MYRTLE* 91 



flourished or decayed, so the success of these 

 opposite parties was prognosticated. The 

 temple of Quirinus was repaired under the 

 consul Lucius Papirus Cursor, in the year 306 

 before Christ, when the first sun-dial that had 

 been seen at Rome was set up. 



There was also in Rome an ancient chapel 

 and altar consecrated to VenusMyrtea, by which 

 name the goddess was often worshipped. 



Pausanias relates, that at Lemnos there was 

 a statue of Venus, formed of myrtle, which 

 Pelops caused to be made to insure his mar- 

 riage with Hippodamia. 



The myrtle-wreath was worn by those ge- 

 nerals who obtained victories without blood- 

 shed. Posthumius Tubertus, when consul of 

 Rome, was the first who was honoured with 

 this crown when he entered the capital in 

 ovation, after having conquered the Sabines 

 without shedding blood. These chaplets were 

 dedicated to Venus Victrix. Papyrius Masso, 

 who triumphed over the Corsicans, was al- 

 lowed for ever after to wear this crown when 

 he visited the Circensian games. 



The weapons of war were also formed of 

 this tree, as Virgil writes, 



" The war from stubborn myrtle shafts receives ;" 

 and we learn from the same poet that it 

 formed the arms of Camilla, a Volscian queen. 



