god
Fides
Faith
also: Fidem, Fides
The personified quality of Good Faith, with an ancient cult on the Capitol; named in Cicero's religious law among the deified virtues.
Reading notes
- On the Nature of the Gods §2.61 like Faith, like Mind, which we see dedicated on the Capitol
Rome deified abstract powers and built them temples: Fides (Faith), Mens (Mind), Virtus (Virtue), Honos (Honor), Concordia, Salus, Libertas, Victoria. Balbus explains that a power great enough to need a god took on the god's name.
- On Duties §3.104 neighbor to Jupiter Greatest and Best
Fides, the deified personification of Good Faith, had a temple on the Capitol beside that of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. Cicero, citing a speech of Cato the Elder, makes oath-breaking an offence against Fides herself.