Voluptas

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Voluptas
Goddess of enjoyment, sensual pleasure, bliss and delight
Banquet of Amor and Psyche by Giulio Romano.jpg
Giulio Romano's Banquet of Amor and Psyche, which depicts Voluptas and her parents (at far right).
Other namesVolupta, Volupia
Parents Cupid and Anima
Equivalents
Greek Hedone

In Roman mythology, Voluptas or Volupta is the daughter born from the union of Cupid and Psyche, according to Apuleius. [1] The Latin word voluptas [2] means 'pleasure' or 'delight'; [3] [4] [5] Voluptas is known as the goddess of "sensual pleasures". She is often found in the company of the Gratiae, or Three Graces.

Contents

Some Roman authors [6] [7] [8] [9] mention a goddess named Volupia, a name which appears to signify "willingness". [10] She had a temple, the Sacellum Volupiae, on the Via Nova, by the Porta Romana. Sacrifices were offered to the Diva Angerona there. Volupia may be considered the name of a deity that was venerated before Voluptas, sharing similar aspects. It is likely that it refers to the same deity, with a slight variation in name.

The corresponding goddess in Greek mythology is Hedone.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Apuleius, The Golden Ass , 6. 24 ff
  2. ↑ “huic verbo (voluptatis) omnes qui Latine sciunt, duas res subiciunt, laetitiam in animo, commotionem suavem iucunditatis in corpore: Cic. Fin. 1, 11, 37
  3. ↑ Lewis & Short, "voluptas"
  4. ↑ Cicero, De natura deorum, II. 23
  5. ↑ Statius, Silvae 1. 3. 8
  6. ↑ Pliny the Elder, Letters, VII. 20
  7. ↑ Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia , III. 5
  8. ↑ Varro, De lingua Latina, V. 164
  9. ↑ Macrobius, Saturnalia, I. 10
  10. ↑ Robert E. A. Palmer, The Archaic Community of the Romans, Cambridge University Press 1970 pp.171ff.


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