In
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of myths of ancient Rome as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans. One of a wide variety of genres of Roman folklore, ''Roman mythology'' may also refer to the modern study of these representat ...
, Postverta or Postvorta was the goddess of the past and one of the two
Carmentes (along with her sister
Antevorta In ancient Roman religion, Antevorta was a goddess of the future, also known as Porrima. She and her sister Postverta (or Postvorta) were described as companions or siblings of the goddess Carmenta, sometimes referred to as "the Carmentae". They may ...
, or prorsa
contracted form of ''Proversa''). They were companions of the goddess
Carmenta
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Carmenta was a goddess of childbirth and prophecy, associated with technological innovation as well as the protection of mothers and children and a patron of midwives. She was also said to have invented the ...
, and probably embodied her aspects as the goddess of the past (Postvorta) and the future (Antevorta, or Prorsa).
During childbirth, prayers were offered to summon the Carmentes to preside over the labor.
Varro
Marcus Terentius Varro (; 116–27 BC) was a Roman polymath and a prolific author. He is regarded as ancient Rome's greatest scholar, and was described by Petrarch as "the third great light of Rome" (after Vergil and Cicero). He is sometimes calle ...
, cited by Aulus Gellius
Aulus Gellius (c. 125after 180 AD) was a Roman author and grammarian, who was probably born and certainly brought up in Rome. He was educated in Athens, after which he returned to Rome. He is famous for his ''Attic Nights'', a commonplace book, or ...
in his ''Attic Nights'', XVI. 16 Porrima was said to be present at the birth when the baby was born head-first; Prorsa, when the
feet of the baby came first.
See also
*
Camenae
In Roman mythology, the Camenae (; also ''Casmenae'', ''Camoenae'') were originally goddesses of childbirth, wells and fountains, and also prophetic deities.
List of Camenae
There were four Camenae:
*Carmenta, or Carmentis
* Egeria, or Ægeria, o ...
*
List of Roman birth and childhood deities
In ancient Roman religion, birth and childhood deities were thought to care for every aspect of conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and child development. Some major deities of Roman religion had a specialized function they contributed to this ...
References
External links
Myth Index - Postverta
Childhood goddesses
Roman goddesses
Time and fate goddesses
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