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 kept by the College of Pontiffs 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 ...

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

Numa Pompilius Numa Pompilius (; 753–672 BC; reigned 715–672 BC) was the legendary second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus after a one-year interregnum. He was of Sabine origin, and many of Rome's most important religious and political institutions ar ...

, 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 50 ...

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 The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were ancient and influential Christian theologians and writers who established the intellectual and doctrinal foundations of Christianity. The historical per ...

for their mocking catalogues of minor deities. As William Warde Fowler 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, 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 The ''Odes'' ( la, Carmina) are a collection in four books of Latin lyric poems by Horace. The Horatian ode format and style has been emulated since by other poets. Books 1 to 3 were published in 23 BC. A fourth book, consisting of 15 poems, was ...

'', chants or hymns of address. Paulus 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 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, squ ...

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 at ...

, red god of war and agriculture; Maia, "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. 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'' * Aescolanus, god of copper money ('' aes'') 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 may ...

'' BCh'' * Arculus, tutelary god 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 In ancient Roman religion, Bubona is thought to have been a goddess of cattle, but she is named only by Saint Augustine. Augustine mocks Bubona as one of the minor Roman deities whose names correspond to their functions, and derives her name fro ...

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 ally ...

* Candelifera '' BCh'' * Cardea * Catius pater '' BCh'' * Cela, perhaps a title of Panda * Cinxia '' BCh'' * Clivicola, "she who inhabits the ''clivus''," a slope or street * Coinquenda, see '' Acta Arvalia'' * Collatina, a goddess of hills (Latin '' collis'' "hill") * Coluber, marked by Roscher as uncertain * Commolenda or Conmolanda, see '' Acta Arvalia'' * Conditor '' Ag'' * Convector '' Ag'' * Cuba '' BCh'' * Cunina '' BCh'' * Decima * Deferunda, see '' Acta Arvalia'' *

Deverra In Roman mythology, Deverra (apparently from Latin ''deverro'' "to sweep away") was one of the three gods that protected midwives and women in labor, the other two being Pilumnus and Intercidona. Symbolised by a broom used to sweep away evil infl ...

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 ...

* 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 ma ...

'') 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 *

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 List of Roman deities, ancient Roman goddess of the hinge (Latin ''cardo, cardinis''), Roman doors being hung on hinge, pivot hinges. The Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Augustan poet Ovid conflates her with another arc ...

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

limes Limes may refer to: * the plural form of lime (disambiguation) Lime commonly refers to: * Lime (fruit), a green citrus fruit * Lime (material), inorganic materials containing calcium, usually calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide * Lime (color), a ...

'' * 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 regardi ...

* 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 * 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 '' BCh'' * Ossipago '' BCh'' * Panda or Empanda * Pantica * Parca * Partula * Patella '' Ag'' * Patellana '' Ag'' * Paventina '' BCh'' * Pellonia * Peragenor * Perfica * Pertunda '' BCh'' * Peta * Picumnus * Pilumnus '' 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 * 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 * Stata Mater * 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 fr ...

Strenia In ancient Roman religion, Strenua or Strenia was a goddess of the new year, purification, and wellbeing. She had a shrine ''( sacellum)'' and grove ''( lucus)'' at the top of the Via Sacra. Varro said she was a Sabine goddess. W.H. Roscher incl ...

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

'' BCh'' * Vallonia * Venilia * Verminus * Vervactor '' Ag'' *

Vica Pota In ancient Roman religion, Vica Pota was a goddess whose shrine ''(aedes)'' was located at the foot of the Velian Hill, on the site of the ''domus'' of Publius Valerius Publicola. This location would place the temple on the same side of the Velia as ...

* Victa * Viduus * Virginiensis '' BCh'' * Viriplaca * Vitumnus '' BCh'' * Voleta * Volumna '' BCh'' * Volumnus *

Volupia In Roman mythology, Voluptas or Volupta is the daughter born from the union of Cupid and Psyche, according to Apuleius. The Latin word ''voluptas'' means 'pleasure' or 'delight'; Voluptas is known as the goddess of "sensual pleasures". She is ofte ...

* Volutina '' Ag''

References

{{Reflist, 30em Ancient Roman religion Roman deities