(Redirected from Carmentis):''For the
genus of
Lepidoptera, see
Carmenta (moth)''
In
Roman mythology, 'Carmenta' was the goddess of childbirth and prophecy, associated with technological innovation as well as the protection of mothers and children, and a patron of
midwives. She was the mother of
Evander. Her name is derived from ''carmen'', meaning a magic spell, oracle or song, and is also the roots of the word ''charm''. Carmenta was said to have invented the
Latin alphabet.
Carmenta was one of the
Camenae. The leader of her cult was called the ''flamen carmentalis''.
It was forbidden to wear
leather or other forms of dead skin in her temple, which was next to the
Porta Carmentalis in
Rome.
Her festival, called the
Carmentalia, was celebrated primarily by women on
January 11 and
January 15.