Rumina

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In ancient Roman religion, Rumina, Rumilia or Rumia, [1] also known as Diva Rumina, was a goddess who protected breastfeeding mothers, and possibly nursing infants. Her domain extended to protecting animal mothers, not just human ones. As one of the indigitamenta , Rumina lacked the elaborate mythology and personality of later Roman deities, and was instead a more abstract, numinous entity.

Rumina's temple was near the Ficus Ruminalis , the fig tree at the foot of the Palatine Hill where Romulus and Remus were raised by a she-wolf. Milk, rather than the typical wine, was offered as a sacrifice at this temple. In AD 58, the tree started to die, which was interpreted as a bad omen.

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References

  1. Rumina in William Smith, A dictionary of greek and roman antiquities III, London, Murray, 1895.