How to sacrifice
Deity | Character | Rite | Known inanimate offerings | Known living offerings | Comments | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apollo | Celestial | Ritus Graecus | wheat, incense, crown of laurel, cakes of cheese, cakes of honey, cakes of parsley, crowns of laurel; calendula; wine | bull; ox with gilded horns; white goats | Prayers: Arnob. Adv. Nat. 3.43; Claud. Olyb. 71-2; Hor. Carm. 1.2.30; Livy 5.21.2; Mart. 9.42; Ovid Rem. Amor. 75; 704; Petron. PLM 94; Satyr. fr. 31Plaut. Merc. 678; Seneca Herc. Fur. 592; 900; Statius Theb. I 643-5; I 694-6; I 716-20; IV 649-51; VI 296-300; VII 779-88; VIII 90-94; Tib. 2.5.1ff; 3.10; 4.4.1; Val Flacc. Argo. 1.5; 5.17; 5.244; Virg. Aen. 3.85; 6.55; 10.875; 11.785; 12.197 Varro LL 7.17;.CIL 6.32323 Lines 141-46 | CIL 6.32323; Macrobius, Saturnalia, 3.10.4; Livius 25.12, 27, 23.5; 23.11; Plinius HN 12.3; 15.134 |
Carna | Domestic | Ritus Romanus | beans mixed with hot spelt, bacon | - | - | Ovid, Fasti, 6.169-170 |
Ceres | Chtonic | Ritus Romanus (a part of the cult celebrated on the Aventine Hill corresponded to the Mysteries of Eleusis and was considered Graeca Sacra and thus not included in the Roman public cult) | spelt cakes, incense, salt, bread, first samplings of ears of wheat, oak leaves, wine, honeycombs mixed with milk, crown of wheat (corona spicea), crown of oak, poppies, violets, hyacinths | sow (sometimes pregnant); sheep; piglets | Fasting and nine days of abstinence was required of participants in the sacrificium annuae sacrae
Prayers: Apul. Met. VI 2; XI 2; XI 5; Cic. In Verr. II 5.184; IV 72.187-8; Horat. Serm. II 2,124; Livy 24.38.8; Ovid Amor. 3.10.2; Fasti 1.669-704; 4.401-8; Ibis 419-20; Petr. Satyr. 122, 156; Seneca Herc. Fur. 299; Serv. Ad Geor. 1.21; Tib. 1.1.15-16; 2.1.3-4; Virg. Georg. 1.7-12; 1.338 |
Cato, De Agricultura 134; Fest. s. v. praesentanea porca; s. v. sacrima; Gellius NA 4.6.8; Hor. Carm. Saec. 29-30; Livius, 10.23; 36.37.4-5; Macrobius, Saturnalia, 3.11.10; Ovidius, Amor. 3.10; Fasti, 1.657-704; 2.519-20; 2.539; 4.393-416; 4.547-48; Metamorphoses, 10.431-36; Pliny NH 1.191; 18.2.8; Tibullus, Elegies,1.1.11-18; Varro Rust. 2.4.9-10; Varro in Non. Marc. 163; Virgilius, Aeneid 4.56-59; Georgics, 1.212; 1.338-350 |
Diana | Celestial | Ritus Romanus (although at the Ludi Saeculares she was honoured - like any other deity - Graeco Ritu) | cakes of cheese, cakes of honey, cakes of parsley | hind, white she-goat?, cow | Prayers: Apul. Met. XI 2; Catul 34.21-2; Cic. In Verr. II 5.184; Horat. Carm. 1.21.1; 3.22.2; Epist. 5.5; Carm. Saec. 13; Laevius fr. 26; Livius Andronicus fr. Equos Troianos; Ovid Fasti 2.449; 3.255-56; Met. 5.618-20; Sil. It. Pun. 9.168-72; 13.137; Statius Theb. IV 746-64; VI 633-37; 9.606-35; 10.360-70; Tertul de Anim. 39; Tibullus 4.4.1 ff; 4.6.1 ff; Val. Cato Lyd. 41-4; Virg. Aen. IX 404; XI 483; XI 557; XII 197; CIL 3.8298; 6.32323 Lines 141-46; 10.3796 | Livius, Ab Urbe Condita, 1.45] [Livius, Ab Urbe Condita, 25.12, 27, 23.5] [Ovidius, Fasti, 1.387-388] [CIL 6.32323] [Valerius Maximus, Factorum et Dictorum Memorabilium, 7.3.1 |
