Victory
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In Roman mythology and religion, Victory (known as Victoria in Latin) was a key deity who symbolized triumph, success, and military conquest. Often depicted as a winged figure, holding a laurel wreath or a palm branch, Victoria personified the concept of victory in both war and peace. Her role was deeply intertwined with Roman ideals of power and dominance, as well as the state’s belief in the divine support of its military and political endeavors.
Victoria was honored not only by the victorious general returning from battle but also by the broader Roman populace, especially after significant military triumphs. The triumph, the grand victory parade celebrating the success of a Roman general, was one of the most important public events, and it often included displays of captured spoils, slaves, and prisoners, all parading under the watchful gaze of Victoria. During such events, a special prayer would be offered to the goddess to thank her for ensuring Roman victory, and a statue of Victoria was prominently featured in the celebrations. The triumph itself, with its lavish displays, underscored the Roman emphasis on divine favor as integral to their military achievements.
The goddess Victoria was not only associated with battlefield victories but also with the more abstract notion of national success. She was often invoked in moments of political importance, such as the assumption of power by emperors or the establishment of new Roman provinces. Emperors frequently had her depicted on their coins and monuments to remind the people that their reign was divinely sanctioned and marked by success, reinforcing the idea that Rome’s victories were the direct result of divine favor.
Victoria had a temple dedicated to her in the Roman Forum, where she was venerated as a protector of Rome’s military power and the personification of its global dominance.
 Antoninus Pius, 138-161 CE Stuck 159 CE AR Denarius 17mm, 3.19g, 6h Laureate head r. Rev. TEMPLVM DIV AVG REST Octastyle temple, within which are the seated figures of Divus Augustus and Livia. Temple surmounted by quadriga; figures in pediment; Victories on angles; statue on base in front of temple at each corner. In ex., COS IIII RIC 290a. C 804 Ex Akropolis Coins |
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