Page "Jupiter (mythology)" Paragraph 74

Along with Terminus, Iuventas ( also known as Iuventus and Iuunta ) represents an aspect of Jupiter ( as the legend of her refusal to leave the Capitol Hill demonstrates.

Her name has the same root as Juno ( from Iuu -, " young, youngster "); the ceremonial litter bearing the sacred goose of Juno Moneta stopped before her sacellum on the festival of the goddess.

Later, she was identified with the Greek Hebe.

The fact that Jupiter is related to the concept of youth is shown by his epithets Puer, Iuuentus and Ioviste ( interpreted as " the youngest " by some scholars ).

Dumézil noted the presence of the two minor sovereign deities Bagha and Aryaman beside the Vedic sovereign gods Varuna and Mitra ( more closely associated with Mitra ); the couple would be reflected in Rome by Terminus and Iuventas.

Aryaman is the god of young soldiers.

The function of Iuventas is to protect the iuvenes ( the novi togati of the year, who are required to offer a sacrifice to Jupiter on the Capitol ) and the Roman soldiers ( a function later attributed to Juno ).

King Servius Tullius, in reforming the Roman social organisation, required that every adolescent offer a coin to the goddess of youth upon entering adulthood.