ritual · Roman

Prayer for thinning a sacred grove

Whether thou be god or goddess to whom this grove is dedicated, as it is thy right to receive a sacrifice of a pig for the thinning of this sacred grove, and to this intent, whether I or one at my bidding do it, may it be rightly done. To this end, in offering this pig to thee I humbly beg that thou wilt be gracious and merciful to me, to my house and household, and to my children. Wilt thou deign to receive this pig which I offer thee to this end.

Commentarius · Commentary

The formula Cato prescribes for speaking before thinning a sacred grove.

It begins with an admission of ignorance: "Whether you be god or goddess to whom this grove is sacred." The owner does not know the deity's name — and this is not pious modesty but legal caution. To address wrongly is more dangerous than not to address at all, and the formula gets round the difficulty by covering both genders at once.

The next qualification is more precise still: "whether I do it myself or someone at my bidding". Liability is extended to the workmen in advance, so that another man's hand will not require a separate expiation.

This is a piaculum — not a petitionary but an expiatory sacrifice. Cutting in a grove is an encroachment, and the pig is offered not for a favour but in compensation for damage that is about to be done. The Roman pays the god in advance and executes the transaction by the book.

Fons · Source

AuthorCato

WorkDe Agricultura

Section139

Period2nd c. BC

Occasionlucum conlucare — thinning a sacred grove / clearing land

Classificatio · Taxonomy

CultureRoman

Formritual

FunctionsPetition · Dedication

SphereAgricultural