Palici

Pălīci, ōrum (sing.: Pălīcus, i, m., Verg. A. 9, 585; Ov. P. 2, 10, 25), m.,

• the sons of Jupiter and the nymph Thalia or Aetna; they were worshipped at Palica in Sicily, where were a temple and two lakes sacred to them, as enforcers of oaths, promoters of fertility, and as sea-gods, Macr. S. 5, 19; Serv. Verg. A. 9, 584: stagna Palicorum, Ov. M. 5, 406; Stat. Th. 12, 155.

Pălīci, v. Palica.

Palīcī, ōrum, m. (Sing. Palīcus, ī, m., bei Verg. Aen. 9, 585 u. Ov. ex Pont. 2, 10, 25), I) Zwillingsbrüder und Söhne des Jupiter, die als Heroen auf Sizilien bei der am See der Palici liegenden Stadt Palīca einen Tempel hatten, Macr. sat. 5, 19, 15 sqq.: dah. der See, stagna Palici, Ov. ex Pont. 2, 10, 25: stagna Palicorum, Ov. met. 5, 406: lacus, cui Palicus nomen est, Firm. math. 1. praef. p. 2, 10 Kr. u. Sk. – II) die Einwohner der Stadt Palīca, Sil. 14, 219.

Pălīcī, ōrum, m. , frères jumeaux, fils de Jupiter et de Thalie, adorés en Sicile et ayant un temple à Palica : Ov. M. 5, 406 ; Macr. Sat. 5, 19 ; Stat. Th. 12, 165 || au sg. Palicus, un de ces deux frères : Virg. En. 9, 585.

Palīci

(Παλικοί). Two spirits worshipped in the neighbourhood of Mount Aetna in Sicily, as benevolent deities and protectors of agriculture. They are sometimes described as sons of Adranus, a native hero honoured through the whole of Sicily; sometimes, of Hephaestus and the nymph Aetna; sometimes, of Zeus and Thalia, a daughter of Hephaestus, who concealed herself in the earth from fear of Heré's jealousy, whereupon two hot sulphur springs burst out of the ground ( Aesch. ap. Macrob. v. 19). Beside these springs solemn oaths were taken, especially in legal proceedings, the swearer, who must have previously kept himself from all defilement, touching the brink; if the oath were false, blinding or instantaneous death followed. According to another account, a tablet inscribed with the oath was thrown into the water, and swam on the surface if the oath were true, but sank in the contrary case, while flames devoured the perjurer. The neighbouring sanctuary of the Palici served as an oracle and also as a shelter for fugitive slaves. See Diod. xi. 79; Cic. N. D. iii. 22; Verg. Aen. ix. 585.