Juno, in Roman mythology, is the queen of the gods, wife of Jupiter (the Roman counterpart to Zeus), and the goddess of marriage and childbirth. She is equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera. Juno held a prominent role in Roman religion as a protector of the Roman state and its citizens, particularly women. Known for her regal demeanor and often depicted wearing a crown and carrying a scepter, she was also the guardian of the sanctity of marriage and family. Juno was often associated with the month of June, which was named in her honor, making it a favored time for weddings. Her temple on the Capitoline Hill in Rome was one of the most important religious sites in the city. Juno’s character is multifaceted—while protective and nurturing, she was also known for her fierce temper, particularly regarding her husband’s infidelities.
The Origins of Juno
Juno’s name itself offers insight into her divine nature. The name “Juno” is believed to derive from the Latin word iuvenis, meaning “youth,” linking her to the idea of vitality and the life force. As such, Juno was often associated with concepts of fertility, growth, and the protection of life at all stages, especially in the context of women’s lives.
Juno’s origins are deeply intertwined with the ancient Italic and Roman religious traditions. Even before the influence of Greek mythology reshaped many aspects of Roman belief, Juno held an exalted position among the gods of Rome. She was worshipped alongside Jupiter and Minerva as part of the Capitoline Triad, one of the most important groupings of deities in Roman state religion. This triad represented the core of Roman religious practice, with each of the three deities responsible for key aspects of Roman life and governance.
While much of Roman mythology was influenced by Greek sources, Juno’s worship was distinct from Hera’s in important ways. In Roman culture, Juno was not simply a goddess tied to marriage and jealousy, as Hera often was in Greek mythology. Instead, Juno was a more expansive figure, embodying many aspects of life and governance, extending her influence over all women and serving as a protector of the state.
Juno’s Roles and Titles
Juno was a goddess with many roles, each representing a different facet of her divinity. Her various titles and epithets offer a glimpse into the broad scope of her influence and importance.
Juno Regina (Queen of the Gods)
Juno’s most important title is that of Regina, or Queen. As the wife of Jupiter, the king of the gods, Juno held a position of supreme power in the Roman pantheon. Together with Jupiter, she ruled over both gods and mortals, and her influence extended across all aspects of Roman life. In this capacity, she was revered as a figure of authority, majesty, and sovereignty.
Juno Regina was worshipped in grand temples, including the famous Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill, where she stood alongside Jupiter and Minerva. Her role as queen was not just ceremonial but deeply intertwined with the Roman concept of governance and the protection of the state.
Juno Lucina (Goddess of Childbirth)
One of Juno’s most important roles was as a protector of women, particularly in the context of childbirth. Under the title Lucina, Juno was invoked by women in labor, and her festival, the Matronalia, was a major celebration in ancient Rome. The name Lucina is associated with light, symbolizing Juno’s role in bringing new life into the world and ensuring the safe delivery of children.
As Juno Lucina, she presided over all aspects of childbirth, from conception to delivery. Women prayed to her for protection during pregnancy and for the health of their newborns. This aspect of Juno’s divinity highlights her nurturing side, as well as her connection to fertility and the cycles of life.
Juno Moneta (Goddess of Wealth and Protection)
The title Moneta comes from the Latin word meaning “advisor” or “warner,” and Juno Moneta was associated with warning and protection, particularly in the financial and political realms. The famous Temple of Juno Moneta on the Capitoline Hill was located near the Roman mint, and her name eventually became synonymous with money (hence the word “money”).
Juno Moneta was not only a protector of the Roman state but also an embodiment of its prosperity and wealth. She was invoked to ensure the stability of the Roman economy and to safeguard the empire’s resources.
Juno Sospita (Protector of the Roman State)
As Sospita, Juno was a warrior goddess, often depicted wearing a goat-skin cloak and carrying a spear and shield. This aspect of Juno was closely tied to the defense of the Roman state, and she was revered as a guardian of Rome and its people. Her sanctuary in the city of Lanuvium, a key location for the worship of Juno Sospita, was an important religious site.