Dis, Dis Pater | Underworld | Ritus Romanus | ? | black sheep and other black victims | Prayers: Audolent p.197 no.139, p. 292 no. 218; Ennius Androm; Festus (s.v. lapidem silicem); Macro. Sat. III 9,10; Sil. It. Pun. 8.140-2; Statius Theb. I 56-9; IV 473-87 | Valerius Maximus, Factorum et Dictorum Memorabilium, 2.4.5] [Macrobius, Saturnalia, 3.9.10-12 |
Diva | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | ? | cow | Probably the same as Iuno | CIL 6.32349 |
Divus | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | ? | ox, sheep | Probably the same as Iuppiter | ILS 5047; Feriale Duranum |
Genius Augusti | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine | bull, bull-calf | - | CIL 6.32352; Horatius, Odes, 4.5.30 seq. Petronius, Satiricon, 60.7 |
Genius or Iuno (personal) | - | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine, cakes of boiled salted wheat (liba) | two-month old piglet (on the Saturnalia) | Blood sacrifice was explicitly not recommended on one's birthday | Horatius, Odes, 3.17.14-16; Ovidius, Tristia, 5.5.12; Persius, Satires, 2.1-3; Plinius, Naturalis Historia, 18.84; Tibullus, Elegies, 2.6.8; 4.6.14; Varro in Censorinus, De Die Natali, 2.2 |
Genius Loci/Lar | Domestic/Chtonic | Ritus Romanus | fruits of the Earth (namely first samplings), wine, garlands of flowers | pig, heifer, ewe-lamb | Inanimate offerings should be dropped/poured to the ground or natural altar in libation | Cato, De Agricultura 139 - 140; Apuleius, Apologia, 56.5-6; Florides, 1.3-4; Tibullus, Elegies, 1.1.19-24 |
Hercules | Domestic | Ritus Graecus | aconite, henbane, herb Robert. Opopanax, poplar, water lilies | - | Prayers: Apul. Met. IX 21; CIL 1.1290;Hor. Serm. 2.6.14; Sat. 6.10.3; Pers. Sat. 2.8; Plaut. Curc. 358; Bacch.892; Prop. 4.9.71-4; Sil. It. Pun. 1.505-7; Virg. Aen. 8.301-2; | Apul. Met. IX 21; CIL 1.1290;Hor. Serm. 2.6.14; Sat. 6.10.3; Pers. Sat. 2.8; Plaut. Curc. 358; Bacch.892; Pliny NH 12.3; 25.12; 25.15; 25.17; 25.37; 27.4; Prop. 4.9.71-4; Sil. It. Pun. 1.505-7; Virg. Aen. 8.301-2; |
