fornax, ācis, f. [cf.: fornus and furnus, Gr. πῦρ],
I a furnace , oven , kiln (cf. also: caminus, clibanus, focus): in ardentibus fornacibus, Cic. N. D. 1, 37, 103: calcaria, Cato R. R. 38; Plin. 17, 9, 6, § 53: aeraria, id. 11, 36, 42, § 119: calidae, Lucr. 6, 148; cf.: recoquunt patrios fornacibus enses, Verg. A. 7, 636: balinei, Dig. 19, 2, 58.—Poet. transf. of Aetna: vastae Aetnae fornaces, i. e. craters , Lucr. 6, 681: vidimus undantem ruptis fornacibus Aetnam, Verg. G. 1, 472: quae sulfureis ardet fornacibus Aetne, Ov. M. 15, 340.—
II Personified: Fornax , the goddess that presided over ovens , the ovengoddess , for whom Numa is said to have instituted an especial festival (v. fornacalis, II.), Ov. F. 2, 525 sq.; Lact. 1, 20, 35.