Sterculius

Stercŭlĭus, ii, m. [stercus],

• the deity that presides over manuring, Tert. Apol. 25; Macr. S. 1, 7; Lact. 1, 20 fin.; 1, 36; Serv. Verg. G. 1, 21.—Called also, Stercŭlus, Prud. στεφ. 2, 450; Stercŭtus or Stercŭtĭus, Plin. 17, 9, 6, § 50; Lact. 1, 20, 36; and, Stercenĭus, Serv. Verg. A. 11, 850; cf. Aug. Civ. Dei, 18, 15; and Becker, Ant. 4, p. 16.

Sterculius, Sterculus, s. Stercutus.

Stercŭlĭus Tert. Apol. 25 ; Stercŭlus Prud. Perist. 2, 450 ; Stercŭtus Plin. 17, 50 ; Macr. Sat. 1, 7, 25, ī, m. , surnom de Saturne, ou de Picumnus, qui inventa, dit-on, lʼart de fumer les terres.

Stercu'lius, Stercu'tius

or Sterquili'nus, a surname of Saturnus, derived from Stercus, manure, because he had promoted agriculture by teaching the people the use of manure. This seems to have been the original meaning, though some Romans state that Sterculius was a surname of Picumnus, the son of Faunus, to whom likewise improvements in agriculture are ascribed. (Macr. 1.7; Serv. ad Aen. 9.4, 10.76; Lactant. 1.20; Plin. Nat. 17.9; August. De Civ. Dei, 18.15.) [L.S]