cArdeA

Roman Goddess of door hinges, a protective deity who helps watch over the family. Cardea was first a virgin huntress or perhaps a Nymph who tricked suitors by sending them to a cave and telling them that she would soon follow, while she turned and went the opposite way. Janus, a principle god in the Roman pantheon, could see forward and backward and marked the beginnings and ends of things. When he fell in love with Cardea, she pulled her trick on him, but he saw her flight and pursued her, catching her and making her his lover. In return, Janus bestowed on Cardea the power to watch over and influence door hinges and doorways. He also gave her power over the whitethorn, or hawthorn bush, which had a reputation for protecting children against witches and vampires. In this way, Cardea became a prominent household goddess.