The priests of Soranus were called Hirpi Sorani[10][21][5][6] ("wolves of Soranus", from
Sabine: hirpus,
lit. 'wolf').
Servius has preserved the following legend about them: once, during a sacrifice to
Dīs Pater, several wolves ran up to the altar and stole the sacrificial pieces. The shepherds gave chase and ran to a cave – into Mount Soracte – from which such suffocating fumes emanated that those who pursued fell dead. The pestilence that soon spread throughout the country was connected with the death of the shepherds, while the oracle, to whom they turned for advice on how to get rid of the plague, replied that the plague would stop as soon as the inhabitants, like wolves, began to lead a robber life. These people took the name Hirpi Sorani (from
Sabine: hirpus,
lit. 'wolf') and devoted themselves to the cult of the god Soranus, who was later identified with Dīs Pater due the volcanic properties of the mountain and the underground nature of the god.[15][8]
During the annual festivities in honor of
Apollo Soranus and
Feronia, they walked barefoot among burning logs without being burned, for which they were forever released by the
Roman Senate from military service and other liturgies.[8]
The Lupercalia, in the Roman religion, probably derive from these priests.[10]
Partners
He had two female partners: his Etruscan consort
Catha (or
Cavatha), goddess of Moon and Underworld;[16][24][3] and his Faliscan sister-in-law
Feronia, whose major sanctuary[c] was located near Mount Soracte.[23][19]
^A black sun, i.e. a sun god of the underworld,[5][6] rather that a celestial god, was also defined by the Etruscans as TiniaCalusna (Jupiter of the Underworld =
Zeus Chthonios).[6]
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