ROMAN GODDESSES Aetna Aetna is the Roman mountain goddess after whom the Italian volcano Mount Etna is named. Angerona The Roman goddess of the winter solstice, Angerona is shown with a bandaged mouth with a finger to her lips commanding silence. Her feast the Divalia or Angeronalia was celebrated on December 21. Antevorta Antevorta is the Roman goddess of prophecy. Aurora The Roman goddess of dawn. Bellona The serpent haired goddess Bellona is often described as the feminine side of the god Mars. She represents conflict as well as peace in war. Bona Dea The "good goddess," Bona Dea became the most popular name by which the goddess Fauna or Fatua was known in Rome. She is worshipped only by women, and only in secrecy at rites in early December. Led by Vestal priestesses, these rites were held at the home of a high-ranking Roman matron. The room was decorated with vine branches and with wine flowing freely, it is thought these events were rather rowdy. Camenae These Roman water spirits dwell in freshwater springs and rivers, their most notable haunt being the sacred spring at the Porta Capena, just outside of Rome. Their name means "foretellers." Their festival, the Fontinalia, was celebrated on October 13 by tossing good luck wreaths into wells. Ceres The goddess Ceres is the force of crop growth personified and celebrated by women in secret rituals. Concordia Concordia is the Roman goddess of peace and in art shown as a heavyset matron holding cornucopia in one hand and an olive branch in the other. Devera Devera is the Roman goddess that rules the brooms used to purify ritual sites. Diana Diana is the mother of wild animals and forests, and a moon goddess. Oak groves are especially sacred to her. She is praised for her strength, athletic grace, beauty and her hunting skills. With two other deities she made up a trinity: Egeria the water nymph, her servant and assistant midwife; and Virbius, the woodland god. Disciplina Disciplina is the Roman goddess of discipline. Edusa Edusa is the Roman goddess who oversees the weaning of infants. Felicitas Felicitas is the goddess of good fortune, not to be confused with Fortuna. Flora Flora is the embodiment of the flowering of all of nature, including human nature. The female body was honored at the Floralia, the festival of nude women celebrated until the 3rd century A.D., when Roman authorities demanded revelers must wear clothes. Flora is the queen of all plants. Romans called her the secret patron of Rome, without whose help the city would die. Fons Fons is the Roman goddess of fountains. Fortuna The goddess Fortuna controls the destiny of every human being. She is the goddess who permits the fertilization of humans, animals and plants. Fraud Fraud is the Roman goddess of treachery. Juno The Roman supreme goddess is Juno, married to the ruling god, Jupiter. She is believed to watch and protect all women. Every year, on the first of March, women hold a festival in honor of Juno called the Matronalia. To this day, many people consider the month of June, which is named after the goddess who is the patroness of marriage, to be the most favorable time to marry. The peacock is sacred to Juno. Minerva Minerva is the goddess of wisdom, commerce, crafts, and inventor of music. Ovid called her the "goddess of a thousand works." The Romans celebrated her worship from March 19 to 23 during the Quinquatrus, the artisans' holiday. Pallor Pallor is the Roman goddess of fear. Panacea Panacea is a Roman goddess of health. Potina Potina is the goddess honored as the spirit of weaving and of drinking. Proserpine Proserpine is the counterpart of the Greek goddess, Persephone. She was kidnapped by Pluto and taken to his underworld and made queen of the dead. Providentia Providentia is a Roman goddess whose name means "forethought." Puta Puta is the Roman goddess of tree pruning. Salus Salus is a Roman goddess of health. Tellus Mater The Roman "Mother Earth" is the constant companion of Ceres, and the two of them are patrons of vegetative and human reproduction. Tellus is also the mother death goddess since the dead are returned into her womb, the earth. Tempestates Tempestates is the Roman goddess of wind and storm. Unxia Unxia is the Roman goddess of wedding anointment. Sentia Sentia is the Roman goddess who heightens feelings. Venus As the goddess of love, Venus is the "queen of pleasure" and mother of the Roman people. She is married to Vulcan, the lame god of the forge. She is also associated with her lover, Mars the god of war. She is also a nature goddess, associated with the arrival of spring. Venus is the bringer of joy to gods and humans. Verplace Verplace is the Roman goddess of family harmony.