Hail Mater Matuta,
Lovely goddess of the dawn!
Though mother too, we hail thee as aunt to the sun.
We ask of thee good fortune
And the freedom to face the future confidently.
May the children flourish!
Bring forth the light,
And may we be commensurate to receive your bounteous gift!
Salve Mater Matuta!

 

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On the feriae dedicated to the dawn-mother, the goddess Mater Matuta, matrons prayed first for the well-being of their nephews and nieces before that of their own children. In Indo-European mythology, the dawn is both mother and aunt of the rising sun. The sanctity of Matuta’s temple was such that female slaves were excluded, and a twice married woman was not allowed to dress the goddess’ image. Offerings to the goddess for the Matralia were cooked in either old-fashioned earthenware (testua) or in pans, like the mola salsa. According to Verrius Flaccus, the words mane ‘morning’, matures ‘mature’, matuta, manes and manus are cognates with the root idea signifying ‘good’. Matuta was additionally honoured as a goddess of childbirth.