Victor

(One) who conquers," a surname of Hercules, given to him because he had conquered all kinds of animals. He had a temple at the Forum Boarium, the cattle market, and at the Porta Trigemina. The first was small and round and according to legend no dog or fly ever entered it. The temple contained a statue, which was dressed in the triumphal robes whenever a general celebrated a triumph. In front of this statue was an altar (Herculis Invicti Ara Maxima), on which, after a triumph, the tenth of the booty was deposited for distribution among the citizens.

The second temple contained a bronze statue and the altar on which Hercules himself was believed to have once offered a sacrifice.

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References

Source

  • Athenaeus, v, 65. Dionysius, i, 39, 40. Livy. The History of Rome x, 23. Macrobius. Saturnalia iii, 6. Pliny. Naturalis Historia xxxiv, 7, 16; xxxiii, 12, 45. Plutarch. Roman Questions, 60. Servius on Virgil's Aeneid viii, 362; xii, 24. Solinus ap. Nardin., v, 10. Tacitus. Annals xii, 24. Varro ap. Servius, l.c.

This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain.