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Prayer to Dis Pater, Veiovis, Di Manes, Tellus, Iuppiter

Dis Pater · Veiovis · Di Manes · Tellus · Iuppiter
Dis Pater, Veiovis, and Di Manes, or with any other name by which it is proper to call You, since all in this city of Carthage and its army, who, I feel, fled before me in terror only because you filled them with alarm and fright, everyone who opposes our legions and the wall of shields of our army, and our missiles are carried forward on them by your hand, in this way you led away the enemy army and their soldiers. Their city and fields, and those who are in this place and this region, the lands and cities that they inhabit, you have now deprived them of the supreme light, their hostile army, their city and their lands. I feel to say that it was you who has devoted and consecrated this city and its lands, from the beginning and all time, that by law, who and when are made over and devoted as the highest sacrifices. Therefore, I who am victorious, by my faith as a magistrate of the people of Rome, and as commander of the armies, I give this vow on behalf of the people of Rome, our armies and legions, that you may retain everything born to this land and that grew in healthy by your aid. If you will make this happen, so that I may know, sense and derive that this has happened, then by whatever vow will have been made, wherever it will have been made, may it be properly made with sheep sacrificed upon the tribal altars. I call upon Tellus, Mother Earth, and You mighty Jupiter, to act as witnesses to my vow.
Fons · Source
AuthorMacrobius
WorkSaturnalia
Section3.9.10-11
Periodlate 4th / early 5th c. AD (preserving archaic Roman formula)
Occasiondevotio of Carthage to the infernal gods by Scipio Aemilianus — consecration of the enemy city and its army to Dis Pater and the Manes
Classificatio · Taxonomy
Cultureroman
Formritual
DeitiesDis Pater, Veiovis, Di Manes, Tellus, Iuppiter
Functionsdedication · oath
Spheremilitary · civic