A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

JUNO,

The daughter of Saturn and Rhea, and Sister to Jupiter. 'Tis reported that she was born at Argos a Town of Greece, where∣upon she was sirnamed by Poets Argiva Juna. Others assure us, that she was born at Samos, and have called her Samia.

She Married her Brother Jupiter, who got into her bosom, according to the Fable, under the shape of a Cuckow, and then re-assuming his own form, enjoyed her upon condition he should marry her, which he performed. The truth is, that in that time Brothers and Sisters married together, after the custom of the Persians and Assyrians. Wherefore Juno is represented by the Figure of a Goddess set∣ting on a Throne, holding a Scepter in her hand, with a Cuckow on the top of it.

Poets don't agree among themselves, nei∣ther about the number of Children she had of Jupiter, nor the way she conceived them. Pausanius reports, that she had Mars, Ilithyia and Hebe by him. Lucian asserts in one of his Dialogues, that she was brought to Bed of Vulcan without having lain with her Hus∣band; and that she was big with Hebe for having eaten too much Lettice.

Dionysius Halicarnasseus writes, that King Tullus ordered that a Piece of Money should be brought into her Temple at Rome, for e∣very one that was born, as they were obli∣ged to bring one to the Temple of Venus Li∣bitina, for all those who died; and another to the Temple of Youth for those who put on the Viril Gown. And thus they kept in their Records a very exact account of all those who were born, or died at Rome, or were at an Age fit to bear Arms. This Ju∣no who presided over the birth of Men, was named by the Romans, Lucina, and by the Greeks, Ilithyia: Statuit quanti pretii nummos pro singulis inferre deberent cognati: In aerarium Ilithyiae, Romani, Junonem, Lucinam, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vocant, pro nascentibus; in Veneris ararium, in Luco situm, quam Libitinam vocant, pro de∣functis, in Juventutis pro togam virilem sumen∣tibus.

Some Writers report, That Lucina is ei∣ther Diana, or another Goddess than Juno; but the Pagans confound often the Goddes∣ses with Juno. Here is what Lucian says a∣bout this matter, in his Deo Syria.

In Syria, not far from Euphrates, stands a Town called the Holy City, because 'tis Dedicated to Juno of Assyria. Within are the Golden Statues of Jupiter and Juno, both in a sitting posture; but the one is carried upon Oxen, and the other upon Lions. That of Juno has some∣thing of several other Goddesses, for she holds a Scepter in one hand, and a Distaff in another: Her Head is Crowned with Rays, and Dressed with Turrets, and her Waste girt with a Scarf, like the Celestial Venus. She is adorned with Gold and Jew∣els of divers Colours, that are brought from all parts. But what is most marvel∣lous, is a precious Stone she has upon her Head, which casts so much light, that by Night it illuminates all the Temple; for which reason they have given it the name of Lamp; but by day it has hardly any light, and only seems like Fire.

And indeed, as some Men have confound∣ed all the Gods with Jupiter, those who made the Image of Juno, mentioned by Lucian, had the like design to Incorporate all the God∣desses in Juno's Person.

Lactantius tells us, that Tully derives the names of Juno and Jupiter, from the help and sucour that Men receive of them à Ju∣vando.

Juno presided over Weddings and Wo∣mens Labours, and was called upon in these Exigencies; as we see in Terence, where Gly∣ceria being in Labour has recourse to her Juno Lucina, far opem.

When the Roman Matrons were barren, they went into her Temple, where having pulled off their Cloaths, and lying on the Ground, they were lashed by a Lupercal Priest, with Thongs made of a Goat's Skin, and thus became fruitful; wherefore Juno was represented holding a Whip in one hand, and a Scepter in the other, with this Inscrip∣tion, JUNONI LUCINAE.

Poets have given many Epithets to Juno, calling her Lucina, Opigena, Juga, Domeduca, Cinxia, Unxia, Fluonia.

She was called Lucina, à Luce, because she helped Women to bring forth Children, and show them the Light: and for the same rea∣son she was also named Opigena and Obstetrix, because she helped Women in Labour.

Juga, Juno was called, because she presided at the Yoke of Matrimony, and consequent∣ly over the Union of Husband and Wife, and because of that Qualification, she had an Al∣tar erected to her in one of the Streets of Rome, therefore called Vicus Jugarius, the Street of Yokes.

Domiduca, because she brought the Bride to the House of her Bridegroom.

Unxia, because of the Bride's anointing the side Posts of the Door of her Husband going in thereat.

Cinxia, because she helped the Bridegroom to unite the Girdle the Bride was girded with; in fine she was called

Fluonia, because she stopp'd the flux of Blood in Womens Labours.

In one word, Juno was like a Guardian Angel to Women, in the like manner that God Genius was the keeper of Men; for ac∣cording to the Opinion of the Antients, the Genius's of Men were Males, and those of Women Females: Wherefore Women swore by Juno, and Men by Jupiter.

The Romans gave her several other names, and called her sometimes Juno Caprotina, Me∣neta

Sospita, and sometimes Regina and Ca∣lcadaris.

She was sirnamed Caprotina, because, as Plutarch reports in the Life of Romulus, the Gauls having taken the City of Rome, the Sa∣bins and several other Nations of Italy, fan∣cying that the Romans were weakened there∣by, took this opportunity to destroy them: Wherefore they raised a considerable Army, and proclaimed War against them, unless they would send them their Virgins to sport with them. The Romans unwilling to com∣ply with their demand, accepted the Propo∣sal of Philotis a Maid-Slave, who offered her∣self to go over to them with her Compani∣ons; promising withal, that she would give warning to the Romans, when their Enemy should be deeply ingaged in Debaucheries: Which she performed thus, She got up into a wild Fig-Tree, from whence she gave a Signal to the Roman Army, who thoroughly routed the Enemy. In remembrance of this Victory the Romans ordered a Feast to be kept every Year, at Nonae Caprotinae, in ho∣nour of Juno, called also Caprotina, from the wild Fig-Tree, à caprifico, at which time the Maid Slvaes diverted themselves, played the Ladies, and entertained their Mistresses.