Also called Diva Angerona.
Their story
Angerona was honoured on 21 December, around the shortest day, in the shrine of Volupia near the Porta Romanula. Her statue showed her with her mouth bound and sealed, and a finger raised to her lips. Macrobius and Pliny link this to the secret name of Rome, which must never be spoken. Others said she relieved anguish, angor, or sickness of the throat.
Best times to give to them
- Divalia, 21 December
What they like being given
- Silence
- Incense
- A candle
How to honour them
- Keep a few minutes of silence at the solstice.
- Keep a secret entrusted to you.
- Sit quietly with pain rather than rushing to fix it.
How they can help you
- Keeping secrets
- Quiet endurance
- Getting through the darkest days
Symbols
- finger to lips
- bound mouth
Her meaning was already uncertain to ancient writers.
Sources
- Macrobius, Saturnalia 1.10.7-8
- Pliny, Natural History 3.65
- Varro, De Lingua Latina 6.23
More Roman goddesses
- Juno Queen of heaven and protector of women
- Minerva Patron of craftworkers, teachers and healers
- Venus Mother of the Roman people and goddess of love
- Diana Lady of the woodland grove and the moon
- Vesta The living flame at the heart of home and Rome
- Ceres Mother of the grain and friend of the common people
- Luna The moon, shining through the night
- Libera Partner of Liber in the Aventine triad