All Prayers

The complete list of the collection's prayers, hymns, vows and inscriptions — from the Homeric hymns of the seventh century BC to votive inscriptions from the Roman provinces. Every text carries the original in Greek or Latin, a translation, an exact reference to the edition, and a commentary.

1. 001

   Carmen Arvale

   FRATRES ARVALES · CARMEN ARVALIUM (CIL VI 2104)

   Lasas assist us, Lasas delight us, Lasas come to our aid! Neither plague nor ruin, Marmor, allow to be visited on us. But if however we are invaded, like Mars we shall leap across our borders to sate you with the blood of our enemies and stay the barbarians. Marmor assist us, Marmor defend us, Marmor come to our aid. Triumph, triumph, triumph, triumph, triumph!

   Roman · ritual

   Mars, the Lares

   PetitionProtection
   archaic Latin (preserved in inscription of 218 AD)

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2. 002

   Formula for the Meditrinalia

   VARRO · DE LINGUA LATINA · 6.21

   Wine new and old I drink, of illness new and old I am cured.

   Roman · ritual

   Protection
   1st c. BC (Varro preserving an archaic formula)

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3. 003

   Prayer to Apollo

   LABRYS POLYTHEISTIC COMMUNITY · HELLENIC POLYTHEISM: HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP · Purification Ceremony — Hymn to Apollon

   I think and sing of Apollon Hecatios. From years past, it is a sacred custom to call upon you. Evil-averting Paian, far-seeing ruler of the World. Great Archer, who established purifications, with yourself as example; after the slaughter of Python, you fled to Karmanora, where you were of service to yourself and atoned. Shoot, with your invincible arrows, the Pythons and the Typhoës, O' Lykêos, with the broad quiver. Infallible giver of oracles, who reigns over the immortal Gods and the mortals of life-giving Earth. I come to you in purity. Grant me fortitude and enlighten my mind so that the dark êrebus which inflicts my soul may be dissolved. Assist me, O' golden-lyred, far-shooting Apollon, that I may resist the onslaught of deceitful and deceptive spectres, release me from infectious ignorance and darkness. Ie Paiean, Ie Paiean, Ie Paiean, Ie Katharsios.

   Greek · ritual

   Apollo

   InvocationPetitionProtection
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4. 004

   Charm for a dislocation

   CATO · DE AGRICULTURA · 160

   Any kind of dislocation may be cured by the following charm: Take a green reed four or five feet long and split it down the middle, and let two men hold it to your hips. Begin to chant: "motas uaeta daries dardares astataries dissunapiter" and continue until they meet. Brandish a knife over them, and when the reeds meet so that one touches the other, grasp with the hand and cut right and left. If the pieces are applied to the dislocation or the fracture, it will heal. And none the less chant every day: "huat haut haut istasis tarsis ardannabou dannaustra."

   Roman · ritual

   Protection
   2nd c. BC

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5. 005

   Prayer to Mars

   CATO · DE AGRICULTURA · 141

   Father Mars, I pray and beseech thee that thou be gracious and merciful to me, my house, and my household; to which intent I have bidden this suovetaurilia to be led around my land, my ground, my farm; that thou keep away, ward off, and remove sickness, seen and unseen, barrenness and destruction, ruin and unseasonable influence; and that thou permit my harvests, my grain, my vineyards, and my plantations to flourish and to come to good issue, preserve in health my shepherds and my flocks, and give good health and strength to me, my house, and my household. To this intent, to the intent of purifying my farm, my land, my ground, and of making an expiation, as I have said, deign to accept the offering of these suckling victims; Father Mars, to the same intent deign to accept the offering of these suckling victims.

   Roman · ritual

   Mars

   PetitionProtectionDedication
   2nd c. BC

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6. 006

   Prayer to Jupiter

   CICERO · IN CATILINAM · 1.33

   Then do you, O Jupiter, who were consecrated by Romulus with the same auspices as this City, whom we rightly call the stay of this city and empire, repel this man and his companions from your altars and from the other temples, from the houses and walls of the city, from the lives and fortunes of all the citizens; and overwhelm all the enemies of good men, the foes of the republic, the robbers of Italy, men bound together by a treaty and infamous alliance of crimes, dead and alive, with eternal punishments.

   Roman · public

   Jupiter

   PetitionProtection
   1st c. BC

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7. 007

   Prayer to the Lares

   TIBULLUS · ELEGIAE · 1.10.15-25

   Lares, gods of my fathers, preserve me! While young and still nursing, you guided me when I played at your feet. Let none profane your antique images: rough-hewn wooden statues set upon altars of upturned sod then dwelled among our grandfathers. In those days humble reverence provided you with sweet honey alone, you stayed in meager shrines made of twigs, in tattered robes the gods were pleased with offerings of grapes and wreathes of wheat set upon carved heads. Lares, turn away from us those who scheme against us with their bronze weapons.

