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JUVENTAS, OR IUVENTAS, IS THE GODDESS OF YOUTH, ROMAN MYTHOLOGY'S VERSION OF THE GODDESS HEBE OF GREEK MYTHOLOGY. A CELEBRATION WAS HELD FOR ALL THE YOUTH WHO HAD COME OF AGE (14 YEARS OLD) IN THE PRECEDING YEAR. BOYS OFFERED A COIN TO HER WHEN THEY WORE A MAN'S TOGA FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE TEMPLE OF JUVENTAS ON THE CAPITOL WAS MORE ANCIENT THAN THAT OF JUPITER. SHE ALSO HAD A SECOND TEMPLE IN THE CIRCUS MAXIMUS. Hebe is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Legend has it that she was born not of sexual union, but otherwise: when Hera, having been invited to dinner by Apollo, ate from the head of a wild lettuce, she fell pregnant...Tagged: ancient-rome, deity, calendar-customs, festival, mythology, religion... Friends of Wilson's Almanac, please visit http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/subs.html
