Mylitta

deity single tradition · 1

Mylitta is a goddess associated with temple sexual rites in ancient Babylon, according to Herodotus. When a man casts money into a woman's lap at the temple, he must say, "I invite you in the name of Mylitta". The woman will never refuse, for that would be a sin, the money being by this act made sacred.

When

First attested
450 BCE
Attested period
-450 – 500
Historical notes
Mentioned by Herodotus in the 5th century BCE.

Relationships

syncretized with
Aphrodite, Ištar

Expand to full subgraph →

Sources

wikipedia (1)

Source passages

“Once a woman has taken her place there, she does not go away to her home before some stranger has cast money into her lap, and had intercourse with her outside the temple; but while he casts the money, he must say, "I invite you in the name of Mylitta".”

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