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Polemos
(95 words)

[German version]

(Πόλεμος/Pólemos; Lat. Bellum). Personification of war (Ov. Met. 1,142 f.); he was considered the lord of kydoimós ('din of battle', Aristoph. Pax 204-300, esp. 236 and 255) and of the alalá ('war-cry', Pind. fr. 78). At Rome, War was locked behind double doors (Enn. Ann. 266 f.) with iron bolts (Verg. Aen. 1,293) and guarded by Janus (Ianus). Following a decision to wage war, the Roman consul personally opened the doors of the Temple of Janus at Rome, thereby issuing a call to arms (Verg. Aen. 7,607 f.).

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Thurmann, Stephanie (Kiel), “Polemos”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1000270>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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