Also called Mephitis.
Their story
Mefitis was an Italian goddess of the noxious gases that rose from the ground in volcanic and marshy places. Virgil describes the valley of Ampsanctus, where a deadly vapour rose from a chasm thought to be a breathing hole of the underworld. She had a grove and temple on the Esquiline in Rome. A major sanctuary at Rossano di Vaglio in Lucania has yielded many inscriptions to her.
Best times to give to them
- In modern practice, when cleaning or airing the home
- Kalends of each month
What they like being given
- Fresh air (open a window)
- Incense
- Water
How to honour them
- Air the house and ask her to keep bad air away.
- Be careful with gas appliances in her honour.
- Keep her offerings simple and do not linger in fumes.
How they can help you
- Protection from bad air
- Cleansing stale spaces
Symbols
- vapour
- sulphur spring
- cave
She was chiefly worshipped by the Samnites and other Italic peoples.
Sources
- Virgil, Aeneid 7
- Varro, De Lingua Latina 5.49
- Pliny, Natural History 2.208
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