Italy for me From Italy with love
The goddess Juno (Giunone) is a figure from ancient Roman mythology, revered as the protector of marriage, family, motherhood, and the feminine principle. According to legend, Juno was seduced by her own brother Jupiter, who disguised himself as a cuckoo. They married and ruled together. Juno’s closest ally was her sister Minerva, goddess of wisdom and the arts. These three deities—Juno, Jupiter, and Minerva—were considered symbols of Roman rule, and the ancient Romans built a temple in their honor atop the Capitoline Hill (il Campidoglio).
Juno is typically depicted with a scepter, her companion cuckoo, and a crescent moon diadem, a symbol of the moon she governed. Her body is always draped in lavish garments, revealing only her face, neck, and hands. The goddess is portrayed as a tall, graceful, dignified woman with large eyes and austere features. At times, she was shown in a warlike form—wearing a goat skin, helmet, and carrying a spear.
Juno was honored with many epithets:
- Virginiensis – protector of virgins;
- Lucina – helper during childbirth;
- Sospita – guardian of the poor;
- Calendaria – patroness of the start of the month;
- Rumina – supporter of nursing mothers;
- Fulgura – bringer of lightning;
- Pronuba – patroness of wedding rites;
- Moneta – the one who advises and warns.
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The Legend of the Geese
The epithet Moneta is linked to the legend of the geese that saved Rome. In the 5th century BC, a war broke out between the Romans and the Etruscans, lasting ten years. The Romans captured a statue of an Etruscan goddess from the city of Veii. The goddess appeared in a vision to a Roman patrol and gave them a sign of blessing. To honor this event, a temple to Juno was built on Capitoline Hill, where domestic geese were offered as sacrifices.
In 390 BC, when the Capitoline fortress was surrounded by enemies, the geese alerted the commander, saving Rome from disaster. From then on, it was believed that Juno had warned the Romans and spared the city, becoming a protector of the Roman Empire.
Learn more about ancient Roman coins.
The Mint and Temples
In 269 BC, Rome’s first official mint was established in Juno’s temple. It produced silver denarii bearing her image and name. The opening of the mint gave rise to the word “moneta,” and in many languages, words for “money” are derived from it—for example, the English word *money*.
Many ancient Roman coins can be seen at Palazzo Massimo—highly recommended.
Today, the site of Juno’s temple is home to the magnificent historic church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, which we visit during our early morning walks through Rome.
Another temple dedicated to Juno once stood on the Esquiline Hill (L’Esquilino), where the festival of Matronalia was celebrated on March 1. Married women, accompanied by their maids, would ceremoniously carry floral wreaths to the temple, pray for family harmony, and receive gifts from their husbands.