Page:Greek and Roman Mythology.djvu/177

 THE ROMAN GODS 163 the Capitoline, likewise erected one on this very spot. Here the Feriae Latlnae were celebrated with sacrifices and games ; and commanders to whom the senate had refused a regular triumph at the Capitol often inarched to this sanctuary to offer their spoils of war. 210. But after Eome had gained the leadership over Latium, the temple on the southern summit of the Capi- toline became the most important place of Juppiter's wor- ship ; for, as Rome itself dictated its commands to the world, so the Roman Juppiter Capitollnus, or J. Optimus Maximus, ruled over heaven and earth. He was the proper lord and protector of the free city ; therefore the victorious home-returning commander rendered to him fitting thanks, and, arrayed with the attributes and raiment of the god, marched in triumph up to the Capitol, to lay the victor's laurel in the lap of the god who gave the victory, and to dedicate the most valuable part of the booty to his temple. The most important games, the Ludl Magm, out of which the Ludl Edmanl and the Ludl Plebel were afterwards developed, were cele- brated in his honor. 211. Side by side with the worship of Juppiter upon the Capitoline was that of .his wife Juno and his daughter Minerva. His temple, accordingly, had a threefold cella, the central division belonging to Juppiter himself, the one on his left to Juno, and that on his right to Minerva. The association of the three divinities was, to be sure, entirely Greek in its origin, but was adopted in Etruria, and thence carried over to Rome towards the close of the epoch of the kings. The first minister of Juppiter was the flamen Dialis, who offered sacrifices on all the Ides (days of full moon),