MANES

A word of uncertain etymology, applied gen erally by the Romans to souls separated in in the dead. There is some obscurity, however, about the precise meaning of this term. According to Apulelus, the Mines were originally called Lemures, and consisted of two cla es — the Lares and the Larva; the former of whom were of those who had led virtuous lives, and the latter of those who had lived Improperly; and, at a later period, the term Manes came to be a general designation for both. On the other hand, St. Auguslin maintains thai Manes was, from the first, a term applied to the spirits of deceased men when no definite opinion could be formed of their merits: " Animas hominum damones e e, ct ex liominiliiis fier i Lares, si merit i bonisint; Lemures slve Larvas, si mali; manes autem cum incertum est bononun eos, slve malonun e e meritorum." In the month of February, annually, th were propitiated at their sepulchres during twelve days, li was the duty of the pontifex mnximus to see thai proper ceremonies were observed. The stones in the Roman burial places, and their funeral urns, were generally inscribed With the letters I). M. B. (His M ambus Sacrum). [s. 727]