Libitina (mythology)
Libitina was the goddess of death , corpses and burials in Roman mythology . Her name was also a synonym for death [see Horace Oden 3.30].
history
Her name is similar to our idea of death and she was revered in ancient times and sung about in many poems. Today's memory of her comes mainly from Roman verses in which this goddess is portrayed as the personified ruler over death. She is described as a figure with a black cloak and dark wings, who hovers over her victim like a giant bird of prey until his time comes and then happens. In some traditions she is also equated with Venus or Persephone . Of Servius Tullius , the sixth king of Rome , it is claimed that he was the first temple was built for them in which the gravedigger and all the utensils necessary for funerals were staying. Usually these temples also contained the death records. It is also believed that the Colosseum had a gate dedicated to Libitina and intended for all of the fallen gladiators who fought in the Colosseum.
As a deity of death, Libitina was mostly invoked at funerals and it was tradition to bring a coin to her temple when she died. The gravedigger were also known as libitinarii .
Her face was rarely portrayed and hardly any offerings were made, as was the case with Orcus , her male equivalent. Nowadays, her name has almost been forgotten, as she is hardly mentioned when the gods and goddesses of antiquity are spoken of.
literature
- Werner Eisenhut : Libitina. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 3, Stuttgart 1969, Col. 625 f.
Remarks
- ^ Richard Aldington (ed.): New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology. Putnam, New York 1969