Libera (mythology)
Encyclopedia
Libera is a fertility goddess in ancient Roman religion
. Her origins are unknown; she may have been a fertility goddess of archaic or pre-Roman Magna Graecia
. Her Latin name is the feminine form of Liber
, (free, or in a cult context, The Free One). At some time during Rome's Regal or very early Republican eras, she became a female counterpart of Liber
, also known as Liber Pater (The Free Father), Roman god of wine, male fertility, and a guardian of plebeian freedoms. In this form, she enters Roman history as Triadic cult companion to Ceres
and Liber in a temple established on the Aventine Hill
ca. 493 BC. The location and context of this early cult mark her association with Rome's commoner-citizens, or plebs
; she might have been offered cult as part of Liber's festival, Liberalia
, or during Cerealia
, in which she would have been subordinate to Ceres. Otherwise, her relationship to her Aventine cult partners is uncertain.
With the institution of the ritus graecia cereris (greek rites of Ceres) c.205 BC, Libera was officially identified with Ceres' daughter Proserpina
and acquired with her a Romanised form of Greek mystery rite and attendant mythology, based on Greek cults to Demeter
and Persephone
. In the late Republican era, Cicero
describes Liber and Libera as Ceres' children. At around the same time, possibly in the context of popular or religious drama, Hyginus
equates her with Greek Ariadne
, as bride to Liber's Greek equivalent, Dionysus
: therefore her mythographic associations and identity seem far from straightforward. The older and newer forms of her cult and rites, and their diverse associations, persisted well into the late Imperial era. St. Augustine
(AD 354 – 430) observes that Libera is concerned with female fertility, as Liber is with male fertility.
Religion in ancient Rome
Religion in ancient Rome encompassed the religious beliefs and cult practices regarded by the Romans as indigenous and central to their identity as a people, as well as the various and many cults imported from other peoples brought under Roman rule. Romans thus offered cult to innumerable deities...
. Her origins are unknown; she may have been a fertility goddess of archaic or pre-Roman Magna Graecia
Magna Graecia
Magna Græcia is the name of the coastal areas of Southern Italy on the Tarentine Gulf that were extensively colonized by Greek settlers; particularly the Achaean colonies of Tarentum, Crotone, and Sybaris, but also, more loosely, the cities of Cumae and Neapolis to the north...
. Her Latin name is the feminine form of Liber
Liber
In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Liber , also known as Liber Pater was a god of viticulture and wine, fertility and freedom. He was a patron deity of Rome's plebeians and was part of their Aventine Triad. His festival of Liberalia became associated with free speech and the rights...
, (free, or in a cult context, The Free One). At some time during Rome's Regal or very early Republican eras, she became a female counterpart of Liber
Liber
In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Liber , also known as Liber Pater was a god of viticulture and wine, fertility and freedom. He was a patron deity of Rome's plebeians and was part of their Aventine Triad. His festival of Liberalia became associated with free speech and the rights...
, also known as Liber Pater (The Free Father), Roman god of wine, male fertility, and a guardian of plebeian freedoms. In this form, she enters Roman history as Triadic cult companion to Ceres
Ceres (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion, Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships. She was originally the central deity in Rome's so-called plebeian or Aventine Triad, then was paired with her daughter Proserpina in what Romans described as "the Greek rites of Ceres"...
and Liber in a temple established on the Aventine Hill
Aventine Hill
The Aventine Hill is one of the seven hills on which ancient Rome was built. It belongs to Ripa, the twelfth rione, or ward, of Rome.-Location and boundaries:The Aventine hill is the southernmost of Rome's seven hills...
ca. 493 BC. The location and context of this early cult mark her association with Rome's commoner-citizens, or plebs
Plebs
The plebs was the general body of free land-owning Roman citizens in Ancient Rome. They were distinct from the higher order of the patricians. A member of the plebs was known as a plebeian...
; she might have been offered cult as part of Liber's festival, Liberalia
Liberalia
The Liberalia is the festival of Liber Pater and his consort Libera. The Romans celebrated Liberalia with sacrifices, processions, ribald and gauche songs, and masks which were hung on trees....
, or during Cerealia
Cerealia
In ancient Roman religion, the Cerealia was the major festival celebrated for the grain goddess Ceres. It was held for seven days from mid- to late April, but the dates are uncertain....
, in which she would have been subordinate to Ceres. Otherwise, her relationship to her Aventine cult partners is uncertain.
With the institution of the ritus graecia cereris (greek rites of Ceres) c.205 BC, Libera was officially identified with Ceres' daughter Proserpina
Proserpina
Proserpina or Proserpine is an ancient Roman goddess whose story is the basis of a myth of Springtime. Her Greek goddess' equivalent is Persephone. The probable origin of her name comes from the Latin, "proserpere" or "to emerge," in respect to the growing of grain...
and acquired with her a Romanised form of Greek mystery rite and attendant mythology, based on Greek cults to Demeter
Demeter
In Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons . Her common surnames are Sito as the giver of food or corn/grain and Thesmophoros as a mark of the civilized existence of agricultural society...
and Persephone
Persephone
In Greek mythology, Persephone , also called Kore , is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter, and queen of the underworld; she was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld....
. In the late Republican era, Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
describes Liber and Libera as Ceres' children. At around the same time, possibly in the context of popular or religious drama, Hyginus
Hyginus
Hyginus can refer to:People:*Gaius Julius Hyginus , Roman poet, author of Fabulae, reputed author of Poeticon astronomicon*Hyginus Gromaticus, Roman surveyor*Pope Hyginus, also a saint, Bishop of Rome about 140...
equates her with Greek Ariadne
Ariadne
Ariadne , in Greek mythology, was the daughter of King Minos of Crete, and his queen Pasiphaë, daughter of Helios, the Sun-titan. She aided Theseus in overcoming the Minotaur and was the bride of the god Dionysus.-Minos and Theseus:...
, as bride to Liber's Greek equivalent, Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
: therefore her mythographic associations and identity seem far from straightforward. The older and newer forms of her cult and rites, and their diverse associations, persisted well into the late Imperial era. St. Augustine
St. Augustine
-People:* Augustine of Hippo or Augustine of Hippo , father of the Latin church* Augustine of Canterbury , first Archbishop of Canterbury* Augustine Webster, an English Catholic martyr.-Places:*St. Augustine, Florida, United States...
(AD 354 – 430) observes that Libera is concerned with female fertility, as Liber is with male fertility.