iuno

In Roman religion, Juno was the chief goddess and the female counterpart to Jupiter. She was identified with the Greek goddess Hera and was part of the Capitoline triad with Jupiter and Minerva. Juno was closely associated with all aspects of women's lives, particularly married life and childbirth, serving as Juno Lucina, the goddess of childbirth.1

She also functioned as a personal guardian, with each woman having her own juno, representing the female principle of life. As her worship grew, Juno took on broader roles, becoming a principal female divinity of the state. In one aspect, Juno Sospita, she was depicted as an armed savior. As Juno Moneta, she was known as "the Warner," and her temple later housed the Roman mint, giving us the words "mint" and "money".1