Also called Mars Silvanus.
Their story
Silvanus was one of the most widely worshipped gods among ordinary Romans, especially slaves, freedmen and farmers, as hundreds of inscriptions show. He guarded woods, the edges of fields and the boundaries of estates. Cato gives an offering to Mars Silvanus in the woods for the health of cattle, which only men might attend. He had no great public festival; his worship was personal and rural.
Best times to give to them
- When cutting or clearing woodland
- Harvest
- Kalends of each month
What they like being given
- Milk
- Spelt or grain
- Wine or grape juice
- Fruit
How to honour them
- Ask his leave before cutting trees or hedges.
- Leave a small offering at the edge of your garden.
- Tend a wild corner of land in his name.
How they can help you
- Gardening and land care
- Protecting livestock and pets
- Boundaries
Symbols
- pruning hook
- pine branch
- dog
- fruit
His evidence comes mainly from inscriptions rather than literature.
Sources
- Cato, De Agricultura 83
- Virgil, Georgics 2
- Horace, Epodes 2
- Peter F. Dorcey, The Cult of Silvanus (1992)
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