Silvanus
Silvanus, a god of woods and plantations
- Silvanus, a deity presiding over woods and all places planted with trees, the god of woods, the rural Mars, Cato R. R. 83; Verg. E. 10, 24; id. A. 8, 600; id. G. 1, 20; Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 143; id. C. 3, 29, 23; id. Epod. 2, 22; Ov. M. 14, 639; Plaut. Aul. 4, 6, 8 (674); 4, 6, 10 (676); Cic. N. D. 2, 35, 89; Inscr. Orell. 276; 328; 333; 882; 1587 sq. al.—
- II Transf., plur., the gods of woods and fields, sylvan deities, sylvans, Ov. M. 1, 193; Luc. 3, 403; Inscr. Orell. 1616.—
- III A Roman proper name, Aur. Vict. Caes. 42.
- silva, a god of woods and plantations, C., V., H., O.—Plur, sylvan deities, O.
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…est, ne pars sincera trahatur. Sunt mihi semidei, sunt rustica numina, nymphae faunique satyrique et monticolae silvani quos quoniam caeli nondum dignamur honore, quas dedimus certe terras habitare sinamus. An satis, o superi ,…
Ovid, Metamorphoses
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…, cum ipse per se dignus putaretur, tum auctoritate et gratia Luculli ab Heracliensibus impetravit. data est civitas Silvani lege et Carbonis si qui foederatis civitatibus ascripti fuissent, si tum cum lex ferebatur in Italia domicilium habuissent et…
Cicero, pro Archia
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…quam cernit ignotam ; idemque iuvenibus visis auditoque nautico cantu sicut inciti atque alacres rostris perfremunt delphini item alia multa Silvani melo consimilem ad aures cantum et auditum refert ergo ut hic primo aspectu inanimum quiddam sensuque vacuum se putat cernere…
M. Tullius Cicero, de Natura Deorum
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…in aeternam suam gloriam in Christo Iesu modicum passos ipse perficiet confirmabit solidabit ipsi imperium in saecula saeculorum amen per Silvanum vobis fidelem fratrem ut arbitror breviter scripsi obsecrans et contestans hanc esse veram gratiam Dei in qua state salutat vos…
Vulgate, Latin Vulgate
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…o Tegeaee, favens, oleaeque Minerva inventrix, uncique puer monstrator aratri, et teneram ab radice ferens, Silvane, cupressum, dique deaeque omnes, studium quibus arva tueri, quique novas alitis non ullo semine fruges ,…
Vergil, Georgics
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…Obscurum cingens connexis aera ramis, Et gelidas alte submotis solibus umbras. Hunc non ruricolae Panes, nemorumque potentes Silvani Nymphaeque tenent, sed barbara ritu Sacra deum, structae diris altaribus arae ; Omnisque humanis lustrata cruoribus arbos .…
Lucan, Pharsalia
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…rursusque cura sacerdotum seritur. fuit et ante saturni aedem, urbis anno sublata sacro a vestalibus facto, cum silvani simulacrum subverteret. eadem fortuito satu vivit in medio foro, qua sidentia imperii fundamenta ostento fatali curtius maximis bonis…
Pliny the Elder, Natural History
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…impunitate remuneratur. Milichus praemiis ditatus conservatoris sibi nomen, Graeco eius rei vocabulo, adsumpsit. e tribunis Gavius Silvanus quamvis absolutus sua manu cecidit ; Statius Proxumus veniam quam ab imperatore acceperat vanitate exitus corrupit. exuti dehinc tribunatu…
Tacitus, Annales
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…militiae frugalitate compertus, et eum recta praeeuntem secutus, ut ductorem morigerus miles. Parte alia Barbatio, post Silvani interitum promotus ad peditum magisterium, ex Italia iussu principis cum XXV milibus armatorum Rauracos venit. Cogitatum est enim…
Ammianus Marcellinus, Rerum Gestarum
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…Camerinum et Pompeium Silvanum absolvit Caesar, Camerinum adversus privatos et paucos, saevitiae magis quam captarum pecuniarum crimina obicientis Silvanum magna vis accusatorum circumsteterat poscebatque tempus evocandorum testium ; reus ilico defendi postulabat, valuitque pecuniosa orbitate et senecta quam…
Tacitus, Annales
A Latin divinity of the fields and forests, suggesting somewhat the early Italian conception of the agricultural Mars and also Faunus. He is likewise called the protector of the boundaries of fields (Hor. Epod. 2, 22). In connection with woods (silvestris deus), he especially presided over plantations, and delighted in trees growing wild, whence he is represented as carrying the trunk of a cypress. Silvanus is further described as the divinity protecting herds of cattle, promoting their fertility and driving away wolves. Later writers identified Silvanus with Pan, Faunus, Inuus, and Aegipan. In the Latin poets, as well as in works of art, he always appears as an old man, but cheerful and in love with Pomona. The sacrifices offered to him consisted of grapes, ears of corn, milk, meat, wine, and pigs. He was associated with the cypress ( Serv. ad Verg. Georg. i. 20) and the pine, whence he is styled Silvanus Dendrophorus (C. I. L. vi. 241).