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Moreover for the better vnderstanding of classicall autors, it will not bee impertinent to point at the generall names, by which their religious places were called: and to declare the proper acception of each name. The names being these, Templum, Fanum, Delubrū, Aedes sacra, Pulvinar, Sacrarium, Lucus, Scrobiculum, A∣ra, Altare, Focus.
This word Templum doth sometime signifie those
i 1.1 space, and regions in the ayre, and earth, which the Au∣gures did quarter out with their crooked staffe at their sooth-saying. It doth seldome signifie the heaven, & most commonly it doth signifie a Church, or Temple: in which sense as often as it is vsed, it is said àk 1.2 templando, from be∣holding; because when we bee in the Church, by lifting vp our hearts by a divine contemplation, wee doe, as it were behold the great maiestie of God.
It is also called Fanum à fando, from speaking: not from the speaking of the Priest; but because the people do there speake vnto God, and God againe to the people.
Thirdly, a Church was called delubrum Synechdochic 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 because it was the principall part of the Church, namely the place where their Idoll God stood; and it was called delubrum from Deus:l 1.3 as we call the place, where the can∣dle is put, candelabrum from candela. As concerning the outward forme of the Churches, some were vncovered, be∣cause they counted it an hainous matter to see those Gods confined vnder a roofe, whose doing good consisted in be∣ing abroad; Other-some covered, some round, some o∣therwise: but within they much resembled our great Chur¦ches. They had their pronäon, or Church-porch, wherea∣bouts they were wont to haue the image of the beast Sphinx, which was so famous for his obscure riddles: so that by this image was signifyed, that the oracles of the Gods which were treated of within the Church were dark and mystical. They had certaine walkes on each side of the body of the Church, which they called ••••rticus: & in these places it was lawfull for them to marchandise, make bar∣gaines, or conferre of any worldly businesse; as likewise in the basilica, or bodie it selfe. But their quire called Chorus, was counted a more holy place, set apart onely for divine service. The manner of hallowing it, was as followeth.
m 1.4 When the place where the Temple should be built, had beene appointed by the Augurs (which appointing, or de∣termining the place they called Effari templa, and sistere Fana) then did the party, which formerly in time of neede vpon condition of helpe from the Gods had vowed a Temple, call togither the Aruspices, which should direct him in what forme the temple should be built: which be∣ing knowne certaine ribbands, and fillets were drawne a∣bout the area, or plat of ground with flowers, & garlands strowed vnderneath, as it was probable to distinguish the limits of this ground now to bee hallowed. Then certaine souldiers marched in with boughes in their hands, & after followed Vestall Nunnes leading young boyes, & maides in their hands, who sprinkled the place with holy water. After this followed the Praetor, some Pōtifie going before, who after the area had beene purged by leading round a∣bout it a sow, a ramme, and a bull, sacrificed them, & their entrals being laid vpon a turfe, the Praetor offered vp prai∣ers vnto the Gods, that they would blesse those holy pla∣ces, which good mē intended to dedicate vnto them. This being done the Praetor touched certaine ropes, wherewith a great stone being the first of the foundation was tyed: to∣gether with that other chiefe Magistrates, Priests, and all sorts of people did helpe to pluck that stone, & let it down into its place, casting in wedges of gold, and silver, which had never beene purified, or tryed in the fire. These cere∣monies being ended, the Aruspex pronounced with a loud voice, saying, Nè temeretur opus, saxo, auróue in aliud desti∣nato. .i. let not this worke bee vnhallowed by converting this stone, or gold into any other vse.
Fourthly, a Church was called Aedes sacra, an holy house, because of the sacrifices, prayers, and other holy ex∣ercises performed therein. Although (as Gellius hath long since observed) every holy house was not a Church. For the
proper note of distinction betweene a Church, and a reli∣gious house was this: that a Church beside that it was de∣dicated vnto some God, it was also hallowed by the Au∣gures, without which hallowing the edifice was not called a Church, but a religious house: of which sort was the Ve∣stall Nunnerie, and the common treasurie, called Aedes Saturni. Wee may adde herevnto this word Pulvinar, n 1.5 which doth often signifie a church: the reason being ta∣ken from a custome amongst the Painims, who were wont in their churches to make certaine beds in the honour of their Gods, and those beds they called Pulvinaria from pulvis, because they were filled with dust or chaffe.
Sometimeso 1.6 Sacrariū signifieth a temple, though pro∣perly it signifieth a Sextry or Vestry, nempep 1.7 Sacrorum re∣positorium.
Neere vnto diverse temples stood certaine groues dedi∣cated to some of the Gods: they were called in Latine Lu∣ci à non lucendo, as diverse say, by the figure antiphrasis. But others are of a contrary opinion, giving it that name, be∣cause of the exceeding light it had in the night time by reason of the sacrifices there burnt.
The places vpon which they sacrificed either in their religious houses, or their groues, were of three sorts, which we in english tearme altars; but the Romans distin∣guished them by three severall names, Scrobiculus, Ara, and Altare.
q 1.8 Scrobiculus was a furrow, or pit containing an altar in it, into which they poured downe the bloud of the beast slaine, togither with milke, hony, and wine, when they sa∣crificed vnto an infernall God.
The second kind of altar was called Ara, either ab ar∣dendo, because their sacrifices were burned vpon it: or from their imprecations vsed at that time, which in Greeke they called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. It was made foure-square, not very high from the ground, or as some say, close to the ground: and vpon this they sacrificed vnto the terrestriall Gods, laying a turffe of grasse on the altar: and this gaue Ʋirgil occasion to call themr 1.9 Aras gramineas .i. grassie altars.
The third sort was called Altare, either because it was exalted, and lifted vp somewhat high from the ground; or because he that sacrificed (by reason the altar was so high) was constrained to lift vp his hands in altum, on high:s 1.10 and vpon this they sacrificed vnto their celestiall Gods only.
Focus is a generall name, signifying any of these altars, so called à fovendo: because as Servius hath observed, that is properly focus, quicquid fovet ignem, sive ara sit, sive quic∣quid aliud, in quo ignis fovetur.
Rosin an∣tiq▪ lib. 2. c. 2.
Fr. Sylvius in orat. pro Muraen.
Rosin. an∣tiq. li. 2. ca. 2.
Rosin. ib.
Barthol. La∣tomus in Phi∣lippic. 4••••.
Cic. pro Milone.
Franc. Syl∣vius in orat. pro L. Muraen
Alex. Gen. dier. l. 5. c. 26.
Virg. Aen. 12.
Serv. in Bu∣colic. eclog. 5.