fascinum
οὕτως ἐξ ἐχθρῶν αὐτοκτόνα πέμπετο δῶρα, ἐν χάριτος προφάσει μοῖραν ἔχοντα μόρου → thus mutual gifts that bring death were bestowed by enemies, gifts that brought the lot of death in the name of a favor
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
fascĭnum: i, n. (-ĭnus, i, m.) quasi bascanum, βάσκανον, Cloat. Ver. ap. Gell. 16, 12, 4; but cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 88, 16].
I A bewitching, witchcraft, Plin. 26, 10, 62, § 96; Symm. Ep. 1, 7.—
II Transf.
A I. q. membrum virile (because an image of it was hung round the necks of children as a preventive against witchcraft; cf. Varr. L. L. 7, § 97 Müll.), Hor. Epod. 8, 18; Petr. 138; Arn. 5, 176.—Also in the form fascinus, i. m., Verg. Cat. 5, 20; and personified, Fascĭnus, i, as a deity, the Phallus, Plin. 28, 4, 7, § 39.—
B A kind of sea-shell, App. Mag. p. 297, 11.
Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)
fascĭnum,¹⁴ ī, n., charme, maléfice : Plin. 26, 96 || membre viril : Varro L. 7, 97 ; Hor. Epo. 8, 18. fascinus, m., Virg. Catal. 13, 20.
Latin > German (Georges)
fascinum, ī, n. (nach Cloat. Ver. bei Gell. 16, 12, 4 = βάσκανον; nach Paul. ex Fest. 88, 16 von fari), I) die Beschreiung, Behexung (vgl. fascino), Plin. u.a. – II) das männliche Glied, zunächst als Mittel gegen Beschreiung od. Behexung, Hor., Petron. u.a.: Plur. fascina meton. = so gestaltete Seemuscheln, Apul. apol. 35. – Nbf. fascinus, ī, m., Verg. cat. 5, 20; personif., der Phallus, Plin. 28, 39.
Wikipedia EN
In ancient Roman religion and magic, the fascinus or fascinum was the embodiment of the divine phallus. The word can refer to phallus effigies and amulets, and to the spells used to invoke his divine protection. Pliny calls it a medicus invidiae, a "doctor" or remedy for envy (invidia, a "looking upon") or the evil eye.
The English word "fascinate" ultimately derives from Latin fascinum and the related verb fascinare, "to use the power of the fascinus", that is, "to practice magic" and hence "to enchant, bewitch". Catullus uses the verb at the end of Carmen 7, a hendecasyllabic poem addressing his lover Lesbia; he expresses his infinite desire for kisses that cannot be counted by voyeurs nor "fascinated" (put under a spell) by a malicious tongue; such bliss, as also in Carmen 5, potentially attracts invidia.
Fescennine Verses, the satiric and often lewd songs or chants performed on various social occasions, may have been so-named from the fascinum; ancient sources propose this etymology along with an alternative origin from Fescennia, a small town in Etruria.
