Indigitamenta

{{Short description|Ancient Roman lists of deities}} {{italictitle}} {{Ancient Roman religion}} In ancient Roman religion, 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. The earliest ''indigitamenta'', like many other aspects of Roman religion, were attributed to Numa Pompilius, second king of Rome.<ref>Michael Lipka, ''Roman Gods: A Conceptual Approach'' (Brill, 2009), pp. 69–71, with reference to Arnobius, ''Adversus Nationes'' 2.73.</ref>

==Sources== The books of the Pontiffs are known only through scattered passages preserved throughout Latin literature. Varro 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<ref>In particular, Book 14 of the non-extant ''Antiquitates rerum divinarum''; see Lipka, ''Roman Gods'', pp. 69–70.</ref> for their mocking catalogues of minor deities.<ref>W.R. Johnson, "The Return of Tutunus", ''Arethusa'' (1992) 173–179; William Warde Fowler, ''The Religious Experience of the Roman People'' (London, 1922), p. 163.</ref> As William Warde Fowler noted, <blockquote>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.<ref>Fowler, ''Religious Experience,'' p. 163.</ref></blockquote>

Georg Wissowa, 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.<ref>Georg Wissowa, ''Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics'' (unknown edition), vol. 13, p. 218 [https://books.google.com/books?id=069Znq8SPY0C&dq=indigitation+OR+indigitamenta+intitle%3Aencyclopedia+intitle%3Aof+intitle%3Areligion+intitle%3Aand+intitle%3Aethics&pg=PA218 online.] See also Kurt Latte, ''Roemische Religionsgeschichte'' (Munich, 1960), pp. 44-45.</ref> Another likely source for the patristic catalogues is the lost work ''De indigitamentis'' of Granius Flaccus, Varro's contemporary.<ref>Lactantius, ''Div. inst.'' 1.6.7; Censorinus 3.2; Arnaldo Momigliano, "The Theological Efforts of the Roman Upper Classes in the First Century B.C.", ''Classical Philology'' 79 (1984), p. 210.</ref>

W.H. Roscher collated the standard modern list of ''indigitamenta'',<ref>W.H. Roscher, ''Ausführliches Lexikon der griechischen und römischen Mythologie'' (Leipzig: Teubner, 1890–94), vol. 2, pt. 1, pp. 187–233.</ref> 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.<ref>Matthias Klinghardt, "Prayer Formularies for Public Recitation: Their Use and Function in Ancient Religion." ''Numen'' 46 (1999), p. 44.</ref> If formulas of invocation, the ''indigitamenta'' were probably ''precationum carmina'', chants or hymns of address.<ref>Fowler, ''Religious Experience'', p. 163.</ref> Paulus defines them as ''incantamenta'', incantations, and ''indicia'', signs or intimations.<ref>Paulus, ''Festi epitome'' p. 101 (edition of Lindsay); see p. 84 in the 1832 [https://books.google.com/books?id=aVhAAAAAcAAJ&dq=incantamenta+inauthor%3APaulus&pg=PA84 Teubner edition.]</ref>

