Editing Diana (mythology) (section)

===As a triple goddess===
Diana was often considered an aspect of a [[triple deity|triple goddess]], known as ''Diana triformis'': Diana, [[Luna (goddess)|Luna]], and [[Hecate]]. According to historian C.M. Green, "these were neither different goddesses nor an amalgamation of different goddesses. They were Diana...Diana as huntress, Diana as the moon, Diana of the underworld."<ref name=diana_religion/> At her [[sacred grove]] on the shores of Lake Nemi, Diana was venerated as a triple goddess beginning in the late 6th century BCE.
{{multiple image
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 220
 | footer = Two examples of a 1st-century BCE ''[[denarius]]'' (RRC 486/1) depicting the head of [[Diana Nemorensis]] and her triple cult statue<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cngcoins.com/|title=CNG-Ancient Greek, Roman, British Coins|website=www.cngcoins.com}}</ref>
 | image1 = Diana Nemorensis denarius1.jpg
 | alt1 =
 | caption1 =
 | image2 = Diana Nemorensis denarius2.jpg
 | alt2 =
 | caption2 =
 }}
[[Andreas Alföldi]] interpreted an image on a late Republican coin as the Latin Diana "conceived as a threefold unity of the divine huntress, the Moon goddess and the goddess of the nether world, [[Hekate]]".<ref>Alföldi, "Diana Nemorensis", ''American Journal of Archaeology'' (1960:137-44) p 141.</ref> This coin, minted by P. Accoleius Lariscolus in 43&nbsp;BCE, has been acknowledged as representing an archaic statue of Diana Nemorensis.<ref name=alfoldi>A. Alföldi"Diana Nemorensis" in ''American journal of Archaeology'' '''64''' 1960 p. 137-144.</ref> It represents Artemis with the bow at one extremity, Luna-Selene with flowers at the other and a central deity not immediately identifiable, all united by a horizontal bar. The iconographical analysis allows the dating of this image to the 6th century at which time there are Etruscan models. The coin shows that the triple goddess cult image still stood in the ''lucus'' of Nemi in 43&nbsp;BCE. Lake Nemi was called ''Triviae lacus'' by Virgil (''Aeneid'' 7.516), while [[Horace]] called Diana ''montium custos nemoremque virgo'' ("keeper of the mountains and virgin of Nemi") and ''diva triformis'' ("three-form goddess").<ref>Horace, ''Carmina'' 3.22.1.</ref>

Two heads found in the sanctuary<ref>Excavation of 1791 by cardinal Despuig not mentioned in the report: cf. P. Riis who cites E. Lucidi ''Memorie storiche dell'antichissimo municipio ora terra dell'Ariccia e delle sue colonie Genzano e Nemi'' Rome 1796 p. 97 ff. finds at ''Valle Giardino''.</ref> and the Roman theatre at Nemi, which have a hollow on their back, lend support to this interpretation of an archaic triple Diana.<ref>NSA 1931 p. 259-261 platesVI a-b.</ref>