Furina is the ancient and mysterious matron goddess of thieves and robbers. Her name derives from the same root word as “fortune.” Furina was not a forbidden or suppressed goddess venerated only by miscreants. She was officially incorporated into Roman state religion. Furina had her own annual festival. She had a priest, a temple, and a sacred grove on the Janiculum ridge alongside the Tiber’s west bank. (The site is now occupied by the Villa Sciarra.) Furina may have been associated with a spring in her grove. Some scholars theorize that she was originally a spirit of the watery depths.
ALSO KNOWN AS:
Furrina
ORIGIN:
Etruscan or Italian
FAVOURED PEOPLE:
Thieves, robbers
ELEMENT
Earth; possibly water
Time:
After dark
Feast:
The Furinalia was celebrated on 25 July.
The name Furina now applies to a genus of venomous Australian snakes.
SEE ALSO:
- Fortuna
- Laverna
- Roman Mythology
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
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