Fauna "Bona Dea"

Fauna, or Bona Dea ("the good goddess"), was the Roman goddess of fertility, healing, virginity and women. She was associated with cornucopia, snakes and coins. Her temple was on the Aventine Hill. Her festivals were held on May 1st (a public festival) and December 4th (a private festival). Men were not allowed to participate. Even paintings and drawings of men male animals were forbidden. The words "wine" and "myrtle" were also forbidden because Bona Dea had once been beaten by her father with a myrtle stick after she got drunk.