Ianus | Domestic (doors, passages) / Celestial (beginings and ends) | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine, cakes (strues) | ram | Prayers: Acta Frat. Arv. CIL 6.2107 vs. 2-13 = ILS 5048; 6.2099; Auson. III 5; Cato Agr. 134, 141; Cic. Nat. Deor. 2.67.27; Fest. s.v. Chaos; Horat. Epist. I 16; Sat. 2.6.20; Livy 1.32.10; 8.9.6; Macrob. Sat. 1.9.9, 1.16.25; Martial Epigr. 8.2.8, 8.8.1; 10.28.1; 10.28.12, Ovid Fast. 1.65; 1.172; 1.287 Plaut. Cist. 512; Serv. Ad Aen. 7.610; Varro LL 7.26. Virg. Aen. 12.197 | [Cato, De Agricultura 141] [Cato, De Agricultura 134] Cic. Nat. Deor. 2.67.27; Fest. s.v. Chaos; Horat. Epist. I 16; Sat. 2.6.20; ILS 5047; Livy 1.32.10; 8.9.6; Macrob. Sat. 1.9.9, 1.16.25; Martial Epigr. 8.2.8, 8.8.1; 10.28.1; 10.28.12, Ovid Fast. 1.65; 1.172; 1.287; 1.317-24; Plaut. Cist. 512; Serv. Ad Aen. 7.610; Varro, De Lingua Latina, 6.12; 726; Virg. Aen. 12.197 |
Ilithyia (Juno Lucina) | Domestic | Ritus Graecus (at least at the Ludi Saeculares) | cakes of cheese, cakes of honey, cakes of parsley | - | Prayers: Apul. Met. VI 4; Horat. Carm. Saec. 14 | CIL 6.32323 |
Iuno | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine; silver; wild fig; cypress tree; blue flag iris | bull, ram, white cow, sheep, suovetaurilia (sheep, pig and bull) | Prayers: Apul. Met. VI 4; XI 5 (Sospita); Arnob. Adv. Nat. 3.10; Catul. 34.13; Cic. Domo 144-5; In Verr. II 5.184, Nat. Deor. 2.27.68; Livy 5.21.3; 6.16.1; 8.5; 38.51; Macro. Sat. 3.16.27; Ovid Fasti 3.255; Tib. 3.12.4; Petr. Satyr. 25;Plaut. Aulul. 692; Scr Hist. Aug. Vit. Prob. 12.7; Serv. Ad Aen. 1.8; Sil. It. Pun. 2.531-42; 6.466-72; 7.78-85; 10.432-8; Terent. Adelph. 486; Andria 473; Tertul. De Anim. C. 39; Tib. 4.6.7; Val. Flac. Argo. 1.79; Varro LL 6.27Virg. Aen 4.607; 12.176; CIL VI 32323 (Acta Sacr. Saec) vs 117; VI 32329 vs 10; CIL 6.2065; 6.32323 Lines 121-22, 125-27; 6.32329 | Cato, De Agricultura 134 CIL 6.2043; 6.2099; Feriale Duranum ILS 5047; Livy 22.1; Varro LL 6.18 |
Iuppiter | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine (namely first samplings), cakes (fertum), meat, spelt cake (far), fruits; beans and greens; cinnabar; fluorspar; holm oak; beech tree; laurel, vervain | white heifer, white ox, ewe-lamb, whether, suovetaurilia (sheep, pig and ox), bull?, ram? | According to the ancients books, only castrated victims should be offered to Iuppiter.
Prayers: Accius Aen. Sive Dec. fr. 4; Cato Orig. 1 fr 12; Agr. 132, 134; Cic. Domo 144-5; Catul. 64.171; 66.30; 66.48; 67.2; 70.2; Horat. Epist. 1.18.10; Sat. 2.3.281; 2.3.288; Juv. Sat. 10.185; Liv Andro. Odis. 1.45; Livy 1.10.6; 1.12.4; 1.18.8; 1.24.7-9; 1.32.6; 6.16.1; 8.6.5; 8.9.6; 22.53.10; Macrob. Sat. 3.9.10; Mart. 7.6; Ovid Fasti 3.365; 4.827; 4.893; 5.716; Heroid. 