[396]. This no doubt gave rise to the myth that Faunus ‘coisse cum filia’ in the form of a snake. Here again the myth may possibly be Greek, but we have no right to deny that it may have had a Roman basis. Snakes were kept in great numbers both in temples and houses in Italy (Preller-Jordan, i. 87, 385).
[397]. Plin. H. N. 29 passim, especially 14, &c., where Cato is quoted as detesting the new Greek art, and urging his son to stick to the old simples; some of which, with their absurd charms, are given in Cato, R. R. 156 foll.
[398]. Macrob. l. c.; Juv. Sat. 2. 86.
[399]. Marq. 173. Gilbert (Gesch. und Topogr. ii. 159, note) has some impossible combinations on this subject, and concludes that the Bona Dea was a moon-goddess.
[400]. See above, p. [72] foll.
[401]. Paulus, 68 ‘Damium sacrificium, quod fiebat in operto in honorem Bonae deae, ... dea quoque ipsa Damia et sacerdos eius damiatrix appellabatur.’
[402]. R. Peter in Myth. Lex., s. v. Damia; Wissowa, l. c.
[403]. Paulus, l. c.
[404]. Lactantius, 1. 22; Serv. Aen. 8. 314.
[405]. Preuner, Hestia-Vesta, 407 foll. For Lucina, Gilbert, l. c.