   Roman · personal

   the Lares

   PetitionProtectionPraise
   1st c. BC

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8. 008

   Prayer to the Manes

   OVID · FASTI · 5.435-443

   After he has cleansed his hands with pure fountain water, he takes up the black beans in his mouth and turns, casting them back over his shoulder as he says, 'This I send to you, Manes, with these beans I redeem me and mine.' When nine times he has said this, then he says, 'Manes of my forefathers, leave this place.'

   Roman · ritual

   the Manes

   Protection
   Augustan

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9. 009

   Prayer to Pales

   OVID · FASTI · 4.747

   Pray to Pales with warm milk, say: 'Be equally mindful of sheep and their masters, Pales. May my stables escape from harm. If I have grazed my flock in sacred pastures, or sat beneath a sacred tree, if unknowingly my sheep plunked their fodder from gravesites, if I have entered a sacred grove forbidden to men, and the nymphs and the half goat gods fled in fear at the sight of me, if my knife has pruned a shady bough to give a basket of leaves to an ailing sheep, grant indulgence of my offenses. May I never herd home less than were counted in the morning. May I never bewail the torn fleece of my sheep carried off by a wolf. May unjust famine remain.'

   Roman · ritual

   Pales

   PetitionProtection
   Augustan

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10. 010

    Prayer to Robigo

    OVID · FASTI · 4.911-926

    Spare Ceres grain, O scabby Robigo, let the tips of sprouting shoots gently quiver above rich soil. Let the crops grow, nurtured in turn as each star passes through the heavens, until full and ripe they are readied for the scythe. Your power is not light. What grain You touch, the farmer notes as lost. Spare them, I pray. May You not grasp the crops, but embrace hard iron. Destroy first whatever else is able to destroy. Better to seize the destructive spear and sword. Do not violate Ceres, but allow the farmer time to fulfill his vows for Your absence.

    Roman · ritual

    Robigo

    PetitionProtection
    Augustan

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11. 011

    Prayer to Bacchus and Ceres

    TIBULLUS · ELEGIAE · 2.1.3-4; 17-20

    Come to us, Bacchus, with clusters of grapes dangling from your horns, and you, too, Ceres, a wreath of newly ripened wheat for your temples, come! Gods of our fathers, we purify our farmers and our fruitful fields; we ask that you drive away harm from our borders. Let not the now sprouting plants succumb before harvest, let not the timid lambs be outrun by swift wolves.

    Roman · ritual

    Bacchus, Ceres

    InvocationPetitionProtection
    1st c. BC

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12. 012

    Prayer to Ceres and Earth

    OVID · FASTI · 1.671-704

    O Mothers of Fruitfulness, Earth and Ceres, please, with salted spelt cakes offered for Your mother's woe, in kind service have Earth and Ceres nurtured wheat, She who gave grain life, She who gave us room to grow. May You grant tender seed abundant increase. Let not icy cold enwrap our new shoots with snow, while we sow let cloudless skies and fair winds blow. When the seed lies sprouting, sprinkle with gentle rains, may You ward off the feasting by birds from our grains.

    Roman · ritual

    Ceres, Earth

    PetitionProtection
    Augustan

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13. 013

    Prayer to Apollo

    ANONYMOUS · CIL, ACTA LUDORUM SAECULARIUM · VI 32323 (Apollini et Dianae)

    Apollo, as it is prescribed for you in those books — and for this reason may every good fortune attend the Roman people, the Quirites — let sacrifice be made to you with nine popana, and nine cakes, and nine phthoes. I beg and pray that you may increase the sovereign power and majesty of the Roman people, the Quirites, in war and peace; as you have always watched over us among the Latins. Forever may you grant safety, victory and health to the Roman people, the Quirites. May you bestow your favor on the Roman people, the Quirites, and on the legions of the Roman people, the Quirites. May you preserve the health and welfare of the people of Rome, the Quirites, and may you always remain willingly favorable and propitious to the people of Rome, the Quirites, to the college of the quindecimviri, to me, to my house and household.

