Neptunegod

Neptune (god) (Neptunus), the Latin god of the sea, is identical with the Greek Poseidon (q.v.). The name is supposed to be a contraction of "Navitunns" connected with naiein or natare, "to swim." Neptune was the brother of Jupiter and Pluto, and was always offered a sacrifice (which was afterwards thrown into the sea) at the outset of any naval expedition. His temple was in the Campus Martius, and his festival was kept on July 23 (x. Kal. Sext.).