APOTROPÆ (from αποτρέπω, I avert), in the ancient poetry, verses composed for averting the wrath of incensed deities; and the deities invoked for averting any threatened misfortune were called Apotrepeans. They were also called Alexiaci, from ἀλέγω, I drive away; and Averrunci, from averruncus, which denotes the same.