Editing Februus

{{Short description|Roman god of purification}}
{{Infobox deity
| type         = Etruscan
| name         = Februus
| deity_of     = God of purification and the Underworld
| member_of    = 
| image        = File:Februa februarius.jpg
| alt          = <!-- for alternate text of the title image per [[WP:ALT]] -->
| caption      = Februus and Febris, representing the month of [[February]]
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| affiliation  = <!-- or | associate = -->
| cult_center  = Ancient Italy
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| predecessor  =
| successor    = [[Febris]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}} (assumed) 
| army         =
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| gender       = Male
| Greek_equivalent            = [[Hades]]/[[Pluto (deity)|Pluto]] 
| Roman_equivalent            = 
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| region       = 
| ethnic_group = [[Etruscans]] and [[Roman people|Romans]] 
| festivals    = [[Februalia]] 
| nirvana      =
}}
'''Februus''' is an ancient Italic god of purifications, who was worshipped by both the Romans and Etruscans. He was also worshipped as the god of the [[underworld]] by the [[Etruscans]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VzMGAAAAQAAJ&dq=%22Februus%22+Febris&pg=PA142 |title=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology: Earinus-Nyx - Google Books|accessdate=2022-12-08|last1=Smith |first1=William |year=1880 }}</ref> For them, Februus was also the god of riches (money and gold) and death, both connected loosely to the underworld in the same natural manner as with the better-known Roman god [[Pluto (mythology)|Pluto]]. Februus' name could mean "the underground [one]" in the [[Etruscan language]].<ref>[[Johannes Lydus]], de Mensibus, 25</ref>

Februus may have become the Roman [[Febris]],<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/etymologies-of-isidore-of-seville/F2336BA779D4ED95E6D25AAE2CCBAD25 |title=The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville |date=2006 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-83749-1 |editor-last=Barney |editor-first=Stephen A. |location=Cambridge |translator-last=Barney |translator-first=Stephen A. |doi=10.1017/cbo9780511482113 |editor-last2=Lewis |editor-first2=W. J. |editor-last3=Beach |editor-first3=J. A. |editor-last4=Berghof |editor-first4=Oliver |translator-last2=Lewis |translator-first2=W. J. |translator-last3=Beach |translator-first3=J. A.}}</ref> goddess of fever (''febris'' in Latin means fever). These are possibly connected with the sweating of fevers, which was considered a purgative, washing, and purification process.

Februus is possibly named in honor of the more ancient [[Februa]], also Februalia, festival of washing and purification. Februus' holy month was ''[[Februarius]]'' (of Februa), hence the English ′′February′′, a month named for the Februa/Februalia purification festival which occurred on the 15th of that month. These purification activities occurred at about the same time as [[Lupercalia]], a Roman festival in honor of [[Faunus]] and also the wolf who nursed [[Romulus and Remus]], during which expiatory sacrifices and ritual purifications were also performed.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bisagni |first1=Jacopo |last2=Warntjes |first2=Immo |date=2008 |title=The Early Old Irish Material in the Newly Discovered Computus Einsidlensis (c. Ad 700) |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20696363 |journal=Ériu |volume=58 |pages=77–105 |jstor=20696363 |issn=0332-0758}}</ref> Because of this coincidence, the two gods Faunus and Februus were often considered the same entity.

==See also==
*[[Deities and personifications of seasons]]
*[[List of death deities]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Ancient Roman religion horizontal}}
==External links==
[[Category:Death gods]]
[[Category:Etruscan gods]]
[[Category:Lupercalia]]
[[Category:Abundance gods]]
[[Category:February]]

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