ORCUS. — The use of the word *Orcus* in Latin is manifold: it can denote a place (the Underworld), a god, or the personification of death. As a god, in literature *O.* has been equated since Ennius with the Greek Pluto (Lat. *Dis Pater*).
In its independent form, *O.* has in Roman religion neither a temple nor demonstrable cult: the only ritual celebration linked to its name is mentioned by Servius, according to whom the public festival called *Orci nuptiae* referred to the marriage of Ceres. Since in classical tradition it is not Ceres but Proserpina who is abducted by Pluto, some scholars infer from this account the great antiquity of the rite and the connected myth in Italy; the antiquity of the god *O.* would also appear from certain Italic gentilician names (*Orcevius*, etc.). Others claim to demonstrate the priority of *O.* = “Underworld” over *O.* as a god. Doubts arise from survivals in folklore (e.g., Fr. *ogre*, *ogresse*).