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Prayer to Apollo and Juno

Apollo · Juno
Pythian Apollo, inspired by You and Your guiding influence I go forth to destroy the city of Veii. A tenth part of its spoils I devote to You. Likewise for You, Juno Regina, who in Veii now dwells, I pray, that after our victory You will follow us to our City, that soon will become Your City as well, where a holy precinct worthy of Your dignity will be built to receive You.
Commentarius · Commentary

Camillus' vow before the capture of Veii, as Livy reports it.

There are two prayers here in a single breath, and they do opposite things. Apollo is promised a tithe of the spoils — an ordinary soldier's vow. Juno is told something else: the goddess who currently lives in the besieged city is invited to change sides, to follow the victors to Rome and receive there a temple worthy of her greatness.

This is evocatio, "calling out". The Romans did not make war on foreign gods or try to overcome them — they recruited them. A city could be destroyed only after its protectress had been persuaded to leave. For the same formula set out in full, see macrobius-evocatio-001, at the siege of Carthage.

Livy writes of this four centuries later, and there is no way to test how accurate his wording is. But the rite of evocatio is independently attested, and the logic of his formula matches it.

Fons · Source
AuthorLivy
WorkAb Urbe Condita
Section5.21.2-3
Period4th c. BC (recorded by Livy, 1st c. BC)
Occasionbefore battle / siege of Veii
Classificatio · Taxonomy
CultureRoman
Formpublic
DeitiesApollo, Juno
FunctionsPetition · Dedication · Oath
SphereMilitary · Civic