13.49; Pers. Sat. 3.35; 10.185; Petron. Sat. 44; 122, 156; 126; 498; Plaut. Poen. 1187; Persa 251; Persa 753; Prop. 2.28a.1-2; 4.10.15; 4.11.18; Scr Hist. Aug. Vit. Prob. 12.7; Seneca Herc. Fur. 205; 299; 516; 900; 930; Sil. It. Pun. 3.565-7; 4.126-7; 6.102-7; 6.466-72; 10.432-8; 12.643-5; 14.440-1; 15.362-3; Statius Theb. III 471-96; VI 197-201; Tacit. Ann. 16.35; Hist. 4.58; Tib. 1.3.51; Val. Flac. Argo. 1.667; 4.474; 6.727; Val Sor. fr 4 (Aug. Hip. C. Dei 7.9); Vel. Pat. 2.131.1; Virg. Aen. 1.731; 2.689; 4.206; 5.687; 8.572; 9.495; 9.625; 10.668; 12.176; 12.197; CIL VI 32 323 vs 105; III 01933 (=ILS 4907); CIL 2.172; 3.1933; 5.5543; 6.2065; 6.32323 Lines 105-6. |
[Cato, De Agricultura 141] [Cato, De Agricultura 134] CIL 6.2065; CIL 6.2099; Festus-Paul, On the meaning of the words, Lindsay ed., p.40.27 and 57.16-18; ILS 5047; Livius 22.10; Macrobius, Saturnalia, 3.10.3 Ovidius, Fasti, 1.55-57; 1.83 seq.; 2.67-70; 3.730; 4.863-900; 5.507-23; Plinius, NH 12.3; 15.13433.111; 37.18; Servius, ad Virg. Eclog., 8.82; Varro LL 5.152; 6.16 |
Lares Augusti | Domestic | Ritus Romanus | same as Lares Familiares | same as Lares Familiares, wether | - | ILS 5047 |
Lares Compitales/Viales | Chtonic | Ritus Romanus | ? | pig shining with grease | Prayer: Plaut. Merc. 865 | Propertius, Elegies, 4.1.23 |
Lar Familiaris / Lares Familiares | Domestic | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine, food (namely fruits and roasted meat with mola salsa), garlands of flowers | ewe-lamb, pig, ram (funeral) | Flowers are to adorn the Lararium and not to be burnt
Prayers: Calp. Bucol. 5,26; Cato Agr. 2.142; Ennius Ann. I fr. 141; Liv. 8.9.6; Plaut. Mil. Glor. 1339; Merc. 834; Trinum. 39; Tib. 1.1; 1.3.; 1.10; Val. Max. 2.5.5; 3.4.5. |
Horatius, Satires, 2.5.14; Odes, 3.23.4; Ovidius, Fasti, 2.631-634; Plautus, Aulularia; Plinius, NH 21.11; 28.27; Servius, Aeneidos, 1.730; Tibullus, Elegies, 1.1.23; 1.3.33 seq; Valerius Maximus, 2.5.5; Varro in Nonius Marcellus, De Compendiosa Doctrina, Lindsay ed. p.554 1-2; Virgilius, Bucolics, 1.43 |
Liber Pater | Chtonic | Ritus Romanus (the Bachannalia are considered Graeca Sacra, i.e. a foreign rite not included in the Roman public cult) | cakes (liba), libations of must (namely first samplings) | ? | Prayer: Cic. In Verr. II 5.184; Horat. Carm. 1.12.13; 2.19.7; Nemes. Ecl. II 20; Ovid Fasti 3.481; 6.652; Nux 11; Plaut. Curc. 117; Prop. 3.17.1-20; Statius Theb. IV 383-404; Tib. 2.1.3; 3.6.1; Virg. Geo. 1.5; Aen. 1.731 | Festus-Paul, Lindsay ed., p.423.1 seq; Ovid, Fasti, 3.713-740; Plinius, HN 18.8 |
Manes | Underworld | Ritus Romanus | unmixed wine, fresh milk, blood of sacrificial victims, roses, violets, black beans, salted corn, wheat mixed with wine | ewe, pig, black bull-calves, black sheep, black puppies, blood of sacrificial animals | Use left hand to offer. Inanimate offerings are dropped/poured to the ground in libation without burning. Banquet can take place in the presence of the deceased.
