Editing Sancus (section)

=== Sancus and Mars ===
At Iguvium Fisus, Sancius is associated to [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] in the ritual of the sacrifice at the {{Lang|la|Porta}} ('Gate') {{Lang|la|Tesenaca}} as one of the gods of the minor triad{{efn|
The major triad is composed of [[Jupiter (mythology)|Iove]], [[Mars (mythology)|Marte]], and [[Veiovis|Vofiune]], termed the ''Grabovii''; beside it there is minor one whose components are associated each with one of the ''Grabovii'': ''Trebus Iovius'' with Iove, ''Fisus Sancius'' with Marte and ''Tefer Iovius'' with Vofiune respectively. cf. Briquel (1979)<ref name=Briquel-1979/>{{rp|page=136}}
}} and this fact proves his military connection in Umbria. This might be explained by the military nature of the concept of ''sanction'' which implies the use of repression. The term {{Lang|la|sanctus}} too has in Roman law military implications: the walls of the city are {{Lang|la|sancti}}.<ref name=Briquel-1979>
{{cite book|first=D.|last=Briquel|year=1979|article=Sur les aspects militaires du dieu ombrien Fisus Sancius|title=Melanges de l'Ecole Francais de Rome Antiquite|pages=134–137}}
</ref>{{rp|pages=135–137}}

The martial aspect of Sancus is highlighted also in the instance of the Samnite {{Lang|la|legio linteata}}, a selected part of the army formed by noble soldiers bound by a set of particularly compelling oaths and put under the special protection of Iupiter. While ordinary soldiers dressed in a purple red [[paludamentum]] with golden paraphernalia, those of the {{Lang|la|legio}} dressed in white with silver paraphernalia, as an apparent show of their different allegiance and protector. This strict association of the ritual to Iupiter underlines the military aspect of the sovereign god that comes in to supplement the usual role of Mars on special occasions, i.e. when there is the need for the support of his power.<ref name=Briquel-1979/>

A prodigy related by Livy concerning an {{Lang|la|avis sanqualis}} who broke a rainstone or meteorite fallen into a grove sacred to Mars at [[Crustumerium]] in 177{{nbs}}BCE has also been seen by some scholars as a sign of a martial aspect of Sancus. [[Roger D. Woodard|Woodard]]<ref name=Woodard-2006/> has interpreted Sancus as the Roman equivalent of Vedic god [[Indra]], who has to rely on the help of the [[Maruts]], in his view corresponding to the twelfth Roman {{Lang|la|semones}} of the [[carmen Arvale]], in his task of killing the dragon [[Vrtra]] thus freeing the waters and averting draught. He traces the etymology of ''Semo'' to [[Indo-European languages|PIE]] root *{{Lang|mis|sh₂e (w)-}}<!-- Indo-European --> bearing the meanings of 'to pour', 'ladle', 'flow', 'drop' related to rain and sowing.<ref name=Fowler-1899/>{{rp|page=140}}<ref name=Woodard-2006/>{{rp|pages=186{{nbs}}ff}}
<nowiki> In Roman myth </nowiki>[[Hercules]] would represent this mythic character in his killing of the monster [[Cacus]]. Sancus would be identical to Hercules and strictly related, though not identical, to Mars as purported by the old cults of the [[Salii]] of [[Tibur]] related by Varro and other ancient authors cited by Macrobius. The tricephalous deity represented near Hercules in Etruscan tombs and reflected in the wise of the killing of [[Cacus]] would correspond to the features of the monster killed by Indra in association with Trita Āpya.<ref>
Macrobius ''Saturnalia'' III 12, 1-8
</ref><ref name=Woodard-2006/>{{rp|pages=220{{nbs}}ff}}

The connection between Sancus and Mars can be further explained by the fact that Semo Sancus could be considered identical with the god [[Enyalius]] son of Mars ([[Ares]]); but sometimes Enyalius served also as an epithet of Ares (Mars) himself thus the two came to be regarded as very similar in character and their identities could overlap at times. [[Pirro Ligorio]] in the ''Codice Torinese'' reports the tradition about this god (Sancus) as found in the city of [[Rieti]], populated by the Sabines and he writes as such: "[…] Hoggidì questa città chiamano Rieti, et delle sue antichità si trova questa base rotonda nel mezzo della sua piazza, sopra la quale fu già la statua di Sancte Sabinorum che è il Genio detto Sango et alcuni il chiamano Genio altri Enialio figliuolo di Marte, alcuni vogliono che sia Hercole, altri Apolline […]" which translates as: "Nowadays they call this city Rieti, and of its ancient artifacts this rounded base can be found in the center of its square, on top of which there was the statue of Sancte Sabinorum who is the Genius called Sangus and some call him Genius others Enyalios son of Mars, some claim he is Hercules, others [[Apollo]] […]".<ref>[https://www.persee.fr/doc/mefr_0223-5102_1985_num_97_1_5501<br>L'Ara di Lucius Munius a Rieti (article), Monika Verzar Bass – Mélanges de l'école française de Rome, Year: 1985 / 97-1  / pp. 295-323.]</ref>