It may ultimately derive from Proto-Indo-European (PIE) *bʰh₂u-n ('favourable'), which also reflects Old Irish búan ('good, favourable, firm') and Middle Welsh bun ('maiden, sweetheart'). Updates? His shade was consulted as a goddess of prophecy under the name of Fatuus, with oracles[1] in the sacred grove of Tibur, around the well Albunea, and on the Aventine Hill in ancient Rome itself.[2]. In Nonnos' Dionysiaca, Faunus/Phaunos accompanied Dionysus when the god campaigned in India. [11] Fauns are place-spirits (genii) of untamed woodland. He eventually became primarily a woodland deity, the sounds of the forest being regarded as his voice. [11] The female deity Bona Dea was often equated with Fauna. Like Pan, Faunus was associated with merriment, and his twice-yearly festivals were marked by revelry and abandon. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Faunus, ancient Italian rural deity whose attributes in Classical Roman times were identified with those of the Greek god Pan. [9] It is believed that he was worshipped by traditional Roman farmers before becoming a nature deity.[10]. In Justin's epitome, Faunus is identified with Lupercus ("he who wards off the wolf"), otherwise a priest of Faunus. 1970. Premium Membership is now 50% off. In Nonnus' Dionysiaca he was one of the rustic deities to accompany Dionysus in his war against the Indians. Omissions? In fable Faunus appears as an old king of Latium, grandson of Saturnus, son of Picus, and father of Latinus by the nymph Marica (who was also sometimes Faunus' mother). Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Two festivals, called Faunalia, were celebrated in his honour—one on 13 February, in the temple of Faunus on the island in the Tiber, the other on 5 December, when the peasants brought him rustic offerings and amused themselves with dancing.[2]. With the increasing influence of Greek mythology on Roman mythology in the 3rd and 2nd–centuries BC, the Romans identified their own deities with Greek ones in what was called interpretatio romana. Nečas Hraste, D. and Vuković, K. 2011. His numinous presence was recognized by wolf skins, with wreaths and goblets. [14], This article is about the Ancient Roman god. Faunus was originally worshipped throughout the countryside as a bestower of fruitfulness on fields and flocks. In ancient Roman religion and myth, Faunus [ˈfau̯nʊs] was the horned god of the forest, plains and fields; when he made cattle fertile he was called Inuus. A grandson of Saturn, Faunus was typically represented as half man, half goat, in imitation of the Greek Satyr, in the company of similar creatures, known as fauns. A goddess of like attributes, called Fauna and Fatua, was associated in his worship. Black Friday Sale! After his death he is raised to the position of a tutelary deity of the land, for his many services to agriculture and cattle-breeding. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Faunus was naturally equated with the god Pan, who was a pastoral god of shepherds who was said to reside in Arcadia. W. Warde Fowler suggested that Faunus is identical with Favonius,[4][better source needed] one of the Roman wind gods (compare the Anemoi). According to Virgil’s Aeneid, Faunus told Latinus to give his daughter, Lavinia, in marriage to a foreigner—i.e., Aeneas. Faunus was originally worshipped throughout the countryside as a bestower of fruitfulness on fields and flocks. Hammond, N.G.L. A euhemeristic account made Faunus a Latin king, son of Picus and Canens. Additionally, Faunus is patron of the Fauns. The spoons also bore Christian symbols, and it has been suggested that these were initially Christian but later taken and devoted to Faunus by pagans. They had been engraved with the name "Faunus", and each had a different epithet after the god's name. According to the epic poet Virgil, he was a legendary king of the Latins. The name Faunus is generally thought to stem from Proto-Italic *fawe or *fawono (variant *fawōn(jo)), thus being cognate with Umbrian fons, foner ('merciful'). She was regarded as his daughter, wife, or sister. This page does not include information on the Roman god Faunus, only his incarnation as Phaunus in Greek literature. Corrections? The Journal of Indo-European Studies 39.1&2: 100–15, This page was last edited on 23 October 2020, at 13:38. As Pan was accompanied by the Paniskoi, or little Pans, so the existence of many Fauni was assumed besides the chief Faunus. Faunus was the Roman god of the forest. He was equated with the Greek god Pan. For the community in the United States, see, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Faunus&oldid=985018446, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking reliable references from April 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Pan had always been depicted with hornsand as such many depictions of Faunus also began to display this trait. and Scullard, H.H.