Pudicitia

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In Roman mythology, Pudicitia ("modesty") was the personification of modesty and chastity. Her Greek equivalent was Aidôs.

In Roman culture, Pudicitia was not only a goddess. It was also a virtue that Roman people, both men and women, were expected to uphold. Pudicitia or “sexual virtue” was a complex ideal that was explored by many ancient writers including Livy, Valerius Maximus, Cicero and Tacitus. The legendary figure Lucretia is seen in Roman mythology as the epitome of pudicitia. It was important that a woman be univira, or a “once-married woman.” Also, modesty and the way one presented their self was considered an indicator of their pudicitia. The opposite of pudicitia was impudicitia or “sexual vice.” Stuprum was the loss of one’s pudicitia. Romans wanted their religious and political officials to uphold pudicitia because the loss of this trait was associated with chaos and loss of control.

Source: Langlands, Rebecca. Sexual Morality in Ancient Rome. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2006.