In ancient Roman religion

Religion in ancient Rome

Religion in ancient Rome encompassed the religious beliefs and cult practices regarded by the Romans as indigenous and central to their identity as a people, as well as the various and many cults imported from other peoples brought under Roman rule. Romans thus offered cult to innumerable deities...

, Paventia or Paventina was a divine personification of fear. She is one of many Roman deities whose name embodies a "functional focus." In particular, she is said to avert fear (pavor) from infants. She appears in lists made by early Christian writers mocking minor deities who have a narrowly defined sphere of influence.