Ancient prayer
Gods and Goddesses who inhabit the land and sea, to You I pray and ask that whatsoever has been done under my auspices and my command, is now being done or shall be done, may prove beneficial for me, for the people of Rome and their children, and for our allies and the Latins, who joined with the Roman army under my auspices in waging war on land and sea. May Your good counsel and assistance be with me and may You bless all our endeavors with rich increase. May You guard the welfare and sustenance of our soldiers, allow the victors to return home healthy and safe, and laden with the spoils of victory. May they bring back honors and plunder to share in my triumphal procession after defeating our enemy. Grant to me and to the Roman people the power of vengeance and the opportunity and means to inflict on our enemies the same as the Carthaginians have striven to inflict against the people of Rome and thereby an example shall be set for others.
Fons · Source
AuthorLivy
WorkAb Urbe Condita
Section29.27.1 ff.
Periodlate 1st c. BC (describing events of 204 BC)
OccasionScipio Africanus's public prayer at dawn before sailing from Sicily to Africa against Carthage (204 BC) — general's invocation at the start of a campaign
Classificatio · Taxonomy
Cultureroman
Formpublic
Functionspetition · invocation
Spheremilitary · civic