[794] Indiges, the title of Aeneas after he had disappeared from the earth: see the Pompeian inscription in the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum 1, Elog. 20, “Aeneas [dictus] est indigens [et in deorum] numero relatus:” comp. Tibull. 2. 5. 44, “cum te veneranda Numici Unda deum caelo miserit Indigetem:” so Livy 1. 2. 6, “situs est (Aeneas) quemcunque eum dici ius fasque est super Numicium flumen: Iovem indigetem appellant.” See Schwegler, Römische Geschichte 1, p. 328. ‘Indiges’ is considered by Corssen (Kritische Nachträge zur Lateinischen Formenlehre, p. 254) to be the participle from an old verb “indigere” = to invoke, from which “indigitare” and “indigitamenta” are also formed. The root ‘ag-’ or ‘ig-’ appears also in “nego” (= “neigo”). The spelling “indigens” may be a mistake: see Corssen, Aussprache, Vokalismus &c. 1, p. 255 (2nd ed.). Preller (Römische Mythologie, p. 81) would derive it from “indo” (= “in”) and “genus.” The “Di Indigetes” were generally named in solemn invocations among the gods who protected the city: see G. 1. 498 (note), and Preller, p. 82, 83. Preller thinks that the name “Iupiter indiges” = “Divus Pater indiges,” was the original title of the god worshipped on the Numicius, and that the name of Aeneas was transferred to him later, when the Trojan story found a home in Italy. ‘Scire fateris’ constr. like “fateor petiisse” = “me petiisse” 3. 603.
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John Conington. P. Vergili Maronis opera. P. Vergili Maronis Opera. The works of. Virgil. , with a Commentary by John Conington, M.A. and Henry Nettleship, M.A. London. Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane;. George Bell and Sons, York Street, Covent Garden. 1876.
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