Helernus, also known as Alernus, was an Archaic Roman deity. [1] He was a minor god of the underworld, and god of the beans used during the Lemuria festival during May. [2] His sacred grove ( lucus) was near the mouth of the Tiber river. [3] Sacrifices were made to him annually on 1 February by the Roman Pontiffs, in which a black ox was killed. [a] [1] [5] He had one daughter, named Carna, who was goddess of protecting the intestines of children from vampires. [2]
Poultney and others compare Helernus with the similarly (apparently) chthonic deity Hule/Horse/Huřie who shows up a couple times in the Umbrian Iguvine Tablets. [6]
Helernus, also known as Alernus, was an Archaic Roman deity. [1] He was a minor god of the underworld, and god of the beans used during the Lemuria festival during May. [2] His sacred grove ( lucus) was near the mouth of the Tiber river. [3] Sacrifices were made to him annually on 1 February by the Roman Pontiffs, in which a black ox was killed. [a] [1] [5] He had one daughter, named Carna, who was goddess of protecting the intestines of children from vampires. [2]
Poultney and others compare Helernus with the similarly (apparently) chthonic deity Hule/Horse/Huřie who shows up a couple times in the Umbrian Iguvine Tablets. [6]