Dea Dia

File:Bust of Lucius Verus portrayed as a arval brother.jpg

Bust of Lucius Verus wearing the headdress of an "Arval brother," who honoured Dea Dia at Ambarvalia.

Dea Dia (Latin: "Goddess of Daylight", or "Bright Goddess") was a goddess of fertility and growth in ancient Roman religion. She was sometimes identified with Ceres, and sometimes with her Greek equivalent Demeter.<ref name="Lipka2009">Template:Cite book</ref>

She was worshiped during Ambarvalia, a festival to Ceres.<ref name="Temporini1985">Template:Cite book</ref> Every May, her priests, the Fratres Arvales, held a three-day festival in her honor.<ref>Notes on Strabo's account, 5.3</ref><ref name="Pellegrini1865">Template:Cite book</ref>

Name

The name Dea Dīa (Template:IPA) means 'Goddess of Daylight' or 'Bright Goddess'.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The first element stems from the Latin dea ('goddess'), while the second is related to diēs ('day'), probably in reference to the ritual prescription to announce in January the May ceremonies sub divo culmine ('under the celestial vault').Template:Sfn

See also

• Other goddesses also known as Dea ("The Goddess")
• Other goddesses also known as Dia ("The Divine One")

References

Bibliography

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Further reading

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