August 13, 14 and 15
Festival of Diana
This was a great day of celebration for Diana, the Roman Goddess of wild nature. She was invoked to avert storms that could possibly ruin the crops or hinder the harvest. Her festival took place at her temple, said to have been founded by King Servius Tullius, whose mother had reputedly been a slave. After its establishment, the temple became an asylum for runaway slaves, and this day a holiday for all slaves of both sexes.
Diana, who was originally identified with the Greek Artemis, was regarded as a Goddess of hunting and of the Moon. She was considered to be a protector of women, particularly in childbirth. One of her sanctuaries was Lake Nemi, where her priest was an escaped slave who had to kill his predecessor in single combat to take office and then guard his station against all would-be successors.
Under Christianity, Diana became the Goddess of the Witches, whom the 10th-century Cannon Espiscopi condemned for believing that they could ride with the Goddess at night. Associated with the constellation Ursa Major, Diana’s legend is still alive in Tuscany, where she is held as the original supreme Goddess and mother of Lucifer of Aradia. Diana’s day is Monday; her colors are silver, white and crystal; gems include clear quartz, moonstone, and pearl. Her magickal weapons are the bow and arrow, and all dogs are sacred to her.
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