Aradia

Aradia (アラディア) is a character introduced in Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index.

Etymology
is a central figure in , a 1899 book written by American folklorist Charles Godfrey Leland, allegedly based on material provided by an Italian woman called Maddalena, supposedly documenting the beliefs, rituals and religious text of pagan witches. The book was a major influence on and other forms of.

is said to be a goddess, daughter of and, who descended to the human world and became the first of all witches, teaching oppressed peasants witchcraft to use against the rich upper classes and the church.

Appearance
Aradia's appearance is currently unknown, but she has been described as a woman.

Background
In reference to Aradia herself, her name has been explicitly noted as that of a figure from a famous witchcraft grimoire (namely ). Said to be the daughter of and, Aradia was described as a goddess who shines in the dark night and "god of all witches", who supposedly took a physical body and descended to the human world to save the poor from the wealthy church. In the story, all witches' sabbaths are used to worship her and involve rituals meant to teach people how to resist oppression from the rich.

Aradia's full background is unknown, but she is described as a witch of the moon and light. She is known to both Anna and Alice, the former who, on being told that "everyone was waiting" and addressed as "Maiden of Nuremberg" by Aradia, referred to her as "the picture book witch who was pierced by its many spikes".

Los Angeles Arc
Aradia spoke with Anna Sprengel in the aftermath of the events on December 26th.