Egeria

In Roman mythology, Egeria (Ægeria, or Aegeria) is one of the ancient Latin deities of spring waters, the Camenas.

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).