Holy Words

Whilst looking up info on Colorado’s flag, I found this interesting page at the Colorado Dept. of Personal & Administration (DPA) Division of IT site, full of state trivia (state gemstone, state song, etc.). There’s a noteworthy note about our state motto, which is Nil Sine Numine.

The Latin phrase “Nil Sine Numine”, was adopted as part of the Territorial Seal. At recurring intervals, discussion has ensued concerning interpretation of this Latin phrase which commonly translated is “Nothing without Providence”. Others say it is “Nothing without God”. In the early mining days of the State, the unregenerate said it meant “nothing without a new mine”.

In a strict sense, one cannot possibly get “God” from “numine”, God being a purely Anglo-Saxon word. The word “numine” means any divinity, god or goddess. The best evidence of intent of Colorado’s official designers and framers of the resolution for adoption of the seal is contained in the committee report wherein clear distinction was made between “numine” and “Deo” and it is specifically states that the committee’s interpretative translation was “Nothing without the Deity”.

Which is kind of neat. While probably more religious than some would prefer, it’s a bit more Deistic and non-denominational than some would prefer, too.

The phraseoriginates in Virgil’s Aeneid,Book 2, line 777: “… non haec sine numine devûm Eveniunt.” (translated “these things do not come to pass without the will of the gods”). So it does have a nice classical (and non-Biblical) slant.

Interestingly, there are (only) four state mottos that directly reference God or Deus (Arizonia, Florida, Ohio, South Dakota; American Samoa would be a fifth); three others (including Colorado, and Connecticut and Maine) indirectly reference God or divine forces.