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[[Terminus]] is the god of boundary stones and markers.  According to tradition, a new temple was being built to [[Jupiter]] on land dedicated to several gods and goddesses.  In the view of the augurs, Terminus and [[Juventas]] were the only ones who refused to vacate the site. Another explanation (though somewhat similar) holds that [[Tarquinnius Superbus]] wanted to remove a stone dedicated to Terminus by [[Titus Tatius]].  Again, the augurs refused to allow a sacred area to Terminus to be moved.  The [[augur]]s in both accounts viewed this as a sign of the permanence of Rome.

A festival to Terminus was held on {{Feb 23}}.  [[Terminalia]] was especially celebrated between owners of neighbouring properties.  Statues of Terminus (which was simply a boundary stone) were garlanded and offerings of cakes, corn, and honeycombs were made on an altar.

==[[Ovid]], Fasti II==
<blockquote style="font-variant:small-caps">
"When night has passed, let the god be celebrated<br/>
With customary honour, who separates the fields with his sign.<br/>
Terminus, whether a stone or a stump buried in the earth,<br/>
You have been a god since ancient times.<br/>
You are crowned from either side by two landowners,<br/>
Who bring two garlands and two cakes in offering.<br/>
An altar's made: here the farmer's wife herself<br/>
Brings coals from the warm hearth on a broken pot.<br/>
The old man cuts wood and piles the logs with skill,<br/>
And works at setting branches in the solid earth.<br/>
Then he nurses the first flames with dry bark,<br/>
While a boy stands by and holds the wide basket.<br/>
When he's thrown grain three times into the fire<br/>
The little daughter offers the sliced honeycombs.<br/>
Others carry wine: part of each is offered to the flames:<br/>
The crowd, dressed in white, watch silently.<br/>
Terminus, at the boundary, is sprinkled with lamb's blood,<br/>
And doesn't grumble when a sucking pig is granted him.<br/>
Neighbours gather sincerely, and hold a feast,<br/>
And sing your praises, sacred Terminus:<br/>
`You set bounds to peoples, cities, great kingdoms:<br/>
Without you every field would be disputed.<br/>
You curry no favour: you aren't bribed with gold,<br/>
Guarding the land entrusted to you in good faith.<br/>
If you'd once marked the bounds of Thyrean lands,<br/>
Three hundred men would not have died,<br/>
Nor Othryades' name be seen on the pile of weapons.<br/>
O how he made his fatherland bleed!<br/>
What happened when the new Capitol was built?<br/>
The whole throng of gods yielded to Jupiter and made room:<br/>
But as the ancients tell, Terminus remained in the shrine<br/>
</blockquote>

==References==

* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Terminalia.html Smith, A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities]

* [http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Terminus Classic Encyclopedia]

[[Category:Roman Gods]]