Portunes
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In Roman mythology, Portunes (alternatively spelled Portumnes or Portunus) was a god of keys and doors and livestock. He later became associated with Palaemon and became primarily a god of ports and harbors. He protected the warehouses where grain was stored.
His festival, on August 17, was the Portunalia. On this day, keys were thrown into a fire for good luck in a very solemn and lugubrious manner. His attribute was a key.
There is a temple of Portunus in Rome( pictured), in the ancient Forum Boarium by the Tiber. From here, Portunus watched over cattle-barges as they entered the city from Ostia.
The temple was restored in the first century BC and is so well preserved because the temple was converted to use as a church late in the ninth century.
The circular Temple of Hercules Victor is located behind the Temple of Portunus in the Forum Boarium.
External Links
- Temple of Portune (http://www2.siba.fi/%7Ekkoskim/rooma/pages/PORTUNUS.HTM)de:Portunus