Deo Optimo Maximo

DOM is a Latin acronym that is often found on Christian tombs, sacred buildings and votive offerings of early modern and Deo Optimo Maximo means ( " The most gracious and exalted God "). The inscription is sometimes also extended to DOMS and then Deo Optimo Maximo means Sacrum ( " The most gracious and exalted consecrated to God ").

The words are derived in direct succession from the title of Jupiter in his capacity as the main and state god of the Roman Empire, from which Jupiter Optimus Maximus was called and had his temple on the slope of the Capitol. Optimus Maximus and are superlative of bonus ( "good") and magnus ( 'great' ), with optimus originally derived from ops ( " useful power" ). Relating to a single God is the superlative to be understood as elative. The dedication IOM - Optimo Maximo Iovi is regularly seen on ordination or grave stelae. It was also the inscription IOVI OPTIMO MAXIMO UXELLIMO ( Germany, CIL XIII, 5145) with the Latinized word uxellimo for the Celtic uksello ( Irish uasal, walesisch Uchel, Breton uhel ) found for " high": uxellimus, " the highest".

Also other cults such as that of Mithras or Sol Invictus, took over the consecration formula; there you will find the acronyms DIM ( Deo Invicto Mithrae - "To the invincible god Mithras " ) or DSII ( Soli Deo Invicto Imperatori - " The noble sovereigns sun god ").

The following formula of DOM to the Roman model is reminiscent of the late antique Christian syncretic tradition to take over pagan terms, calendar days and places, or to charge and thereby displace the Roman religion; However, the inscription came on only since the Renaissance, and is thus rather represents a reception of antiquity

The opinion that the term "dome" for a cathedral of DOM is deduced, is false; "Dom " is German for the Latin word domus ( "house" ) or domus episcopi ( " Bishop's House ").