Bellōna (old form Duellōna; cf. Varr. L. L. 7, § 49 Müll., and the letter B), ae. f. [Bellona a bello nunc, quae Duellona a duello, Varr. L. L. 5, § 73 Müll.]: Ἐνυώ, Ἐριννύς, θεὰ πολεμική, Gloss.,
the goddess of war , sister of Mars , whose temple , built by Appius Claudius Caecus ( Inscr. Orell. 539). in the ninth district of the city , was situated not far from the Circus Maximus , Publ. Vict. Descr. Urb.— A place of assemblage for the Senate for proceedings with persons who were not allowed entrance into the city , Liv. 26, 21, 1; 28, 9, 5; 30, 21, 12 al.; Verg. A. 8, 703; Hor. S. 2, 3, 223: Bellona dicebatur dea bellorum, ante cujus templum erat columella, quae Bellica vocabatur, super quam hastam jaciebant, cum bellum indicebatur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 33 Müll.; cf. Ov. F. 6, 201 sq.; Serv. ad Verg. A. 9, 53: cos. SENATVM. CONSOLVERVNT. N. OCTOB. APVD. AEDEM. DVELONAI., S. C. Bacch., v. Append.; Plaut. Am. prol. 43; Ov. M. 5, 155; Sen. Herc. Oet. 1313; Claud. in Prob. et Olybr. Cons. 121; id. in Ruf. 1, 342; 2, 263; id. IV. Cons. Hon. 12; Eutr. 1, 314; 2, 110; 2, 145; Claud. Laud. Stil. 2, 371; id. B. Get. 34; 466; Petr. 124, 256; Inscr. Orell. 1903; 2316. Her priests (turba entheata Bellonae, Mart. 12, 57, 11: Bellōnārii , ōrum, Acron. ad Hor. S. 2, 3, 223 dub.) and priestesses were accustomed, in their mystic festivals. especially on the 20th of March (hence dies sanguinis, Treb. Claud. 6; cf. Inscr. Orell. 2318), to gash their arms and shoulders with knives, and thus to offer their blood, Tib. 1, 6, 45 sq.; Juv. 4, 123; Luc. 1, 565; Tert. Apol. 9; Lact. 1, 21, 16; Min. Fel. Oct. 30, 5.