|
||||||
The Shrines of the Theatre of Pompey In addition to the massive temple of Pompey's patron goddess Venus Victrix, there were shrines to others gods; Honos, Virtus, Felicitas and Victoria placed around the upper rim of the Cavea. Venus : The goddess of love among the Romans. Before she was identified with the Greek Aphrodite, she was one of the least important divinities in the religion of the Romans; but still her worship seems to have been established at Rome at an early time. Here she bore the surnames of Murtea, or Murcia, from her fondness for the myrtle tree (myrtus), and of Cloacina and Calva. The etymology of the last two epithets is variously given. That of Calva probably refers to the fact that on her wedding day the bride, either actually or symbolically, cut off a lock of hair to sacrifice it to Venus. In later times the worship of Venus became much more extended, and her her identification with the Greek Aphrodite introduced various new attributes. At the beginning of the Punic war, the worship of Venus Erycina was introduced from Sicily. In the year BC 114, on account of general corruption, and especially among the Vestals, a temple was built to Venus Verticordia (the goddess who turns the human heart). After the close of the Samnite war, Fabius Gurges founded the worship of Venus Obsequens and Postvorta; Scipio Africanus the younger, that of Venus Genitrix, in which he was afterwards followed by Caesar, who added that of Venus Victrix. The worship of Venus was promoted by Caesar, who traced his descent from Aeneas, supposed to be the son of Mars and Venus. The month of April, as the beginning of spring, was thought to be peculiarly sacred to the goddesss. Honos : (Honour) The personification of honour at Rome, to whom temples were built both by Marcellus and Marius. Marcellus also built one to Virtus; and the two deities are frequently mentioned together. Virtus : The Roman personification of manly valour. She was represented with a short tunic, her right breast uncovered, a helmet on her head, a spear in her left hand, a sword in the right, and standing with her right foot on a helmet. A temple of Virtus was built by Marcellus close to one of Honos. Felicitas : The personification of happiness, is frequently seen on Roman medals, in the form of a matron, with the staff of Mercury and a cornucopia. Victoria : The personification of victory among the Romans. |
||||||
Theatre of Pompey |