Hail Volturnus!
Hail to the river of life!
May we have nourishment,
And may we be cleansed from whatever is inimical!
Salve Volturne!

 

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Volturnus is the turning waters. The Fasti Vallenses additamenta of Volturno Flumini Sacrificium confirm the deity as a stream or river (flumen), and most likely he is, for the Romans, a personification of the Tiber. As such, the aquatic associations of the Voturnalia conclude the ferial celebrations of August as those connected with the Portunalia begin them.

Volturnus possessed his own flamen which indicates his ancient cultic standing. As the river Tiber, his pontifical indigitation is Tiberinus. Arnobius designates Volturnus as the father of the nymph-goddess Juturna and presumably then also of Juturna’s fraternal chthonian counterpart Turnus. The name of Volturnus might then be a back-formation from the Etruscan Turnus. We know nothing of the specific rites for this day.