treat wealth as a means to build community rather than an end in itself. Guilds are seen as holy institutions, and trade is a universal language that transcends borders. Fraud, sloth, and dishonorable conduct are spiritual failings, while accountability, prudence, and integrity are the virtues of the faithful. To serve Minos is to uphold the sacred balance of exchange in all things.

This doctrine is detailed in the Ledger of Golden Weights , a revered text that combines sacred parables, trade law, ethical guidance, and economic philosophy. It is said to have been compiled and annotated by Saint Amandus the Venerable, the first great prophet-accountant of Minos, during the early First Age of Man.

According to church tradition, Saint Amandus received visions from Minos while reconciling merchant disputes in a port city during a famine. Each vision revealed a “weight of the soul” in metaphorical balance against contracts, honesty, and duty. The resulting book consists of 14 chapters with titles such as On the Binding of Words, Of the Just Measure, The Tables of Trade, and Debtors in the Dust.

The Ledger of Golden Weights is not merely scripture — it is often physically shaped like a merchant’s account book, bound in leather with gilt edges and ruled lines for notes, inviting readers to “balance their own lives as they balance their books.” Copies are kept in every temple of Minos, and guildmasters are expected to read from it during the Spring Summit and Saint Amandus’ Fair.

The Ledger sets out the Credo, a collection of Seven Directives all faithful of Minos are enjoined to observe in business as in their personal lives:

• The First Directive: Honor Every Contract
• The Directive of Diligence:

Virtues

Integrity: Honor your word, let your contract stand; Diligence: Work hard and mind your accounts, do not let debt fester; Equity: Treat others fairly in trade, though fairness need not mean charity; Accountability: Own your debts and mistakes, settle what is owed; Prudence: Weigh each bargain and do not act on impulse; Initiative: Take action to create opportunity, commerce favors the bold; Respect: Honor guilds, partners, and competitors - without order, trade fails.

Mission

No information available on the mission of Minos

Geography

No geographic information available on Minos

History of the Church

No historic information available on Minos

Organization

No information available on the Organization of the Church of Minos

Religious Practices

No information available on the religous practices of the Church of Minos

Calendar

Accounting

Original article: Accounting

Eanaire 14

Observed by: Common in urban areas and regions where Minos is particularly honored

Accounting, which takes place on Eanaire 14, is a high holy day for Minos, god of commerce. On this day, merchants and craftsmen observant to Minos are expected to balance their books, pay any remaining debts past due and submit their accounting to the nearest temple to Minos, where it is recognized and recorded (and often sent to the local lord to determine appropriate taxation and fines). Failure to comply with the tradition is, at least, considered disrespectful to Minos and, in some regions, considered an attempt to avoid paying taxes, subjecting the merchant to arrest and imprisonment for failure to pay his debts.

Saint Amandus' Fair

Original article: Saint Amandus' Fair

Sultain 15-21

Observed by: Commonplace

Saint Amandus' Fair is a week-long autumn market fair holy to Minos as a week to honor Saint Amandus the Venerable. As with most of the Minoan Fairs, the Fair takes place in a designated Market Town where merchants from nearby countries gather to sell and trade. Traditionally, Saint Amandus' Fair is when new Guildmasters are elected to office by trade guilds, retired guildsmen are honored and deceased guildsmen of import are recognized. Saint Amandus' Fair ends on Sultain 21st with a sunset service at the local temple to Minos.

Saint Pomerius' Fair

Original article: Saint Pomerius' Fair

Beltain 1-7

Observed by: Commonplace

Saint Pomerius' Fair is a week-long market fair holy to Minos as a week to honor Saint Pomerius the Young. As with most of the Minoan Fairs, the Fair takes place in a designated Market Town where merchants from nearby countries gather to sell and trade. Traditionally, Saint Pomerius' Fair is also when new craftsman or merchant Apprentices are judged and, if they pass the tests placed on them by the Masters of their crafts, are chosen for Apprenticeship. It is also a time when many new contracts are initiated between merchants and craftsmen. Saint Pomerius' Fair ends on Beltain 7, with a morning service at the local temple to Minos where new Apprentices are presented to the congregation, followed by the Spring Summit among local guildmasters.

Spring Summit

Original article: Spring Summit

Beltain 7

Observed by: Commonplace

Spring Summit is a holy day of Minos where local guildmasters are expected to gather at the nearest temple to Minos to discuss plans for the following year, set prices (where it is legal to do such) and settle any inter-guild disputes from the previous season. It takes place on the last day of Saint Pomerius' Fair, which is why guildmasters observant to Minos are generally absent from the Market Towns during that festival.

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