VENUS VICTRIX, AEDES
(templum, Tert., Plin.):
a temple which, in order
to escape censure for having erected a permanent theatre (see
THEATRUM
POMPEI), Pompeius built at the top of the central part of the cavea,
so that the rows of seats might appear to be the steps leading up to it,
and the whole structure be dedicated as a temple and not as a theatre
(Tert. de spect. 0o; Tiro ap. Gell. x. I. 7, where the temple is called aedes
Victoriae for Veneris Victricis; cf. Mommsen, CIL i. p. 323). The
dedication took place in Pompeius' second consulship in 55 B.C. (Plin.
NH viii. 20), but the inscription was not put in place until 52 (Gell.
loc. cit.). The day of dedication was 12th August (Fast. Allif. Amit.
ad prid. Id. Aug., CIL i². p. 217, 244, 324), when Honos et Virtus and
Felicitas were joined with Venus, indicating that shrines of these deities
stood near that of Venus (cf. Suet. Claud. 21:
ludos dedicationis Pom-
peiani theatri ... cum prius apud superiores aedes supplicaverat). The
temple is mentioned on an inscription (vi. 785),
1 and in the third century
(Porphyr. ad Hor.
Sat. i. 2. 94; HJ 525-526;
Gilb. iii. 323; WR 291).
For coins of about 44 B.C., depicting the goddess, see BM. Rep. i. pp. 543-
551.
