Empanda

In Roman mythology, Empanda or Panda was a goddess or a surname of Juno.

According to Festus, [(s. v. Empanda) – cited by Schmitz] she was a "dea paganorum". Varro [(ap. Non. p. 44; comp. Gell. xiii. 22; Arnob. iv. 2) – cited by Schmitz] connects the word with "pandere", but explains it by "panem dare", so that Empanda would be the goddess of bread or food. She had a sanctuary near the gate, called after her the "porta Pandana", which led to the capitol. [(Festus, s. v. Pandana; Varro, de Ling. Lat. v. 42.) – cited by Schmitz] Her temple was an asylum, which was always open, and the suppliants who came to it were supplied with food from the funds of the temple. In the opinion of Leonhard Schmitz, this custom shows the meaning of the name "Panda" or "Empanda": it is connected with "pandere", to open; she is accordingly the goddess who is open to or admits any one who wants protection. Hartung [(die Religion der Röm. ii. p. 76, &c.) – cited by Schmitz] thinks that "Empanda" and "Panda" are only surnames of Juno.

References

*SmithDGRBM|author=Leonhard Schmitz

Footnotes