Egeria

views updated May 11 2018

Egeria in Roman religion, an Italian water-nymph, to whom pregnant women sacrificed to secure easy delivery, and who was said to be the consort and adviser of Numa Pompilius, the legendary second king of Rome (715–673 bc), whom she used to meet by night at the Porta Capena and instruct in statesmanship and religion.

Egeria

views updated May 21 2018

Egeria or Etheria, Pilgrimage of. An account of the journey of an abbess or nun (probably Spanish) to Egypt, Palestine, Edessa, Asia Minor, and Constantinople at the end of the 4th cent.