Antiquae PrecesAntiquae Preces
ENRU
Roman

Prayers to Hercules

8 prayers

Hercules receives the tithe. Roman merchants and generals vowed him a tenth of the profit or the spoils, and paid it at the Ara Maxima in the Forum Boarium, where women were not admitted and the rite was performed with the head uncovered — Greek fashion, in the middle of Rome.

What is asked
Fontes · Sources
  • Anonymous · CIL1
  • Lucius Aufidius · CIL1
  • Numisia Afrodite · CIL1
  • Ovid · Metamorphoses1
  • Propertius · Elegiae1
  • Silius Italicus · Punica1
  • Statius · Silvae1
  • Virgil · Aeneid1
Orationes · The texts
  1. 001

    Prayer to Hercules

    Anonymous · CIL · VI.312

    Invincible Alcides, I pray to You joyfully bringing deserved gifts after duly performing Your sacred rites.

    RomanDedicationGratitude
  2. 002

    Prayer to Hercules

    Lucius Aufidius · CIL · CIL IX 3569

    Lucius Aufidius, son of Decius, deservedly devotes this gift to you, Hercules, to pay an annual tithe for the upkeep of your shrine. At the same time he asks of You, You who are a holy God, to help him and give him Your peace.

    RomanDedicationPetition
  3. 003

    Prayer to Hercules

    Ovid · Metamorphoses · 15.39-40

    O Hercules, to whom twelve labors was given, help me, I pray, since you are witness to the accusations made against me.

    RomanPetitionInvocation
  4. 004

    Prayer to Hercules

    Propertius · Elegiae · 4.9.71-74

    Because Your hands have purified the Earth, the Sabines of Cures called You Sancus, The Holy One. Hail Father Sancus, whom austere Juno now favors. O Sancus, may You wish to be with me and Your spirit be in my books.

    RomanPraisePetition
  5. 005

    Prayer to Hercules

    Silius Italicus · Punica · 1.505-507

    Hercules, Founder of our city Saguntum, you who are called Alcidus, in whose footsteps we now reside on this hallowed earth, avert the threatening storms from our land.

    RomanPetitionProtection
  6. 006

    Prayer to Hercules

    Statius · Silvae · 3.1.23-28

    Come hither, Hercules, who, now free of your obligations, may choose whether to live in your native Argos and spurn death as Eurystheus buried in his tomb, or whether your virtue has won you a place among the stars beneath the throne of your father Jupiter, and Hebe, better than Phrygian Ganymede, with her robe girded, offers you a cup of blessed nectar to drink, come hither, and grace this newly dedicated temple with the presence of your genius.

    RomanInvocationDedication
  7. 007

    Prayer to Hercules

    Virgil · Aeneid · 8.301-302

    Hail, Hercules, true son of Jove, an added Glory for the Gods are you. Come now, and dance at your holy rites with skillful feet.

    RomanInvocationPraise
  8. 008

    Prayer to Hercules

    Numisia Afrodite · CIL · CIL VI 286

    I, Numisia Afrodite, gave this gift to Hercules on behalf of my son and family.

    RomanDedication
← All gods