The Sylvan gods, who were always hurtful to bigbellied women, were driven away by those deities, and the mischiefs they intended were prevented. For, as neither the trees, asays St. Augustin, are cut down without an axe, nor bread made without a pestle, nor things preserved clean without a brush; so, since those instruments are thought signs of good housewifery, it was supposed, that these wild unclean gods would never dare to enter into the chamber of a breeding woman. CHAPTER VI. THE GODDESSES PRESIDING OVER WOMEN IN LABOUR. THESE goddesses assisted women in travail, and promoted the happy birth of a child. Juno Lucina, whose image was thus formed: one hand was empty, and ready, as it were, to receive the new-born babe; the other hand held a lighted torch, by which that light of life was signified, which all enjoy as soon as they are born. Diana; though some make no difference between her and Lucina. Timaus speaks very handsomely, dwhen he relates that Diana's temple was burnt the same night in which Alexander was born: It is (says he) no wonder she was absent from her house, when her assistance was necessary at the labour of Olympias, Alexander's mother. She is called also Solvizona; for when women lay in the first time, they loosed their zona, or girdle, and dedicated it to Diana. Egeria is so called 'from casting forth the birth. Prosa, or Prorsa, or Porrima (who was called also Postverta and Anteverta) looked after the birth of the child: it was in her power to make the birth easy and regular, or difficult and preposterous. a De Civ. Dei. 7. b Nat. Comes. 12. d Cic. Nat. Deor. 1. egerendo. g Gell. c. 19. c Catull. Carm. ad Dian. f A partu e Theocr. Idyll. 17. Plutarch. Rom. qu. 25. Manageneta presided also over the infant, both before and after its birth. Lastly, the goddess Latona, of whom we have spoken in her place. It was thought that she very much loved a dunghill-cock; because a cock was present when she brought forth Diana and Apollo; and thence some imagine, that the presence of a cock renders women's labours easy. Nixii Dii, so called 'from striving, because the mother and the child struggle at that time: the mother Struggles through pain, and the child, that it may come into the world. CHAPTER VII. THE DEITIES PRESIDING OVER INFANTS AT THE TIME OF THEIR BIRTH, AND AFTERWARD. THESE deities presided over children in the time of their birth, and afterward. Janus, who opened the door of life to them. Opis, who assisted them when they came into the world. Nascio, or Natio, a goddess so called from a Latin word signifying to be born. Cunia, who attends the cradle, and watches the infants while they lie and sleep. Carmenta, who sings the destinies. Vagitanus, or Vaticanus, hwho takes care of them when they cry. Levana, from lifting them up from the ground: *for when a child was born, the midwife constantly laid the child on the ground, and the father, or, in his absence, a Eliani variæ Historiæ. b Ab enitendo, quod eniteretur cum mater, tum fætus. Auson. Idyll. 12. c Qui aperiret vitæ januam. d Quæ opem ferret. A nascendo. f Quæ cunis præest. A canendo. i A levando. Var. 2. de vita pop. Rom. h A vagiendo. somebody appointed by him, lifted it from the ground; and hence tollere liberos, signifies to educate children. Rumia, who milks the breast for the child. aRuma s an old word signifying the breast. Potina, bwho gives the infant its drink. Educa, or Edusa, from whom it receives its cfood. Ossilago, who fastens the bones, and hardens the ody. Carna, or Carnea, ewho keeps the inward parts safe. To this goddess they sacrificed, upon the calends of une, bacon, and cakes made of beans. Whence those alends were called Fabariæ. The goddess Nundina was so called from the ninth ay of the child's age, which was the day of the purifiation in which the name was given it, if it was a boy; f it was a girl, this ceremony was performed on the ighth day. Statanus, or Statulinus, who teaches infants to stand nd walk; and preserves them from falling. Fabulinus, who looked after them when they began speak. Paventia was the goddess who ipreserved them from rights. CHAPTER VIII. THE GODS AND GODDESSES PRESIDING OVER OUR several actions are supposed to be under the rotection of divers gods. Juventus, or Juventas, protects us in the beginning Four youth, kwhen we have thrown off the child's pat. Agenoria excites men to laction. August. 4. c. 8. b A potando. ibus. e A carne. e, qui fuit dies lustricus. A stando. f A nono Vide Macrob. Saturn. 1. 1. Vide Macrob. Festum in voce lush A fando. i Ab avertendo pavore. August. 4. c. 11. 1 Idem 4. c. 16. cus. Strenua encourages us to behave ourselves strenu⚫usly and bravely upon all occasions. Stimula eggs and stimulates us on to extraordinary actions. Horta is the goddess who exhorts us to undertake noble enterprises. Her temple at Rome stood always open and some call her Hora. Quies had her temple without the city; and was supposed to be the donor of peace and quietness. Murcia renders men lazy, idle, and dull. Adonea and Abeona protects us so, that we have power to go in and out in safety. Vibilia brings wanderers into their way again. Fessonia recreates and refreshes the weary. The goddess Meditrina has her name from healing; and her sacrifices were called Meditrinalia, in which they drank new and old wine instead of physic. The goddess Vitula is so called from leaping for joy she is the goddess of mirth, which mitigates the toils of life. The goddess Volupta, from pleasure; for from her we receive it. Orbona was worshipped, that she should not leave parents "destitute of children. Pellonia was thought to have great power in idriving away the enemy. Numeria was worshipped, that from her we might learn kto cast accounts. Camoena was esteemed a goddess, who inclines infants to sing. Sentia was worshipped, that children might imbibe at first just and honorable sentiments. Angerona was the goddess that removed the "an a Varro 4. de Ling Lat. b Plut. Quæst. Rom. 14. gust. 4. c 16. d Murcidos reddit Idem ibid. e A medendo. f A vitulando, id est, lætitia gestiendo. Var. et Festus. voluptate. numerando. dest. c Au 8 A h Orbos liberis. i A pellendis hostibus. kA m A sentiendo. Fest. Jul. Mo 1 A canendo. n Ut pelleret angores animi. guishes of the mind: or else was so named from the squinancy: when the cattle of the Romans were almost wholly destroyed by this disease, they offered vows to her, and she removed the plague. Heres Martia was one of the companions of Mars, and was worshipped by those who obtained an inheri tance. Stata, or Statua Mater, was worshipped in the Forum, that it should not be burnt, or suffer damage from frequent fires, which happened there in the night. The goddess Laverna was the protectress of thieves, who, from her, were named Laverniones: they worshipped her, that their designs and intrigues might be successful: cher image was a head without a body. The god Averruneus was thought to drepel and prevent misfortunes. Consus suggested good counsel in the management of affairs. Catius made men fcircumspect, acute, and wise. Volumnus and Volumna were so named, because, through their means, men were willing to follow things that are good. Honorius, the god from whom they begged honours. Alius Locutius was worshipped on this occasion: A common soldier reported, that in the night he heard a voice say, "The Gauls are coming." Nobody minded what he said, because he was a poor fellow. After the Gallic war, Camillus advised the Romans to expiate their offence in neglecting this nocturnal voice, which forewarned them of the Gallic war, and the ensuing destruction; upon which a temple was dedicated in Via Nova to Alius Locutius. Among the Ethiopians, or the Assyrians, and Persians, Pana and Beneficium (Punishment and Favour) were reckoned in the number of the gods. For the former was esteemed the distributer of evil, the other the dispenser of good things. a Ut arceret anginam. b Fest. id. ib. Ab averruncando, id est, avertendo mala. c Scalig. in Fest. e A consulendo. f Quod homines cautos redderet. g A volendo, quod ejus consilto bona vellent. h August. 2. c. 21. Val. Max. A a |
