Iuno
Roman · deity · pre urban · deity
Italic Iuno with substantial pre-Hera identity: Iuno Sospita of Lanuvium (goat-cloaked, spear-bearing, snake-rite virgins), Iuno Regina evocated from Veii in 396 BCE (foundational instance of evocatio), Iuno Moneta on the Capitoline arx (origin of "money"), the Matronalia (March 1 patroness-of-wives festival), the Capitoline geese saving Rome from the Gauls in 390 BCE. Cult features pre-date and substantially outlive the Greek Hera identification. Member of the Capitoline triad. Per Beard/North/Price 1998; Wissowa 1912; Dumézil 1970.
Domains
- matronage
- childbirth
- state protection
- mint warning
Powers
- Brings infants to light in childbirth (Lucina)
- Stirs storms and war to thwart her enemies
- Warns Rome of danger (Moneta)
Epithets
- Regina
- Lucina
- Moneta
- Sospita
- Caprotina
- Curitis
- Iuga
- Pronuba