Julius Caesar claimed her as an ancestor (Venus Genetrix) possibly a long-standing family tradition, certainly one adopted as such by his heir Augustus. Venus seems to have played a part in household or private religion of some Romans. After Rome’s defeat at the Battle of Lake Trasimene in the opening episodes of the Second Punic War, the Sibylline oracle recommended the importation of the Sicillian Venus of Eryx a temple to her was dedicated on the Capitoline Hill in 217 BC: a second temple to her was dedicated in 181 BC. On August 15, 293 BC, her oldest known temple was dedicated, and August 18 became a festival called the Vinalia Rustica. Her cult began in Ardea and Lavinium, Latium.
From the third century BC, the increasing Hellenization of Roman upper classes identified her as the equivalent of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Venus was a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths.
Anchises, being the mortal lover of Aphrodite (=Venus), having a son, Aeneas together, connects the mythical founders of Rome to their descent from the goddess Venus herself. The Roman people, according to their mythology traced their decent from ancient Troy itself. The story goes that Aeneas fled the burning ancient city of Troy, carrying his father on his back and the important statue called the palladium from that city. The Julia gens traced it’s mythical descent also from Iulus, the son of Aenaeas. Caesar dedicated a temple to Venus Genetrix in the Forum Julium. Venus was the patron-goddess of Julius Caesar, and also the goddess whom his family traces it’s decent from, and therefore she is pictured on his coins. CAESAR, Aeneas walking left, carrying his father, Anchises and palladium. AU Strike: 05/5 Surface: 3/5 4625524-012 Diademed head of Venus right. Roman General, Politician, Hero & Dictator Silver Denarius 16mm (3.72 grams) Military mint moving with Caesar in North Africa, struck circa 48-46 B. Julius JULIUS CAESAR 48BC Ancient Silver Roman Coin VENUS TROY Rome HERO NGC i69585
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