Quirinus
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In Roman mythology, Quirinus was an early god of the Roman state. It was also an epithet of Janus, as Janus Quirinus.
[edit] History
Quirinus was originally most likely a Sabine god. The Sabines had a settlement near the eventual site of Rome, and erected an altar to Quirinus on the Collis Quirinalis, or Quirinal Hill, one of the Seven Hills of Rome. When the Romans settled there, they absorbed the cult of Quirinus into their early, pre-direct Greek influence, belief system, and he was said to be the deified Romulus. He soon became an important god of the Roman state, being included in the first and earliest Capitoline Triad, along with Mars (then an agriculture god) and Jupiter. In later times, however, as Romans began to drift away from the state belief system in favor of more personal and mystical cults (such as those of Bacchus, Cybele, and Isis), Quirinus became far less important, losing his place in the later, more widely known Capitoline Triad (Juno and Minerva took his and Mars' place). In the end, he was worshiped almost exclusively by his flamen, the Flamen Quirinalis.
[edit] Depiction
In earlier Roman art, he was portrayed as a bearded man with religious and military clothing. However, he was almost never depicted in later Roman belief systems. He was also often associated with the myrtle.
[edit] Festivals
His festival was the Quirinalia, held on February 17.
| Roman religion series |
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| Offices |
| Augur | Flamen | Haruspex | Pontifex Maximus | Rex Nemorensis | Rex Sacrorum | Vestal Virgin |
| Beliefs and practices |
| Apotheosis | Festivals | Funerals | Imperial cult | Mythology | Persecution | Sibylline Books | Temple |
