Bellona, the Roman deity of conflict, holds a significant position in ancient mythology, often linked with Mars, the god of war. Frequently depicted as his companion, she is recognized in various roles including that of his spouse, daughter, sister, or charioteer. Her roots likely lie with the Sabines, an ancient tribe from the northeastern region of Rome, and the Claudii family, known for establishing her veneration within Roman society. The temple dedicated to her was erected in the Campus Martius, a low-lying area beside the Tiber River that was sacred to Mars and situated beyond the confines of the city. This vicinity, around her temple, came to represent foreign territory, serving as the venue where the Senate convened with dignitaries, welcomed triumphant generals, and formally declared war. Adjacent to her temple stood the columna bellica, a war column symbolizing Rome’s boundary. To officially declare war, a fetialis—an appointed priest involved in diplomatic matters—would cast a javelin over this column, embodying the onset of hostilities against an enemy.
Bellona was thought to evoke a fierce eagerness for battle, reminiscent of the berserkers of Norse tradition, with the earliest records of her worship indicating that human sacrifices were once common. The goddess Ma, known for her warlike aspects as well, was brought to Rome by Sulla, becoming associated with Bellona and referred to as Ma-Bellona. Her priests, the Bellonarii, practiced self-mutilation during the rites dedicated to Ma-Bellona, shedding blood to either consume or offer to the goddess in a bid to awaken the fervor of battle. Over time, these practices were softened and became more symbolic in nature. These rituals took place on the 24th of March, a day ultimately designated as dies sanguinis, or the “day of blood.”
Numerous shrines and temples dedicated to Bellona existed throughout Rome, although many are known mostly by way of inscriptions. A temple in Ostia, Rome’s port city, is also associated with her. In 48 BCE, a shrine to Ma-Bellona was accidentally destroyed during the demolition of the temples of Isis and Serapis in Rome; the remains uncovered contained jars filled with human flesh, which implied an orgiastic aspect of worship and suggested connections with Egyptian practices, even though the precise relation remains unclear, save for the possibility of those jars resembling canopic containers that held the internal organs of the deceased in Egyptian funerary custom.
Typically depicted donned in a feathered helmet and armor, Bellona is shown wielding a sword and spear while shielding herself; at times, she is seen carrying a torch that blazes with a blood-red flame. She is characterized as boisterous and dynamic, issuing commands and war cries, with a cacophony of clanging weapons accompanying her movement. Bellona is revered for spurring violent actions, heralding wars, and encouraging soldiers to engage in combat; Virgil described her holding a blood-spattered scourge or whip, believed to ensure favorable outcomes in warfare for those appealing to her. The etymology of her name derives from the Latin word for war, ‘bellum’, and her traditional feast day occurs on June 3rd.
She has been associated with other goddesses of Sabine descent, such as Nerio and Vacum. Additionally, Ma or Ma-Bellona, a goddess from Cappadocia in modern-day Turkey, is viewed as a counterpart to the Italian Bellona, with a separate temple constructed in her honor in Rome. Among her various titles are Bellola and Duellona, the latter stemming from an earlier Latin term for war, ‘duellum’; she is also referred to as Bellona Pulvinensis and Bellona Insulensis, the latter originating from a shrine located on the Tiber island. The poet Publius Statius referred to her as “dark Bellona, with bloody hand,” illustrating her fierce and formidable nature.