Prayers: CIL 6.18817Macrob. Sat. III 9.10; Ovid 5.437-43; Sil. It. Pun. 6.113; 8.140-2; 15.443-4; Statius Theb. IV 473-87; VII 93-103 |
Ovidius, Fasti, 2.535-540; 4.436; Plinius, HN 21.11; Statius Thebaid 4.463-7; Valerius Flaccus Argo. 5.192 ff Virgilius, Aeneid 5.55-103 |
Mania / Mater Larum (mother of the Lares) | Underworld | Ritus Romanus | garlic, poppy heads | sheep | Prayer : Ovid Fasti 6.559 | ILS 5047 Macrobius, Saturnalia, 1.7.35 seq. |
Mars | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | spelt, bacon fat, meat, wine, cakes (strues and fertum); peony; iron goblets | suovetaurilia (sheep, pig and bull), bull, ram | Entrails were offered raw rather than boiled.
Prayers: Acta Frat. Arv. p. 123 (Herzen); Carmen Fratrum Arvalium; Cato Agr. 141; Claud. Ruf. 1.334-9; Gell. Noct. Att. 13.23.13; Horat. Carm. 1.5.35; Livy 8.9.6, 45.32.2; Lucan Phar. II 59; Ovid Fast. 3.1; 3.73; 4.827; 5.573;Serv. Ad Aen. 3.3; Sil. It. 3.126-7; 10.553-4; Val. Flacc. Argo. 5.244; Vell. Patercul. II 131,1; Virg. Aen. 12.176 |
Cato, De Agricultura 141 ILS 5047; Macrobius, Saturnalia, 3.10.4; Pliny NH 25.16; 34.141; Suetonius, Vita Divi Augusti, 1 |
Mercurius | Celestial, Chtonic, and Underworld | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine, beans and greens, cypress, crocus; herb mercury, mercurialis annua | - | Prayers: Hort. Sat. 2.6.14; Serm. II 6,4; Man. Astrom. 1.30ff; Mart. Epigr. 7.74; Ovid Fast. 5.477; 5.663; 5.681; Pers. Sat. II 45; Plaut. Bacch. 892; Stich. 402; Anthol. Lat. II 1528 | Pliny NH 25.18; Ovid Fasti 5.11-14; 5.87-88; 5.507-11; 5.671-72 |
Minerva | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | silver, olive, mixture of dogbur, plantain, and yarrow; Chiron vine; rosemary | white cow, suovetaurilia (sheep, pig and bull), | Prayers: Acta Frat. Arv. p. 122 (Herzen); Apul. Met. XI 5; Capell. VI 575; Cic. Domo 144-5; Livy 6.16.1; Ovid Fasti 6.652; Nux 11; Scrip. Hist. Aug. Vit. Prob. 12.7; Seneca Herc. Fur. 900; Sil. It. Pun. 10.432-8; Statius Theb. II 715-42;Virg. Aen. 9.483, 11.483; CIL 6.2065; 11.1305 | CIL 6.2065; 2099; Livy 22.1; Pliny NH 12.3; 24.59; 24.116; 25.16 |
Neptunus | Watery | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine, beans and greens | bull dressed with blue ribbons | Prayers: Acta Frat. Arv. p. 123 (Herzen); Arnob. Adv. Nat. 3.43; Hor. Carm. 1.5; Petr. Satyr. 108; Plaut. Most. 431; Rud. 358; Stich. 403; Trinum. 819ff; Rodens 906; Stich. 403; Sil. It. Pun. 15.159-62; Val. Flac. Argo. 1.188; 1.667; Verg. Aen. 3.52.8, 5.235 | Macrobius, Saturnalia 3.10.4; Ovid Fasti 3.10.4; 5.507-9; 5.511; 5.515-16; Valerius Flaccus Argo. 1.188 ff |
Numen Augusti | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine | bull-calf | - | CIL 12.4333; ILS 154 |
