Fērōnia

, a godde at Rome, who presided over the woods and groves. The name is derived a ferendo , because she gave a istance to her votaries, or perhaps from the town Feronia, near mount Soracte, where she had a temple. It was usual to make a yearly sacrifice to her, and to wash the face and hands in the waters of the sacred fountain, which flowed near her temple. It is said that those who were filled with the spirit of this godde could walk barefooted over burning coals without receiving any injury from the flames. The godde had a temple and a grove about three miles from Anxur, and also another in the district of Capena. Livy , bk. 33 , ch. 26 .— Virgil , Æneid , bk. 7 , lis. 697 & 800.— Varro , de Lingua Latina , bk. 4 , ch. 10 .— Silius Italic us , bk. 13 .— Strabo , bk. 5 .— Horace , bk. 1 , satire 5, li. 24 .