Prayer to Mars
Mars
Father Mars, I pray and beseech thee that thou be gracious and merciful to me, my house, and my household; to which intent I have bidden this suovetaurilia to be led around my land, my ground, my farm; that thou keep away, ward off, and remove sickness, seen and unseen, barrenness and destruction, ruin and unseasonable influence; and that thou permit my harvests, my grain, my vineyards, and my plantations to flourish and to come to good issue, preserve in health my shepherds and my flocks, and give good health and strength to me, my house, and my household. To this intent, to the intent of purifying my farm, my land, my ground, and of making an expiation, as I have said, deign to accept the offering of these suckling victims; Father Mars, to the same intent deign to accept the offering of these suckling victims.
Fons · Source
AuthorCato
WorkDe Agricultura
Section141
Period2nd c. BC
Occasionlustratio agri — purification of the farm / suovetaurilia
Classificatio · Taxonomy
Cultureroman
Formritual
DeitiesMars
Functionspetition · protection · dedication
Sphereagricultural