Vacuna

[L. vacuus unoccupied.]
(Rom. Myth.) The goddess of rural leisure, to whom the husbandmen sacrificed at the close of the harvest. She was especially honored by the Sabines.

Vacūna, a Sabine goddess whose functions were already forgotten by the time Horace in his Epistles (1. 10. 49) puns on her name to make her a goddess of vacation.

Roman Republic denarius, depicting Vacuna.

In Roman mythology, Vacuna was an ancient Latin goddess, mainly worshiped at Tivoli. She was later identified with Ceres and Diana. She protected the farmers’ sheep, which in return offered her gifts and sacrifices after the harvest. Vacuna was later identified with Nike and worshipped as goddess of war. In her honor the Vacunalia were celebrated at the beginning of winter.

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