Levana (from
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
''levare,'' "to lift") is an
ancient Roman goddess involved in
rituals pertaining to childbirth.
Augustine
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berbers, Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia (Roman pr ...
says that ''dea Levana'' is invoked when the child is lifted ''de terra'', from the earth or ground. Her function may be paralleled by the Greek ''Artemis Orthia'', if interpreted as the
Artemis
In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Artemis (; grc-gre, Ἄρτεμις) is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. She was heavily identified wit ...
who lifts or raises children.
It is sometimes supposed that Levana was invoked in a ceremony by which the father lifted the child to acknowledge it as his own, but the existence of such a ceremony is based on tenuous evidence and contradicted by
Roman law
Roman law is the law, legal system of ancient Rome, including the legal developments spanning over a thousand years of jurisprudence, from the Twelve Tables (c. 449 BC), to the ''Corpus Juris Civilis'' (AD 529) ordered by Eastern Roman emperor J ...
pertaining to legitimacy of birth. More likely, Levana was the goddess who oversaw the lifting of the child by the
midwife
A midwife is a health professional who cares for mothers and newborns around childbirth, a specialization known as midwifery.
The education and training for a midwife concentrates extensively on the care of women throughout their lifespan; co ...
immediately after birth.
Kneeling
Kneeling is a basic human position where one or both knees touch the ground. Kneeling is defined as “to position the body so that one or both knees rest on the floor,” according to Merriam-Webster. Kneeling when only composed of one knee, and ...
or
squatting
Squatting is the action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use. The United Nations estimated in 2003 that there ...
was a more common position for childbirth in antiquity, and the newborn probably came to rest on the ground before the umbilical cord was cut.
Modern use
Thomas De Quincey
Thomas Penson De Quincey (; 15 August 17858 December 1859) was an English writer, essayist, and literary critic, best known for his ''Confessions of an English Opium-Eater'' (1821). Many scholars suggest that in publishing this work De Quince ...
's
prose poem
Prose poetry is poetry written in prose form instead of verse form, while preserving poetic qualities such as heightened imagery, parataxis, and emotional effects.
Characteristics
Prose poetry is written as prose, without the line breaks associ ...
''Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow'' begins with a discussion of the role of Levana in
Roman religion
Religion in ancient Rome consisted of varying imperial and provincial religious practices, which were followed both by the people of Rome as well as those who were brought under its rule.
The Romans thought of themselves as highly religious, ...
.
Levana is the name of an infant and child safety product manufacturer. The brand was established in 2007 and concentrates on electrical means of protection.
[Levan]
Child Safety Products
/ref>
In the Lunar Chronicles
''The Lunar Chronicles'' is a series of four young adult science fiction fantasy novels, a novella and a short story collection written by American author Marissa Meyer and published by Feiwel & Friends. Each book entails a science fictional tw ...
by Marissa Meyer
Marissa Meyer (born February 19, 1984) is an American novelist. Her debut novel, ''Cinder,'' was released on January 3, 2012. It is the first in her series ''The Lunar Chronicles''.
Early life and education
Meyer was born in Tacoma, Washington ...
, Levana is the name of the current queen of Luna (a human colony on the moon).
References
External links
*
Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow
' by Thomas De Quincey.
{{Ancient Roman religion horizontal
Roman goddesses
Childhood goddesses