The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Matuta
or Mater Matuta (m´tr mt´t) (KEY) , Roman goddess. Sometimes called the goddess of dawn, she was more properly the goddess of childbirth. Her festival, the Matralia (June 11), was attended only by matrons. She was also identified with the Greek goddess Leucothea and as such was worshiped as a sea deity.