deorum

Deorum is a Latin term meaning "of the gods" and is the genitive plural form of the noun deus (god). It is used in Latin to indicate possession or relation to divine beings and is common in religious, literary, and scholarly texts from antiquity onward.

As the genitive plural of deus, deorum appears in a wide range of constructions. It often appears in phrases such as voluntas deorum (the will of the gods), cultus deorum (the worship of the gods), or opus deorum (the deeds of the gods). In Roman religious and literary contexts, deorum functions as a collective reference to the pantheon or to the gods in general, and it can modify other nouns to express a divine association or origin.

Usage and context: In ancient Roman religion, deorum is frequently found in inscriptions, prayers, and epic or elegiac poetry when invoking or describing the gods as a group. It can also appear in philosophical or historical writings to discuss divine influence on human affairs. In later Latin, including Christian-era texts, deorum may be used when translating or discussing the classical pantheon, though the term can be employed with a range of nuance from reverent to critical.

See also: Deus, Dei, Dea.