The Romane historie vvritten by T. Livius of Padua. Also, the Breviaries of L. Florus: with a chronologie to the whole historie: and the Topographie of Rome in old time. Translated out of Latine into English, by Philemon Holland, Doctor in Physicke

CHAP. XII.The temples and altars which we read to have been in the Circus Maximus, or about it.

COnsus is reported to bee the god of Counsell, either for that hee concealeth mens counsels, or openeth them unto men. This god had an altar in the great shew-place covered over: which betokeneth, that counsell ought to be close and couvert. For which cause, this altar as we read, was by the old Romans to him consecrated. For they, at what time as they consulted about the ravishing of the Sabine maidens, fearing least they should have been detected before the time, dedi∣cated this altar to this god, and erected the portraiture and image of him thereon. VVhich altar ve∣rily, either by some injurie of the times, or through mens neglect of the gods, continued so forlet, as in the end it was altogether unknowne where it stood. At length found it was againe, and at all other times remained covered, but in the time of horse-runnings, and then it was uncovered and set open. To this god was the feast also instituted, called Consualia. And those disports and pastimes which they devised for the ravishment of the Sabine virgins, were celebrated at this altar by certaine priests be∣longing to that god.

In like maner Neptune, surnamed the Chevalier, had a temple in this Circus Max. which in the yeer of our Lord 1526 was found behind the temple of S. Anastasia, at the foot of the mount Palatine, in the very foundations of the Circus: for such markes and tokens were there to be seene, that by good evidences it appeared that this was the very temple of Neptune. For the honour of this Neptune, the games Circenses, were by men in old time solemnized.

Also to Genius the guide & director of secret plots, they erected an altar in the great Cirque. Over and besides these, this Cirque contained three other altars: one to the Great gods; a second to the Pe∣nates; and a third to those gods of heaven & earth, from whom all things arise and have their begin∣ning. These gods abovesaid, the Romanes called Genij, Penates, Presidents, and keepers of the citie.

Liber, Libera, Ceres, and Proserpina, had their temples about this place called Circus Max. which Posthu∣mius when hee warred against the Latines, vowed: and the same man upon his returne with happie victorie, built and dedicated them accordingly.

To conclude, in the same compasse were the temples of the Sunne, and of Flora.

Moreover, a temple there stood neere this Circus, unto Venus: which Q. Fabius Gurges the Consull, caused to be made of the money raised upon the fines of certaine wives that were condemned for playing false with their husbands.

Lucinus dedicated a temple to Iuventus without the great cirque, not farre from that place.

In like sort, Mercurie had a temple neere this Circus Max.

In Plinies daies there was seene in the Cirque Max the image of Fortuna Scia.