Fides in The Palace of Versailles, France

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This marble sculpture dates back to 1684 and is attributed to sculptor Armand Lefebvre (circa 1620-1700), titled la Fidélité, depicting the goddess of trust and faithfulness. La Fidélité was a revered figure in Roman paganism, embodying the virtue of good faith as an actual divine entity. Her temple on Capitol Hill served as a sacred space where the Roman Senate ratified and kept state treaties with foreign nations, and she protected them from harm. As the goddess of public trust, she was also worshipped under the name Fides Publica Populi Romani. She is often depicted as a young woman adorned with an olive branch, holding a cup or turtle dove, or a military ensign in her hand. Her attire consists of a white veil and stola, while her priests wore white robes to signify their connection to the highest gods of Heaven. The temple dedicated to Fides dates back to 254 B.C.E and is situated near Jupiter's temple on Capitol Hill. Traditionally, Rome's second king, Numa Pompilius, instituted a yearly festival in honor of Fides, where the major priests (the three flamines maiores) were borne to her temple in a covered arched chariot drawn by two horses. There, they conducted sacred services with their heads covered and right hands wrapped up to the fingers to demonstrate absolute devotion to her and symbolize trust. The Greek equivalent of Fides is Pistis. Here, Fides is depicted holding a heart in her hand and accompanied by a dog lying at her feet. This object is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.