Clementia

myminifactory

In Roman mythology, clemency was celebrated as the goddess of leniency, mercy, forgiveness, penance, redemption, absolution, and salvation. The Romans deified her as a prominent virtue of Julius Caesar, who was renowned for his forbearance, particularly after his civil war with Pompey from 49 BC. In 44 BC, the Roman Senate consecrated a temple to her honor, possibly at Caesar's request, as he sought to demonstrate his possession of this admirable trait. In a letter to his friend Atticus, Cicero discussed Caesar's clemency: "You will say they are frightened. I dare say they are, but I'll be bound they're more frightened of Pompey than of Caesar. They are delighted with his artful clemency and fear the other's wrath." In Pro rege Deiotaro (For King Deiotarus), Cicero further discussed Caesar's virtue of clementia. There is limited information about Clementia's cult, suggesting she was merely an embodiment of a particular virtue revered in conjunction with honoring Caesar and the Roman state. Clementia represented a desirable quality within leaders, also translating to "humanity" or "forbearance." Conversely, Saevitia symbolized savagery and bloodshed. Interestingly, she was the Roman counterpart of Eleos (or Soteria), the Greek goddess of mercy and forgiveness, who had a shrine in Athens. Traditionally, she is depicted holding an olive tree branch and a scepter, possibly leaning on a column.