Alma mater is Latin for "nourishing mother". It was used in ancient Rome as a title for the mother goddess, and in Medieval Christianity for the Virgin Mary. In modern times it is used to refer to the university or college a person attends or attended. For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... For the 1934 film, see The Goddess (1934 film). ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... The term Virgin Mary has several different meanings: Mary, the mother of Jesus, the historical and multi-denominational concept of Mary Blessed Virgin Mary, the Roman Catholic theological and doctrinal concept of Mary Marian apparitions shrines to the Virgin Mary Virgin Mary in Islam, the Islamic theological and doctrinal concept...

History

This term is from the motto ("Alma Mater Studiorum"),the oldest European, continually-operating, degree-granting university (the University of Bologna, in Italy, founded in A.D. 1088) located in the city of Bologna. This is also a term used in the Latin society. For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... The University of Bologna (Italian: , UNIBO) is the oldest continually operating degree-granting university in the world, and the second biggest university in Italy. ... Events Succession of Pope Urban II (1088-1099) Work begins on the third and largest church at Cluny Rebellion of 1088 against William II of England lead by Odo of Bayeux. ... For the food product, see Bologna sausage. ...

Uses in academia

As a reference to an academic institution

In many modern languages it is usually and principally heard as a term of academia; thus, in the English language, it is often used in place of the name of the university or college a person has attended or graduated from. In American English, it may also be used in reference to the high school that an individual has attended. Academia is a collective term for the scientific and cultural community engaged in higher education and research, taken as a whole. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... For the community in Florida, see University, Florida. ... For other uses, see College (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see American English (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see High school (disambiguation). ...

As a song

In addition to this, alma mater may be the incipit, the first line, of a school's anthem or song, and may be taken as a title for the genre. The term is more familiar in the United States than in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term often refers to the entire school song as opposed to simply the opening. The incipit of a text, such as a poem, song, or book, is its first few words or opening line. ...

Trivia

• "Alma Mater" is a song performed by the Portuguese gothic metal and black metal band Moonspell, from the album Wolfheart in 1995.

• In Chuck Berry's 1972 number one hit "My Ding-A-Ling", a live recording. Chuck can be heard saying to the audience, "We must do our Alma Mater". He then gets the females and males in the audience to sing alternate parts of the chorus.

• Steven Morrissey released a song called "Alma Matters" on his Maladjusted album.

Moonspell is a Portuguese gothic-doom metal band, formed in 1992 and released their first EP Under the Moonspell in 1994, a year before of the release of their first album Wolfheart. ... Wolfheart is the first full-length album by gothic metal band Moonspell. ... Steven Morrissey Steven Patrick Morrissey, (born May 22, 1959 in Manchester in England) dropped his forenames to become Morrissey, the lead singer of the seminal UK indie band, The Smiths. ... Maladjusted is an album by rock artist Morrissey, released on August 12, 1997. ...

External links

Look up Alma mater in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Definition of alma mater at Merriam-Webster Online
• An example of an alma mater "Ah! Well I Remember!", from the University of Northern Colorado
• "Crimson and the Blue", the alma mater of the University of Kansas