Egeria

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Egeria, nymph, legendary consort and instructor of Numa Pompilius in the religion and rituals of the Roman people. This was in the sacred grove of Carmentis. She is related to the Camenae, spring deities. The Camenae were equated with the Muses as they communicated with mortals by inspiration. Egeria also has a sacred grove nemus within the precints of the Temple of Diana of Aricia.

primus, oliviferis Romam deductus ab arvis,
Pompilius menses sensit abesse duos,
sive hoc a Samio doctus, qui posse renasci
nos putat, Egeria sive monente sua. - Ovid, Fasti 3.154

Quis mihi nunc dicet quare caelestia Martis
arma ferant Salii Mamuriumque canant?
nympha, mone, nemori stagnoque operata Dianae;
nympha, Numae coniunx, ad tua facta veni.
vallis Aricinae silva praecinctus opaca
est lacus, antiqua religione sacer;
hic latet Hippolytus loris direptus equorum,
unde nemus nullis illud aditur equis.
licia dependent longas velantia saepes,
et posita est meritae multa tabella deae.
saepe potens voti, frontem redimita coronis,
femina lucentes portat ab Urbe faces.
regna tenent fortes manibus pedibusque fugaces,
et perit exemplo postmodo quisque suo.
defluit incerto lapidosus murmure rivus:
saepe, sed exiguis haustibus, inde bibi.
Egeria est quae praebet aquas, dea grata Camenis:
illa Numae coniunx consiliumque fuit.
principio nimium promptos ad bella Quirites
molliri placuit iure deumque metu.
inde datae leges, ne firmior omnia posset,
coeptaque sunt pure tradita sacra coli.
exuitur feritas, armisque potentius aequum est,
et cum cive pudet conseruisse manus,
atque aliquis, modo trux, visa iam vertitur ara
vinaque dat tepidis farraque salsa focis. - Ovid, Fasti 3.259-94

She is mentioned in Livy XIX, XXI, Dionysius of Halicarnassus AR 2.61-2. Ennius, Ann. 119; Cicero De Legibus 1.1.4; Ovid, Fasti 3.154; 259-93; Martial 10.35 12-14; Juvenal, 3rd Satire 17.

secondary sources

Roman Religion and the Cult of Diana at Aricia

C. M. C. Green. (2006). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521851580
Hardcover: 348 pages
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