At Tibur and Falerii their "sacerdos" was a male, called "pontifex sacrarius", a fact that has been seen as a proof of the relevance of the goddess to the whole society. In both towns she was known as "Curitis", the spearholder, an armed protectress. The martial aspect of these Junos is conspicuous, quite as much as that of fecundity and regality: the first two look strictly interconnected: fertility guaranteed the survival of the community, peaceful and armed. Iuno Curitis is also the tutelary goddess of the "curiae" and of the new brides, whose hair was combed with the spear called "caelibataris hasta" as in Rome. In her annual rites at Falerii youths and maiden clad in white bore in procession gifts to the goddess whose image was escorted by her priestesses. The idea of purity and virginity is stressed in Ovid's description. A she goat is sacrificed to her after a ritual hunting. She is then the patroness of the young soldiers and of brides.