Pax

, an allegorical divinity among the ancients. The A then i ans raised her a statue, which represented her as holding Plutus the god of wealth in her lap, to intimate that peace gives rise to prosperity and to opulence; and they were the first who erected an altar to her honour after the victories obtained by Timotheus over the Lacedæmonian power, though Plutarch a erts it had been done after the conquests of Cimon over the Persians. She was represented among the Romans with the horn of plenty, and also carrying an olive branch in her hand. The emperor Vespas i an built her a celebrated temple at Rome, which was consumed by fire in the reign of Commodus. It was customary for men of learning to a emble in that temple, and even to deposit their writings there, as in a place of the greatest security. Therefore when it was burnt, not only books, but also many valuable things, jewels, and immense treasures, were lost in the general conflagration. Cornel i us Nepos , Timotheus , bk. 2 .— Plutarch , Cimon .— Pausanias , bk. 9 , ch. 16 .