Editing Sancus (section)

== Etymology ==
The place-name {{Lang|la|Sanguineto}} is related to the [[theonym]], through the proper name {{Lang|la|Sanquinius}}.<ref name=Palmer-1994/>{{rp|page=16}}<ref name=Norden-1939/>{{rp|page=215}}

''Sancus'' derives from a [[Latin language|Latin]]/[[Umbrian language|Umbrian]]/[[Sabine language|Sabine]] source (compare Umbrian ''sacra''/ '''sakra''' "sacred", and the Umbrian theonym ''Sansi''/'''Saçi'''), and is connected to [[Latin language|Latin]] {{Lang|la|sancire}} ('to hallow') and hence ''[[saint|sanctus]]'' ('hallowed') and [[English language|English]] ''saint'', ''sacred'', ''sanctuary'', ''sanctity'' and ''sanction''.

Outside Italic, Hittite has a number of words such as ''saklai'' "rites" and ''sankunnis'' "priest" that seem to be clear cognates, suggesting an [[Indo-European]] root *''sank-/*sak-'' "to sanctify".<ref>{{Cite web|title=sacred {{!}} Search Online Etymology Dictionary|url=https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=sacred|access-date=2023-12-07|website=www.etymonline.com}}</ref> It is possible, however, that the former was a loan from Akkadian ''sakku (m)'' 'cultic rites,'<ref>{{Cite book|last=Black|first=Jeremy A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-qIuVCsRb98C&q=sakku+akkadian+'rites'/&pg=PA313|title=A Concise Dictionary of Akkadian|last2=George|first2=A. R.|last3=Postgate|first3=J. N.|date=2000|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-04264-2|language=en}}</ref> and the latter may be a loan word from [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] ''sanga'' "administrative priest".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-09-19|title=Mesopotamian Priests and Priestesses|url=https://www.historyonthenet.com/mesopotamian-priests-and-priestesses|access-date=2023-12-07|website=History|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>ids online hittite dictionary https://ids.clld.org/units/208-911/</ref>

[[Roger D. Woodard|Woodard]]<ref name=Woodard-2006/> has interpreted Sancus as the Roman equivalent of Vedic god [[Indra]] (whose name is likely related to Sanskrit ''indu'' "rain drop"), 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 drought. He traces the etymology of ''Semo'' to [[Indo-European languages|PIE]] stem 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}} (See more below at "Mars and Semo")