Dii Novensides
The Dii Novensides, literally meaning “Nine New Gods,” were a group of deities encountered in inscriptions, prayer formulas, and writings from both ancient and early Christian eras. Despite their intriguing title, their exact significance remains somewhat unclear.
Some theories suggest the Dii Novensides played a role in the subterranean realm associated with the ancestors. This potential connection to the underworld might explain their presence in certain prayers offered for the deceased.
The Vow of Decius Mus
Intriguingly, the Novensides appear in a very old prayer formula. According to the Augustan historian Livy, Roman consul P. Decius Mus uttered this prayer during the Samnite Wars (c. 340 BC). Facing a desperate battle, Decius vowed to sacrifice himself to the underworld gods. Within this ancient prayer, the Novensides are listed alongside established deities like the supreme god Jupiter, the war god Mars, and the guardian spirits Lares and Manes.
Livy, writing centuries later during the reign of Augustus, was aware of the changing religious landscape. He himself notes the decline of traditional practices in favor of “novel and foreign” customs. However, the archaic elements of this prayer, including the invocation of the Novensides, suggest it might reflect a genuine, well-preserved formula from Rome’s earliest religious traditions.
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 