Bellona

Bellona is the Roman goddess of war. Bellona controlled the policy of foreign warfare and was much more respected.

History
Bellona is the Roman goddess of War, closely associated with Mars, the Roman War-god. She is invariably his companion, although she can be called his wife, daughter, sister, or charioteer but mostly known for being his twin.

Her temple was built in the Campus Martius, the low-lying field by the Tiber River consecrated to Mars, located outside of the city walls. The area around her temple was considered to symbolize foreign soil, and there the Senate met with ambassadors, received victorious generals, and there war was officially declared. Besides her temple was the columna bellica or war column, representing the boundary of Rome. To declare war a javelin was thrown over the column by one of the fetialis, a type of priest involved in diplomacy, and this act symbolized the attack on a foreign land. Bellona had several shrines and temples in Rome, though most are known only from inscriptions referencing them, as well as a temple in Ostia, the port city of Rome.

Representation
Bellona is usually shown in a plumed helmet and armor, armed with sword and spear and carrying a shield (being the war goddess); sometimes she carries a torch with a blood-red flame. She is described as loud and active, barking orders or war-cries, her weapons clanging as she runs. She is credited with inspiring violence, starting wars, and goading soldiers into battle; Virgil described her as carrying a bloodstained scourge or whip. She was believed to make wars and battles go well for those who invoked her.

The Son of Neptune
Bellona is mentioned to be the mother of Reyna, a praetor of Camp Jupiter, and Hylla, the queen of the Amazons. She is also said to have her own temple at Camp Jupiter, as she is the most important goddess the Romans worship.

Aspects of Bellona

 * Bellona Pulvinensis
 * Bellona Insulensis

Known Demigod Children

 * Reyna
 * Hylla

Trivia

 * The goddess has also proved popular in post-Renaissance art as a female embodiment of military virtue, and an excellent opportunity to portray the feminine form in armor and helmet.
 * 28 Bellona, a large main- belt asteroid, is named after her; the name was chosen to mark the beginning of the Crimean War.
 * Has no Greek counterpart, but Enyo, Greek goddess of war, has been associated with her.