Carmenta

In Roman mythology, Carmenta was the goddess of childbirth and prophecy, associated with technological innovation as well as the protection of mothers and children, and a patron of midwives. She was the mother of Euander. Her name is derived from carmen, meaning a magic spell, oracle or song, and is also the roots of the word charm. Carmenta was said to have invented the Latin alphabet.

Carmenta was one of the Camenae. The leader of her cult was called the flamen carmentalis.

It was forbidden to wear leather or other forms of dead skin in her temple, which was next to the Porta Carmentalis in Rome.

Her festival, called the Carmentalia, was celebrated primarily by women on January 11 and January 15.

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Carmenta is also a genus of the order Lepidoptera, or butterflies and moths.