Fides (mythology)

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Pompeia Plotina coin, celebrating Fides on the reverse.
Pompeia Plotina coin, celebrating Fides on the reverse.

In Roman mythology, Fides ("trust") was the goddess of trust. Her temple on the Capitol was where the Roman Senate kept state treaties with foreign countries, where Fides protected them. She was also worshipped under the name Fides Publica Populi Romani ("trust towards the Roman state"). She is represented by a young woman crowned with an olive branch, with a cup or turtle, or a military ensign in hand. She wears a white veil or stola; her priests wear white; Numa first instituted the worship of this divinity and her temple was on the Capitoline Hill. Her Greek equivalent was Pistis.

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