Di indigetes

In Georg Wissowa's terminology the di indigetes or indigites ("indigenous gods") were Roman deities and spirits not adopted from other mythologies, as distinguished from the di novensides ("newcomer gods").

The term Indiges, singular in form, is classical Latin, applied to Sol (Sol Indiges) and to Jupiter of Lavinium, later identified with Aeneas. Wissowa interpreted this to mean "indigenous", but this interpretation is no longer widely accepted. The actual meaning of the term "indiges" remains uncertain. One theory holds that it means the "speaker within", and goes back to before the recognition of divine persons. Another, which the Oxford Classical Dictionary holds more likely, is that it means "invoked" ("pointed to", as in the related word indigitamenta). Nevertheless, the classification, as a set of native, rather than imported, divinities, remains useful.

Evidence of the di indigites is rarely found outside Rome and Lavinium, but a fragmentary inscription from Aletrium (modern Alatri, north of Frosinone) records offerings to di Indicites including Fucinus, a local lake-god; Summanus, a god of nocturnal lightning; Fiscellus, otherwise unknown; and the Tempestates, weather deities. In Augustan literature, the di indigites are often associated with di patrii and appear in lists of local divinities (that is, divinities particular to a place). Servius notes that Praeneste had its own indigetes.

Most of these are very minor gods, little more than personifications of an abstract quality. Ops, Janus and Quirinus are among the few important di indigetes. Additionally, as most Latin words for abstractions and concepts were feminine, the vast majority of di indigetes are female, and Roman mythology in general has an abundance of goddesses.

List of di indigetes

Abeona Abundantia Adeona Aequitas Aera Cura Aeternitas Africus Aius Locutius Alemonia Angerona Angita Angitia Anna Perenna Antevorte Averna Bona Dea Bubona Caelus Candelifera Cardea Carmenta Carna Catillus Cinxia Clementia Cloacina Cocles Concordia Conditor – a helper of Ceres Consus Convector – a helper of Ceres Copia Corus Cuba Cunina Cura Curiatii Dea Dia

Dea Tacita Dei Lucrii Devera Deverra Di Penates Dia Dis Pater Disciplina Dius Fidus Domiduca Domiducus Domitius Duellona Edusa Egeria Egestes Empanda Endovelicus Evander Eventus Bonus Fabulinus Facunditas Faunus Faustitas Febris Felicitas Ferentina Feronia Fides Fontus Fornax Fraus Fulgora Furrina Honos Horatii Imporcitor – a helper of Ceres Insitor – a helper of Ceres

Invidia Inuus Janus Juno – adopted Greek mythos Jupiter – adopted Greek mythos Juturna Lactans Larenta Lares Larvae Laverna Levana Liberalitas Libertas Libitina Lima Lua Lucina Lupercus Maia Maiesta Manes Matronae Meditrina Mefitis Mellona Mena Mens Messor – a helper of Ceres Moneta Mucius Murcia Muta Mutinus Mutunus Naenia Nascio Nemestrinus

Neptune – adopted Greek mythos Nerio Nixi Nodutus Nona Novensilus Nundina Obarator – a helper of Ceres Occator – a helper of Ceres Orbona Pales Partula Patalena Paventia Picumnus Pietas Pilumnus Pomona Porus Postverta Potina Promitor – a helper of Ceres Prorsa Postverta Providentia Pudicitia Puta Quirinus Quiritis Rederator Reparator – a helper of Ceres Robigo Robigus Roma Rumina Runcina Rusina

Saritor – a helper of Ceres Saturnus Securitas Semonia Sentia Silvanus Soranus Sors Spes Spiniensis Stata Mater Statanus & Statina Strenua Suedela Subruncinator – a helper of Ceres Summanus Tellumo Tempestes Terminus Terra Mater Tibertus Vacuna Venus – adopted Greek mythos Vervactor – a helper of Ceres Veritas Verminus Vertumnus Vica Pota Viduus Virbius Viriplaca Virtus Vitumnus Volturnus Volumna Vulcanus – adopted Greek mythos

Latin deities of uncertain derivation but possibly indigenous:

Orcus

Vejovis

Newer yet still etymologically indigenous deities:

Mercurius

See also

• Dii Consentes
• Interpretatio graeca