Egeria
Publié le 22/02/2012
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(Aegeria) Roman A goddess of springs,
perhaps originally a goddess of the Babine people; also
considered a deity that protected pregnant women
and helped them bring their babies safely into the
world. Egeria had the gift of prophecy. She was later
considered by the Romans as one of the water Nymphs
known as the Camenae. Followers paid tribute to
Egeria at a site near the Caelian Hill in Rome.
The dominant myth surrounding Egeria says that
she was either an advisor to Numa Pompilius, ruler
of the Sabines and the second king of Rome, or his
lover or wife. According to some versions of her story,
Egeria favored Numa, so she would answer his every
summons. Numa would invite her to public gatherings,
where Egeria appeared in great sumptuousness,
bringing with her great feasts. Other stories describe
Egeria and Numa meeting secretly at night in a
grove near the spring that would later be her site of
worship. There she taught him how to honor the
gods and properly ask for their help. Some sources
suggest that Egeria's gift of prophecy allowed her to
help the king develop the just and fair laws for which
he became famous.
After Numa died, Egeria, the nymph, was said to
have despaired so much that the goddess Diana took
pity on her and turned her into the spring that was so
important to her.