From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia In Roman mythology, the goddess of chastity, hunting, and the Moon; daughter of Jupiter and twin of Apollo. Her Greek equivalent is the goddess Artemis.
From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia In Roman mythology, the principal goddess, identified with the Greek Hera. The wife of Jupiter and queen of heaven, she was concerned with all aspects of women's lives and also regarded as a patroness of commerce.
From Who's Who in Classical Mythology The Roman god of war, identified with Ares; though originally he had been a god of more general characteristics or specifically of agriculture.
From Britannica Concise Encyclopedia In Roman religion, the god of water. Neptune was originally the god of fresh water, but by 399 BC he was identified with the Greek god Poseidon and thus became a deity of the sea.
From Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable The Roman goddess of beauty and sensual love, identified with aphrodite, in some accounts said to have sprung from the foam of the sea, in others to have been the daughter of jupiter and dione, a nymph.
From Chamber's Dictionary of the Unexplained The art or practice of interpreting signs and omens, such as the flight or cries of birds, to gain knowledge of secrets or to predict the future.
From Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary The ancient Roman festival known as the Bona Dea, or Maia Maiesta Festival, was celebrated only by women; no men were allowed to observe or participate in the festivities.
In Phrygian mythology, an earth goddess, Great Mother of the Gods; identified by the Greeks of Asia Minor with the Titan Rhea, mother of Zeus; and honoured in Rome.
From The Columbia Encyclopedia Practice of foreseeing future events or obtaining secret knowledge through communication with divine sources and through omens, oracles, signs, and portents.
From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia In ancient Rome, Etruscan priest who practised divination. They were especially popular in the early days of the republic.
From Late Antiquity: A Guide to the Postclassical World Under the tetrarchy the relationship between emperor and gods was reformalized. The 3rd century emphasis on the protection of the emperor by one particular god changed with the creation of two senior and two junior emperors: the former were called “Jovius” (of Jupiter) and the latter “Herculius” (of Hercules).
From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia Mystery religion based on the worship of the Persian god of light, Mithras, and the religious ideals of redemption and salvation; baptism in blood was the pledge.
From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia Ancient Greek mystery religion of which the Orphic hymns, poems attributed to the legendary poet Orpheus, formed a part. The cult dates from the 6th or 7th century BC, but the poems are of a later date.
Belief in a plurality of gods in which each deity is distinguished by special functions. Polytheistic worship does not imply equal devotion or importance to each deity.
From Bloomsbury Dictionary of Myth Two brothers in Roman myth, Numitor and Amulius, ruled the town of Alba Longa, founded twelve generations before by Trojan settlers led by Ascanius, son of Aeneas
Place regarded as holy due to an association with a divine figure, relic, or event. Shrines are important places in most religions, and are often a focus of worship or meditation.
From The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia One of the six priestesses of the Roman goddess Vesta, who served in her temple in Rome. Their lives were dedicated to the goddess and they kept the sacred flame burning permanently in the shrine.
