Book 5
12
IN ancient prayers we have observed that these names of deities appear: Diovis and Vediovis; furthermore, there is also a temple of Vediovis at Rome, between the Citadel and the Capitolium. The two summits of the Capitoline Hill. The explanation of these names I have found to be this: the ancient Latins derived Iovis from iuvare (help), and called that same god father, thus adding a second word. For Iovispater is the full and complete form, which becomes Iupiter The correct spelling in Latin is Iuppiter. by the syncope or change of some of the letters. So also Neptunuspater is used as a compound, and Saturnus— pater and Ianuspater and Marspater—for that is the original form of Marspiter—and Jove also was called Diespiter, that is, the father of day and of light. And therefore by a name of similar origin Jove is called Diovis and also Lucetius, because he blesses and helps us by means of the day and the light, which are equivalent to life itself. And Lucetius is applied to Jove by Gnaeus Naevius in his poem On the Punic war. Fr. 55, Bährens.
