Bona Dea
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Ancient Latin goddess of fertility, of women and thus guardian of the community. In Rome, the state cult of Bona Dea excluded men. The traditional ''dies natalis'' (foundation day) of her temple on the [[Aventine]] was celebrated on the Kalends of May. <ref>Ovid ''Fasti''</ref> The temple had an ''herbarium'' dispensary, where the priestesses dipensed herbs, <ref>Macrobius l.c</ref> Her temples were unique in being enclosed by a wall and snakes were kept inside the temple precincts. Her cult statue represented a sitting woman holding a cornucopia in her left hand and an offering bowl in her right with a snake twined about her arm. | Ancient Latin goddess of fertility, of women and thus guardian of the community. In Rome, the state cult of Bona Dea excluded men. The traditional ''dies natalis'' (foundation day) of her temple on the [[Aventine]] was celebrated on the Kalends of May. <ref>Ovid ''Fasti''</ref> The temple had an ''herbarium'' dispensary, where the priestesses dipensed herbs, <ref>Macrobius l.c</ref> Her temples were unique in being enclosed by a wall and snakes were kept inside the temple precincts. Her cult statue represented a sitting woman holding a cornucopia in her left hand and an offering bowl in her right with a snake twined about her arm. | ||
The other celebration were nocturnal mysteries whose date was recalculated each year, but was always early in the month of December.<ref>Brouwer p.359</ref> These mysteries were celebrated ''pro populo'' and by matrons of the highest class along with the Vestal Virgins. The mysteries were held and presided over in the home of the wife or on ocassion mother of the highest official of state. | The other celebration were nocturnal mysteries whose date was recalculated each year, but was always early in the month of December.<ref>Brouwer p.359</ref> These mysteries were celebrated ''pro populo'' and by matrons of the highest class along with the Vestal Virgins. The mysteries were held and presided over in the home of the wife or on ocassion mother of the highest official of state. | ||
| − | + | Wine called ''milk'' for the ocassion and incense were offered. | |
==References== | ==References== | ||
H.H.J. Brouwer "Bona Dea: The Sources and a Description of The Cult" | H.H.J. Brouwer "Bona Dea: The Sources and a Description of The Cult" | ||
Revision as of 04:29, 4 May 2009
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Ancient Latin goddess of fertility, of women and thus guardian of the community. In Rome, the state cult of Bona Dea excluded men. The traditional dies natalis (foundation day) of her temple on the Aventine was celebrated on the Kalends of May. [1] The temple had an herbarium dispensary, where the priestesses dipensed herbs, [2] Her temples were unique in being enclosed by a wall and snakes were kept inside the temple precincts. Her cult statue represented a sitting woman holding a cornucopia in her left hand and an offering bowl in her right with a snake twined about her arm. The other celebration were nocturnal mysteries whose date was recalculated each year, but was always early in the month of December.[3] These mysteries were celebrated pro populo and by matrons of the highest class along with the Vestal Virgins. The mysteries were held and presided over in the home of the wife or on ocassion mother of the highest official of state. Wine called milk for the ocassion and incense were offered.
References
H.H.J. Brouwer "Bona Dea: The Sources and a Description of The Cult"
