Also called The Good Goddess, Fauna, Damia.
Their story
Bona Dea's true name was not spoken by men, and her December rite was held only by women, at night, in the house of a senior magistrate with the Vestals present. Wine brought in was called milk and its jar a honey pot, and myrtle was banned. In 62 BC Publius Clodius crept into the rite in women's clothing at Caesar's house, causing a famous scandal. Her Aventine temple kept tame snakes and a store of healing herbs.
Best times to give to them
- Anniversary of her Aventine temple, 1 May
- Her December night rite (early December)
What they like being given
- Wine called milk, or real milk
- Honey
- Healing herbs
- Flowers other than myrtle
How to honour them
- Hold a gathering of women in her honour.
- Grow or dry healing herbs and dedicate them to her.
- Keep myrtle off her altar, as the Romans did.
How they can help you
- Healing
- Women's solidarity
- Fertility
Symbols
- snake
- vine
- cornucopia
- healing herbs
Much about her rites was secret, and ancient male writers knew little.
Sources
- Macrobius, Saturnalia 1.12.21-29
- Plutarch, Caesar 9-10
- Ovid, Fasti 5
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