Chapter 6.17 | Dickinson College Commentaries

Deum māximē Mercurium colunt. Hūius sunt plūrima simulācra, hunc omnium inventōrem artium ferunt, hunc viārum atque itinerum ducem, hunc ad quaestūs pecūniae mercātūrāsque habēre vim māximam arbitrantur. Post hunc Apollinem et Mārtem et Iovem et Minervam. Dē hīs eandem ferē quam reliquae gentēs habent opīniōnem: Apollinem morbōs dēpellere, Minervam operum atque artificiōrum initia trādere, Iovem imperium caelestium tenēre, Mārtem bella regere. Huic, cum proeliō dīmicāre cōnstituērunt, ea quae bellō cēperint plērumque dēvovent: quae superāvērunt, animālia capta immolant, reliquāsque rēs in ūnum locum cōnferunt. Multīs in cīvitātibus hārum rērum exstrūctōs tumulōs locīs cōnsecrātīs cōnspicārī licet, neque saepe accidit ut neglēctā quispiam religiōne aut capta apud sē occultāre aut posita tollere audēret, gravissimumque eī reī supplicium cum cruciātū cōnstitūtum est.

notes

The Gallic pantheon.

Mercurium: the gods had no such names, nor were they, in fact, the same gods; but they were identified with similar Roman divinities as nearly as possible. The name of the god whom the Romans identified with Mercury is lost (Teutates?); but it appears from inscriptions and images that his worship was very widespread and important throughout the period of the Empire. The other deities here mentioned appear under numerous epithets. Jupiter was probably the Gallic Taranis, whose name appears to indicate that he was a god of thunder. He has been identified by some with a statuette bearing in its hand a long hammer or mallet, like the Scandinavian Thor. (Allen & Greenough).

inventōrem ferunt: 'they regard as the inventor' (Rice Holmes).

post hunc: supply colunt from the first clause of this section.

eandem ferē ... opīniōnem: ferē eandem opīniōnem quam reliquae gentēs habent.

Apollinem: supply credunt, arbitrabantur, or putant from the precenting clause (opinionem habent).

accidit ut: < A&G 569.2.

ut neglēctā quispiam religiōne ... audēret: ut quispiam, neglēctā religiōne, audēret aut capta apud sē occultāre aut posita tollere.

neglecta religione: i.e., in violation of his vow (Allen & Greenough)

capta: 'taken as spoil' (Allen & Greenough)

posita: 'consecrated as a gift'

ea quae ex bello ceperint: Compare the distribution of spoils in the Roman army

vocabulary

simulācrum -ī n.: likeness, image, figure, statue

inventor -ōris m.: inventor

fero, ferre, tuli, latum: (of speech), assert, celebrate, say, tell

quaestus -ūs m.: acquisition, gain

mercātūra -ae f.: trade, traffic, commerce

opīniō -ōnis f.: opinion, belief

morbus -ī m.: sickness

dēpellō –pellere –pulsī –pulsum: drive out

artificium –ī n.: profession, trade, skill

ĭnĭtĭum, ĭi, n.: first principles, elements of a science

trado, -ere, tradidi, traditum: teach, hand down

dīmĭco -āre: fight, struggle

dēvoveō –vovēre –vōvī –vōtum: dedicate, vow, offer, sacrifice

superō -āre: be left over, remain

immŏlo -āre: sacrifice

exstrŭo -ĕre -xi -ctum: pile up; build, erect; construct

tumulus –ī m.: mound

cōnsecrō –āre: dedicate, consecrate

conspĭcor -āri: observe, see

neglegō –legere –lēxī –lēctum: disregard, neglect, be indifferent to

quispĭam, quaepĭam, quippĭam: any, anybody

religiō –ōnis f.: religious obligation, worship

occulto -āre: conceal

supplicium –i, n.: punishment, penalty

cruciātus –ūs m.: torture

media

Text Read Aloud

Language English

Chinese version