Name origin: Greek Naiad who was transformed into a laurel tree. Daphne was loved by the god Apollo, who pursued her until she grew exhausted and cried out to Gaia for help. The goddess transformed her into a laurel tree which Apollo then adopted as his sacred plant.
Name origin: Roman goddess of trust and good faith (bona fides). One of the original virtues to be considered an actual religious divinity. She is everything that is required for “honour and credibility, from fidelity in marriage, to contractual arrangements, and the obligation soldiers owed to Rome.”
Name origin: Greek sea goddess and wife of Poseidon. He courted her in the form of a dolphin (or, in some tellings, sent a dolphin as messenger).
Name origin: Roman goddess of war; the name was chosen to mark the beginning of the Crimean War. Bellona is known for her temple outside of Rome being the official decision making centre in regards to war.
Name origin: Roman goddess and queen of the underworld. Equivalent of the Greek Persephone, with virtually identical mythology. She was combined with, or replaced, the ancient Roman fertility goddess Libera.
Phocaea or Phokaia (modern-day Foça in Turkey) was a city on the western coast of Anatolia. Greek colonists from Phocaea founded the city of Massalia (Marseille), from where the asteroid was discovered.
Name origin: Greek Titan goddess of divine law and order. Themis presides specifically over the traditional rules of conduct first established by the gods. She was also a prophetic goddess who presided over the most ancient oracles, including Delphi.
Name origin: Ancient Greek Muse of eloquence and epic poetry. Kalliope was the eldest of the Muses, depicted in older art with a lyre, and later with a tablet and stylus or a scroll.
Name origin: Greek muse of tragedy. Literal translation: ‘to sing’ or ‘the one that is melodious’; initially the muse of chorus.
Name origin: Greek sea goddess and the leader of the fifty Nereides. Like many other sea gods, Thetis possessed the gift of prophecy and power to change her shape at will.
