In Roman mythology, every man had a genius and every woman a juno (Juno was also the name of the queen of the gods).

This aureus of Hadrian shows the Genius of the circus.

Originally, the genii and junones were ancestors who guarded over their descendants. Over time, they turned into personal guardian spirits, granting intellectual prowess. Sacrifices were made to one's genius or juno on one's birthday.

The juno was worshipped under many titles:

• Iugalis, protected marriage
• Matronalis, protected married women
• Pronuba, protected the bride
• Virginalis, protected virginity

In addition to the genius or juno of each individual, regions, families, households and cities had a genius. The genius of the Romans was a winged, naked youth. The genii dedicated to places were usually depicted as snakes.

See also

• Lares
• Di Penates
• Genius loci
• In certain older translations of the Arabian Nights, a genius is a male jinni.

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