Dea Dia


Dea Dia was a goddess of fertility and growth in ancient Roman religion. She was sometimes identified with Ceres, and sometimes with her Greek equivalent Demeter.
She was worshiped during Ambarvalia, a festival to Ceres. Every May, her priests, the Fratres Arvales, held a three-day festival in her honor.

Name

The name Dea Dia means 'Goddess of Daylight' or 'Bright Goddess'. The first element stems from the Latin dea, while the second is related to diēs, probably in reference to the ritual prescription to announce in January the May ceremonies sub divo culmine.