Their story
Feronia was an Italian goddess of groves with a great sanctuary at Lucus Feroniae near Mount Soracte, rich with offerings until Hannibal plundered it. At her temple in Terracina, Servius says, slaves were freed and received the cap of liberty. Livy notes that in 217 BC freedwomen collected money for a gift to her. Strabo reports that at her grove people walked barefoot over hot coals unharmed.
Best times to give to them
- Her festival, Ides of November (13 November)
- When gaining freedom
What they like being given
- First fruits
- Flowers
- Incense
How to honour them
- Give thanks when you leave a hard situation.
- Visit an old woodland in her name.
- Help someone make a new start.
How they can help you
- New freedom
- Fresh starts
- Wild places
Symbols
- pileus cap
- grove
- spring
Do not attempt fire-walking.
Sources
- Livy 22.1 and 26.11
- Servius, on Aeneid 8.564
- Strabo, Geography 5.2.9
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