OK … I’m talking about the words. But many of our memories do involve money. There is a goddess in Greek mythology named Mnemosyne. She is one of the Titans, an aunt of Zeus, mother of the Muses, and the goddess of memory. English words like “mnemonic” and “memory” come from her name. The ancient Romans adopted many Greek gods and goddesses. For example, Zeus became Jupiter. Mnemosyne became Moneta in the Roman world. Now, it’s possible that “Moneta” was a Latinofication of “Mnemosyne”. But the Latin verb, “monēre”, which means “to remind” or “to warn”, is more likely. So, Moneta and Mnemosyne are related by meaning rather than spelling or sound. “Monēre“ may have derived somehow from the Greek word “moneres” , which means “alone” or “unique”. But given the different meanings of the two words it seems a stretch. But now you know where the English words “monk” and “monastery” came from. So, the Romans had Moneta as the goddess of memory. But for some strange reason, a few, then many, Romans started calling Juno (the chief goddess) or an aspect of her, Juno Moneta. And Juno Moneta became the protector of funds and valuables. Juno was considered a protector of the Roman state. Adding some of her power to protect things more personal came naturally. There was an early Roman mint in her temple, but it was moved elsewhere after the great fire of 64. Some of the older members may remember it. Moneta is the origin of the English words, “money” and “mint”, as well as similar words in many other languages. Pics of Moneta on a denarius and a mosaic of Mnemosyne are below. So, memory and money are related. Now if I could just remember the password to my bank account … Cal
The word moneta first appeared "in Latin texts as a title or alternative name of the Goddess Juno." John Melville Jones A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins
from Stevenson A Dictionary of Roman Coins "in the temple of Juno Moneta- a surname given to the consort of Jupiter, because she was said to have counselled the Romans to undertake none but just wars, in which case she promised that they should never be in want of money. The name of Moneta was afterwards used alike to signify pieces of money..."
