Category: Roman Mythology

Strenia is the goddess of prosperity, abundance, pleasure, and new beginnings. Goddess of the New Year, Strenia presided over the gift-giving incorporated into Roman New…

Auster In Roman mythology, the southwest wind; called Notus in Greek mythology. SEE ALSO: Roman Mythology SOURCE: Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition…

Augures (watchers of birds) In ancient Roman cult, a group of priests established, according to tradition, by Romulus. Their function, important in Roman life, was…

Astraea (starry) In Roman mythology, goddess of justice; daughter of Zeus and Themis; sister of the Moerae and the Horae; sometimes called Dike; she lived…

Ascanius (tentless) In Roman mythology, the son of Aeneas and his wife, Creusa. He escaped with his parents and his grandfather, Anchises, from burning Troy.…

Arae (altars) In Roman mythology, rocks in the Mediterranean between Africa and Sardinia. Vergil’s Aeneid (book 1) tells how Aeneas lost most of his fleet…

An Ancile is in ancient Roman ritual, a small, oval, sacred shield, curved inward on either side, believed to have fallen from heaven during the…

Amor (love) In Roman mythology, a name given to Cupid, the god of love, son of Venus and Mars; called Eros in Greek mythology. SEE…

Amburbium (around the city) In Roman cult, the name for a solemn procession of the people, led by the pontifex and various orders of priests,…

Orcus, Lord of Death, was venerated in Gaul and Rome. He may be of Celtic origin, although others argue that he was originally Etruscan. In…