Also called Fontus.
Their story
Fons, or Fontus, was the god of springs, said by Arnobius to be the son of Janus and the nymph Juturna. At the Fontinalia on 13 October, Varro says, people threw garlands into springs and crowned wells. He had an altar on the Janiculum, and a temple dedicated in 231 BC. His cult shows how carefully Romans honoured their water sources.
Best times to give to them
- Fontinalia, 13 October
What they like being given
- Flower garlands
- Fresh water
- A few flowers dropped into a spring
- Incense
How to honour them
- Garland a tap, well or spring on 13 October.
- Drop a single biodegradable flower into clean running water.
- Avoid wasting water in his honour.
How they can help you
- Renewal
- Water blessing
- Gratitude for clean water
Symbols
- garland
- spring
- well
Sources
- Varro, De Lingua Latina 6.22
- Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3.52
- Arnobius, Adversus Nationes 3.29
More Roman gods
- Jupiter Best and greatest, guardian of Rome
- Mars Father of Rome and guardian of fields
- Mercury Patron of merchants, messages and journeys
- Janus Two-faced god of doors and beginnings
- Saturn King of the golden age and lord of the harvest
- Sol Invictus The unconquered sun, reborn at midwinter
- Neptune Lord of fresh water and the sea
- Vulcan God of fire, both destroying and forging