FestusFestus, entry on "Empanda," p. 67 in the 1997 Teubner edition of Lindsay. identifies her only as a dea paganorum, "goddess of the rustics." Varro associates her with Ceres, and notes that there is a Roman gate named after her, the Porta Pandana. A similarly named gate is mentioned in the Umbrian Iguvine Tablets (VIa 14): pertome Padellar. Varroap. Non. p. 44; comp. Gell. xiii. 22; Arnobius iv. 2 – cited by Schmitz connects the word with pandere, "to open," but also explains it by panem dare, "to give bread," so that Empanda would be the goddess of bread or food.
FestusFestus, entry on "Empanda," p. 67 in the 1997 Teubner edition of Lindsay. identifies her only as a dea paganorum, "goddess of the rustics." Varro associates her with Ceres, and notes that there is a Roman gate named after her, the Porta Pandana. A similarly named gate is mentioned in the Umbrian Iguvine Tablets (VIa 14): pertome Padellar. Varroap. Non. p. 44; comp. Gell. xiii. 22; Arnobius iv. 2 – cited by Schmitz connects the word with pandere, "to open," but also explains it by panem dare, "to give bread," so that Empanda would be the goddess of bread or food.