Juno Sospita’s protective nature extended beyond just the physical safety of the state; she was also invoked to protect the moral and spiritual integrity of Rome. Her role as a warrior goddess highlighted her fierce, combative side, a stark contrast to her nurturing aspect as Juno Lucina.
Juno Caprotina (Goddess of Fertility and Freedom)
Juno Caprotina was associated with fertility and freedom, and her festival, the Nonae Caprotinae, was celebrated by women in early July. The festival involved women participating in rituals under wild fig trees (caprificus) and was connected to the myth of the Sabine women, who played a crucial role in the early history of Rome.
This aspect of Juno’s divinity reflected her connection to the fertility of the land, the cycles of growth and harvest, and the freedoms of Roman women. Juno Caprotina was often invoked to ensure agricultural abundance and the continuation of life.
Juno in Roman Religion and Society
Juno’s influence in Roman society was far-reaching, and her worship was central to the religious life of both individuals and the state. As part of the Capitoline Triad, she was one of the primary deities honored in public rituals and ceremonies. Her role as a protector of the Roman people, particularly women, and her association with the state’s prosperity made her an essential figure in Roman civic religion.
One of the most important festivals dedicated to Juno was the Matronalia, celebrated on March 1st. This festival was devoted to Juno Lucina and was a time when Roman women offered prayers and sacrifices to ensure fertility, successful childbirth, and the well-being of their families. Women would often receive gifts from their husbands and children on this day, reflecting Juno’s role as a guardian of domestic life.
Another significant festival was the Nonae Caprotinae, held in early July, which was associated with Juno Caprotina. This festival was connected to both fertility and the legendary defense of Rome by the women of the city, underscoring Juno’s dual role as a nurturer and a protector.
In addition to these public festivals, Juno was worshipped privately by women throughout their lives. From the moment of marriage to childbirth and beyond, Juno was a constant presence in the lives of Roman women, invoked in times of need and celebration alike.
Myths and Stories Involving Juno
Juno plays a prominent role in several myths, many of which highlight her complex and multifaceted nature. As the wife of Jupiter, she is often depicted in stories that emphasize her jealousy and protectiveness, but her myths also reveal her strength, wisdom, and capacity for both vengeance and compassion.
Juno and the Trojan War
One of the most famous myths involving Juno is her role in the Trojan War, as recounted in Virgil’s Aeneid. In this epic, Juno is portrayed as a fierce opponent of the Trojans and their leader, Aeneas. Her anger toward the Trojans stems from the Judgment of Paris, in which the Trojan prince Paris awarded the golden apple to Venus instead of Juno, thereby slighting her beauty.
Juno’s enmity toward the Trojans leads her to oppose Aeneas at every turn as he attempts to fulfill his destiny of founding the Roman people. Throughout the Aeneid, Juno thwarts Aeneas’s progress, stirring up storms, inciting wars, and even sending the fury Allecto to cause chaos. Despite her efforts, however, Aeneas eventually succeeds, and Juno is forced to accept his destiny.
This myth highlights Juno’s fierce and vindictive side, as well as her deep attachment to Rome and her desire to protect the Roman people from foreign influence.
Juno and Hercules
Another well-known myth involving Juno is her antagonistic relationship with Hercules, the son of Jupiter and the mortal woman Alcmene. Furious at Jupiter’s infidelity and the birth of Hercules, Juno sought to destroy the hero from the moment of his birth. She sent two serpents to kill him in his cradle, but the infant Hercules strangled them with his bare hands.
Juno’s hatred of Hercules persisted throughout his life, and she continually sought to sabotage his efforts and cause him suffering. One of her most famous acts was causing Hercules to go mad, leading him to kill his own wife and children in a fit of rage. As penance, Hercules was forced to perform the Twelve Labors, many of which were orchestrated by Juno to be as difficult and dangerous as possible.
Despite her enmity toward Hercules, this myth also underscores Juno’s formidable power and her ability to shape the fates of mortals and gods alike.
