ancient Roman religion Religion in ancient Rome consisted of varying imperial and provincial religious practices, which were followed both by the people of Rome as well as those who were brought under its rule. The Romans thought of themselves as highly religious, ...

, the ''indigitamenta'' were

lists of deities This is an index of lists of deities of the different religions, cultures and mythologies of the world. * List of deities by classification * Lists of deities by cultural sphere * List of fictional deities * Names of God There are vario ...

kept by the

College of Pontiffs The College of Pontiffs ( la, Collegium Pontificum; see '' collegium'') was a body of the ancient Roman state whose members were the highest-ranking priests of the state religion. The college consisted of the '' pontifex maximus'' and the other ...

to assure that the correct divine names were invoked for public prayers. These lists or books probably described the nature of the various deities who might be called on under particular circumstances, with specifics about the sequence of

invocation An invocation (from the Latin verb ''invocare'' "to call on, invoke, to give") may take the form of: *Supplication, prayer or spell. *A form of possession. * Command or conjuration. * Self-identification with certain spirits. These forms a ...

. The earliest ''indigitamenta'', like many other aspects of Roman religion, were attributed to Numa Pompilius, second

king of Rome The king of Rome ( la, rex Romae) was the ruler of the Roman Kingdom. According to legend, the first king of Rome was Romulus, who founded the city in 753 BC upon the Palatine Hill. Seven legendary kings are said to have ruled Rome until 509 ...

Sources

The books of the Pontiffs are known only through scattered passages preserved throughout

Latin literature Latin literature includes the essays, histories, poems, plays, and other writings written in the Latin language. The beginning of formal Latin literature dates to 240 BC, when the first stage play in Latin was performed in Rome. Latin literature ...

Varro Marcus Terentius Varro (; 116–27 BC) was a Roman polymath and a prolific author. He is regarded as ancient Rome's greatest scholar, and was described by Petrarch as "the third great light of Rome" (after Vergil and Cicero). He is sometimes calle ...

is assumed to have drawn on direct knowledge of the lists in writing his now-fragmentary theological books, which were used as a reference by the Church Fathers for their mocking catalogues of minor deities. As

William Warde Fowler William Warde Fowler (16 May 1847 – 15 June 1921) was an English historian and ornithologist, and tutor at Lincoln College, Oxford. He was best known for his works on ancient Roman religion. Among his most influential works wa''The Roman ...

noted,

the good Fathers tumbled the whole collection about sadly in their search for material for their mockery, having no historical or scientific object in view; with the result that it now resembles the bits of glass in a kaleidoscope, and can no longer be re-arranged on the original Varronian plan.

Georg Wissowa Georg Otto August Wissowa (17 June 1859 – 11 May 1931) was a German classical philologist born in Neudorf, near Breslau. Education and career Wissowa studied classical philology under August Reifferscheid at the University of Bresla ...

, however, asserted that Varro's lists were not ''indigitamenta'', but ''di certi'', gods whose function could still be identified with certainty, since by the late Republic some of the most archaic deities of the Roman pantheon were not widely cultivated and understood. Another likely source for the

patristic Patristics or patrology is the study of the early Christian writers who are designated Church Fathers. The names derive from the combined forms of Latin ''pater'' and Greek ''patḗr'' (father). The period is generally considered to run from ...

catalogues is the lost work ''De indigitamentis'' of

Granius Flaccus Granius Flaccus (active in the 1st century BC) was an antiquarian and scholar of Roman law and religion, probably in the time of Julius Caesar and Augustus. Religious scholar Granius wrote a book ''De indigitamentis'' ("On Forms of Address"), on ...

, Varro's contemporary. W.H. Roscher collated the standard modern list of ''indigitamenta'', though other scholars may differ with him on some points.

Form

It is unclear whether the written ''indigitamenta'' contained complete prayer formularies, or simply an index of names. If formulas of

, the ''indigitamenta'' were probably '' precationum carmina'', chants or hymns of address.

