The earth, known as Tellus in Roman lore, held a significant place in Roman religion and mythology. As a counterpart to Jupiter, the deity of the sky, Tellus was viewed as a goddess of the underworld, often associated with Dis and the ancestral spirits (Manes). The act of taking an oath in her name involved a downward gesture, contrasting the upward gesture used when invoking Jupiter.
In 304 BCE, the consul P. Sempronius Sophus commissioned a temple dedicated to Tellus following an earthquake during a conflict with the Picentians. This structure was erected on a site previously occupied by the residence of Spurius Cassius, located on the road leading to the Carinae. The festival devoted to Tellus took place on April 15, shortly after the celebration honoring Ceres, and was known as Fordicidia or Hordicidia, derived from the term for a pregnant cow. The sacrificial ceremony, which consisted of cows, was performed in the Capitol with the Vestal Virgins present. At this event, a male deity, referred to as Tellumo, was also invoked by the pontiff.
Another significant celebration, the festival of Sementivae, was observed from January 24 to 26 in honor of Ceres and Tellus. During this time, prayers were offered to these goddesses for the safeguard of seeds and those who sow them. Participants presented cakes, a sow, and festively adorned oxen for plowing. Additionally, individuals would conduct small rituals dedicated to Tellus during sowing and during the harvest, particularly in remembrance of family members who had passed away without receiving the appropriate honors, as Tellus was believed to welcome these departed souls into her embrace.
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