The Romans’ ‘Good Goddess’ of fruitfulness, both of the earth and in women, she is associated with fertility, virginity/chastity and healing, especially by means of herbs. In Osca she is called FATUAI. She is later identified with FAUNA, and later still with OPS and MAIA. The primary temple dedication days are May 1 and May 3-4, but there is a second dedication day on December 3. She is worshipped by women only, and her temple attendants - the temple is on the Aventine, where a supply of herbs was guarded by snakes - are all women. She is also known as DAMIA, a Greek name, from her worship centre at Tarentum. Taboos were wine and myrtle, and her victim is a sow called Damium. It is very likely her cult was originally Greek, grafted onto the Roman pantheon
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