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.<ref>William Warde Fowler, ''The Roman Festivals of the Period of the Republic'' (London, 1908), p. 89.</ref> 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;<ref>H. Usener, ''Goetternamen'' Bonn 1896.</ref> for instance, Vagitanus gives the newborn its first cry ''(vagitus)''.<ref>D.C. Feeney, ''Literature and Religion at Rome: Cultures, Contexts, and Beliefs'' (Cambridge University Press, 1988), p. 85.</ref> 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, red god of war and agriculture;<ref>Fowler, ''Roman Festivals'', pp. 89–91 (on the Robigalia); Eli Edward Burriss, "The Place of the Dog in Superstition as Revealed in Latin Literature", ''Classical Philology'' 30 (1935), pp. 34–35.</ref> Maia, "a deity known apparently only to the priests and the learned," would be according to Macrobius<ref>Macrobius, ''Saturnalia'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Macrobius/Saturnalia/1*.html#12 1.12.]</ref> an indigitation of the Bona Dea.<ref>Fowler, ''Roman Festivals'', p. 99.</ref> 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. Several appear in a list of twelve helper gods of Ceres as an agricultural goddess<ref>Servius, note to ''Georgics'' 1.21.</ref> 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. {{Clear}} {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * Abeona ''BCh'' * Adeona ''BCh'' * Adolenda, see ''Acta Arvalia'' * Aescolanus, god of copper money (''aes'') and father of Argentinus (below)<ref>Augustine of Hippo, ''De Civitate Dei'' 4.21, 28: "For likewise they put their case before Aescolanus, the father of Argentinus, because copper (or bronze) money entered into use first, with silver later" (''nam ideo patrem Argentini Aescolanum posuerunt, quia prius aerea pecunia in usu esse coepit, post argentea'').</ref> * Afferenda, goddess whose purpose was the offering of dowries<ref>Tertullian, ''Ad nationes'' 2.11.</ref> * Agenoria ''BCh'' * Agonius * Aius Locutius * Alemona ''BCh'' * Altor ''Ag'' * Antevorta ''BCh'' * Arculus, tutelary god of chests and strongboxes (''arcae'')<ref>Festus, ''De significatione verborum'', entry on ''arculus'', p. 15 in the edition of Lindsay (''Arculus putabatur esse deus, qui tutelam gereret arcarum''); Roscher, ''Ausführliches Lexikon'', p. 193.</ref> * Argentinus, god of silver money; see Aescolanus above * Ascensus, god of sloping terrain and hillsides, from the verb ''scando, scandere, scansus'', "scale, climb"<ref>Tertullian, ''Ad nationes'' 2.15; compare Scansus, the god named ''ab ascensibus'', from his relation to slopes.</ref> * Aventinus * Bubona * Caeculus * Candelifera ''BCh'' * Cardea * Catius pater ''BCh'' * Cela, perhaps a title of Panda * Cinxia ''BCh'' * Clivicola, "she who inhabits the ''clivus''," a slope or street<ref>Tertullian, ''Ad nationes'' 2.15. See for instance Clivus Capitolinus.</ref> * Coinquenda, see ''Acta Arvalia'' * Collatina, a goddess of hills (Latin ''collis'' "hill")<ref>Name known only from Augustine, ''De civitate Dei'' 4.8.</ref> * 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 * Domiduca * Domiducus * Domitius, god who preserves the home (''domus'') of newlyweds<ref>Augustine, ''De Civitate Dei'' 6.9.</ref> * Edusa (also Educa, Edula, Edulia) * Fabulinus ''BCh'' * Farinus ''BCh'' * Fessona or Fessonia, goddess who relieved weariness.<ref>Augustine, ''De civitate Dei'' 4.23.</ref> * Fluvionia or Fluonia ''BCh'' * Forculus, protector of doors (Latin ''fores'')<ref>Augustine, ''De Civitate Dei'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=7Tp7iwzRyDMC&dq=Forculus+roman+god&pg=PA145 4.8.]</ref> * Fructesea, another name for Seia ''Ag'' * Hostilina ''Ag'' * Iana * Inporcitor ''Ag'' * Insitor ''Ag'' * Intercidona * Interduca * Iuga ''BCh'' * Iugatinus ''BCh'' * Lactans ''Ag'' * Lacturnus ''Ag'' * Lateranus * Levana * Libentina or Lubentina * Lima, a goddess of the threshold (''limen'')<ref>Arnobius, ''Adversus Nationes'', 4.9.</ref> * Limentinus, god of the ''limen'' or ''limes''<ref>Augustine, ''De civitate Dei'', 4.8; 6.7.</ref> * Limi or Limones (plural), guardian spirits (''curatores'')<ref>Arnobius 4.9.</ref> of Rome's ''clivi'' (slopes, streets)<ref>Ludwig Preller, ''Römische Mythologie'' (Berlin, 1883), vol. 2, p. 221.</ref> * Locutius ''BCh'' * Lucina ''BCh'' * Lucrii (plural) * Manturna, a conjugal goddess who causes the couple to remain together (from the verb ''maneo, manere'')<ref>Augustine, ''De Civitate Dei'' 6.9.</ref> * Mellona * Mena ''BCh'' * Messia ''Ag'' * Messor ''Ag'' * Mola * Montinus, a god of mountains;<ref>Arnobius 4.9.</ref> compare Septimontius * Morta * Mutunus Tutunus or Tutinus * Nemestrinus, god of groves (''nemora,'' singular ''nemus'')<ref>Arnobius 4.7.</ref> * Nenia * Noduterensis ''Ag'' * Nodutus ''Ag'' * Nona * Numeria ''BCh'' * Nundina ''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 or Postvortia ''BCh'' * Potina ''BCh'' * Potua ''BCh'' * Praestana * Praestitia * Prema mater ''BCh'' * Promitor ''Ag'' * Prorsa ''BCh'' * Puta * Reparator ''Ag'' * Rediculus * 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 * Strenia * Subigus pater ''BCh'' * Subruncinator ''Ag'' * Tutanus * Tutilina ''Ag'' * Unxia * Vagitanus ''BCh'' * Vallonia * Venilia * Verminus * Vervactor ''Ag'' * Vica Pota * Victa * Viduus * Virginiensis ''BCh'' * Viriplaca * Vitumnus ''BCh'' * Voleta * Volumna ''BCh'' * Volumnus * Volupia * Volutina ''Ag'' {{div col end}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

Category:Ancient Roman religion Category:Roman deities