#bellona

A war goddess often conflated with the Greek goddess Enyo. She, like her counterpart, represented violence, bloodshed, and brutality, said to ride with the war god Mars into battle with the reigns of his horse-drawn chariot. She has an earlier, possibly Sabine origin, and was often found alongside the Anatolian goddess Cybele. Her priests, the bellonarii, were similar to Cybele's galli in the sense that they self-harmed as worship for their deity. Bellona's temples are also mentioned as being in close proximity to eastern deities often, notably Isis, Anubis, and Serapis as well as Cybele, possibly leaning her toward a foreign-viewed origin among Romans. Later poetry and artwork make heavy use of Bellona as a political symbol, spirit, and muse, often attributing things like warhorns and cannons to her as well and emphasizing her importance.

Pantheon: Roman

Domain or Function: Goddess of war and violence.

Alternate Names: Duellona

Character Traits: Violent and brutal but sometimes viewed as simply powerful and to be admired.

Visual Traits: No ancient Roman art has been found, but in later art she is shown as a woman with a plumed helmet, weapons, and/or a torch.

Symbolism: Helmet, torch, weapons.