the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Bona Dea
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (good goddess), in Roman mythology, was a goddess of a mysterious nature, appearing to have a great resemblance to Ceres and also is held one with Maja (the earth), Semnele, Medea, Hecate, and Prosepinsa, but really was said to have been named Faunus.' The solicitations of her father she withstood, and was therefore whipped with the twig of a myrtle tree.' He had intercourse with her, however, after converting himself into a snake. Therefore no myrtle-tree twigs were allowed to be brought into her temple, and no man was permitted to enter it, the great festival on the first of May being celebrated by women only. The offerise of Publius Clodius is familiar, who dressed himself in female apparel and went to this festival to join Pompeia, the wife of Julius Caesar, with whom he had all intimate relation.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Bona Dea'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/b/bona-dea.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
