The existence of a deity called Noctiluca (the 'night-shining one') on the Palatine is hard to explain. […] The name may have been an epithet of Juno, who was connected with the sky. In a ceremony connected with the fixing of the calendar she was addressed as Juno Covella, 'Juno, goddess of the sky.'
1841, Charles Anthon, “Noctilūca”, in A Classical Dictionary: containing an account of the principal proper names mentioned in ancient authors[…], New York: Harper and Brothers, →OCLC, page 901:
Noctilūca, a surname of Diana, as indicating the goddess that shines during the night season.
A second sanctuary of Luna existed on the Capitol, and a third on the Palatine, where she was worshipped under the name of Noctiluca, and where her temple was lighted up every night.
The existence of a deity called Noctiluca (the 'night-shining one') on the Palatine is hard to explain. The situation implies high antiquity, for no god realized as foreign was allowed to take up an abode within the pomerium of the city before the age of the Second Punic War. The name may have been an epithet of Juno, who was connected with the sky. In a ceremony connected with the fixing of the calendar she was addressed as Juno Covella, ' Juno, goddess of the sky.' The name Lucina (closely connected with lux) was attached to her as the power which brought the child to light and birth. When the ancient Italio goddess Diana was equated with Artemis, the function of the Greek goddess, as superintending human birth, was transferred to Diana.
1976, “MAINAKE Málaga, Spain”, in Richard Stillwell, William L. MacDonald, Marian Holland McAllister, et al., editors, The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, →OCLC:
Opposite the city was a marshy island dedicated to Noctiluca, with a port.
2005, Maria Eugenia Aubet, translated by Mary Turton, “Mainake: the legend and the new archaeological evidence”, in Robin Osborne, Barry Cunliffe, editors, Mediterranean urbanization 800-600 BC, Proceedings of the British Academy, volume 126, Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford University Press, translation of original by Maria Eugenia Aubet, published 2007 reprint, →ISBN, page 200:
Thus it can be inferred from the account in the Periplous that the island of Mainake was sacred, since it was dedicated to Noctiluca, that is to say the moon, […]
1841, Charles Anthon, quoting Marcus Terentius Varro, De lingua latina, liber 4, quoted in A Classical Dictionary: containing an account of the principal proper names mentioned in ancient authors[…], New York: Harper and Brothers, →OCLC, page 901:
Luna, quod sola lucet noctu: itaque ea dicta Noctiluca in Palatio; nam ibi noctu lucet templum,[…]
