Carmentis and Carmentalia

Abstract

Carmentis (Carmenta at Livy 1.7.8) is an early Roman goddess, or perhaps one of a divine group, the Carmentes. Her name probably derives from Latin carmen (a special utterance, such as a spell, song, or poem), which suggests her original nature as the abstraction of the prophetic voice. Indigitamenta such as Postvorta (“Turned Backwards”) and Porrima (“Facing Forward”) help her to see into the past and future; but she is also designated a birth goddess, with her helpers’ names referring to the position of infants at birth.