Diana was an ancient Italian Goddess of woodland. Her shrine in Aricia, near Rome, was on the shores of the lake Nemi. For that reason, she was named Diana Nemorenis, Diana of the Woods.

The rites dedicated to Diana were particularly brutal and included human sacrifices. Every new priest had to kill their predecessor to obtain his office.

Diana was identified with the Greek Goddess of woodland, Artemis. Artemis was the personification of the Moon and her twin brother Apollo was God of the Sun.

Diana believed her virgin body was sacred and not for male eyes. One day the hunter Actaeon stumbled upon Diana while she was bathing. She was so angry she turned him into a stag so he could not speak and tell anyone about her naked body. The unfortunate Actaeon was killed by his own hounds, who did not recognise him when he returned as a stag.