Juno is the Roman Queen of the Gods, Goddess of women and protectress of the state. She is often associated with the Greek Hera and the Etruscan Goddesses Uni or Cupra. Together with Jupiter and Minerva she was part of the Capitoline Triad of the primary Gods of Rome and is the mother of Mars the tutelary God of Rome. The month June is named for Her and the first day of each month, the Kalends, is dedicated to Her.

The name Juno may derive from the Latin iuvere, meaning "to aid" or "to benefit" or from the Latin iūnix meaning "heifer", iuvenes meaning "young people", or possibly Iove referring to "love" or iuuen referring to a vital force or life energy.

According to some interpretations of Roman tradition, all women had a guardian spirit called a juno.

Iconography and Symbolism

Juno is pictured as a stately woman wearing a goatskin cloak and in the company of a peacock. The goatskin cloak showed her affiliation with the Roman military. Juno's sacred birds were the goose and the peacock and her sacred plant is the wild fig tree.

Epithets of Juno

Regina - Queen
Mater Regina - Queen Mother
Pronuba - Goddess of Marriage
Cinxia - she who looses the bride's girdle
Populona
Moneta - She who warns
Caprotina
Tutula - Protector
Fluonia
Fluviona
Februalis
Lucina - "light" as Goddess of Childbirth
Covella
Kalendaris
Sospita - The Savior

Festivals Dedicated to Juno

Nonae Caprotinae
Matronalia
Kalends

See Also

You can Print this page for your Book of Shadows

If you have a question or something to add or would like to offer a devotion to Juno, please use the comment button below.