Editing Silvanus (mythology) (section)

==Attributes and associations==

Like other gods of woods and flocks, Silvanus is described as fond of music; the [[Pan flute|syrinx]] was sacred to him,<ref name="Tibullus"/> and he is mentioned along with the Pans and Nymphs.<ref name="Lucan"/><ref name="Georgics"/> Later speculators even identified Silvanus with [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], [[Faunus]], [[Inuus]] and [[Aegipan]].<ref>[[Plutarch]]. ''[[Parallel Lives]].'' Min. 22.</ref> He must have been associated with the Italian [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]], for [[Cato the Elder|Cato]] refers to him consistently as ''Mars Silvanus''.<ref name="Cato"/> These references to Silvanus as an aspect of Mars combined with his association with forests and glades, give context to the worship of Silvanus as the giver of the art (techne) of forest warfare. In particular the initiation rituals of the [[evocatus|evocati]] appear to have referenced Silvanus as a protective god of raiding for women and cattle, perhaps preserving elements of earlier Etruscan worship. <ref>[[Dio Cassius]], ''Roman History'' [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/45*.html#12 45.12]</ref>

In the provinces outside of Italy, Silvanus was identified with numerous native gods:<ref>Peter F. Dorcey (1992). ''The Cult of Silvanus: A Study in Roman Folk Religion,'' p.32. {{ISBN|978-90-04-09601-1}}.</ref>
:*[[Sucellos]], [[Poeninus]], Sinquas and Tettus in [[Gaul]] and [[Germania|Germany]].
:*Callirius, [[Cocidius]] and [[Vinotonus]] in [[Roman Britain|Britain]]. A [[Romano-Celtic Temple]] containing several plaques dedicated to ''Silvanus Callirius'' has been found at [[Camulodunum#Public Buildings|Camulodunum]] (modern [[Colchester]]).<ref>Crummy, Philip (1997) City of Victory; the story of Colchester - Britain's first Roman town. Published by Colchester Archaeological Trust ({{ISBN|1 897719 04 3}})</ref>
:*Calaedicus in [[Hispania|Spain]].
:*The Mogiae in [[Pannonia]].
:*[[Selvans]] in [[Etruria]] (though the validity of this identification has been contested).<ref name="selvans"/>
:*[[Silenus]], a Greek God, merged with Silvanus in Latin Literature.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Silvanus-Roman-god|title=Silvanus {{!}} Roman god|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2017-05-02|language=en}}</ref>
:*[[Pan (god)|Pan]] (god of forests, pastures, and shepherds), in Greco-Roman mythology.<ref name=":0" />
:*[[Aristaeus]], a god/patron of [[shepherd]]s, harvest and other [[Rural area|rural]] arts.

The [[Slavic mythology|Slavic]] god [[Porewit]] has similarities with Silvanus.<ref name="Ellis">{{cite book |last1=Ellis |first1=Jeanette |title=Forbidden Rites: Your Complete Guide to Traditional Witchcraft |date=2008 |publisher=O Books |isbn=978-1-84694-138-2|pages=53–54 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gr_BaAPVhMQC&q=Silvanus+vs+Porewit&pg=PA53 |access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>

[[Xavier Delamarre]] suggests the epithet ''Callirius'' may be related to Breton theonym ''Riocalat(is)'' (attested in Cumberland Quarries), and both mean "(God) With Wild Horses".<ref>Delamarre, Xavier. "Affranchis, chevaux sauvages, libérateurs et mercenaires: le mot gaulois pour «libre»". In: ''Etudes Celtiques'', vol. 41, 2015. pp. 131 and 133. [DOI: https://doi.org/10.3406/ecelt.2015.2454] ; www.persee.fr/doc/ecelt_0373-1928_2015_num_41_1_2454</ref>