Hail Volcanus!
May we once again purify our defenses that protect us from the inimical!
May we complete our preparations for the harvests to come!
We honour our celestial lord in his most awesome manifestation.
Salve Volcane!

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The May Tubilustrium is dedicated to Volcanus. As in the month of March, the sacred tubae are lustrated. In March, this is done under the tutelage of the god Mars; in May, the rites are covered by Volcanus. The 23rd of May is connected to the 21st, the Agonium of Vediovis, by an intervening dies nefastus.

Historically, Volcanus has lost his identity through Ennius’ identifying him with  the Greek figure of Hephaistos, the smith-god with volcanic associations. Originally, however, Volcanus is probably an epithet belonging to Jupiter in his capacity as the god of lightning. Consequently, the Agonium-dies nefastus-Tubilustrium calendrical configuration affirms the divine twins as a netherworld-celestial pairing, the not-Jove and Jove – this last in his virile manifestation as the Vedic Indra is of Dyaus and the Germanic Donar is of Tiwaz.