Deity
Juno
Juno is the Roman goddess recalled in Par. XII as the mistress whom her handmaid Iris obeys; in Inf. XXX she is presented as enraged against Thebes out of jealousy for Semele, beloved of Jupiter.
Profile
In the Paradiso, at verse 12 of Canto XII, Dante mentions Juno while describing the motion of a new crown of the blessed, compared to the rainbow that is generated from the echo: the goddess is recalled as she who commands her handmaid Iris, personification of the rainbow. The notes to the same canto identify the handmaid as Iris, who descended to earth traversing the rainbow's arc marked in the sky. In the Inferno, the notes to Canto XXX instead recall the mythological tradition of a Juno angered against Thebes out of jealousy toward Semele, daughter of Cadmus and beloved of Jupiter: her vengeance was said to have been exercised twice, causing Semele to be incinerated and driving to madness Athamas, king of Orchomenos, who killed his wife and children believing he saw a lioness with two lion cubs.
In the text
Linked verses
2 verses| Cantica | Canto | Verso | Testo | Open verse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inferno | Canto XXX | 1 | Nel tempo che Iunone era crucciata | Open verse |
| Paradise | Canto XII | 12 | quando Iunone a sua ancella iube, | Open verse |