Feronia
Feronia is an ancient Italic goddess of fertility, agriculture, and the wild. In the earliest Italian religious practice she is referenced in Latin and Etruscan sources and is one of the better-attested deities outside the canonical Roman pantheon. The cult emphasizes the fertility of crops and forests and, in some traditions, the welfare and asylum of freedpeople.
Origins and character: The precise origins of Feronia are uncertain; she is generally considered Italic rather
Worship and rites: A famous sanctuary or grove associated with Feronia is reported from Capena in Lazio,
Iconography and interpretation: Feronia is described by ancient writers as a benevolent, earth-centered goddess whose cult
Legacy: Feronia represents the broader pattern of local Italic deities incorporated into Roman religion, illustrating how