Dea Viriplaca ("Husband-Pleasing Goddess") was an ancient Roman goddess who mediated in troubled marriages. Married couples went to her shrine to seek reconciliation. [1]
Amy Richlin characterized this goddess's religious service as "a sort of couples counseling – one-sided, judging by her name." [2] The husband and wife took turns speaking about what conflict had been bothering them. Once they had unburdened themselves, they could return to a more agreeable state of mind. [1] Dea Viriplaca's functions are thus comparable to Fortuna Virilis in her man-pleasing aspect, [3] and to Venus Obsequens and Venus Verticordia as goddesses who encouraged good marital relations. [4] Unlike many other marriage-promoting rites for women only, but like the Matronalia, the services of Dea Viriplaca required the participation of men. [3]
The shrine (sacellum) was located on the Palatine Hill. [1] Valerius Maximus writes of it as existing in his own time (the reign of Tiberius) but considers it among the instituta antiqua, an institution of the old days. [1]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)