In ancient Rome, who was recognized as the goddess associated with funerals and corpses?

The goddess associated with funerals and corpses in ancient Rome is Libitina. She was specifically regarded as the goddess of funerals and the dead, overseeing burial rites and the associated practices. Libitina’s relevance in Roman culture reflects the community's attitudes toward death and the afterlife, as they had a structured approach to mourning and honoring their deceased.

Her association with funerals is so significant that even the term "libitinarius" (the undertaker) is derived from her name, indicating her central role in the funeral process. This distinction might not be true for the other figures mentioned, each of whom had different domains in Roman mythology. Venus, for example, is known for love and beauty; Vesta represents the hearth and home; and Minerva is associated with wisdom and warfare. Thus, Libitina is uniquely positioned as the goddess directly linked to mortality and funeral rites.