CHAP. II. The temple of Victorie, Ceres, Iuno Sospita, and the mother of the gods: the temple of Libertie and the porch thereof, as also the house of Cassius.
NOw that we have declared the reason of the name of Palatium; we will goe forward to shew the temples and houses of the said mountaine, like as we have done in the description of the Capitoll hill.
VVhen the Romans had performed fortunately many martiall exploits, and oftentimes returned with victorie over their enemies, because they would not bee found unthankfull to the gods, unto whom they were beholden for their happie atchievements, and thereby afterwards misse of the like fortunate successe; they consecrated unto the goddesse Victorie a temple in that part of the Palatine, which looketh toward the hortyards and gardens of Maria Nova, in the verie botome of the descent, hard at the gate Romana. L. Posthumius an Aedile Curule tooke order for the building there of, out of certain mony raised by fines and penalties; and when it was finished, he dedicated it to the goddesse Victoria.
Neere thereto was a chappell, consecrated to virgin Victoria, which M. Porcius Cato vowed.
Besides, in the same place was the temple of Iuno Sospita.
The Arcadians, which with Evander came to the Palatine hill, built a temple also in Palatium to Victorie, but as different from this above-named, as farre more auncient: and to the honor of that god∣desse, solemnized yeerely sacrifices.
They built a temple to Ceres also in the Palatine.
In the fatall bookes of Sibylla there was a prophesie found, That the forrein enemie and straunge borne should be chased out of Italie, in case the mother of the gods might be brought to Rome from Pessinus. Now a stone it was, which the inhabitants of that countrey so called. Sent therefore were embassadours into Asia as far as to Pessinus a towne of Phrygia: who brought with them that Great mother of the gods into Italie. Then P. Cornelius caried it from the sea into the Palatine, and bestowed it in the temple of Victorie, until such time as one was built of purpose for her. Afterward, M. Livius and C. Claudius the Censors, tooke order for a temple to be made, to this great mother of the gods, and the same set out with statues, pillars, and pavements of divers stones of great price. And Iunius Brutus de∣dicated it. The plaies also and games called Megalesia, where of Cicero speaketh, were first instituted at the dedication thereof.