Bellona (goddess)
| Bellona | |
|---|---|
Goddess of War, Destruction, Conquest, and Bloodlust | |
A bust of Bellona by Jan Cosijn, a 1697 victory celebration over a Brussels doorway | |
| Symbol | Military helmet and torch |
| Temples | Temple of Bellona, Rome; Temple of Bellona, Ostia |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Jupiter and Juno |
| Siblings | Mars, Vulcan, Juventas, Discordia, Lucina |
| Consort | Mars |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek | Enyo |
Bellona (IPA: [bɛlˈloːna]) is an ancient Roman goddess of war. She is generally characterized as embodying the destructive and brutal side of warfare. Her main attribute is the military helmet worn on her head; she often holds a sword, spear, or shield, and brandishes a torch or whip as she rides into battle in a four-horse chariot. Bellona had many temples throughout the Roman Empire, one of which served as a site for Senate meetings prior to the reign of Augustus. Her iconography was extended by painters and sculptors following the Renaissance.