QUIRINUS, PROTECTOR OF THE ROMAN PEOPLE

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In their civilian capacity, Romans are called “Quirites.” This is in reference to Quirinus, God of the Roman People. This ancient God was first a War God of the Sabines and then later the deified Romulus, the Founder of Rome. The fluidity of Quirinus from Sabine God to God of the Archaic Triad to the Divine Romulus is not that unusual. Romans are always reviewing their relations with various Ancient Gods. What has remained is the essence of the God with his association with the Roman people.

 

First, Quirinus was regarded to be the War God of the Sabines. When the Romans absorbed Quirinal Hill (Note 1), where the Sabines had lived, they installed Him with Jupiter and Mars as the Archaic Triad. These three Gods oversaw Roman affairs before the Republic. To that end, the Romans established Flamen Maiores (Major Priests) for these Gods – Flamen Dialis (Jupiter), Flamen Martialis (Mars) and Flamen Quirinalis (Quirinus). Each received one third of the spoils of war (spolia opima).

 

Unlike the Weapons of Mars, the Sacred Arms of Quirinus were smeared in pitch. These Arms were stored instead of being kept ready for war. With his weapons, Quirinus remained in Rome to protect the people. Servius wrote “when Mars rages uncontrolled, He is called Gradivus (the Marching God), when He is calm, He is called Quirinus.”

 

The Flamen Quirinalis, presided in four festivals – the Fornacalia which includes the Quirinalia, the Robigalia, the Consualia Aestivia, and the Larentalia. These festivals except for the Larentalia, focused on the preservation of grain, while the grain was growing, being stored, and baked. Meanwhile, the Larentalia focused on the Founding of Rome. All the festivals that included Quirinus emphasized the well-being of the people.

 

By the end of the Republic, Quirinus became the deified Romulus. In “Fasti,” Ovid wrote that Jupiter raised the half-human Romulus to Godhood. He explained that Romulus had been taken up in a thunderstorm. Meanwhile, Proculus Julius (of the same Gens as Julius Caesar) announced that Romulus had appeared to him to inform the Romans that He was now Quirinus. After that, Augustus Caesar built Quirinus a new temple that was to be the largest in Rome.

 

One reason that Romulus became Quirinus is because both were involved with the Curiae (wards of the City). Romulus had divided the Romans into three Tribes (Ramnes, Tities, and Luceres), then divided each into ten Curiae. Meanwhile, Quirinus guarded the joining of the Romans and Sabines, to form the Curiae.

 

Notes:

Note 1: Quirinal Hill of Rome is considered to be the residing place of the God.