V
Valentinianus First
The son of Gratian, who was raised to the throne by his merit and valor. He obtained victories over the Barbarians in Gaul and in Africa…
Vargunteius
A senator, and one of Catiline's conspirators, who undertook, in conjunction with C. Cornelius, to murder Cicero in B. c. 63, but their…
Varro
A Latin author celebrated for his great learning. He wrote no less than five hundred volumes, but all his works are lost except a treatise…
Varus
A cognomen in many Roman gentes, signified a person who had his legs bent inwards. Varus, Quintilius. A consul in B. c. 13 who was…
Veiovis
A Roman deity, whose name is explained by some to mean little Jupiter ; while others interpret it the destructive Jupiter, and identify him…
Venus
One of the most celebrated deities of the ancients; the goddess of beauty, and mother of Love. She sprang from the foam of the sea, and was…
Verona
An important town in Gallia Cisalpina, on the river Athesis. It was the birthplace of Catullus; and, according to some accounts, of the…
Vesta
A goddess, daughter of Rhea and Saturn. The Palladium, a celebrated statue of Pallas, was supposed to be preserved within her sanctuary…
Veturius Mamurius
He is said to have been the armorer who made the eleven ancilia exactly like the one that was sent from heaven in the reign of Numa…
Virginius
A valiant Roman, father of Virginia. The story of Virginius and his ill-fated daughter is the subject of the well-known tragedy of…
Vopiscus
A Roman praenomen, which signified a twin-child who was born safe, while the other twin died, before birth. Like many other ancient Roman…
Vulcanus
The god who presided over fire and who was the patron of those who worked in iron. According to Homer he was the son of Jupiter and Juno…
Vultur
A mountain dividing Apulia and Lucania near Venusia, and is a branch of the Apennines. It is celebrated by Horace as one of the haunts of…