BONA DEA, the good goddess, in Pagan mythology, one of the names of Cybele. Others say, she was a Roman lady, the wife of one Faunus, and was famous for her chastity, and that after her death she was deified. Her sacrifices were performed only by matrons; and in so secret a manner, that it was no less than death for any man to be present at the assembly (see CYBELE). Cicero reproaches Clodius with having entered into this temple disguised as a singing woman, and having by his presence polluted the mysteries of the good goddess. What kind of mysteries these were, we may learn from Juvenal, Sat. vi. 313. The poet there mentions the adventure of Clodius.
Atque utinam ritus veteres, et publica saltem
His intacta malis agerentur sacra: sed omnes
Noverunt Mauri, atque Indi, quæ psaltria penem
Majorem, quam sint duo Casaris Anticatoones,
Illuc testiculi sibi conscius, unde fugit mus,
Intulerit.
I wish at least our sacred rites were free
From those pollutions of obscenity:
But 'tis well known what singer, how disguis'd,
A lewd audacious action enterpris'd:
Into the fane, with women mix'd, he went,
Arm'd with a huge two-handed instrument;
A grateful present to these holy choirs,
Where the mouse, conscious of his sex, retires.