Pales
The Roman patron goddess of shepherds and flocks. Pales also presides
over the health and fertility of domestic animals. Her festival is the
Palilia (also called the Parilia) and was celebrated by shepherds on April
21, the legendary founding date of Rome. On that day large fires were
made through which they drove the cattle. Pales was originally a single
deity, variously male or female, with the same characteristics. The name
is believed by some to be related to the Greek and Latin word phallus.
|
Parcae
The Parcae are the Roman goddess of fate, similar to the Greek Moirae
(Fates). Originally there was only one of them, Parca, a goddess of birth.
Her name is derived from parere ("create, give birth") but later
it was associated with pars (Greek: moira, "part") and thus
analogous with the three Greek Moirae. The three Parcae are also called
Tria Fata.
|
Partula
A minor Roman goddess of birth. She is concerned with the parturition.
|
Patalena
The Roman deity who protects the blossoms.
|
Paventia
The Roman goddess who protects children against sudden fright.
|
|
Pax
("peace") The personified Roman goddess of peace, corresponding
with the Greek Eirene. Under the rule of Augustus, she was recognized
as a goddess proper. She had a minor sanctuary, the Ara Pacis, on the
Campus Martius, and a temple on the Forum Pacis. A festival in her honor
was celebrated on January 3. Her attributes are the olive branch, a cornucopia,
and a scepter.
Penia
Penia is the personification of poverty and was worshipped among the poor.
After a feast among the gods, she married Porus.
Poena
The Roman goddess of punishment.
Pomona
The goddess presiding over fruit trees. She was the beloved of many ancient
Roman rustic deities such as Silvanus and Picus until Vertumnus, disguised
as an old woman, goaded her into marrying him. Her special priest is the
flamen Pomonalis. The pruning knife is her attribute.
|
Postverta
The Roman goddess of the past.
|
Potina
The Roman goddess associated with the first drink of children or children's
potions.
|
Prorsa
Postverta
The Roman double-goddess who was called upon by women in labor. She guarded
over the position of the child in the womb (forwards or backwards). Some
sources mention her as another aspect of Carmenta.
|
Proserpina
The Roman name for the Greek Persephone. The name is possibly derived
from proserpere ("to emerge"), meaning the growing of the grain.
Gradually, Libera was equated with her.
|
Providentia
The Roman goddess of forethought.
|
Pudicita
("modesty") The personified Roman goddess of modesty and chastity.
|
Puta
A Roman goddess who watched over the pruning of vines and trees.
|
