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Patrii Dei

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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(Lat. pater, "a father," and Dii, "gods"), a name applied in heathen antiquity to the gods from whom tribes were believed to be sprung, or to gods worshipped by their ancestors. Sometimes the name was given to the spirits of their deceased ancestors. Among the ancient Romans the term was sometimes used to denote the Furies or Eumenides.