Termĭnus
The Roman god of boundaries and frontiers, under whose special protection were the stones
(
termini) which marked territorial limits. The regulations respecting
these stones and the religious customs and institutions connected with them went back to the
time of Numa Pompilius. At the setting of such a stone all those living near the boundary
assembled, and in their presence the hole prepared for the reception of the stone was watered
with the blood of a sacrificial animal; incense, field-produce, honey, and wine were sprinkled
over it, and a victim sacrificed. The stone, anointed and decked with garlands and ribbons,
was then placed upon the smouldering bones and pressed into the earth. Whoever pulled up the
stone was cursed, together with his draught-cattle, and any one might kill him with impunity
and without being defiled by his blood. In later times the punishment of fines was instituted
instead.
The festival of the
Terminalia was celebrated
in Rome and in the country on the 23d of February (
Dionys. ii. 74).
The neighbours on either side of any boundary gathered round the landmark, with their wives,
children, and servants, and crowned it, each on his own side, with garlands, and offered cakes
and bloodless sacrifices. In later times, however, a lamb or sucking-pig was sometimes slain,
and the stone sprinkled with the blood. Lastly, the whole neighbourhood joined in a general
feast. A lamb was also sacrificed in the grove of Terminus, which was six Roman miles from
Rome, near the ancient border of the town of Laurentum (Ovid,
Fasti, ii. 639;
Hor. Epod. ii. 59). On the Capitol there was
a stone dedicated to Terminus, which had originally stood in the open air, but when the Temple
of Iupiter was founded by the last king, Tarquinius Superbus, it was enclosed within the
building, as the augurs would not allow it to be removed (
Livy, i.
55; Varro,
L. L. v. 74).