Pax

From NovaRoma
(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
(corrected category)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
 
'''Pax''' is the Roman goddess of peace.   
 
'''Pax''' is the Roman goddess of peace.   
  
"His second wife was radiant Themis; she bore the Seasons,
 
Lawfulness and Justice and blooming Peace,
 
who watch over the works of mortal men..." - Hesiod, Theogony, 901-3
 
  
Open of yourselves, you doors, for mighty Ploutos (Wealth) will enter
+
"On the Campus Martius
in, and with Ploutos comes jolly Euphrosyne (Mirth) and gentle Eirene
+
(Peace). " - Homer's Epigrams XV
+
 
+
"And with a heart unsullied labours for Eirene, the city's friend." -
+
Pindar, Odes Olympian 4
+
 
+
"How far peace outweighs war in benefits to man; Eirene (Peace), the
+
chief friend and cherisher of the Mousai (Muses); Eirene (Peace), the
+
enemy of revenge, lover of families and children, patroness of wealth.
+
Yet these blessings we viciously neglect, embrace wars; man with man,
+
city with city fights, the strong enslaves the weak." - Euripides,
+
Suppliant Women 484
+
 
+
"The Horai, as they are called, to each of them, according as her name
+
indicates, was given [assigned by Zeus and Hera] the ordering and
+
adornment of life, so as to serve to the greatest advantage of
+
mankind; for there is nothing which is better to build a life of
+
felicity than obedience to law (Eunomia) and justice (Dike) and peace
+
(Eirene)." - Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5.72.5
+
 
+
On the Campus Martius
+
 
(Field of Mars, the god of war), she had a minor sanctuary called the
 
(Field of Mars, the god of war), she had a minor sanctuary called the
 
Ara Pacis, dedicated to her on January 30, 9 B.C. Her temple was on
 
Ara Pacis, dedicated to her on January 30, 9 B.C. Her temple was on
Line 34: Line 10:
 
celebrated (in both senses of the word) as Pax Romana and Pax Augusta
 
celebrated (in both senses of the word) as Pax Romana and Pax Augusta
 
from the 2nd century B.C.
 
from the 2nd century B.C.
 
In Greek mythology, she was Eirene or Irene ("peace"), daughter of
 
Zeus and Themis, one of the first generation of Horae. The Horae (the
 
Hours, or Seasons) were Pax and her sisters Lawfulness, Wisdom and
 
Order (Eunomia) and Justice (Justitia/Dike). are sometimes considered
 
to be the three aspects of Themis. As goddesses of the seasons, they
 
brought order to nature. Eirene was the personification of peace and
 
wealth and was depicted in art as a beautiful young woman carrying a
 
cornucopia, sceptre and a torch or rhyton.
 
  
  
 
[[Category: Roman Gods]]
 
[[Category: Roman Gods]]

Latest revision as of 22:11, 28 August 2009

Pax is the Roman goddess of peace.


"On the Campus Martius (Field of Mars, the god of war), she had a minor sanctuary called the Ara Pacis, dedicated to her on January 30, 9 B.C. Her temple was on the Forum Pacis (Templum Placis) built on the site of a meat market by Vespasian, which was dedicated in A.D. 75. She was depicted in art with olive branches, a cornucopia and a sceptre. Pax became celebrated (in both senses of the word) as Pax Romana and Pax Augusta from the 2nd century B.C.

Personal tools