Juno (mythology)
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| Topics in
Roman Mythology |
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| Roman Mythology | ||
| Important Gods: | ||
| Legendary History: | ||
| The Aeneid | ||
| Roman religion | ||
| Greek/Roman myth compared | ||
Juno was a Roman goddess, the equivalent of the Greek Hera, queen of the gods.
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Place in Roman Culture
Every year, on the first of March, women held a festival in honor of Juno called the Matronalia. Another festival in her honor, the Nonae Caprotinae ("The Nones of the Wild Fig") was held on July 7. Many people consider the month of June, which is named after the goddess who is the patroness of marriage, to be the most favorable time to marry.
Juno's own warlike aspect among the Romans is apparent in her attire. She often appeared armed and wearing a goatskin cloak, which was the garment favoured by Roman soldiers on campaign. This warlike aspect was assimilated from the Greek goddess Athena, whose goatskin was called the aegis.
Juno was called Regina ("queen"). As Juno Moneta ("she who warns"), she protected the finances of the Roman Empire. Lucina was an epithet for Juno as "she who brings children into light".
Origin
There is a strong possible etymology from Indo-European *yeu-, "vital force", as in English young. Such a derivation would be consistent with a descent from the mother goddess. More immediately, her Etruscan name was Uni. Whether Juno comes from Uni or vice versa or neither remains to be settled.
Later Uses of the Name
The asteroid 3 Juno bears her name.
Links
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