Their story
Libertas received a temple on the Aventine built by Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, and Ovid places her festival on the Ides of April. Freed slaves wore the pileus, a felt cap, which became her emblem, together with the rod used in the ceremony of freeing. In 58 BC Clodius demolished part of Cicero's house and built a shrine to Libertas on the site, and Cicero argued it was no true consecration. Brutus and Cassius put her cap on coins after killing Caesar.
Best times to give to them
- Anniversary of her Aventine temple, Ides of April (13 April)
- When a burden is lifted
What they like being given
- Incense
- Wine or grape juice
- Flowers
How to honour them
- Give thanks for freedoms you hold.
- Support someone who is not free.
- Wear a simple cap in her honour on 13 April.
How they can help you
- Freedom
- Breaking bonds
- Standing up for rights
Symbols
- pileus cap
- rod of manumission
- sceptre
Sources
- Livy 24.16
- Ovid, Fasti 4
- Cicero, De Domo Sua
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