Man, Manus, Mania, came the Manes; as from Laren and Laris were derived the Lares. By these terms are signified Dii Arkitæ, who were no other than their 47 Arkite ancestors, the persons preserved in the Laren or Ark; the genius of which was Isis, the reputed parent of the world. She accordingly by Apuleius is introduced saying, that she was the queen of the Manes. 43 En, assum tuis commota precibus, rerum Natura parens, elementorum omnium domina, Seculorum progenies initialis, summa Numinum, Regina Manium. The feasts instituted to the honour of these Deities were styled Larentalia; which the Romans used to celebrate once every year: but Augustus ordered, that they should be observed twice in that period. The Lares were the same as the Dii Præstites, who according to " Macrobius were imported from Egypt. They are described as Dæmons, and Genii, who once lived upon earth, and were gifted with immortality. Arnobius styles them "Lares quosdam Genios, et functorum animas. And he says, that according 49 47 Apuleius de Deo Socratis. 54 to Varro, they were the children of Mania. Maniam matrem esse cognominatam 5 Larum. The like is said by Huetius, who adds, that Mania had also the name of Larunda. " Lares Varro Manes esse vult, Maniæ filios, quæ dicitur vulgo Larunda. And agreeably to what has been mentioned above, she is styled the mother of the Dæmons, Λαρυνδα Δαιμονων μητης. By some she is called Lara, and said to have been the daughter of " Almon. She was supposed to preside over families and they used to offer children at her altar in order to procure her favour: for it was a uniform prevailing opinion, that no atonement could be obtained but by blood: and that some must die to procure the happiness of others. * Præceptum est, ut pro capitibus capitibus supplicaretur; idque aliquamdiu observatum, ut pro fa 52 See Varro de Ling. Lat. 1. 8. p. 113. 53 Demonst. Prop. 4. p. 139. 5+ Glossæ Philoxeni apud Huetium. ibid. 55 Natalis Comes. 1. 4. c. 4. p. 155. Hanc Laram, sive ut alii dixerunt, Larundam, nonnulli Maniam appellarunt. See Ovid Fast. 1. 2. v. 599, of Lara Naïs, whom he makes the daughter of Almon. 55 Macrob. Sat. 1. 1. c. 7. p. 154. Cor pro corde, precor, pro fibris accipe fibras: Hanc animam vobis pro meliore damus. Ovid. Fast. 1. 6. v. 161. miliarium sospitate pueri mactarentur Maniæ Dew, nfatri Larum. In lieu of these they in aftertimes offered the heads of poppies, and pods of garlick, The Lares were the same as the Penates, as we may irfer from Servius. 7 Penates sunt omnes Dii, qui domi coluntur. They were properly ma rine Deities, and the same which were worshipped in Samothracia. 58 Penates Deos Samothracas vo lunt Varro, et Cassius Hemina. of 59 Neptune as one of them them are confessedly Deities of the sea. They are accordingly spoken of in this light by Livy; who mentions a temple being built by Regillus the Censor to the " Lares Permarini in the Cam pus Martius. The particular time for making offerings to them was, when the Sun had entered 62 Aquarius. Neptune was the same as Palæmon of Corinth; esteemed also the same as Hercules, Arnobius speaks and the rest of 60 57 In Virg. Æneid. 1. 2. v. 514. 58 Huetii Demonstratio, p. 138. See Macrob. Sat, 1, 3. p. 276, * Παλαιμων Ηρακλης. He was described, as a child exposed upon the seas, and supported by a Cetus. Sometimes he was represented upon the Corinthian Cupselis or Ark: and behind him there is commonly a pine tree. There were the same offerings made to Palæmon in Greece, as were exhibited by the Latines to Mania, and the Lares. Hence he is styled by Lycophron, Epesexreves, Infanticida, on account of the children, which were offered at his shrine. From the above we may see clearly, that there was a correspondence in the rites and mythology of these different nations: and that they had universally a reference to the same history.. 65 It is said by Mela, that the "s Augelenses, who lived near the Syrtes in Africa, held the Manes, as the supreme and only Deities. That to them they directed their prayers, and made their of ferings and when they gave any strong attestation to their word, they used to swear by the Manes. The Greeks, as well as the Romans, did the same thing: and it is wonderful, that they should be so blinded, as not to perceive it. Most 64 Και δη Παλαιμων δέρκεται βρεφοκτονος. Lycoph. v. 229. Παγαίμων Ινους ὑιος. Schol. es L. 1. c. 8. |