| “ | With an arsenal of equipment, stay flexible and choose your weapon wisely. | „ |
| ~ Bellona |
Bellona, also known as Duellona, was a Roman goddess of war, destruction, devastation, conquest, and blood-lust.
Overview[]
She was a child of Jupiter and Juno, and would also become a consort to her brother Mars, who was the most prominent god of war for the Roman people. Due to being a war deity she was likely prominently worshiped throughout the ranks of of the Roman army. She is an important goddess to the Romans, as she also controls the policy of foreign warfare.
She is invariably Mars' companion, although she is also known for being his wife, daughter, sister, or charioteer but mostly recognized for being his twin sister. She was often compared to the Greek goddess Enyo though she has no true Greek counterpart. Bellona was originally a Sabine goddess of war, identified with Nerio, the consort of the war god Mars and later with her Greek equivalent Enyo.
Bellona's priests were known as Bellonarii. They used to wound their own arms or legs as a blood sacrifice to her. These rites took place on 24th March, called the day of blood, after the ceremony. Since this rite was similar to the Cybele rites in Asia Minor, Bellona also came to be associated with the Cappadocian goddess Ma.
Description[]
Bellona is usually shown in a plumed helmet and armor, armed with sword and spear, carrying a shield; sometimes she carries a torch with a blood-red flame. She is described as loud and active, barking orders or war-cries, her weapons clanging as she runs. The goddess has also proved popular in post-Renaissance art as a female embodiment of military virtue, and an excellent opportunity to portray the feminine form in armor and helmet.
She is credited with inspiring violence, starting wars, and goading soldiers into battle; Virgil described her as carrying a bloodstained scourge or whip. She was believed to make wars and battles go well for those who invoked her. Her temple was built in the Campus Martius, the low-lying field by the Tiber River consecrated to Mars, located outside of the city walls. The area around her temple was considered to symbolize foreign soil, and it was there that the Senate met with ambassadors, received victorious generals, and where war was officially declared.