Juventas

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with
Juventus F.C
.
Juventas
Goddess of youth and rejuvenation
SymbolChalice
Personal information
Parents
Jupiter and Juno
SiblingsMars, Vulcan, Bellona, Discordia, Lucina, Hercules
ConsortHercules
Equivalents
Greek equivalentHebe

Juventas, also known as Iuventus or Juventus (Greek equivalent: Hebe), was the ancient Roman goddess whose sphere of tutelage was youth and rejuvenation.[1] She was especially the goddess of young men "new to wearing the toga" (dea novorum togatorum)—that is, those who had just come of age.[2][3][4]

Several voluntary associations (collegia) were formed for Juventas in the Italian municipalities, as attested by inscriptions.[5]

Temple and early cult

Juventas had a shrine within the

Capitoline. According to Dionysius[6] and Livy,[7] both she and the god Terminus are supposed to have "refused" the ceremony of reversal (exauguratio) performed when Tarquin wished to rebuild the temple district on the Capitoline. Although other deities were relocated, these two were incorporated into the new structure.[8] Dionysius also records that the semi-legendary king Servius Tullius established a temple fund for Juventas, to which each family had to contribute.[9][8] The view that she was a part of archaic Roman religion depends mainly on these two aetiological legends, as she has no presence in the early history of Roman festivals.[10][8]

On the advice of the

Hasdrubal in 207 BC—an indication that Juventas was still felt to have potency.[4]

A procession (supplicia canum) in which Romans carried crucified dogs passed between the Temple of Juventas and that of Summanus. A late source dates the "punishment of the dogs" to August 3.[13]

Imperial era

On Imperial coins, Juventas and Spes ("Hope") are often associated with the reigning Caesar. A supplication to Juventas and Spes marked the anniversary of Augustus's coming of age.[14] Juventas was among the many Virtutes ("Virtues") to appear on the coinage of Antoninus Pius.[15]

References

  1. ^ Fears (1981), p. 857.
  2. ^ Tertullian, Ad nationes 2.11
  3. ^ Augustine of Hippo, De civitate Dei 4.11
  4. ^ a b c d e Fears (1981), p. 858.
  5. ^ Madigan (2013), p. 99.
  6. ^ Dionysius of Halicarnassus 3.69.5.
  7. ^ Livy 5.54.7.
  8. ^ a b c Fears (1981), p. 848.
  9. ^ Dionysius 4.15.5
  10. ^ Fears (1981), p. 846.
  11. ^ Livy 21.62.9 and 36.36.5
  12. ^ Fears (1981), p. 835, 848 & 851–852; citing also Kurt Latte for the date
  13. ^ Scullard (1981), p. 170.
  14. ^ Fears (1981), pp. 862, 899.
  15. ^ Fears (1981), p. 903.

Bibliography

  • Fears, J. Rufus (1981). "The Cult of Virtues and Roman Imperial Ideology". In Wolfgang Haase (ed.). Heidentum: Römische Götterkulte, Orientalische Kulte in der römischen Welt [Forts.] Vol. Band II.17.2 Teilband Religion. Berlin & New York: De Gruyter. pp. 827–948.
  • Madigan, Brian (2013). The Ceremonial Sculptures of the Roman Gods. Leiden & Boston: Brill.
    ISBN 978-90-04-22723-1
    .
  • ISBN 978-08-01-41402-2
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Juventas&oldid=1158466691"