Diovis

Latin

Alternative forms

• Diiovis, Dijovis
• Iovis, Jovis (Classical Latin, Late Latin)

Etymology

Old Latin from Proto-Italic *djous, *djowes (“day, sky; Jove”) from Proto-Indo-European *dyḗws (“sky god”, literally “the bright one”) from *dyew- (“to be bright, day sky”). Combining the root with the title Pater (“Father”) forms Old Latin Diēspiter (“Jupiter”, literally “Father Jove”) whence the nominative and vocative of later forms of Diovis are derived by analogous formation (cf. Iuppiter, Iovis). Related to diēs, dīvus, dīus, Diāna, deus. Cognates include Doric Greek Δεύς (Deús), Attic Greek Ζεύς (Zeús)—the Greek god to whom Roman Diovis is later equated.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈdi.o.u̯is/, [ˈd̪iou̯ɪs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈdi.o.vis/, [ˈd̪iːovis]

Proper noun

Diovis m (genitive Diovis); third declension

1. (Old Latin, religion) the Old Italic name for Jove, Jupiter
   • c. 150 CE, Aulus Gellius, Noctes Atticæ, Book V, Chapter XII, lines 1–7:

     In antiquis precationibus nomina hæc deorum inesse animadvertimus: Diovis et Vediovis; est autem etiam ædes Vediovis Romæ inter Arcem et Capitolium. Eorum nominum rationem esse hanc comperi: Iovem Latini veteres a iuvando appellavere, eundemque alio vocabulo iuncto patrem dixerunt. Nam quod est, elisis aut inmutatis quibusdam litteris, Iupiter, id plenum atque integrum est Iovispater. Sic et Neptunuspater coniuncte dictus est et Saturnuspater et Ianuspater et Marspater—hoc enim est Marspiter—itemque Iovis Diespiter appellatus, id est diei et lucis pater. Idcircoque simili nomine Iovis Diovis dictus est et Lucetius, quod nos die et luce quasi vita ipsa afficeret et iuvaret. Lucetium autem Iovem Cn. Nævius in libris Belli Pœnici appellat.

     In ancient prayers we have observed the names of these gods: Diovis and Vediovis; furthermore, there is a temple of Vediovis at Rome, between the Citadel and Capitolium. The explanation of these names I have ascertained: the ancient Latins called Iovis from iuvare, and called the same god “father,” thus adding another word. For Iovispater is the full complete form, which becomes Iupiter by syncope or change of some letters. So also Neptunuspater is used as a compound, and Saturnuspater and Ianuspater and Marspater—for this is Marspiter—and Jove also was called Diespiter, that is, the father of day and of light. And thus by a name of similar origin Jove is called Diovis and also Lucetius, because he blesses and helps us by means of the day and the light, equal to life itself. And Lucetius is applied to Jove by Gn. Nævius in his poem on the Punic War.

Declension

Third-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	Diovis	Diovēs
Genitive	Diovis	Diovum
Dative	Diovī	Diovibus
Accusative	Diovem	Diovēs
Ablative	Diove	Diovibus
Vocative	Diovis	Diovēs

See also

• Diēspiter, Iuppiter (“Jupiter, Jove”)
• Vēdiovis, Vēiovis (“Vejove”, literally “Anti-Jove”)
• Vēdīus

References

• “Diovis”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• Diovis in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.