Juno (mythology) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Juno
Goddess of marriage and childbirth
Member of the Capitoline Triad
Juno Sospita, a plaster cast based on an original in the Vatican Museums
Other names	Regina ("Queen")
Personal information
Consort	Jupiter
Children	Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, Juventas
Parents	Saturn
Siblings	Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Vesta, Ceres
Greek equivalent	Hera
Etruscan equivalent	Uni

Juno was a very important Roman goddess. She was known as the protector and special helper of the Roman state. Juno was the daughter of Saturn. She was also the wife of Jupiter, who was the king of the gods. Her children included Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, and Juventas.

Juno is like the Hera of Greek mythology, who was the queen of the Greek gods. Just like Hera, Juno's special animal was the peacock. The Etruscans, an ancient people in Italy, called her Uni. Juno was also believed to watch over the women of Rome. As a patron goddess of Rome and the Roman Empire, Juno was called Regina, meaning "Queen." She was part of a special group called the Capitoline Triad. This group included her, Jupiter, and Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. They were honored on the Capitoline Hill in Rome. Juno is also the goddess of marriage. Many people still think that June, the month named after her, is the best time to get married.

Juno's Many Roles

Juno was a very complex goddess. She had many different names and titles. Each name showed a different part of her personality or a different role she played. For example, she was connected to ideas like strong life force, lots of energy, and staying young forever. Scholars today still discuss all the different meanings of Juno.

Juno's Warlike Side

Juno also had a strong, warlike side. This was clear from how she was often shown. She was usually pictured wearing armor and a cloak made of goatskin. This look was similar to the Greek goddess Athena. Athena also wore a goatskin or a goatskin shield called the 'aegis'. This shows that Juno was not just a goddess of marriage. She was also a powerful protector.

Images for kids

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  Juno-Hera, an old painting from Pompeii

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  Juno's sacred geese warn the Romans as the Gauls approach the Capitol in 390 BC

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  IVNO REGINA ("Queen Juno") on a coin celebrating Julia Soaemias

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  Juno. Silver statuette, 1st–2nd century.

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  Juno; Vatican, Rome. Brooklyn Museum Archives, Goodyear Archival Collection

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  Ruins of the temple of Juno in Samos, painted by Luigi Mayer

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  Ancient Roman four-gods-stone (3rd century AD) with relief of Iuno or Minerva from Place Kleber. Archaeological Museum, Strasbourg

See also

In Spanish: Juno (mitología) para niños