Egeria (mythology)

Claude Lorrain: Landscape with the nymph Aegria.

Egeria («of the black poplar») was, in Roman mythology, one of the Camenas, a nymph in the retinue of Venus, who lived in the fountain or spring of Porta Capena in Rome; she was protective of brides as future mothers as well as childbirth. She married Numa Pompilius, "the pious", second king of Rome and taught him matters related to being a just and wise king, inspiring him with religious legislation, teaching him effective prayers and spells.

The Egeria Ninpha dictating to Numa Pompilio the laws of Romefrom Czech Ulpiano.

When Numa Pompilio died, Egeria transformed it into a well, located in the forest of Ariccia, whose waters moaned just like she did when her husband died, consecrated to Diana, in Lazio. Through her constant tears, she herself became a source.

In Rome, Numa was worshiped at the Porta Capena.

Classic fonts

• Ovid: Fast, III, 273.
  • III: English text on Theoi site; trad. of 1931 by James George Frazer published in the Loeb Classical Library.
    • III: Latin text in the Perseus Project. Using the active label "load", which is at the bottom right, you get help in English with the Latin vocabulary of the text.
  • Metamorphosis, XV, 482.
    • XV, 479 - 546 (Hipolyte): Spanish text on Wikisource.
      • XV: Latin text on Wikisource.

• Tito Livio: History of RomeI, 21, 3.
  • I: Spanish text.