The Founding of Rome
Juno also plays a significant role in the mythological narratives surrounding the founding of Rome. Her influence, as well as her opposition to certain events, underscores her complex relationship with the destiny of the Roman people. Despite her resistance to some elements of Rome’s founding, such as her opposition to Aeneas and the Trojans, Juno ultimately emerges as a figure who must acknowledge and support the inevitable rise of the Roman state.
Juno and Aeneas: From Enemy to Protector
In Virgil’s Aeneid, Juno is one of the primary antagonists who works against the hero Aeneas as he embarks on his fated journey to establish what would become the Roman race. Her animosity towards Aeneas stems not only from the earlier Judgment of Paris, but also because she knows that the descendants of the Trojans are fated to destroy her beloved city of Carthage in the future Punic Wars.
Throughout the epic, Juno does everything in her power to delay or derail Aeneas’s mission, employing various schemes to thwart his progress. For instance, she stirs up a storm at sea that nearly destroys Aeneas’s fleet, and she encourages Dido, the queen of Carthage, to fall in love with Aeneas in the hope that he will stay in Carthage and abandon his quest. When that fails, she incites conflict in Italy to prevent Aeneas from securing a peaceful settlement there.
However, by the end of the Aeneid, Juno’s opposition to Aeneas and his divine mission comes to an end. After Jupiter intervenes and assures Juno that the Trojans will merge with the native Latins, creating a new people who will honor her as well as the other gods, Juno finally relents. She agrees to cease her interference, and the divine conflict is resolved. This moment signifies Juno’s ultimate acceptance of Rome’s destiny and her role in the future success of the Roman Empire.
This myth also illustrates the broader theme of divine will and fate in Roman mythology. Despite Juno’s considerable power and her ability to manipulate events, even she cannot alter the course of destiny. In the end, her resistance to the founding of Rome is shown to be futile, reinforcing the idea that Rome’s rise is preordained and sanctioned by the gods.
Juno and the Sabine Women
Another key myth in which Juno plays a role is the story of the Rape of the Sabine Women, a foundational legend of early Rome that speaks to the city’s population crisis and its martial origins. After the founding of Rome by Romulus, the city faced a significant problem: a shortage of women, which threatened its future growth and survival.
Romulus invited the neighboring Sabines to a festival in honor of Neptune, during which the Romans abducted the Sabine women in a bold and aggressive act intended to secure wives for the Roman men. This event led to a war between the Romans and the Sabines, which was only resolved when the abducted women, who had since married and borne children, intervened to stop the fighting.
While Juno is not directly involved in the abduction, the event is deeply symbolic of her role as the protector of marriage, women, and childbirth. The resolution of the conflict, which resulted in the peaceful integration of the Sabines and Romans, reflected Juno’s dual nature as both a fierce protector and a mediator. The Sabine women themselves can be seen as extensions of Juno’s influence, as they ultimately preserve family unity and ensure the continuity of the Roman state.
The Sabine women’s intervention marks a moment of reconciliation, a theme often present in Juno’s myths, where her initially combative nature is eventually tempered by wisdom and necessity. This myth highlights Juno’s overarching role as a guardian of Rome and the institution of marriage, even in the face of violent beginnings.
Juno’s Role in the Deification of Romulus
In yet another foundational myth, Juno is involved in the story of Romulus, the legendary founder and first king of Rome, as he is transformed from a mortal into a god. After Romulus has fulfilled his mission of establishing the city of Rome, there are several versions of his death or disappearance, but many accounts conclude with Romulus being deified and becoming the god Quirinus.
Juno plays a part in this apotheosis by guiding Romulus’s wife, Hersilia, to reunite with her husband in the afterlife. According to the myth, Juno, taking pity on Hersilia’s grief after the disappearance of Romulus, sent the goddess Iris to bring her up to the heavens. Once Hersilia arrived in the heavens, she was transformed into the goddess Hora, joining Romulus/Quirinus in divine form.
This myth reinforces Juno’s connection to marriage and the divine favor that accompanied the union between Romulus and Hersilia. It also underscores her involvement in ensuring the continuity and divine legitimacy of Rome’s rulers, linking the mortal world with the divine through her actions.
