in Roman Antiquity, a ceremony observed in the proclamation of war. Four heralds being chosen from among the fetiales (a college of priests who acted as guardians of the public faith), one of their number was deputed to act as their representative. This individual, who was styled pater patratus, was crowned with the sacred herbs, and sent to the confines of the hostile state; and there, having called the gods to witness that his complaints were just, he demanded redress for the injury sustained. If the offending state failed to comply with his demands within the period stipulated, which was usually thirty or thirty-three days, the herald again proceeded to their frontiers; and hurling a bloody spear within their confines, pronounced a solemn declaration of war. In after times, when war was declared against a distant nation, this ceremony was performed in a field designated Ager Hostilis, near Rome.