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On January 11 the Romans honored Juturna, the nymph of the waters, with the Juturnalia. Her sanctuary stood in the Forum, beside a spring, near the Temple of the Dioscuri.
- Date: January 11
- Deity: Juturna, nymph of the waters
- Place: Lacus Iuturnae, in the Roman Forum
- Sources: Servius. Ovid, Fasti I and II. Dionysius of Halicarnassus
Who Was Juturna
Juturna was a nymph tied to healing springs. In the Aeneid she is the sister of Turnus, while Roman cult links her to a spring in the Forum. The identification of the two figures is ancient but problematic.
The Pool of the Forum
At the foot of the Palatine, near the Temple of Castor and Pollux, stood the Lacus Iuturnae, a fountain that tradition says was where the Dioscuri watered their horses after the battle of Lake Regillus. Today you can see its remains in the Roman Forum.
A Festival of Water Workers
Servius notes that the Juturnalia were celebrated by craftsmen and by people who worked with water. The detail is thin, and we don’t know what the rite looked like.
Where to See It
The remains of the Lacus Iuturnae are visible in the Forum. See the Roman Forum page. For another water observance in the ancient calendar, read Fontinalia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Juturna?
The Roman nymph of waters and springs, worshiped in the Forum.
Where is her sanctuary?
In the Roman Forum, at the foot of the Palatine, beside the Temple of Castor and Pollux.
Who celebrated the Juturnalia?
According to Servius, mostly workers connected to water.
This festival is part of the calendar of ancient Roman festivals and the mos maiorum, where you can find all the other observances.
Sources
- Servius, commentary on the Aeneid XII 139
- Ovid, Fasti I 463-464 and II 585-616
- Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Roman Antiquities VI 13
The illustrations are AI-generated for evocative purposes.