Paulus Paulus is the original Latin form of the English name Paul. It may refer to: Ancient Roman * Paul (jurist) or Julius Paulus (fl. 222–235 AD), Roman jurist * Paulus (consul 496), politician of the Eastern Roman Empire * Paulus (consul 512), R ...

defines them as ''incantamenta'', incantations, and ''indicia'', signs or intimations. A further point of uncertainty is whether these names represent distinct minor entities, or

epithets An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

pertaining to an aspect of a major deity's sphere of influence, that is, an indigitation, or name intended to "fix" or focalize the action of the god so invoked. If the former, the ''indigitamenta'' might be described as indexing "significant names which bespoke a specialized divine function," for which the German term ''Sondergötter'' is sometimes used; for instance,

Vagitanus In ancient Roman religion, Vagitanus or Vaticanus was one of a number of childbirth deities who influenced or guided some aspect of parturition, in this instance the newborn's crying. The name is related to the Latin noun ''vagitus'', "crying, squa ...

gives the newborn its first cry ''(vagitus)''. If the ''indigitamenta'' record invocational epithets, however, an otherwise obscure deity such as Robigus, the red god of wheat rust, should perhaps be understood as an indigitation of

Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Roman god of war. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmos ...

, red god of war and agriculture;

Maia Maia (; Ancient Greek: Μαῖα; also spelled Maie, ; la, Maia), in ancient Greek religion and mythology, is one of the Pleiades and the mother of Hermes, one of the major Greek gods, by Zeus, the king of Olympus. Family Maia is the daugh ...

, "a deity known apparently only to the priests and the learned," would be according to

Macrobius Macrobius Ambrosius Theodosius, usually referred to as Macrobius (fl. AD 400), was a Roman provincial who lived during the early fifth century, during late antiquity, the period of time corresponding to the Later Roman Empire, and when Latin was ...

an indigitation of the

Bona Dea Bona Dea (; 'Good Goddess') was a goddess in ancient Roman religion Religion in ancient Rome consisted of varying imperial and provincial religious practices, which were followed both by the people of Rome as well as those who were brought u ...

. Roscher, however, does not consider Robigus and Maia to have been part of the ''indigitamenta''.

Roscher's list of ''indigitamenta''

Many of the ''indigitamenta'' are involved in the cycle of conception, birth, and child development (marked '' BCh''); see

List of Roman birth and childhood deities In ancient Roman religion, birth and childhood deities were thought to care for every aspect of conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and child development. Some major deities of Roman religion had a specialized function they contributed to this ...

. Several appear in a list of twelve helper gods of Ceres as an agricultural goddess or are named elsewhere as having specialized agricultural functions ('' Ag''). Gods not appearing on either of those lists are described briefly here, or are more fully described in their own articles as linked. * Abeona '' BCh'' * Adeona '' BCh'' * Adolenda, see ''

Acta Arvalia The ''Acta Arvalia'' were the recorded protocols of the Arval Brothers ''(Arvales fratres)'', a priestly brotherhood ('' sodalitas'') of ancient Roman religion. The ''acta'' were inscribed in marble tablets fastened to the walls of the Temple of ...

'' * Aescolanus, god of copper money (''

aes AES may refer to: Businesses and organizations Companies * AES Corporation, an American electricity company * AES Data, former owner of Daisy Systems Holland * AES Eletropaulo, a former Brazilian electricity company * AES Andes, formerly AES Gener ...

'') and father of Argentinus (below) * Afferenda, goddess whose purpose was the offering of dowries * Agenoria '' BCh'' * Agonius * Aius Locutius * Alemona '' BCh'' * Altor '' Ag'' *

Antevorta In ancient Roman religion, Antevorta was a goddess of the future, also known as Porrima. She and her sister Postverta (or Postvorta) were described as companions or siblings of the goddess Carmenta, sometimes referred to as "the Carmentae". They m ...

'' BCh'' * Arculus,

tutelary god A tutelary () (also tutelar) is a deity or a Nature spirit, spirit who is a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture, or occupation. The etymology of "tutelary" expresses the concep ...

of chests and strongboxes (''arcae'') * Argentinus, god of silver money; see Aescolanus above * Ascensus, god of sloping terrain and hillsides, from the verb ''scando, scandere, scansus'', "scale, climb" * Aventinus * Bubona *

Caeculus In Roman mythology, Caeculus (meaning "little blind boy", from ''caecus'' "blind")Grimalp. 83/ref> was a son of Vulcan, and the legendary founder of Praeneste (modern Palestrina). King Caeculus appears in Book VII of Virgil's ''Aeneid'' as an all ...

* Candelifera '' BCh'' *

Cardea Cardea or Carda was the ancient Roman goddess of the hinge (Latin ''cardo, cardinis''), Roman doors being hung on pivot hinges. The Augustan poet Ovid conflates her with another archaic goddess named Carna, whose festival was celebrated on the ...

