Bellōna

I. the goddess of war, sister of Mars, whose temple, built by Appius Claudius Cœcus (Inscr. Orell. 539). in the ninth district of the city, was situated not far from the Circus Maximus, Publ. Vict. Descr. Urb.—A place of assemblage for the Senate for proceedings with persons who were not allowed entrance into the city, Liv. 26, 21, 1; 28, 9, 5; 30, 21, 12 al.; Verg. A. 8, 703; Hor. S. 2, 3, 223: Bellona dicebatur dea bellorum, ante cujus templum erat columella, quae Bellica vocabatur, super quam hastam jaciebant, cum bellum indicebatur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 33 Müll.; cf. Ov. F. 6, 201 sq.; Serv. ad Verg. A. 9, 53: cos. SENATVM. CONSOLVERVNT. N. OCTOB. APVD. AEDEM. DVELONAI., S. C. Bacch., v. Append.; Plaut. Am. prol. 43; Ov. M. 5, 155; Sen. Herc. Oet. 1313; Claud. in Prob. et Olybr. Cons. 121; id. in Ruf. 1, 342; 2, 263; id. IV. Cons. Hon. 12; Eutr. 1, 314; 2, 110; 2, 145; Claud. Laud. Stil. 2, 371; id. B. Get. 34; 466; Petr. 124, 256; Inscr. Orell. 1903; 2316. Her priests (turba entheata Bellonae, Mart. 12, 57, 11: Bellōnārii, ōrum, Acron. ad Hor. S. 2, 3, 223 dub.) and priestesses were accustomed, in their mystic festivals. especially on the 20th of March (hence dies sanguinis, Treb. Claud. 6; cf. Inscr. Orell. 2318), to gash their arms and shoulders with knives, and thus to offer their blood, Tib. 1, 6, 45 sq.; Juv. 4, 123; Luc. 1, 565; Tert. Apol. 9; Lact. 1, 21, 16; Min. Fel. Oct. 30, 5.