Their story
Terminus lived in the boundary stones between farms. At the Terminalia neighbours met at the shared stone, garlanded it, and offered cakes and honeycomb on an altar built there, ending with a feast. When Tarquin cleared the Capitol for the temple of Jupiter, Terminus alone refused to be moved, so his stone stayed inside the temple under an opening in the roof. Romans took this as a sign that Rome's boundaries would never retreat.
Best times to give to them
- Terminalia, 23 February
- When agreeing a boundary
What they like being given
- Garlands
- Honeycomb or honey
- Grain and cakes
- Wine or grape juice
How to honour them
- Garland a stone at the edge of your garden on 23 February.
- Invite a neighbour to share the offering.
- Ask for help keeping healthy personal limits.
How they can help you
- Boundaries
- Disputes with neighbours
- Keeping promises
Symbols
- boundary stone
- garland
- honeycomb
Plutarch says his earliest rites were bloodless, which suits modern practice.
Sources
- Ovid, Fasti 2
- Livy 1.55
- Plutarch, Numa 16
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