Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology/Sospita

SO'SPITA, that is, the "saving goddess," was a surname of Juno at Lanuvium and at Rome, in both of which places she had a temple. Her worship was very ancient in Latium and was transplanted from Lanuvium to Rome. (Cic. De Nat. Deor. i. 29, De Div. i. 2; Liv. viii. 14, xxiv. 10, xxvii. 3, xxix. 14, xxxi. 12, xxxii. 30, xl. 19; Ov. Fast. ii. 56; Sil. Ital. viii. 362, xiii. 346.) The name is connected with the verb σώζειν, but the ancient Romans called her Sispita, and so her name appears in inscriptions, just as Jupiter also is called Sispes instead of Sospes. (Fest. p. 343, ed. Müller.)

[L. S.]