Paventia

In ancient Roman religion, Paventia or Paventina was a divine personification of fear. She is one of many Roman deities whose name embodies a "functional focus."[1] In particular, she is said to avert fear (pavor) from infants.[2] She appears in lists made by early Christian writers mocking minor deities who have a narrowly defined sphere of influence.

References

  1. ^ Michael Lipka, Roman Gods: A Conceptual Approach (Brill, 2009), p. 128.
  2. ^ Tertullian, Ad nationes 2.11; Augustine of Hippo, De civitate Dei 4.11; Gerardus Vossius, De physiologia Christiana et theologia gentili 8.6: Paventia ab infantibus avertebat pavorem, 7.5.