Genius (mythology)

This article is about the genius in Roman mythology. Not to be confused with the Minoan Genius, the genius in Minoan mythology.
Winged genius facing a woman with a tambourine and mirror, from southern Italy, about 320 BC

In Roman religion, the genius (Latin: [ˈɡɛnɪ.ʊs]; pl.: genii) is the individual instance of a general divine nature that is present in every individual person, place, or thing.[1] Much like a guardian angel, the genius would follow each man from the hour of his birth until the day he died.[2] For women, it was the Juno spirit that would accompany each of them.

  1. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (2009). "genius". A Latin Dictionary. Meford, MA: Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  2. ^ Mary Ann Dwight Grecian and Roman Mythology p.253