    Roman · ritual

    Apollo

    PetitionProtectionDedication
    Augustan

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14. 014

    Prayer to Apollo

    TIBULLUS · ELEGIAE · 3.10.1-10; 25-26

    Draw near, Apollo, and expel the illness from this tender girl, come, draw near. Phoebus of flowing hair unshorn, hear me and hasten. If, Phoebus, You apply Your healing hand to her, You will not regret saving her. Allow not that she should waste away emaciated, or that her color should wane to pallor, or that her limbs should lose their strength, and do not wait until her white limbs turn to a hideous color. Whatsoever this illness may be, whatever sorrow we may fear it will bring, carry it off with the waters of a swift running stream to the seas. Holy one, come! And bring with You all Your delicacies, all Your songs, and all else that will soothe the sick.

    Roman · personal

    Apollo

    PetitionProtection
    1st c. BC

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15. 015

    Prayer to Vulcan

    GRATTIUS FALISCUS · CYNEGETICA · 437-442

    Holy Vulcanus, foremost of those who cherish this place, to You we pray for peace. Grant Your ultimate assistance to the tired and worn, and, if no one here merits punishment for some noxious crime, may You have mercy on all their souls and allow them to reach Your purifying fountains. Three times they invoke Your name, three times they pour rich incense upon the focal fire, and strew the altar with auspicious boughs in Your honor.

    Roman · ritual

    Vulcan

    PetitionProtection
    late 1st c. BC / early 1st c. AD

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16. 016

    Prayer to Mars

    SILIUS ITALICUS · PUNICA · 3.126-127

    But You, O Mars, Father of Warfare, have pity on us, turn evil aside from us and preserve my husband's life as inviolable to all Trojan assaults.

    Roman · personal

    Mars

    PetitionProtection
    late 1st c. AD

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17. 017

    Prayer to Mars Gradivus

    VALERIUS FLACCUS · ARGONAUTICA · 5.250-252

    Mars Gradivus, hear me, on whose sacred oak which fleece glitters. Protect it and keep it safe always, your arms prepared to clash at the clarion's sound to which your voice responds, ringing out in the darkness.

    Roman · personal

    Mars Gradivus

    PetitionProtection
    late 1st c. AD

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18. 018

    Prayer to Jupiter Capitolinus

    VELLEIUS PATERCULUS · HISTORIAE ROMANAE · II.131

    Jupiter Capitolinus, Mars Gradivus called progenitor and aide of the Romans, Vesta, perpetual guardian of fire, and whatever divine powers in this greatness of Roman sovereignty, the largest empire on earth, exulted to the highest dignity, to You the public voice calls to witness and to pray: guard, preserve, and protect this state, this peace, this prince, and those who succeed to the Senate, by their long standing, determined worthy to consider the most grave matters among mortals.

    Roman · public

    Jupiter Capitolinus, Mars Gradivus, Vesta

    PetitionProtection
    early 1st c. AD

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19. 019

    Prayer to Helios and Hecate

    SOPHOCLES (ADAPTED) · RHIZOTOMOI (LOST) · Triakas Ceremony — Invocation of Helios and Hekate

    Lord Helios, sacred fire, O' spear of Enodia, which She wields as She journeys to Olympos and while travelling amongst the sacred crossroads of the Earth. She who is crowned with oaken wreaths and coils of serpents, bless on this last day of the month the offerings which I am about to prepare for the venerable ancestors and keep all evil away from us.

    Greek · ritual

    Helios, Hecate

    InvocationPetitionProtection
    5th c. BC (Sophocles) — adapted

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20. 020

    Prayer to the Korybantes

    LABRYS POLYTHEISTIC COMMUNITY · HELLENIC POLYTHEISM: HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP · Purification Ceremony

    I call on the great eternal Khthonian king Koryvant', the blessed; Arean and terrifying youth of the night, who dispels evil fears, helper of the imagination, wandering Koryvanta, multi-formed king, dual natured god, many-formed, bloodstained, blood-drenched brother, you who, with the consent of Zeus, changed your pure body, assuming beast-like and serpentine form: Come, Blessed, hear this call and dispel all grievances, chase away unhealthy imaginings and the undesirable needs of the soul.

    Greek · ritual

    the Korybantes

    InvocationProtection
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21. 021

    Prayer to the Kouretes

    LABRYS POLYTHEISTIC COMMUNITY · HELLENIC POLYTHEISM: HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP · Purification Ceremony

    Bronze-sounding Kouretes, heavenly, and earthly, and of the waters, much blessed, life giving spirits, glorious saviours of the world, you who remove the dangers from peoples' lives, Immortal Kouretes, possessors of exalted arms, when coming to Earth thundering you fill the wild beasts with fear! Immortal Gods, who nurture the mortal species. O' Kouretes, noble and powerful, youths of Zeus, eternal spirits, soul nurturers, gracious saviours. I call upon you to come with good intentions, shield bearing guardians, bring harmony, perfect order, and peace. Heracles, Paionai, Epimedes, Iasios, and Ida!

