Diana
Diana(root dyw-‘the bright one’ (cf. Jupiter), originally a moon goddess, contra Altheim, Griechische Götter im alten Rom (1930), 93ff.), an Italian goddess anciently identified with Artemis, from whom she took over the patronage of margins and savageness. But the modalities of this evolution remain puzzling (moonlight as the contrary of daylight, and so of civilized life?). Her cult was widespread; see Birt in Roscher, Lex 1. 1003–4 for details. One of her most famous shrines was on Mt. Tifata near Capua (Velleius Paterculus 2.25. 4 and elsewhere in literature, supported by much inscriptional evidence); the name Tifata means ‘holm-oak grove’ (Festus 503.14 Lindsay), which suits Diana's character as a goddess of the wilderness. Most famous of all was her ancient cult near Aricia (on the shore of the volcanic lake known as the Mirror of Diana, Speculum Dianae, below the...
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