* Catius pater '' BCh'' * Cela, perhaps a title of

Panda The giant panda (''Ailuropoda melanoleuca''), also known as the panda bear (or simply the panda), is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its bold black-and-white coat and rotund body. The name "giant panda" is sometimes use ...

* Cinxia '' BCh'' * Clivicola, "she who inhabits the ''clivus''," a slope or street * Coinquenda, see ''

'' * Collatina, a goddess of hills (Latin '' collis'' "hill") * Coluber, marked by Roscher as uncertain * Commolenda or Conmolanda, see ''

'' * Conditor '' Ag'' * Convector '' Ag'' * Cuba '' BCh'' * Cunina '' BCh'' * Decima * Deferunda, see ''

'' * Deverra *

Domiduca In Roman mythology, the goddess Domiduca protects children on the way back to their parents' home. Her male counterpart was Domitius, Domidius or Domiducus, from ''domus'', "house," and ''eo, ire, itum'', "to go." Domiduca and Domiducus were also m ...

* Domiducus * Domitius, god who preserves the home (''

domus In Ancient Rome, the ''domus'' (plural ''domūs'', genitive ''domūs'' or ''domī'') was the type of town house occupied by the upper classes and some wealthy freedmen during the Republican and Imperial eras. It was found in almost all the m ...

'') of newlyweds * Edusa (also Educa, Edula, Edulia) *

Fabulinus In the popular religion of ancient Rome, though not appearing in literary Roman mythology, the god Fabulinus (from ''fabulari'', to speak) taught children to speak. He received an offering when the child spoke its first words. He figured among what ...

'' BCh'' * Farinus '' BCh'' * Fessona or Fessonia, goddess who relieved weariness. * Fluvionia or Fluonia '' BCh'' * Forculus, protector of doors (Latin ''fores'') * Fructesea, another name for Seia '' Ag'' * Hostilina '' Ag'' *

Iana The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) is a standards organization that oversees global IP address allocation, autonomous system number allocation, root zone management in the Domain Name System (DNS), media types, and other Interne ...

* Inporcitor '' Ag'' * Insitor '' Ag'' * Intercidona * Interduca * Iuga '' BCh'' * Iugatinus '' BCh'' * Lactans '' Ag'' * Lacturnus '' Ag'' *

Lateranus Lateranus is an List of Roman deities, ancient Roman tutelary deity, tutelary god of hearths ''(foci)'' and a Genius (mythology), Genius of brick ovens, according to a satirical passage in the Christian writer Arnobius: Lateranus, as you say, is ...

Levana Levana (from Latin ''levare,'' "to lift") is an ancient Roman goddess involved in rituals pertaining to childbirth. Augustine says that ''dea Levana'' is invoked when the child is lifted ''de terra'', from the earth or ground. Her function may be ...

* Libentina or Lubentina * Lima, a goddess of the threshold (''limen'') *

Limentinus Cardea or Carda was the ancient Roman goddess of the hinge (Latin ''cardo, cardinis''), Roman doors being hung on pivot hinges. The Augustan poet Ovid conflates her with another archaic goddess named Carna, whose festival was celebrated on the ...

, god of the ''limen'' or ''

limes Limes may refer to: * the plural form of lime (disambiguation) * the Latin word for ''limit'' which refers to: ** Limes (Roman Empire) (Latin, singular; plural: ) is a modern term used primarily for the Germanic border defence or delimitin ...

'' * Limi or Limones (plural), guardian spirits (''curatores'') of Rome's ''clivi'' (slopes, streets) * Locutius '' BCh'' * Lucina '' BCh'' * Lucrii (plural) * Manturna, a conjugal goddess who causes the couple to remain together (from the verb ''maneo, manere'') *

Mellona Mellona or Mellonia was an ancient Roman goddess said by St. Augustine to promote the supply of honey (Latin ''mel, mellis'') as Pomona did for apples and Bubona for cattle. Arnobius describes her as "a goddess important and powerful regardin ...

* Mena '' BCh'' * Messia '' Ag'' * Messor '' Ag'' * Mola * Montinus, a god of mountains; compare Septimontius * Morta * Mutunus Tutunus or Tutinus * Nemestrinus, god of groves (''nemora,'' singular ''

nemus The vocabulary of ancient Roman religion was highly specialized. Its study affords important information about the religion, traditions and beliefs of the ancient Romans. This legacy is conspicuous in European cultural history in its influence on ...