    Greek · ritual

    the Kouretes

    InvocationPetitionProtection
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22. 022

    Prayer to the Lares

    PLAUTUS · MERCATOR · 865

    Lares of the roadside, I call upon you to kindly protect me.

    Roman · personal

    the Lares

    PetitionProtection
    2nd c. BC

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23. 023

    Prayer to Neptune

    ARNOBIUS · ADVERSUS NATIONES · III.43

    Come, Dii Penates, come Apollo and Neptune and all You Gods, and by Your powers may You mercifully turn aside this ill disease that violently twists, scorches and burns our city with fever.

    Roman · public

    Neptune, Apollo, the Penates

    PetitionProtection
    3rd-4th c. AD

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24. 024

    Prayer to Priapus

    TIBULLUS · ELEGIAE · 1.1.17-18

    Red guardian, Priapus, placed within this fruitful garden, with your fierce scythe frighten off the birds from this crop.

    Roman · personal

    Priapus

    PetitionProtection
    1st c. BC

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25. 025

    Prayer to Silvanus

    ANONYMOUS · CIL · III.5561

    Happiness dwells in here, where nothing evil may enter.

    Roman · personal

    Silvanus

    Protection
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26. 026

    Prayer to Venus

    PLAUTUS · RUDENS · 694-701

    Kind Venus, tearfully we plead to You, as we kneel and clasp this your altar, receive us into Your safekeeping and watch over us. Take vengeance on the wicked who have belittled your sanctuary, and in Your goodness let us remain at this altar as a refuge from our suffering. Be not offended with us, nor hold us at fault, if there be anything about us that to you is unclean.

    Roman · literary

    Venus

    PetitionProtection
    2nd c. BC

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27. 027

    Prayer to Carmenta

    ANONYMOUS · RITUS CARMENTIS · dream prayer

    O Carmenae, may you bring better dreams than this evil vision that has awakened me from a peaceful sleep; let it not be a prophetic vision. Cast far away from me this vain and false vision, and cease plucking my intestines with your zealous inquiries. Carmenae, I pray, turn this cruel dream to good, as night is turned into day, and bid the warm South wind to carry it away.

    Roman · personal

    Carmenta, Porrima, Postvorta

    PetitionProtection
    modern reconstruction (Nova Roma)

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28. 028

    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.

    Roman · literary

    Hercules

    PetitionProtection
    1st c. AD

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29. 029

    Prayer to Ceres and Libera

    CAESIUS BASSIUS / PHILICUS · HYMN TO CERES AND LIBERA

    Fertile Goddesses, wives of Jove, may the mystic rite that You cherish not be defiled.

    Roman · ritual

    Ceres, Libera

    PetitionProtection
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30. 030

    Prayer to Diana

    TERENTIUS · ANDRIA · 232

    I pray, You Gods, grant an easy delivery to this girl, and assign to someone else the ill fate that awaits the day when the midwife makes her mistakes.

    Roman · literary

    Diana

    PetitionProtection
    2nd c. BC

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31. 031

    Prayer to Minerva

    VIRGIL · AENEID · 11.483-485

    Diana, skillful in arms, leader in battle and guardian of soldiers, with Your hand, Tritonian Virgin, shatter the spear of this Phrygian pirate; throw him to the ground and stretch him out prostrate beneath our high gate.

    Roman · literary

    Minerva

    PetitionProtection
    Augustan

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32. 032

    Prayer to Apollo

    PLAUTUS · AULULARIA · 394-396

    Apollo, please, help me, and with your arrows slay these treasure-laden thieves. As you have done before, swiftly come to my aid and draw your bow.

    Roman · literary

    Apollo

    PetitionProtection
    2nd c. BC

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33. 033

    Prayer to Apollo

    PLAUTUS · MERCATOR · 678-680

    Apollo, I beseech you, graciously grant peace, prosperity, safety and sound health to our family, and spare my son by your gracious favour.

    Roman · literary

    Apollo

    PetitionProtection
    2nd c. BC

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34. 034

    Prayer to Apollo

    VALERIUS FLACCUS · ARGONAUTICA · 5.244-249

    Father Apollo, I pray to You, all-seeing guardian God, be gracious to me and protect me, watching over my kingdom. Be ever vigilant and warn me what strangers or what subjects of mine conspire against me. Whatever treacherous plots there may be, keep me alert and prepared.

    Roman · literary

    Apollo

    PetitionProtection
    1st c. AD

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