Terminus Unleashed: Divine Antecedents of Contemporary Borders

Terminus is the ancient Roman god of borders and protector of boundary stones. This paper connects the era in which this figure initially played an important role with the present way in which borders are understood. Neoliberalism has resulted in a tightening of border controls, especially by the more affluent countries of the world, and recent populist political trends draw heavily on promises of border security that are in keeping with Terminus’ perceived character as a hardline defender of borders. While today’s borders are distinct in many ways, similarities reflect an evolved understanding based on ancient Roman contributions to contemporary society and a common justification of political mandates with religious language. To illustrate these points, a poem in the form of a Roman ode is incorporated that imagines Terminus’ contemporary incarnation in the context of recent global surges in construction of border barriers and surrounding rhetoric.