caesar vi.17.2-vi.17.5

17.2. Dē hīs eandem ferē, quam reliquae gentēs, habent opiniōnem:

Apollinem morbōs dēpellere, Minervam operum atque artificiōrum initia

trādere, Iovem imperium caelestium tenēre, Martem bella regere. 3. Huic,

cum proeliō dīmicāre constituērunt, ea quae bellō cēperint plērūmque

dēvovent: cum superāvērunt, animalia capta immolant reliquāsque rēs in

ūnum locum cōnferunt. 4. Multīs in civitātibus hārum rērum exstrūctōs

tumulōs locīs consecrātīs conspicārī licet; 5. neque saepe accidit ut neglēctā

quispiam religiōne aut capta apud sē occultāre aut posita tollere audēret,

gravissimumque eī reī supplicium cum cruciātū constitūtum est.

About these things they generally have the same opinion as the remaining clans:

that Apollo drives out diseases, Minerva passes down the beginning of works and crafts,

Jupiter holds power over the heavenly bodies, and Mars rules over wars. To him,

when they have decided to contend in battle, they commonly sacrifice these things which they would have seized in war:

when they have triumphed, they immolate the captured animals and bring the remaining things into one place.

In many states it is allowed to see the piles of these things having been built up in consecrated places;

and it does not happen often that, with religion having been neglected, anyone dares either to

conceal the things seized among himself or to steal things having been put aside,