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Mellona or Mellonia was an ancient Roman goddess said by St. Augustine to promote the supply of honey (Latin mel, mellis) as Pomona did for apples and Bubona for cattle. Arnobius describes her as "a goddess important and powerful regarding bees, taking care of and protecting the sweetness of honey."

W.H. Roscher includes Mellona among the indigitamenta, the list of deities maintained by Roman priests to assure that the correct divinity was invoked for rituals.

See also

• Ah-Muzen-Cab, Mayan god of bees
• Aristaeus, ancient Greek god of bees
• Austėja, Lithuanian goddess of bees
• Bee (mythology)
• Bhramari, Hindu goddess of bees
• Bubilas, Lithuanian god of bees
• Colel Cab, Mayan goddess of bees
• Melissa, ancient Greek/Minoan nymph/goddess of bees

References

1. Augustine, De civitate Dei 4.34; Hendrik Wagenvoort, "Diva Angerona," in Pietas: Selected Studies in Roman Religion (Brill, 1980), p. 22.
2. Arnobius, Adversus Nationes, IV. 7 (Mellonia dea est pollens potensque in apibus, mellis curans custodiensque dulcedinem) and 8.
3. W.H. Roscher, Ausführliches Lexikon der griechischen und römischen Mythologie (Leipzig: Teubner, 1890–94), vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 203.

v t e Religion in ancient Rome
Practices and beliefs	Libation Sacrifice Vota Temples Festivals Ludi Funerals Imperial cult Greco-Roman mysteries
Priesthoods	Pontifices Augures Vestal Virgins Flamines Fetiales Epulones Fratres Arvales Salii
Deities	List of Roman deities Twelve major gods Capitoline Triad Aventine Triad Underworld gods Indigitamenta Deified leaders Divus Julius Divus Augustus
Related topics	Glossary of ancient Roman religion Roman mythology Ancient Greek religion Etruscan mythology Gallo-Roman religion Interpretatio graeca Decline of Greco-Roman polytheism

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