Inancient Roman religion,Averruncus orAuruncus is a god of averting harm.Aulus Gellius says that he is one of the potentially malignant deities who must be propitiated for their power to both inflict and withhold disaster from people and the harvests.[1]
Although theetymology of the name is often connected to theLatin verbavertere, "to turn away,"[2] a more probable origin lies inaverro "to sweep away," henceaverrunco, "to ward off," perhaps with a reference tomagical sweeping.Varro[3] asserts that theinfinitive verbaverruncare shares its etymology with the god whose primary function is averting. Averruncus may be among theindigitamenta pertaining to another god such asApollo orMars,[4] that is, it may be a name to be used in a prayer formulary to fix the local action of the invoked deity.[5] Precise naming, in connection with concealing a deity's true name to monopolize his or her power, was a crucial part of prayer in antiquity, as evidenced not only in the traditional religions of Greece and Rome andsyncretisticHellenistic religion andmystery cult, but also inJudaism andancient Egyptian religion.[6]
Averruncus may have also been an aspect ofJupiter or another deity invoked specifically in a protective manner.[7]
But the former seems rather a general name belonging to every Divine Power that is to be attoned to keep off mischief, then to any one particular Manifestation of the wrath of God in the World.
| Deities (Dii Consentes) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Legendary figures | ||
| Legendary beings | ||
| Texts | ||
| Concepts and practices | ||
| Philosophy | ||
| Events | ||
| Objects | ||
| Variations | ||
| See also | ||
| This article relating to an ancientRoman myth or legend is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |