Description
Julius Caesar began his path to fame and power by leading an army against the Celtic tribes in Gaul (modern France). After narrowly escaping death on several occasions, Caesar conquered Gaul in the name of the Roman Republic, and then returned to Rome to advance on his own political career.
Venus’, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, was originally a vegetation goddess and patroness of gardens and vineyards. Her importance rose, and that of her cult, through the influence of several Roman political leaders. The dictator Sulla (an old enemy of Julius Caesar) made her his patroness, and both Julius Caesar and the emperor Augustus named her the ancestor of their (Julian) family: the ‘Gens Julia’ was Aeneas, son of Venus and the mortal Anchises. Ceasar introduced the cult of Venus Genetrix, the goddess of motherhood and marriage, and built a temple for her in 46 BC. She was also honored in the temple of Mars Ultor.
The last great temple of Venus was built by the emperor Hadrianus near the Colusseum in 135 AD. This coin was struck by Julius Caesar to honor his ancestor/goddess, and to celebrate and remind the Roman people of his military triumph in Gaul..
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