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A ''lapis manalis'' (Latin: "stone of the Manes") was either of two sacred stones used in the Roman religion. One covered a gate to Hades, abode of the dead; Festus called it ''ostium Orci'', "the gate of Orcus". The other was used to make rain; this one may have no direct relationship with the ''Manes'', but is instead derived from the verb ''manare'', "to flow". The two stones had the same name. However, the grammarian Festus held the cover to the gate of the underworld and the rainmaking stone to be two distinct stones.〔Sextus Pompeius Festus, ''(De verborum significatione )'', sub. tit. ''manalis'' (Latin and French text)〕 ==Gate to the underworld== One such stone covered the ''mundus Cereris'', a pit thought to contain an entrance to the underworld. Most cities of Latium and Etruria contained a similar pit or ditch; Plutarch describes the custom of a ''mundus'' as being of Etruscan origin, and states that it was used as a place where first-fruits were deposited.〔Plutarch, ''(Life of Romulus )'' ch. 11.〕 The Latin word ''mundus'' meant "world". Festus, quoting Cato this time, explains that: :''Mundo nomen impositum est ab eo mundo qui supra nos est.'' ::(The ''mundus'' gets its name from that world which is above us.)〔W. Warde Fowler, "(Mundus Patet )", ''Journal of Roman Studies'', Vol. 2 (1912), pp 25‑33.〕 The Roman ''mundus'' was located in the Comitium.〔Plutarch, supra.〕 This stone was ceremonially opened three times a year, during which spirits of the blessed dead (the ''Manes'') were able to commune with the living. The three days upon which the ''mundus'' was opened were August 24, October 5, and November 8. Fruits of the harvest were offered to the dead at this time.〔Lesley Adkins and Roy A. Adkins, ''Dictionary of Roman Religion'' (Facts on File, 1996) ISBN 0-8160-3005-7〕〔Fowler, above〕 Macrobius, quoting Varro, says of these days that: :''Mundus cum patet, deorum tristium atque inferum quasi ianua patet.'' ::("When the ''mundus'' is open, it is as if a door stands open for the sorrowful gods of the underworld.") Accordingly, he reports that military and public matters were not transacted upon them, even though they were not ''dies nefasti''.〔Macrobius, ''(Saturnalia )'' I 16.18〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lapis manalis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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