Ops
- the goddess of plenty, riches, and power, the wife of Saturn, and the patroness of husbandry; identical with Terra: Jovi . . . Ope gnato, Plaut. Pers. 2, 3, 2 (252); Varr. L. L. 5, § 57; 64 Müll.; Enn. ap. Lact. 1, 14 (Euhem. n. 3 and 4, pp. 169 and 170 Vahl.); Macr. S. 1, 10; Cic. Univ. 11; id. Phil. 1, 7, 17; Ov. M. 9, 498.
hanc Greci Rheam ‥ Latini vero Opem appellant. Ops igitur ‥ idem Latine quod Grece Rhea sonat. hoc ‥ nomen ex eo ‥ sortita est quod esurientibus frugum largitione opitulata est
juxta ipsum [Saturnum ] autem Ops uxor sua in cujusdam matrone similitudinem picta est
Ops ‥ id est terra, ejus uxor dicitur, eo quod influencia ejus respicere dicuntur terram et per ejus influenciam bona terrestria generantur
a female Roman divinity of plenty and fertility, as is indicated by her nane, which is connected with opinus, opuleidus, iopsq, anid copia. (Fest. p. 186. &c. ed. Miller.) She was regarded as the wife of Saturnus, and, accordingly, as the protectress of every thing connected with agriculture. Her abode was in the earth, and hence those who invoked her, or made vows to her, used to touch the ground (Macr. 1.10), and as she was believed to give to human beings both their place of abode and their food, newly-born children were recommended to her care. (August. de Ciu Dei, 4.11, 21.) Her worship was intimately connected with that of her husband Saturnus, for she had both temples and festivals in common with him; she had, however, also a separate sanctuary on the Capitol, and in the vicus jugarius, not far from the temple of Saturnus, she had an altar in common with Ceres. (Liv. 39.22; P. Vict. Req. Urb. viii ) The festivals of Ops are called Opalia and Opiconsivia, from her surname Consita, connected with the verb serere, to sow. (Fest. 1. c. ; Macr. 1.10, 12.) [L.S]
The wife of Saturnus. She was the Roman goddess of plenty and fertility, as is indicated by her name, which is connected with opimus, opulentus, inops, and copia. She was especially the protectress of agriculture; and was also the goddess of the world below, so that in worshipping her, persons stooped and touched the ground (Macrob. Sat. i. 10, 12; iii. 9, 12). She was honoured by the Fratres Arvales (q.v.) in the three days' festival held by them in summer, and in the Opalia, December 17, at the time of the Saturnalia. She was regarded as the wife of Saturnus, and her worship was closely connected with his and also with that of Ceres. As the goddess of seedtime, she was styled Ops Consīva, and was also called by the name Dea Dia.
- Paus. 8.28.5