Festival of Juventas, ancient Rome

Juventas, or Iuventas, is the Goddess of Youth, Roman mythology’s version of the goddess Hebe of Greek mythology. A celebration was held for all the youth who had come of age (14 years old) in the preceding year. Boys offered a coin to her when they wore a man's toga for the first time. The temple of Juventas on the Capitol was more ancient than that of Jupiter. She also had a second temple in the Circus Maximus.

Hebe is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Legend has it that she was born not of sexual union, but otherwise: when Hera, having been invited to dinner by Apollo, ate from the head of a wild lettuce, she fell pregnant ...

Tagged: ancient-rome, deity, calendar-customs, festival, mythology, religion