Editing Vertumnus (section)

==Cult and origin==

The name ''Vortumnus'' most likely derives from [[Etruscan language|Etruscan]] ''[[Voltumna]]''. Its formation in Latin was probably influenced by the Latin verb ''vertere'' meaning "to change", hence the alternative form ''Vertumnus''. Ancient etymologies were based on often superficial similarities of sound rather than the principles of modern scientific linguistics, but reflect ancient interpretations of a deity's function.<ref>Eytmology in Propertius, ''Elegy'' 4; commentary by L. Richardson Jr. (1977), noting that the etymology is not [[classical philology|philologically]] sound.</ref> In writing about the [[Vestalia|Festival of Vesta]] in his poem on the [[Roman calendar]], Ovid recalls a time when the forum was still a reedy swamp and "that god, Vertumnus, whose name fits many forms, / Wasn’t yet so-called from damming back the river" (''averso amne'').<ref>Ovid, ''Fasti'', Book 6, June 9.</ref>

[[Marcus Terentius Varro|Varro]] was convinced that Vortumnus was Etruscan, and a major god.<ref>Varro, ''De lingua latina'' V.46: ''"Ab eis [the Etruscans] dictus Vicus Tuscus, et ideo ibi Vortumnum stare, quod is deus Etruriae princeps"''</ref> Vertumnus's cult arrived in [[Rome, Italy|Rome]] around 300 BC, and a temple to him was constructed on the [[Aventine Hill]] by 264 BC, the date when Volsinii (Etruscan Velzna) fell to the Romans. [[Sextus Propertius|Propertius]], the major literary source for the god, also asserts that the god was Etruscan, and came from [[Volsinii]].

Propertius refers to a bronze statue of Vortumnus<ref>Propertius, ''Elegy'' 4.2.41-46</ref> made by the legendary [[Mamurius Veturius]], who was also credited with the twelve ritual shields ''([[ancile|ancilia]])'' of [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]]'s priests, known as the [[Salii]]. The bronze statue replaced an ancient [[maple]] statue ''([[xoanon]])'' supposed to have been brought to Rome in the time of [[Romulus]].<ref>Daniel P. Harmon, "Religion in the Latin Elegists", ''Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt'' 2.16.3 (1986), pp. 1960–61; W.A. Camps, ''Propertius: Elegies Book IV'' (Cambridge University Press, 1968), p. 77.</ref> The statue of Vortumnus ''(signum Vortumni)'' stood in a simple shrine located at the [[Vicus Tuscus]] near the [[Forum Romanum]],<ref>Michael C. J. Putnam, "The Shrine of Vortumnus" ''American Journal of Archaeology'' vol&nbsp;'''71''', &nbsp;2, pp&nbsp;177-179 (April 1967).</ref> and was decorated according to the changing seasons. In his poem about the god, Propertius has the statue of Vortumnus speak in first-person as if to a passer-by.<ref>E. C. Marquis (1974) "Vertumnus in Propertius 4, 2". ''Hermes'', vol&nbsp;'''102''', no&nbsp;3, pp&nbsp;491-500.</ref>

The base of the statue was discovered in 1549, perhaps still ''in situ'', but has since been lost. An inscription<ref>''[[Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum|CIL]]'' VI.1.804: VORTUMNUS TEMPORIBUS DIOCLETIANI ET MAXIMIANI</ref> commemorated  a restoration to the statue under [[Diocletian]] and [[Maximian]] in the early 4th&nbsp;century&nbsp;[[AD]].<ref>R. Lanciani (1903) ''Storia degli scavi di Roma'' vol. II, p. 204f.</ref>