Sterquilinus, also known as Stercutus and Sterculius, was a deity of odor in Roman mythology.
He could have been Picumnus‘ equal. Saturn used to oversee the manuring of the fields under the alias Stercutius, according to the Larousse Encyclopaedia of Mythology. The Latin word stercus, which means “fertilizer” or “manure,” is where the name Sterquilinus originates. His name has been changed to prevent misunderstanding.
Since the early Romans were an agrarian society and, functionally, the majority of their original pantheon of gods were of a rural nature with figures like Pomona, Ceres, Flora, and Dea Dia, it was appropriate to have a god overseeing the fundamentals of organic fertilization. This contrasts with the later ones they adapted to Greek stereotypes. Manure application in agricultural operations was essentially what Sterquilinus taught. He wasn’t the only divinity associated with human waste or excrement on its own.
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