a heathen deity of the female sex.

The ancients had almost as many goddesses as gods: such were, Juno the goddess of air, Diana the goddess of woods, &c. and under this character were represented the virtues, graces, and principal advantages of life; truth, justice, piety, liberty, fortune, victory, &c.

It was the peculiar privilege of the goddesses to be represented naked on medals; for it was supposed that the imagination must be awed and restrained by the consideration of the divine character.