-\). ROMAN MYTHOLOGY. 155 
10. Currs (Demeter), The Romans had less sublime conceptions in regard 
to the worship of Ceres than the Greeks, and considered her as simply the 
goddess of seeds and harvests. Her service was conducted in Rome by 
priestesses ( pl. 19, fig. 15) who wore as ornaments and marks of distinction 
a diadem, a long anderiress bordered with flowers, and a similar short cloak. 
They baratbodl ears of wheat in their hands. The apoE offering to Ceres 
consisted of fruits (jig. 16). The goddess is represented on wall-pictures 
found in Pompeii (pl. 24, jig. 3) in a long tunic, and an upper garment 
reaching to the knees. She holds a sceptre in her right hand, in her left a 
small basket with flowers or wheat-ears, and her head is adorned with a 
wreath. On acoin of Antoninus Pius (pl. 16, jig. 25), she appears in 
proper mythological relation with her daughter Proserpine under the 
appellation Catagusa (one who brings back, because she is returning Pro- 
serpine to Pluto). She carries the ears of corn, and embraces her daughter 
with the other arm. Proserpine has the pomegranate, the tasting of which 
for ever prevented her total release from the world of shades. 
11. Minerva (Pallas Athene) was worshipped originally at Rome only 
as the goddess of war, but subsequently was ranked among the three chief 
female deities, and had a temple next to Jupiter and Juno near the Capitol. 
She appears on a coin (pl. 27, jig. 18) as the peace-bearer, the shield lying 
by her feet, and the lance standing on the ground. 
12. Vxsra (Hestia), whose veiled head we find on a denarius (7g. 6), en- 
joyed in Rome a remarkable celebrity. The sacred fire on her altar was never 
permitted to go out. Her priestesses were the Vestal Virgins, of whom we 
present one (pl. 30, fig. 5) with a sacrificial vessel and an olive branch in her 
hand; another (pl. 15, jig. 9) standing near an altar with fire; and a third 
(pl. 26, fig. 9-6) sitting on a chair and holding the sacred lamp. They were 
virgins selected from the most distinguished families, were devoted to celibacy, 
and had charge of the sacred fire. At the end of thirty years they could leave 
the temple and marry. Ifa vestal virgin suffered the fire to be extinguished 
she was scourged ; if she violated her vow of chastity she was buried alive. 
B. The Fight Inferior Gods. 
1. Janus (pl. 15, jig. 2 6). His. characteristics have already been 
alluded to in the system of the primitive gods to which he belonged. 
9. Saturnvs, in his capacity as god of husbandry, has been mentioned in 
the introduction. The further myths connected with his name are the same 
as those referring to the Grecian Cronos. 
8. Genius was considered the deity holding supremacy over the genii 
that accompanied every man on his path through life. It is an indistinct 
deity, and was never the subject of artistical representation. 
4. Sor, the god of the sun, corresponds entirely with the Grecian Helios. 
-.5. Baccuus is identical oh the Grecian Dionysos, and the festivals in 
7 honor (Bacchanalia) were celebrated like those of the Grecian deity. 
One of the priests officiating at these festivals is represented in p/. 19, jig. 4. 
6. Texxus, the deity of the earth, is the same as the Grecian Gaia, to 
which we refer. 
375 
