The Averrunci, in antiquity, were an order of deities among the Romans, whose office was to avert dangers and evils. The Egyptians had also their Dii Averrunci, or Apotropaet, who were pictured in a menacing posture, and sometimes with whips in their hands. Isis was a divinity of this kind, as was shown by Athanasius Kircher. A deity or a god, is a postulated preternatural being, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, thought holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, or respected by human beings. ... The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... It has been suggested that Isis in literature be merged into this article or section. ... Athanasius Kircher (sometimes spelt Kirchner) (May 2, 1601?–27 November 1680) was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar who published around 40 works, most notably in the fields of oriental studies, geology and medicine. ...

References

• This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain. [1]