Diana

Who was Diana?
Diana was the Roman goddess of the moon and hunting. She was worshipped at a festival on August 13 called Nemoralia, the Festival of Torches during which worshippers of Diana would form a procession of torches and candles around the dark waters of the sacred Lacus Nemorensis, or forest-buried lake, near Aricia, referred to as Diana's Mirror. Aricia is a town in the Province of Rome in the Alban Hills of the Lazio (Latium) region. The lights of their candles and torches joined the light of the moon reflecting upon the surface of the water. During the Festival of Nemoralia it was forbidden to hunt and kill animals. Diana was often depicted in art with the crescent of the moon above her forehead as can be seen in the picture.

Picture of the hunting Goddess Diana and the crescent of the moon above her forehead

Facts about Diana
The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of Diana:

Diana Profile & Fact File
Roman Name: Diana
Role & Function: The function of this goddess is described as being the goddess of the moon and hunting
Status: Major Goddess and one of the 'Dei Consentes', the Council of Gods.
Symbols: The cypress tree, deer, the bow and arrow, hounds, and the moon
Alternative Names: Diviana
Gender: Female
Greek Counterpart: The Greek name for this goddess was Artemis
Name of Husband: Unmarried
Name of Father: Jupiter
Name of Mother: Latona
Names of Children: None

Facts about Diana in Roman History and ancient Mythology
Discover interesting information and facts about the Roman goddess of the moon and hunting. The facts about Diana provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Diana in ancient Mythology and Roman history. She featured in the legends and myths relating to the Ceryneian hind, Endymon, Actaeon, Niobe and the Satyrs. Myth of Diana and Actaeon

History and Mythical Facts about Diana
Fact 1 about Diana: She was the virgin daughter of Jupiter and Latona and her twin brother was Apollo, god of the sun
Fact 2 about Diana: Her symbol of the cypress tree traditionally represented mourning and grief and relates to Diana because, like her brother Apollo, although associated with healing she could also bring terrible diseases.
Fact 3 about Diana: Her symbol of the deer relates to the myth about the Ceryneian hind that was briefly kidnapped by Heracles (Hercules) as part of his 12 labors.
Fact 4 about Diana: As goddess of the moon the ancients believed that every evening she mounted her moon chariot, and drove her pure white horses across the heavens
Fact 5 about Diana: Her hunting dogs were given to her by Pan, the god of forest who gave her seven female dogs and six males.
Fact 6 about Diana: She was extremely possessive and selfish. Diana would wreck revenge on anyone who did not obey her wishes and valued her chastity so greatly that she took terrible measures against anyone who even slightly threatened her
Fact 7 about Diana: She was noted as a tall goddess and was depicted wearing a short hunting dress called a buskin
Fact 8 about Diana: The statues of the goddess were generally erected at a point where three roads met, for which reason she is identified with Trivia and Hecate
Fact 9 about Diana: A temple was dedicated to her on the Aventine hill in Rome by Servius Tullius, who is said to have first introduced the worship of the goddess into Rome.
Fact 10 about Diana: The festival of Nemoralia was eventually adopted by Roman Catholics as the Feast of the Assumption

Diana (Greek Counterpart was Artemis)
The Romans habitually assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Greeks and other nations. When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC many of the Greek gods and goddesses were adopted by the Romans. The Romans simply changed the Greek gods names to Latin equivalents. The Greek counterpart of Diana was Artemis. The Roman religion significantly differed from the Greeks in that it was officially endorsed by the state and exerted influence over the government of Rome. Politicians took the offices of influential priests, called pontiffs, to gain control of the popular worship, Roman gods and goddesses like Diana were worshipped at every public event, including the gladiatorial games, where blood sacrifices were made to the gods. In ancient Rome, the pantheon of 12 major gods, including Diana, were called the 'Dei Consentes' meaning the Council of Gods.

Diana and the Roman Gods Family Tree and Genealogy
The Roman gods family tree provides an instant overview of the genealogy and the family connections and relationships between the main deities, including Diana, who feature in the legends and mythology of the ancient Romans. The Primeval gods and deities, the Titans and the Roman Olympians.

Diana

• Interesting information and Facts about this Roman goddess
• The Roman goddess of the moon and hunting
• Stories & Legends in Roman Mythology associated with the goddess
• Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids
• Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon and hunting