In Roman mythology, Egeria (Ægeria, or Aegeria) is one of the ancient Latin deities of spring waters, the Camenas.
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According to legend, she was mistress, counselor, and wife of King Numa Pompilius.
«…donec pietate dolentis / mota soror Phoebi gelidum de corpore fontem / fecit…» Ovidio, Metam. XV 549-551
When the king died, Egeria wept so much that she gave birth to a spring, which became her sacred place and which tradition identifies with the spring existing near Porta Capena.
Featured image: Egeria in the Wood of the Camene by Claude Lorrain (Naples, Capodimonte).
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