Ataegina

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Ataegina (Portuguese: Atégina) was the Goddess of rebirth (Spring), fertility, nature, and healing in the Lusitanian mythology. She is also seen as the Lusitanian goddess of the moon. It is believed Ataegina's name comes from the Celtic Ate + Gena, meaning "reborn". Author and researcher Moisés Espírito Santo argues that the name combines Atta and Jana, the first being an epithet of the archetypal mother-goddess and the latter indicating the Roman deity Jana (partner to Janus) or, quite possibly, the moon goddess Diana. Espírito Santo also argues that Ataegina is a composite deity arising from syncretic tendencies.

The animal sacred to Ataegina was the goat. She had a devotio cult, in which someone would call on the goddess to ask for healing, or occasionally curse someone, results ranging from slight afflictions to death.

She was worshiped in Lusitania and Betica; there were also sanctuaries dedicated to Ataegina in Elvas (Portugal), and Mérida and Cáceres in Spain, along with other places, especially near the Guadiana river. She was one of the main goddesses worshiped in Myrtilis (today's Mértola, Portugal), Pax Julia (Beja, Portugal) and especially the city of Turobriga, the certain location of Turobriga is unknown. This region was known as the celtic Baeturia.

Several inscriptions relate this goddess with Proserpina: ATAEGINA TURIBRIGENSIS PROSERPINA. This link came about during the Roman period.

References

Espírito Santo, Moisés. Origens Orientais da Religião Popular Portuguesa. Lisbon: Assírio & Alvim, 1988. (The book title means: "Oriental Origins of Portuguese Folk Belief/Religion.")

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