Matuta was a minor figure of the Roman pantheon. She was the goddess of the dawn and young growth. Gradually this brought her into a position of protectress of childbirth. During the merging of Greek and Roman gods, she was identified with Ino (also called Leocothea).

Matuta had her own holiday, Matronalia, which was celebrated in June. Only free women and matrons could partake in the celebrations; after all, men don't undergo childbirth, why should they celebrate on the day of Matuta? Husbands usually gave gifts to their wives for the occasion, and mistresses treated their female slaves to a feast.


Howatson M. C. The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.

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