De agna haedoque Fauno immolandis (Hor. Carm. 1, 4, 11–12)

Abstract

The author focuses his analysis on the sacrifice of an ewe lamb and/or a buckling mentioned in the problematic locus of Horace. He notices that the expression agna sive haedo occurs only twice in Latin literature. Both times it is used by Horace (which probably explains the dark Servius auctus’ comment to the similar usage by Virgil, Aen. 8, 641). Basing on different ancient sources and secondary literature, the author comes to conclusion that the usage of agna with haedus in the sacrifice in honor of Faunus, notwithstanding the Roman custom, which prescribed male victims for male gods, relates to the poetic language of Horace. This explanation virtually differs from that proposed by R. G. M. Nisbet and M. Hubbard, who tend to explain this double sacrifice by the Greek tradition of sacrificial offering to Priapus. Supporting his conclusion the author also reveals that in certain cases Romans did sacrifice female victims to male gods, especially in the official cult (hostia honoraria). Refs 7.