Quiri'nus
according to Dionysius of Halicarnassus (2.48), a Sabine word, and perhaps to be derived from
quiris, a lance or spear.
It occurs first of all as the name of Romulus, after he had been raised to the rank of a divinity, and the festival celebrated in his honour bore the name of Quirinalia (
Verg. A. 1.292: Cic.
De Nat. Deor. 2.24;
Ov. Am. 3.8. 51,
Fast. 4.56, 808, 6.375,
Met. 15.862.) Owing to the probable meaning of the word it is also used as a surname of Mars, Janus, and even of Augustus. (
Ov. Fast. 2.477;
Serv. ad Aen. 7.610; Sueton.
Aug. 22
Macr. 1.9;
Verg. G. 3.27; Lydus,
De Mens. p. 144; comp. ROMULUS.)
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