Carmenta

The Duenos inscription, dated to the 6th century BC, shows the earliest known forms of the Old Latin alphabet.

For the genus of Lepidoptera, see Carmenta (moth)

In Roman mythology, Carmenta was the goddess of childbirth and prophecy, associated with technological innovation as well as the protection of mothers and children, and a patron of midwives. She was also said to have invented the Latin alphabet.

Porta Carmentalis # 12

[edit] Background

Her name is derived from carmen, meaning a magic spell, oracle or song, and is also the roots of the word charm. Her real name was Nicostrata, but was changed later by the Italians. She was the mother of Evander and along with other followers they founded the town of Pallantium, which later was one of the sites of the start of Rome.

Carmenta was one of the Camenae. The leader of her cult was called the flamen carmentalis.

It was forbidden to wear leather or other forms of dead skin in her temple, which was next to the Porta Carmentalis in Rome.

Her festival, called the Carmentalia, was celebrated primarily by women on January 11 and January 15.

[edit] See also

• Theodontius

[edit] References

[edit] Primary sources

• Ovid, Fasti i.461-542
• Servius, In Aeneida viii.51
• Solinus, Collectanea rerum memorabilium i.10, 13

[edit] Secondary sources

• The Dictionary of Classical Mythology By Pierre Grimal, page 89 "Carmenta"

[edit] External links

• Roman Mythology
• List of Minor Roman Gods
• Carmenta was the goddess of childbirth
• CARMENTA article In Roman mythology
• Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, page 183 (v. 1)

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