A Roman nymph who seems originally to have been a goddess of springs, forming part of the cult of DIANA at Nemi. There was also a cult dedicated to her at Rome itself, near the Porta Capena at the foot of the Caelian Hill. She is said to have advised the devout king Numa; and according to some versions she was either his wife or his lover. She prescribed the religious practices which Numa followed, and taught him the most efficacious prayers and incantations. When Numa died, Egeria wept so copiously in her despair that she became a spring.

{E2 DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY}