Portunus
Portunus, the god of harbors
Frieze-Dennison Vergil
- the protecting god of harbors, also called Palaemon, Cic. N. D. 2, 26, 66; Ov. F. 6, 547; Verg. A. 5, 241 Serv.; Lact. 1, 21, 23; Inscr. Orell. 1585; Paul. ex Fest. p. 243.—Hence,
- II Portūnālis (Portumn-), e, adj., of or belonging to Portunus, Portunal: flamen, Poët. ap. Fest. s. v. persillum, p. 217 Müll.—
- 2 Subst.: Portūnālĭa, ĭum, n., the festival of Portunus, celebrated annually on the 17th of August, Varr. L. L. 6, § 19 Müll.; Calend. ap. Inscr. Orell. 2, p. 396.
➳ mauv. orth. Portumnus.
or Portumnus, the protecting genius of harbours among the Romans. He was invoked to grant a happy return from a voyage. Hence a temple was erected to him at the port of the Tiber, from whence the road descended to the port of Ostia. At his temple an annual festival, the Portunalia, was celebrated on the 17th of August. (Varro, De Ling. Lat. 6.19 ; Arnob. 3.23; Cic. de Nat. Deor. 2.26; Verg. A. 5.241.) He was represented with a key in his hand, portus as well as porta signifying a place which can be closed. At the time when the Romans became familiar with Greek mythology, Portunus was identified with the Greek Palaemon (Festus, s. v. Portunus, p. 242, ed. Muller; comp. Palarmon.) [L.S]
- portus, the god of harbors(the Greek Palaemon), C., V., O.
or Portumnus. The Roman god of harbours, though originally of doors and gates (portae). Like Ianus (q.v.), the god of coming in and going out, he was represented with a key, and was perhaps only a personification of one attribute of Ianus. He had a special flamen in Rome (Portunalis), and at the harbour on the Tiber he had a temple, where a festival, the Portunalia, was held in his honour every year on August 17th. In later times he was identified with the Greek Palaemon (q.v.).