'')Arnobius 4.7. *

Nenia Nenia Dea (Engl.: Goddess Nenia; rarely ''Naenia'') was an ancient funeral deity of Rome, who had a sanctuary outside of the Porta Viminalis. The cult of the Nenia is doubtlessly a very old one, but according to Georg Wissowa the location of Ne ...

* Noduterensis '' Ag'' * Nodutus '' Ag'' * Nona * Numeria '' BCh'' *

Nundina In ancient Roman religion, birth and childhood deities were thought to care for every aspect of conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and child development. Some major deities of Roman religion had a specialized function they contributed to this ...

'' BCh'' * Obarator '' Ag'' * Occator '' Ag'' * Odoria *

Orbona In Roman mythology, Orbona was the goddess who granted new children to parents who had become childless. She was also the goddess of children, especially orphans. Early Roman mythology focused on the interlocking and complex interrelations between ...

'' BCh'' * Ossipago '' BCh'' *

or Empanda * Pantica * Parca * Partula * Patella '' Ag'' * Patellana '' Ag'' * Paventina '' BCh'' * Pellonia * Peragenor * Perfica * Pertunda '' BCh'' * Peta * Picumnus *

Pilumnus In Roman mythology, Pilumnus ("staker") was a nature deity, brother of Picumnus. He ensured children grew properly and stayed healthy. Ancient Romans made an extra bed after the birth of a child in order to ensure the help of Pilumnus. He also ...

'' BCh'' * Pollentia * Porrima '' BCh'' *

Postverta In Roman mythology, Postverta or Postvorta was the goddess of the past and one of the two Carmentes (along with her sister Antevorta, or prorsa contracted form of ''Proversa''). They were companions of the goddess Carmenta, and probably embodied ...

or Postvortia '' BCh'' * Potina '' BCh'' * Potua '' BCh'' * Praestana * Praestitia * Prema mater '' BCh'' * Promitor '' Ag'' * Prorsa '' BCh'' *

Puta Puta may refer to: * Puta (deity), a minor Roman goddess of pruning * Puta (food), a Bhutanese buckwheat noodle dish *Puta, Azerbaijan, a settlement in Azerbaijan *Mircea Puta Mircea Puta (February 1, 1950 —July 26, 2007) was a Romanian m ...

* Reparator '' Ag'' *

Rediculus Rediculus is an ancient Roman divinity. His cult had a temple near the Porta Capena, and a ''campus'' on the Appian Way. Origins and nature This divinity is probably one of Rome's ''lares'', a protector-god of the city. He is said to have appear ...

* Rumina '' BCh'' * Rumon? * Runcina '' Ag'' * Rusina * Rusor * Sarritor or Saritor '' Ag'' * Sator '' Ag'' * Segesta '' Ag'' * Segetia * Seia '' Ag'' * Semonia * Sentia '' BCh'' * Sentinus '' BCh'' * Septimontius * Serra *

Spiniensis In Roman mythology, Spiniensis was the god of thorns Thorn(s) or The Thorn(s) may refer to: Botany * Thorns, spines, and prickles, sharp structures on plants * ''Crataegus monogyna'', or common hawthorn, a plant species Comics and literature ...

Stata Mater In ancient Roman religion, Stata Mater ("Mother who stops or stabilizes") was a Compitalia, compital goddess who protected against fires. She had an image ''(simulacrum)'' in the Forum, and her ''cultus'', as Festus notes, spread from there th ...

* Statanus '' BCh'' * Statilinus '' BCh'' * Statina '' BCh'' * Sterquilinus * Stercutus * Stimula, identified with

Semele Semele (; Ancient Greek: Σεμέλη ), in Greek mythology, was the youngest daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, and the mother of Dionysus by Zeus in one of his many origin myths. Certain elements of the cult of Dionysus and Semele came from ...

* Strenia * Subigus pater '' BCh'' * Subruncinator '' Ag'' * Tutanus * Tutilina '' Ag'' * Unxia *

'' BCh'' * Vallonia *

Venilia Venilia (pronounced , or as Latin ''Venīlia'') is a Roman deity associated with the winds and the sea. According to Virgil and Ovid, she was a nymph, the sister of Amata and the wife of Janus (or Faunus), with whom she had three children: Turnus, ...

* Verminus * Vervactor '' Ag'' * Vica Pota * Victa * Viduus * Virginiensis '' BCh'' * Viriplaca * Vitumnus '' BCh'' * Voleta * Volumna '' BCh'' * Volumnus * Volupia * Volutina '' Ag''

References

{{Reflist, 30em Ancient Roman religion Roman deities