Egeria (Aegeria) Roman A goddess of springs, perhaps originally a goddess of the Babine people; also considered a deity that protected pregnant women and helped them bring their babies safely into the world.

Egeria (Aegeria) Roman A goddess of springs, perhaps originally a goddess of the Babine people; also considered a deity that protected pregnant women and helped them bring their babies safely into the world. Egeria had the gift of prophecy. She was later considered by the Romans as one of the water Nymphs known as the Camenae. Followers paid tribute to Egeria at a site near the Caelian Hill in Rome. The dominant myth surrounding Egeria says that she was either an advisor to Numa Pompilius, ruler of the Sabines and the second king of Rome, or his lover or wife. According to some versions of her story, Egeria favored Numa, so she would answer his every summons. Numa would invite her to public gatherings, where Egeria appeared in great sumptuousness, bringing with her great feasts. Other stories describe Egeria and Numa meeting secretly at night in a grove near the spring that would later be her site of worship. There she taught him how to honor the gods and properly ask for their help. Some sources suggest that Egeria's gift of prophecy allowed her to help the king develop the just and fair laws for which he became famous. After Numa died, Egeria, the nymph, was said to have despaired so much that the goddess Diana took pity on her and turned her into the spring that was so important to her.