[406]. The combination of the idea of female fecundity with that of the earth is of course common enough. Here is a good example from Abyssinia: ‘She (Atetie) is the goddess of fecundity, and women are her principal votaries; but, as she can also make the earth prolific, offerings are made to her for that purpose’ (Macdonald, Religion and Myth, p. 42).
[407]. Fasti, 5. 421 foll.
[408]. See Introduction, p. [15].
[409]. Huschke (Röm. Jahr, 17) tried to prove that the Lemuria was the ‘Todtenfest’ of the Sabine city, the Feralia that of the Latin; but his arguments have convinced no one.
[410]. Fasti, 5. 423.
[411]. G. B. ii. 157 foll.; Macdonald, Religion and Myth, ch. vi.
[413]. Tylor, Prim. Cult. ii. 24. The friendly attitude is well illustrated in F. de Coulanges’ La Cité antique, ch. ii.
[414]. On Hor. Ep. 2. 2. 209.
[415]. Non. p. 135. Cp. Festus, s. v. faba: ‘Lemuralibus iacitur larvis,’ i. e. ‘the bean is thrown to larvae at the Lemuralia.’ Serv. Aen. 3. 63.