Diana is an Italic, Latin, and Roman goddess, lady of the woods, protector of wild animals, guardian of springs and streams, protector of women, ensuring painless childbirth, and bestower of sovereignty. Often this Roman goddess is equated with the Greek mythological goddess Artemis, but according to some scholars, the fusion between the two figures occurred only later. Artemis-Diana, goddess of hunting, virginity, archery, forests, and the Moon, was further identified with other oriental female deities during the religious syncretism of the imperial age.