Penates (ensemble of domestic gods) | Domestic | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine, cakes, food, etc. | ewe-lamb (see below on the Lares Familiares), cow | The Penates were the set of gods worshiped in a household | Cicero, De Divinatione II.39; CIL 6.2042; Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities 2.23; Festus-Paul, Lindsay ed. p.298 |
Priapus | Domestic/Fertility | Ritus Romanus | milk, cakes (liba) | - | Prayers: Anthol. Lat. II 861; II 1504; Catul. 18; Nemes. Ecl. II 20; Petr. Satyr. 133; Tib. I 1.17; I.4.1-6; Virg. Eclog. 7.33 | Vergilius, Eclogae, 7.33-34 |
Proserpina | Underworld | Ritus Romanus | ? | black victims | Prayers: Apul. Met. VI 2; XI 2; XI 5; Tib. III 5,6; Livy 24.38.8; Senec. Herc. Fur. 596; Lucan. Phar. VI 695; Statius Theb. I 85-7; IV 473-87; IV 501-3 | Valerius Maximus, 2.4.5 |
Robigo | Chthonic | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine | red (?) dog, ewe, unweaned puppy | Prayers: Ovid Fast. 4.911 | Columella, De Re Rustica, 342 seq; Festus-Paul, Lindsay ed., p.358.27-30 |
Salus | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | ? | cow | Prayer: Acta Frat. Arv. 122; 123 (Henz) | CIL 6.2065 |
Saturnus | Chtonic | Ritus Graecus | ? | pig? | Prayer: Anthol. Lat. I.199,9; Mart. Epigr. XII 62,1; Plaut. Bacch. 892; Cist. 512; | Festus-Paul, Lindsay ed., p.274.29-32 |
Tellus | Chtonic | Ritus Romanus | spelt cakes | sow (sometimes pregnant), pregnant cow | Prayers: Anthol. Lat. I17.1; II 1029.5; II.1048.1; Ant. Mus. Praec. Ter.; Macro. Sat. III 9, 10; Ovid Fasti 1.669; Statius Theb. VIII 303-38; Varro Rust. I 2,27; CIL VI 32 323 vs 136 (=ILS 5050) | Ovid, Fasti, 1.657-704; 4.629-636 |
Venus | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | Incense, mint, myrtle, pearl | - | Prayers: Apul. Met. XI 2; XI 5; Cic. Deor.Nat. 2.67.27; Hort. Carm. 1.3.1, 1.30.1; Juv. Sat. 10.290; Lucr. Rerum Nat. I 1-9; Nemes. Ecl. II 20; Plaut Bacch. 892; Mil. Glor. 1227; Rud. 1337; Curc. 125; Rodens 694ff; Tib. 1.2.41 ff; 3.3,33; 3.9.4 | Ovid Fasti 4.867-69; Pliny NH 12.3; 15.119-20); 9.121 |
Vesta | Domestic | Ritus Romanus | incense, wine, meat, violets, laurel | sheep, white ass | Prayers: Acta Frat. Arv. p. 123, p.147 (Herz.); Cic. Deor. Nat. 2.67.27; Domo 144; Juv. Sat. 6.386; Ovid Fast. 3.426; 6.429; Ser. Ad Aen. 1.292; Val. Max. 8.1.5(absol); Vel. Pat. 2.131.1 | Cato, De Agricultura, 132 ILS 5047; Ovidius, Fasti, 3.141-42; 3.418; 6.325-48; 6.629-30 |
Victoria | Celestial | Ritus Romanus | incense | cow | Prayer: Acta Frat. Arv. p. 123 (Herz.); Auson XIX 2,1; Ovid Amor. III 2,46; Scrip. Hist. Aug. Vit. Prob. 12.7 | Ambrosius, Epistles 18.31; Feriale Duranum |
Volcanus | Fiery (destructive) | Ritus Romanus | - | fish, red (?) animals | Prayer: Martial Epigr. 5.7.5; Grattius Cyneg. 437-42 | Grattius Cyneg 437-42; Ovid Fasti 6.627-36; Festus-Paul, , Lindsay ed., p.276.3; Varro, LL 6.20 |