Also called Fides Publica.
Their story
Fides was one of Rome's oldest personified powers, and her cult was credited to King Numa. Livy says the three major flamens rode to her shrine in a covered carriage and made offering with their right hands wrapped to the fingers in white cloth, since the right hand was the seat of trust. Her temple on the Capitol held treaties with foreign states. To break faith was to offend a goddess.
Best times to give to them
- Her festival, 1 October
- When making a promise or contract
What they like being given
- A white cloth
- Incense
- Clean water
- White flowers
How to honour them
- Wrap your right hand in a white cloth when you pray to her, as her priests did.
- Keep a promise you have been putting off.
- Shake hands on agreements in her name.
How they can help you
- Trust
- Honesty
- Keeping promises
Symbols
- clasped right hands
- white cloth
- turtle dove
Sources
- Livy 1.21
- Cicero, De Officiis 3.104
- Cicero, De Natura Deorum 2.61
More Roman goddesses
- Juno Queen of heaven and protector of women
- Minerva Patron of craftworkers, teachers and healers
- Venus Mother of the Roman people and goddess of love
- Diana Lady of the woodland grove and the moon
- Vesta The living flame at the heart of home and Rome
- Ceres Mother of the grain and friend of the common people
- Luna The moon, shining through the night
- Libera Partner of Liber in the Aventine triad