The name Dĭāna (in older documents sometimes scanned as Dīāna) is derived from dĭus, ‘light as day, shining’; D. is the ‘bright one’. Varro's derivation of the name from Diviana (Ling. 5,68) or Deviana (GRF 226, no. 103) is only of aetiological value.
Little is known about the original nature of the Italian D. As with all of the goddess' other characteristics, her name is laden with Hellenizing interpretations such that one …
Cite this page
Scheid, John (Paris),
“Diana”, in:
Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry.
Consulted online on 03 December 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e316670>