Anna-Preenna

Roman

Her origins are unclear because She is a very ancient figure. It is now believed that She was originally an Etruscan Goddess. She ruled both human and vegetable reproduction. Her festival was held on March 15th. It was a rowdy festival where all pious Romans were expected to take part in the merry making, and promiscuity. She was a Goddess of the fruitful earth who was pleased by the reproduction and birth of humans. To show Her pleasure She would provide an abundace of edibles for them.

Befana

Roman

A figure of folk legends she is the lady of 12th night. In Rome an image of an old woman made of rags was hung outside the home on January 5th, to witness the passing of Winter's deepest darkness.

Carmenta

Roman

The Goddess of Midwifery and Prophecy, She also brought the art of writing to Her people. She was worshipped in magickal ceremonies each January 11th and 15th.

Ceres

Roman

One of the two great Roman earth Goddesses, Ceres was the force of vegetable growth personified. She was celebrated each April 19th in the Cerelia. These rites were conducted to protect crops from disease and to ensure bountiful harvest with increased sunlight.

Ceres was a Goddess of crop rich August, where women practiced secret rituals in Her honor. She was also a funeral diety. Sacrifices were made to Her to purify homes after a death had occured there.

Concordia

Roman

In Roman art this Goddess of peace is portrayed as a buxom maiden holding a cornucopia and an olive branch. Worship of Concordia goes back to the era before the Roman Empire. In the forth century BC a temple was dedicated to her as a personification of harmony and peace. The emperor Tiberius built another temple in the first century CE. He appealed to Her to end the bloody feuds that were destroying the royal family. Her special feast is April 30th when She is honoured along with Pax and Solace, (peace and health.)

Flora

Roman

She was a very ancient Roman Goddess. She was the imbodiment of the flowering of all nature, including human nature.

The female body was especially honoured at her festival from April twenty-eighth to May third. Her festival was called the Floralia, and wasn't just frivilous partying. Flora was the Queen of all plants. As flowers lead to fruit, intercourse leads to conception. This basic truth was recognized by the Romans by calling Flora the secret patron of Rome. They believed that without Her help the city will die.

Liberia

Roman

She was part of a triad of Roman agricultural dieties worshipped at the Liberalia on March seventeenth. The other two thirds of this triad were Ceres and the God Liber. This celebration was to mark the return of vegetation to the earth's surface. At this celebration old women decked with ivy served as Liberia's priestesses. These women's sold fried honey pancakes. Roman's bought these cakes, offered a bite to the Goddess, and ate the rest. Under Greek influence Liberia was assimilated into Persephone.

Maia

Greek and Roman

In Greece She was a grandmother, midwife. or wise one. She was a Goddess of the night sky and the oldest of the pleiadies. She survived in name only as most of Her myth is lost.

The Romans identified Her as a fire Goddess. She ruled warmth and growth. Her festival was held on the first day of May. May is named for her.

Mania

Roman

She was the mother of ghosts. She was usually penned in a deep well. She was released several times annually. These nights as the dead roamed the streets searching for victims, people hung wooden effegies outside their homes to ward off Mania's hosts.

Mater Matutu

Roman

She was the Goddess of the dawn. She was a Mother who brought the light of day to Her frightened children. She was worshipped in an emotional ceremony on July eleventh. At this ceremony women held their sister's children in their arms and sought Dawn's blessings for them.

Minerva

Roman

Her domain was the intellectual. She was pure wisdom in female form. She was the Goddess of commerce and craft. She is also said to have invented music (the mathmatical art) and all instruments. She was celebrated March 19th - 20th during the festival of purity.

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