Also called Casmenae, Muses (identified).
Their story
The Camenae were water goddesses whose spring stood in a grove outside the Porta Capena, from which the Vestals drew water for their rites. Plutarch says Numa dedicated the grove to them. When Livius Andronicus first translated the Odyssey into Latin, he rendered the Greek Muse as Camena, and the Camenae became the Roman Muses. Egeria was sometimes counted as one of them.
Best times to give to them
- Kalends of each month
- Before writing or singing
What they like being given
- Spring water
- Milk
- A poem or song
How to honour them
- Read or sing your work aloud to them first.
- Keep a jug of fresh water by your writing desk.
- Honour them together with Egeria.
How they can help you
- Writing
- Inspiration
- Song and voice
Symbols
- spring
- water jar
- lyre
Sources
- Livius Andronicus, Odusia (fragment 1)
- Plutarch, Numa 13
- Livy 1.21
More Roman spirits
- The Lares Guardian spirits of the household and crossroads
- Penates Guardians of the household store cupboard
- Manes The honoured spirits of the family dead
- Genius The divine double of each man and household
- Juno (personal spirit) The guardian spirit of each woman
- Lares Compitales Guardians of crossroads and neighbourhoods
- Forculus and Limentinus Spirits of the door and the threshold
- Parcae The three Fates of birth and death